Next Generation of Vegas Pro?

[Angelo Mike]

I agree on everything stated about the problems with cloud software/monthly subscription ransomware nonsense. It’s good for the company that charges you, bad for everyone else. And it’s a shame. If Vegas went that way, I’d switch to something like Premiere or Avid.

I don’t know much about the inner workings at SCS, but I doubt they would go to cloud/subscription software based on what I’ve gleaned from them. Just given that Vegas almost seems like an afterthought to Sony makes it seem like they wouldn’t want to put the resources into changing Vegas so dramatically and rock the boat. Their inertia may pay off for us in that regard.

I’ve been thinking about making some kind of video promoting Vegas for video editors. I think it’s a shame that Sony doesn’t put more effort into promoting it, because the lack of popular use means that companies that make plugins don’t put out as many since they don’t sell that well.

[Kevin Mccarthy]

AMEN John!

I love the Serious Magic stuff and still use them. The DV Rack HD program came with a sticker in the users’ manual (remember when you used to get those with the program)that said please contact Adobe for all service related issues. This was just as they were sold to Adobe.

I had a computer die and re-installed them on a new machine and needed new install codes. Adobe refused any help until I sent them a scan of the manual and threatened legal action.

The finally gave me new codes with the warning not to try it again!

Trust me Adobe, you don’t exist in my world!!!

[Stephen Crye]

[Angelo Mike] “I’ve been thinking about making some kind of video promoting Vegas for video editors.”

Go for it Angelo! Please.

Steve

Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T7500, MultiTB SATA, 12GB RAM, nVidia Quadro 2000, Vegas 12, 11, 10, 9 DVDA 6.0 & 5.2(build 135) Sony HDR-CX550V, Panasonic GH3 with LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm / F2.8 ASPH, LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm / F2.8

[Angelo Mike]

[Stephen Crye] “Go for it Angelo! Please.”

Thanks, I will. I just want to have the right idea and footage. I think I’d make something that shows how versatile, powerful, and easy to use Vegas is, and then show what it’s like to use it on a regular basis, but in the form of kind of a commercial and not an internet tutorial, since there are lots of those.

[Dave Haynie]

Exactly.

Think about your level of satisfaction with the things you own versus those you rent or subscribe to. Are you happier as a home owner or a tenant? Do you get more satisfaction out of what you pay for your cable/satellite or internet service, versus, say, a new $1200-$2000 lens or camera.

Ok, maybe not direct comparisons, but here’s the thing: as John says, they have little incentive to improve your condition. And take a look at subscriptions models like HBO or Comcast or DirecTV. They spend a good deal of money on ads, always looking for new subscribers. But they also lose a bunch of customers every year, people who decide that their service just isn’t worth the money.

And what they do, they optimize the service you’re given to keep that level of attrition at a particular rate. Those are the most expensive people to keep happy, leaving every year. And they would cost substantially more to keep happy than it costs to attract more new viewers.

So they have optimized their business model with the expectation that some people every year will be unhappy enough to leave. But that also guarantees that there are lots of customers almost as unhappy, but not ready to leave yet. Maybe they’re just on the brink — I know I dumped both Dish Network and Hugesnet in 2012, I was just pushed too far at some point. And the cost of leaving is very small, really, it’s just a bother, but it’s surprising that a fairly large number of customers will be unhappy with their service at least part of the time.

Now take that to Adobe, who’s now following the exact same model: you’re going to pay until you’re angry enough to leave. But think of the bar… what if I couldn’t edit PSD files? I’d be leaving behind decades of work…. I’d really have to figure out how important that is (and of course, make sure I had TIFFs of each one). And that’s nothing compared to being deeply invested in the Adobe tools.

It may take time, but there’s an awfully good chance that over time, many CC owners will keep paying but still be very upset with the rate of change. This is good for Adobe, of course.. not just the lack of a need to perform, but the ability to spend their development time where they want to, not where the customer demands. In the past, you didn’t upgrade Photoshop unless it offered enough of a set of new features. That’s a very popular program, and so Adobe had no choice to keep it updated if they wanted to keep making money on it. But there’s not an instant replacement for it, either… sure, other graphics programs, but nothing quite like Photoshop (last I checked). Adobe themselves would be better off improving other tools, those with really strong competition. Not only does that make the product stronger, but it strengthens the chance any given customer drops some other tools and goes all-Adobe.

