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Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by lychee
Hi.

I address myself to the developers of Reason in the first place, but I invite the readers of this forum to comment whether you like my idea or not, for the development of our favorite tool.

I came to the world of Reason thanks to the rack and Friktion.
Being a Cakewalk user for a long time, I never had the use of the DAW part of Reason.
Coming from Reason Intro, which was reasonable in relation to my budget, I must admit that I was very disappointed with the change in Propellerhead's commercial policy, leaving us only the choice of a subscription (which I think puts off a lot of people), or purchasing the full version of Reason.

Not liking subscriptions, I felt compelled to take the full version of Reason to be up to date on the interesting new functions of the rack during a discount.
Despite all this was not resonable because I am not rich.
For those like me who don't use the DAW and aren't interested in a subscription, why not sell the Reason rack only, at a better price?

Reason's echo system is rich enough to interest the masses, but I think you are limiting your product by systematically associating it with the DAW and therefore at an unattractive price.
I consider that the rack can be compared to a Kontakt, and that sold solo it could attract more people and therefore more developers.

Imagine like a Kontakt player, making a free rack restricting certain functions and with a few basic instruments, to interest a greater number of people in your echo system, who, if they are seduced, will buy other instruments in the shop, will upgrade the rack...

That's how NI became one of the music industry leaders with Kontakt, so why not follow their example?

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by Loque
What do you think would be a fair price for the rack only and is rack only a empty rack?

And btw, this was already discussed quite often...

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by lychee
Loque wrote:
06 Apr 2023
What do you think would be a fair price for the rack only and is rack only a empty rack?

And btw, this was already discussed quite often...
Sorry if this has already been discussed, but if it's been discussed often that means it's a recurring request, right?
As for the price I don't know, but cheaper than with a DAW which is of no use for a certain number of us.
Reason has made the effort to put aside its Rewire system to put the rack in VST, it's time to cut the cord of the baby definitively, because many like the rack and the fact of associating it with the DAW makes them confused.

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by lychee
Before, there were 3 versions of Reason (if I say no nonsense), now there is only the most expensive, which remains a deterrent for those who would just like the rack.
So why not reintroduce an Intro like with the rack only with a few instruments?

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by _andreypetr_
Leave this topic, let Reason Studios make a mess themselves 🥲

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by Popey
I have mentioned this before but I think you should be able to buy rack extensions that come with a empty rack (and midi out device) so they could be bought by other daw users just like vst.

Considering recent vst events they could advertise it as "Wave goodbye to vst and say hello to rack extensions"

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by crimsonwarlock
I think that the RRP needs the full DAW installed to work. The rack does include all the Reason stock devices, so there isn't something like an empty rack they could make available freely. My guess is that the RRP VST plugin is basically a container device that loads stuff from the full DAW. This makes sense from a development standpoint because otherwise they have to maintain two different products that are largely running the same codebase.

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by jam-s
I suppose right now RS cannot offer a free (empty) rack as they are still bound by some licensing agreement with wibu for the codemeter copy protection. (Most likely a fixed sum per license/user). But to me it looks like RS seem to be migrating away from this with the new offline authentication system. And after this has been released there might be a chance for this often requested and totally win-win request to be put forward imho.

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by Popey
jam-s wrote:
06 Apr 2023
I suppose right now RS cannot offer a free (empty) rack as they are still bound by some licensing agreement with wibu for the codemeter copy protection. (Most likely a fixed sum per license/user). But to me it looks like RS seem to be migrating away from this with the new offline authentication system. And after this has been released there might be a chance for this often requested and totally win-win request to be put forward imho.
Ah I did not know about that so it is a potential barrier.

I do wonder if it is a fixed sum could they add it into the price (dependent on the cost) but I am sure people would grumble at cheaper prices for those with r11 upwards vs those without having to pay more. Certainly would be another revenue option if RS can make it work for them in the future.

