Yes, we need to buy these plugins.
But we shouldn't have to. And the fact that core functionality is being off-loaded from the basic program code into the plug-in architecture I see as a double-edged blessing. Makemusic no longer has to pay their programmers to incorporate these important functions, complete with full benefits and payroll taxes and all the corporate expense of maintaining a cadre of employees because they can either make us buy these plug-ins from third parties if we want the functionality or if enough of us are clamoring for the functionality they can license the plug-ins themselves and include them with the program upgrades. In the latter case we don't have to pay extra, but neither does MakeMusic have to keep their development staff as large as before the plug-in architecture.
I can see a time (hopefully a long ways off, but with the annual financial statements from MakeMusic I'm not so sure) when the program will be orphaned as Encore was and the plug-in architechture will be the only way we will get any improvements.
Which is a good thing, don't get me wrong. If that happens, Tobias and Jari and Robert (and hopefully others) will be the salvation of the program. I am hopeful Jari will soon get his Forza! plug-in to the gold stage where he sells a version which will not have an expiration date. I have already purchased TGTools and will shortly be purchasing Robert's set of plug-ins.
But that doesn't mean I have to like it, does it? Nor do I have to think that it is the best thing for the future of the program. It leaves me with an uneasy feeling that Finale's future may be limited. Their inability to deliver the OSX version on schedule does not inspire me with confidence.
I get the impression that MakeMusic is putting more and more of their development dollars into their SmartMusic accompaniment system, and since they are a limited-scope company, those dollars are coming from the Finale budget.
When was the last time Randy posted on this list? How about Allen Fisher? Is he still around? Why aren't they posting? Too busy? Not employed there anymore? Who knows? But I get the sense that something is up.
That's all.
Definitely buy those plug-ins -- they may be the only future Finale has.
Randolph Peters wrote:
So what's your point? Don't buy these plugins because that takes pressure off the company?
Not very pragmatic from where I'm sitting. I don't see why we can't have it both ways -- give MakeMusic feedback and strong complaints when necessary, AND use plugins that do the job better. If Finale starts incorporating features from third party plugin developers, great! They were still well worth the cost.
[snip] -- David H. Bailey [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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