So this is why I’m at PSCS6 and never changing. That’s also a problem because of Microsoft… they have had a tendency to obsolete old software in various ways. Now sure, no one bought Windows 8, so pro applications are working with Win8 but not moving to it. But eventually, Microsoft could get it right, and if they stick to their old tricks, at some point the “I own it” tools will not run in the new Windows.

Some good could come out of this: there is now a very good reason for a software company to build Adobe-like applications for Adobe users. That really wasn’t true in the past; beginners and hobbyists use scaled down versions of the main apps, while pros have little reason to accept a “clone”.

-Dave

[John Rofrano]

[Dave Haynie] “And what they do, they optimize the service you’re given to keep that level of attrition at a particular rate. Those are the most expensive people to keep happy, leaving every year. And they would cost substantially more to keep happy than it costs to attract more new viewers. “

Yea, Adobe’s business model is NOT to make great software anymore. Their business model is to piss off less customers than they can attract which is why CC is constantly “on sale” for a limited time that will be over soon (but last for several years). That is now they measure their success because they no longer sell software, they sell a service.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Dave Haynie]

I didn’t realize they had gone to the limited-time-discount, but that was totally predictable. Every pay TV subscription does exactly that to get you hooked. Adobe’s following the well defined template on this… unfortunately, that leads to an inferior product.

-Dave

[Stephen Crye]

Great Post as usual, Dave.

I’m sure I am not the only one on this forum who notices that although you don’t post as much many others (for example me!) ,when you do jump in, it is always insightful, accurate and clearly worded.

I would add that I have a (perhaps irrational) fear of relying on things beyond my control, be it “cloud” email, cloud backup, ransomware, or even just riding with someone else in a car. Back when I used to fly, even though I was a crappy pilot, I was never frightened when at the controls – even when sweating crosswind landings in hail. But, each time I climbed into the belly of an airliner, I was slightly white-knuckled.

The thought of having all my work be inaccessible because my subscription to ransomeware has lapsed, or the company folds, is nightmarish!

Steve

Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T7500, MultiTB SATA, 12GB RAM, nVidia Quadro 2000, Vegas 12, 11, 10, 9 DVDA 6.0 & 5.2(build 135) Sony HDR-CX550V, Panasonic GH3 with LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm / F2.8 ASPH, LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm / F2.8

[Stephen Mann]

I said in another forum that Adobe has apparently run out of new features to encourage people to upgrade. The ransomeware model removes all incentive for them to invest in any product improvements. The bean counters will figure out pretty soon that they don’t need an R&D department.

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com

[John Rofrano]

[Stephen Mann] “I said in another forum that Adobe has apparently run out of new features to encourage people to upgrade. “

That was evident when they release 5.5 and they charged money of it. So they admittedly didn’t have enough new features to call it 6.0 but they wanted us to pay full price for the few features that it introduced. That was the beginning of the end.

This is exactly the core of the problem. I know that I was not upgrading Creative Suite every year. I always skipped a version because there just wasn’t enough new features that I needed to warrant the upgrade price. What Adobe has done is removed that choice so CC automatically cost me twice as much because I have to effectively upgrade every year whether I want to or not.

The real problem is having the software stop working when you stop paying. This is a condition that I simply cannot agree to. With the economy the way it is, you never know when you’ll be out of work. So now if you loose your job and can’t afford to pay Adobe’s ransom, you can’t get a job because your tools no longer work! Good luck freelancing with an agreement like that.

Adobe needs to allow customers who have paid for a certain amount of time to stop paying and keep the last version that they paid for in order for their subscription to make any business sense.

BTW, I don’t object to subscriptions at all. I have a maintenance contract for TechSmith Camtasia. I pay them $99 a year and I get every new version for free. They usually put out a new major version each year so I’m only paying $99 for the upgrades instead of $129 normal upgrade price. The maintenance contract saves me money and Camtasia has steady income every year from it. The different is that I don’t have to buy the maintenance contract and if I don’t renew it, my last version of Camtasia keeps working.

Adobe just doesn’t get it. Their subscription cost me more money and leaves me unable to work if I am unable to pay. That’s why we call it “ransom ware”. They are out of their minds.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com