Apple's Next Acqisition

[Markyboard]

OK - for all you Windows people(including myself) pissed about losing Emagic (Logic/Soundiver) to Apple, the fun isn't over yet. After a couple of weeks to digest whats what I've accepted this change and now can look on some what amused. I'll be using Sounddiver on Windows XP for many years to come. I'm not big on plugins or loops and Logic as a MIDI/Audio recorder does it for me as is. I checked out Sonar and can always move to it if needed but SD is for keeps. But whats next?

 

1) No Logic Control purchase for me. It was next on my list but with Mackie Control confusing the issue, i'll wait a long time (if ever) for this one.

 

2) No soft synths. I liked the EVP88 but doing glissandos would give me ASIO errors. Not acceptable

 

3) No Native Instruments purchases. Why? Because if I had to guess this is Apple's next purchase. They wont stop with just Emagic. Its too easy to move to another sequencer (maybe not as good - but outweighs switching to a Mac in most PC users minds). And SD is not that strong a seller (although I love it). NI is of the same caliber (a good thing) as Emagic and would get a lot more people off the PC and on to a Mac

 

Remember you heard it here first. Any other guesses?

[etherize]

my guess as well would be native instruments... I also think Waves would be a good choice... L1 is almost a necessity and they have a very large selection of high quality fx...Cycling '74 would give them Max and Jitter programming environments which they then might be able to tie closer into OS X and also give it away for free to encourage developement on Os X...they obvisouly need to create a program that would take the place of there peak bundle with Final Cut Pro. Also I believe a program like Ableton Live would make a nice creative type I-App

[BP3]

Let's not give them Apple creeps any ideas!

[Bobro]

Digidesign. Logic will get ever more deeply integrated with ProTools, then one day we'll wake up to find that it's bundled with ProTools, which will also be Mac-only.

[steadyb]

BMW.

 

Now I'll finally be able to get a cool new SUV.

[Rhythm n beatz]

Why would they buy NI? Apple already owns a company that makes great soft synths, emagic. The industry would be better off if they bought smaller soft synth companies to help them better position their offerings against NI's offerings. Apple needs to make a hardware i/o play or have emagic re-vamp their hardware offerings.

 

I am a supporter of Apple droppig windows support for Logic.

[etherize]

"the industry would be better off if they bought smaller soft synth companies to help them better position their offerings against NI's offerings."

 

the guy who wrote supercollider (is that the right name?) now works at Apple

[Steve111]

This might be a reach, but what about Line 6? They're certainly an innovator in modeling technology. The founders are keyboard/MIDI guys and were involved in developing some of the Oberheim stuff as well as the ADAT. And they've got at least one ex-Apple exec. running the business.

 

I can't see Apple in the amp business, but it certainly gets you thinking -- Mmm.....

[Markyboard]

Apple wanted a major audio/sequencer company and got one. It could have been digidesign but now that they have Logic, I dont think acquiring digidesign would benefit them much. Also, I cant imagine a huge market share on the PC side for Pro Tools as this was brought to market late. Emagic makes decent soft synths (I guess ) but they don't dominate the market the way NI does. And NI being cross platform and as widely used by the PC market is very appealing.

[steadyb]

Originally posted by Markyboard:

Remember you heard it here first. Any other guesses?

"Guesses". That describes your posts very accurately.

So does "speculation", "fiction", and of course plain old "makin' shit up".

 

Especially the one you made up about Emagic and Apple discontinuing MIDI. Classic.

 

...shouldn't it be "Marky-bored".

When will Marky-give-it-a-rest and Marky-finish-song???

[VanZea]

Look here for some interesting comment on the situation:

 

http://alexanderpublishing.com/emagic/

 

Grtz,

Jeroen

[soapbox]

Jeroen, welcome to The Keyboard Corner!

 

Thanks for the link. What a well thought out argument! Unfortunately, while there were many similarly good arguments made against Jobs' decision to drop the Newton and Mac cloning, I can't recall him ever reversing such a decision.

 

While I personally disagree with some of Jobs' choices, who am I to argue with his success at turning Apple around? I do feel sorry for Emagic's PC user base though, and the Alexander Publishing White Paper does a good job at summing up their loss.

[steadyb]

Originally posted by soapbox:

Thanks for the link. What a well thought out argument!

...the Alexander Publishing White Paper does a good job at summing up their loss.

Hey Soap,

 

Peter Alexander has ZERO credibility for reasons I'm not at liberty to share here (next time I see you, ask me why and I'll give you the long version of the story)

Anyway...a bitter paper from a bitter person.

[steadyb]

The guy sells PCs... BTW, I'm not dissing PCs, and I empathize with Logic Windows users (I am one myself), I'm questioning the motives behind this so called "white paper".