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by DaveyG
Yep, variations on that theme have been discussed quite a bit. I think they would really benefit from having a free or almost-free tier with very minimal instruments and effects. Then you'd have a whole new audience to sell REs and upgrades to. And I think every new account that purchases an RE should get a free empty RRP so someone can buy and use just that one RE in a DAW of their choice. Once again, it's about getting more people involved in the ecosystem.

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by Heater
I don't suppose RE devs would complain. Would give them another revenue stream.

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by selig
Heater wrote:
06 Apr 2023
I don't suppose RE devs would complain. Would give them another revenue stream.
Many RE devs including myself proposed exactly this when RRP was in testing.

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by bxbrkrz
"Considering recent vst events..."
I am out of the loop with VST news. Is this related with Apple and their new chip?

RRP is already that, a rack without the DAW (visually). It is up to RS to decide if they want to sell more by updating their codes (rack only).

"Introducing RRP Intro Free, with the RS app store inside. Play ReRoulette and you could win a free module every month. Some restrictions may apply. 18 and over." :cool:

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by Popey
bxbrkrz wrote:
06 Apr 2023
"Considering recent vst events..."
I am out of the loop with VST news. Is this related with Apple and their new chip?

RRP is already that, a rack without the DAW (visually). It is up to RS to decide if they want to sell more by updating their codes (rack only).

"Introducing RRP Intro Free, with the RS app store inside. Play ReRoulette and you could win a free module every month. Some restrictions may apply. 18 and over." :cool:
I put considering recent events as I was referring to the waves subscription plan that angered a lot of their customers. Hence the wave goodbye

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by selig
Popey wrote:
06 Apr 2023
I put considering recent events as I was referring to the waves subscription plan that angered a lot of their customers. Hence the wave goodbye
"Waves Goodbye" - took me a second to 'get' that one!!!

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 06 Apr 2023
by bxbrkrz
Popey wrote:
06 Apr 2023
bxbrkrz wrote:
06 Apr 2023
"Considering recent vst events..."
I am out of the loop with VST news. Is this related with Apple and their new chip?

RRP is already that, a rack without the DAW (visually). It is up to RS to decide if they want to sell more by updating their codes (rack only).

"Introducing RRP Intro Free, with the RS app store inside. Play ReRoulette and you could win a free module every month. Some restrictions may apply. 18 and over." :cool:
I put considering recent events as I was referring to the waves subscription plan that angered a lot of their customers. Hence the wave goodbye
VST and just the company Waves are not the same, one is a protocol. Anyway I know what the context was supposed to be hmm :cool:

Re: Why not sell the rack without the DAW?

Posted: 12 Apr 2023
by turn2on
RS need to make with RE SDK, something like they do with ReWire SDK peviosly, when 3rd part DAWs support ReWire.
If Rack-shell can be run in any DAW, not like VST, but as format RE-shell, this can be huge promo for RE platform and Reason ecosystem at all.
RRP is absolutely another way, that sell and promote Reason licesne/R+ subscription.
Just store for RE sale, with possibilities to use them as RE-into-shell, in various DAWs, as VST, RTAS, AU, AAX..
RE can be perfect standart for 3rd part DAWs, with exclusive RS store.
RRP is way to work like with VST-shell. But shell needed more for single use of RE/stock products too. may be without rack at all (with this RE lost CV rack orientation at all as option). So free silence rack is also interesting idea with saved CV idealogy.
This all is only toughts. RS known better what they do. I believe, they must have plans.

Currently, they already have
- DAW users
- RRP users
May be single RE(in-shell) users make new group of sales vs RRP. So, users that have REs, can run them as single devices too, as single VST-shell, or better in RE format, that 3rd part DAWs can support in future.

So. U-he with Bitwig already create beta CLAP-plugin format, that can be used in Bitwig and Reaper
Why RE not coming in the same way, like ReWire was been included in amy DAWs time ago.. ))