Lo!

And so it was that each winter night they gathered,
And waited patiently for a new sign,
And when the hour of midnight did arrive so too a sign would come,
And they gazed in awe,

And much bewilderment.

And each night after, some talked amongst themselves, asking,
"how are we being guided that we may begin to understandwhat will be the new way to make Heavenly music in the future? - will someone tell us what meaning these signs have?"

While others simply said, "we must be patient, all will be revealed in due course, meanwhile let us enjoy each others company with light hearted chat while we wait!"

And so it was.

[[;)]]

vsling,

Yet another amusing post! We'll all be disappointed when your first serious one comes in!!

[:D]

So, anything interesting happening this week?

oooh! This is just too much.

I think I know what this is... the only thing I really, reallly hope is that "expandable" means we can make use of this big new release without necessarily being _required_ to buy the entire Symphonic Cube/Complete Orchestral Package. Or maybe the "Symphonic Cube" is not actually what everybody expects it to be -- the completion of the sampling project -- but is rather the MIR and whatever wonderful performance software they've cooked up??? Either way, my PC's gonna need a brain transplant!

J.

MIR is "expandable" with more IRs, but first out is The Vienna Konzerthaus.

My two cents

I want I want! I need I need! Are we there yet? Are we there yet?? [:D] [:P]

Has the price been revealed in the "hints"? How much do you think the Symphonic Cube will cost?

I think it will cost 8,995 without any former purchases like Pro Edition.....What about you?

I hope your right - but it seems optimistic.

Oh... €, $ OR £ ?

@Christian Marcussen said:

$ OR £ ?

That kinda looks like SORE, much like the price I expect!!

$8,995 in USD....Sure it's optimistic but if it's higher than that some of us "dreamers" won't be able to have more than a dream.....Remember VSL metioned "It's not a dream"....well if it's 10,000 dollars it might as well be a dream right [:P]? Cheaper price equals more buyers or pricey and fewer buyers...I'm hoping VSL will be affordable so more people can have the opportunity for their high quality samples. Seeing the fact they are advertising on Northern Sound Forum seems to me that they are aiming to have the price "reachable" so more sales can be made. One can hope!

Austin, I wish I shared your optimism. VSL has shown only inflexibility on pricing - almost denying competition pressures. Their pricing models seem to have worked, though. This last summer's 30% discount pricing was partially spurred on by a 15% correction in the currency rates (USD to Euro) and just clearing off stock before this huge release.

Could be wrong though - often am [:)]


(could they have tired of releasing more hints - seems stuck on 4 days)

Rob

The hints always updates around 3 pm pacific time here. So in about 30 minutes Rob. I hope my optimism is not just that but a reality for what VSL will announce concerning the price. It's true with what your saying about their inflexibility but it's christmas time and and [:P]. I hope they realize that even though they are giving more that in order to sell more they can't keep upping the price way beyond Pro Edition was selling for. If you watch group buys for example companies can make great profits while selling far cheaper...I hope VSL is reasonable for the loyal user such as me and all the other great guys on this forum.

I've watched the post count grow in this countdown with some deal of humour!

But as far as discounts go, i offer the following.
Economically, the sample market is the same as any other. Customer demand, competition, and niche awareness all play a part. Many of you have postulated the likelyhood of discounts, customer loyalty, etc., and speculated on the eventual price of the cube. (If indeed this countdown is the cube. It could very well be another fine product like..........epic piccolos.)
But in any market there are the 'discounters', the 'cheapos', and those at the top of the range, whose intent and product strategy is not mass production, but fine craftsmanship. VSL must count as one of the latter, a large complete, and superbly crafted product, constructed carefully and lovingly with exacting standards as the objective, not 'near enough is good enough.'
You can't buy fine cut diamonds at a discount, nor a yacht whose every part has been assembled with quality as the benchmark. (I've done some sailing)
And you wouldn't get a BMW motorcycle at a knockdown price. Stradivarius Instruments don't come cheap, and they don't go down in price.

So, while i admire your wishful thinking, VSL, the Rolls Royce of sample libraries isn't going to be marketed at a ford price, and nor should it. Like Fine diamonds, classy yachts. stradivari strings, and rolls royces, VSL is the top of the range, and any attempt on their part to indulge in group buys or heavy discounting as a market strategy would diminish the reputation they have, and ultimately, reduce the value of your investment. (IMHO)


Regards to you all,

Alex.

(Only three more sleeps!)

[H]

3 days, and nothing new really that I can see. Algorithms, has that been mentioned before? Probably, I was offline over the weekend.

Anyway I've just this minute finished unpacking the Pro Ed dvd's, so I'm off for a beer. Or I would be if the pub was open. Ah well...

Update and Specials downloading to be done now.

I had a feeling someone would mention the porsche versus toyota type of argument. I know VSL is top of the line and it shows. Their articulations and details plus innovation far exceeds almost any competitor around....as VSL puts it...."What competition?". I am just saying that even though porsche's are more than a toyota they aren't as much money as say a custom made italian car that is only made for 10 people a year! Nothing I am aware of costs 10,000 dollars for sampling of anything except the possibility of the Symphonic Cube. They can charge premium but not above and beyond where most people's wallets can't have enough money in it to cover the cost.....

I wish we could hear some demo's or some sort of music from the cube in the "countdown"....wouldn't that be nice!? [H]

@Austin Haynes said:

$8,995 in USD....Sure it's optimistic but if it's higher than that some of us "dreamers" won't be able to have more than a dream.....

I guess price will be 25,600 EUR (approx. 29,954 $).

hehe Austin - i'm begining to think your as much a junkie as I am! [[:D]]

Chinablu... that seems very pessimistic. The only potential customer would be Hans Zimmer. And even he would think twice [[:D]]

[;)] Christian, I think your thinking is pretty accurate [:D] ....Heheh 3 Days guys! 3 Days! [:P]

3 days.. arg!

The thought of a 25600 price tag scares me. I still think its way more than what it actually will cost, but just the thought of it still scares me. I'm stil expecting it to be twice the Pro Ed price though