 

http://alexuniv.com/Premio-AU/

 

So this isn't a "white paper" from an accredited university, it's a rant from a disgruntled PC dealer. I'd say his comments are to be taken with more than a grain of salt.

[Markyboard]

This post is leaving Steadyb a litlle unsteady. Heres some rhyming words from my 6 year old to match his clever reply.

 

ReadyB, BreadyB and BeddyB. I think I have enough to write that song now.

[steadyb]

Originally posted by Markyboard:

This post is leaving Steadyb a litlle unsteady. Heres some rhyming words from my 6 year old to match his clever reply.

 

ReadyB, BreadyB and BeddyB. I think I have enough to write that song now.

But will it be ready in time for the next Keyboard Corner Compilation (vol.4)???

[Markyboard]

It's been a pleasure visiting your planet. Until next time.

 

Now where did I put that bong?

[Superbobus]

Hey, a guy at the night fever show in Holland told me Emagic was in big financial trouble. Is that true or is it just plain making up shit? Could be a reason for the acquisition.

BTW, he's a Logic Windows user. I wish all of those cats good luck and hope they will find a solution.

[steadyb]

Originally posted by Superbobus:

Hey, a guy at the night fever show in Holland told me Emagic was in big financial trouble. Is that true or is it just plain making up shit?

Not true.

[Rod S]

Originally posted by steadyb:

Peter Alexander has ZERO credibility for reasons I'm not at liberty to share here (next time I see you, ask me why and I'll give you the long version of the story)

Anyway...a bitter paper from a bitter person.

Sounds like you're the one a bit bitter

 

I do think he makes some good and VALID points on his paper, even if he is a bit biased. Since music is a hobby, I haven't taken this debate seriously - yet.

 

I have spent a fair amount of work hours learning different software packages, as well as spending a significant amount of time convincing people it was the way to go, and several thousand of my employer's dollars, so I'd be pissed if it happened to me in any of these circustances.

 

Peace out.

[Dan South]

Maybe Alexander Publishing should put their money where their mouth is and underwrite Emagic's development costs for the next two years. In case anyone hasn't noticed, the business world is in a global depression - no, not a fucking recession, a DEPRESSION - and technology has been one of the hardest hit sectors. Companies worldwide have had to make brutal decisions just to remain in business. This hasn't been fun for anyone. Apple and Emagic have enthusiastic client bases, but in the end, they have to generate revenues and cut expenses in order to stay afloat in the current climate. I don't have access to Emagic's books, but I'm sure that the cost of maintaining dual platforms was cost prohibitive. Furthermore, the PC version and may have seen diminishing returns after the release of SONAR. Were PC sales growing? Fading? Flat? The answer may have been right there in those numbers.

 

Why is it that the platform that has a hundred times as much software available can't deal with a single product going all Mac? So much for the myth that PC's are better because they run more programs.

[Superbobus]

Why is it that the platform that has a hundred times as much software available can't deal with a single product going all Mac? So much for the myth that PC's are better because they run more programs.

Another myth is the megahertz myth. I hope they'll kill that one soon. Also, it's very strange that I never heard Mac users complain about bad software support while PC users always come up with that excuse.

I think the problem lies in the fact that lots of PC users invested a bundle of money in updates, Logic 5, heck why not Logic/Mackie control and now they see that money vanish into smoke. So let's kill another myth: a Mac is not more expensive than a PC, in productivity costs that is...

[Rod S]

Originally posted by Dan South:

Maybe Alexander Publishing should put their money where their mouth is and underwrite Emagic's development costs for the next two years. In case anyone hasn't noticed, the business world is in a global depression - no, not a fucking recession, a DEPRESSION - and technology has been one of the hardest hit sectors. Companies worldwide have had to make brutal decisions just to remain in business. This hasn't been fun for anyone. Apple and Emagic have enthusiastic client bases, but in the end, they have to generate revenues and cut expenses in order to stay afloat in the current climate. I don't have access to Emagic's books, but I'm sure that the cost of maintaining dual platforms was cost prohibitive. Furthermore, the PC version and may have seen diminishing returns after the release of SONAR. Were PC sales growing? Fading? Flat? The answer may have been right there in those numbers.

 

Why is it that the platform that has a hundred times as much software available can't deal with a single product going all Mac? So much for the myth that PC's are better because they run more programs.

Dan, I don't think you're understanding what is being said. And please, don't start another MAC vs PC debate.

 

It's not a question of user's previously having 5 choices of DAW software, and now they have 4.

 

It's a question of spending time and money learning software, only to get shafted by the company. Whether it's driven by the economy or by Apple's own Agenda, it still hurts the end user the same way.

 

Does the guy who get layed off feel better if he gets layed off during a general recession or just because his company alone is doing bad? It sucks not matter what. Putting things in prespective does not alleviate the burden of the people that rely on these for a living, and have put a significant amount of time and money into it.