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Subject:Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Posted by: decrink
Date:10/1/2002 1:39:47 AM

I've read the posts by Maruuk and Jayson and others that keep implying that EVERYONE has problems with Acid 4 and Sonic is 'ruined'. Quite the contrary, now that 'a' update is out seems like people are getting some work done. I'd like to see those of us that are using it grade it so we can see what the percentage is of users (at least the respondents) who like or dislike.

1. Reliability
2. Features
3. Work getting done (pro or amateur?)
4. Fun quotient
5. Overall
6. Other (your own rating or comment)
7. Your specs if you care to put them up

My rating:
1. Reliability 100% (haven't had a single crash since 4.0 and Delta update
2. 90% I've got MIDI running a bunch of soft synths. Rendering MIDI files to .wav for use in Vegas, composing stuff for Video that I could never touch before. For me its been a great upgrade from 3.0
3. 65% I use mostly Vegas because I do a lot of Video projects but since I got A4 cooking I'm really starting to explore soft synths. I'm mostly an acoustic string player so this has been a bit of a learning curve from the older Acid because of all the features
4. 92% Its been a blast to download synths and see how they work with MIDI files that I have composed in the past on Finale. Wow! I can really get some cool sounds when combined with tweaked and processed Acid stock loops. Lots of fun so far!
5. Overall I give it a 93% but only because it gave me a headache in the early stages before 4.0a. Now that its stable for me I have few complaints.
6. Hope a lot of this is implemented in Vegas!

7. XP home (massively tweaked for audio/video), dual monitor Matrox G550, AMD 1g, Asus MB, 512 DDR, Vegas 3, SF 6, Acid 4, tons of plugins and downloaded vst, Sibelius (dumped Finale, much better!), Delta 44, Yamaha keyboard for MIDI input, demo of Reaktor (works great with Acid).

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: nlamartina
Date:10/1/2002 2:15:51 AM

This survey won't accurately reflect people's actual feelings on Acid, nor their average success rate. Rather, it's a very limited cross-section. As has been pointed out many times, the forums are primarily for peer-to-peer support. People come here to get help with technical difficulties, not to trumpet the fact that everything's AOK. Therefore, one must entertain the fact that the presence of negative feedback could be inflated. Additionally, the forum regulars break down into two groups: those who are highly experienced with the programs and enjoy helping others, and the trolls. Further down the list you've got lurkers, n00bs, and script kiddies. Neither one of the "regulars" is a very good representative of the "average" Acid user, if there is such a thing. My opinion, of course.

Nonetheless Decrink, I'm glad to see you're enjoying yourself.

Regards,
Nick

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: MyST
Date:10/1/2002 7:14:32 AM

"Additionally, the forum regulars break down into two groups: those who are highly experienced with the programs and enjoy helping others, and the trolls."

It's too bad such a knowledgable mind also has to be so narrow.
I'm far from "highly experienced", but I like to think my input helps others here who are even less experienced than I.
Oh well, guess I'll cancel my internet and go live under a bridge(So THAT'S why I noticed a wart growing on my nose!).

Later.

PS: I didn't feel personally targeted by your remark, but I do think you're dismissing a good percentage of "postees" who would like to think our input is somewhat valuable.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Vocalpoint
Date:10/1/2002 7:37:47 AM

decrink,

Good thread - I am curious to see what other have to say.

1. Reliability - Haven't been real thrilled so far (even with 4.0a)
2. Features - SF has a done a great job trying to intergrate new things but I believe that they are losing sight of what Acid is and what is represents to those that have used it for so long as it was - a great looping app. This new direction has resulted in an application that is too weak to use.
3. Work getting done (pro or amateur?)- (Pro) With 4.0 - No? with 3.0g - Tons.
4. Fun quotient - I would say there is fun in 4.0 if it worked as advertised.
5. Overall - Currently too many issues with 4.0 to draw a clean honest review.
6. Other (your own rating or comment) - The nasty tradeoff with 4.0 is this "If you are willing to change all sorts of settings, drivers etc...and make sure you have a monster system in term of power and RAM, then 4.0 will probably work for you" is the vibe I am getting from a varied crowd in here. In my studio we have several workstations for different things. I range from our main - top-o-the-line 2.53 Intel P4 with the ASUS P4B-533-V, a GB of RAM and twin Western Digital 80GB (with the 8 MB Cache)to a PIII 733 with 512 MB of RAM...all machine running XP...all machine tweaked per every single tip or trick I could find and 4.0 still doesn't run right.

I have several working rules in my studio (and good ones I think): 1) Never hold up anything workwise while waiting for software to run right and 2) Never change drivers just cause someone tells you to. (I run M-Audio Delta 66 here).

The bottom line is - there has been too much negative press on 4.0 from ALL kinds of folks to take this thing seriously right now. The word is out - on forums and boards all over the net - that Acid 4.0 is a dog. This should be a huge concern to SF and can be a very big obstacle to overcome if it goes too far...Maybe a few updates down the line, this will work - but for me (and many like me), I simply don't have the time nor the patience to play around with this thing to see if it's stable. 3.0g on the other hand - is a winner and solid as a rock. Then again, maybe I don't need MIDi and soft synths and all that - Maybe 3.0g is as far as I am willing to go with Acid.

Slightly off topic but still relevant to this I think - I keep reading in many of these forums about why the semipro or pro community has never really adopted SF tools in the same way that Protools or Nuendo or Final Cut Pro are used...it many ways - it's for the reasons displayed in this forum and the vibe that has hatched around Acid 4.0. If SF wants the semi-pro or pro community to start REALLY getting behind their stuff...they had better start bulletproofing their code. Apps that don't work, don't last. And don't even get past the studio door. Acid still has a great future if these guys can focus on why this app was so great in the first place - painting with sound. But at this moment 4.0 is too busy crashing or this or that to be of any use. Now - I don't consider myself to be "Mr. Super Producer" or anything, but recommendations and usage by small, medium and big operations can, over time, make or break an apps chances of getting in the door. This is a huge word of mouth business we work in. Poor performance and bugs are not acceptable in a working studio environment. I regularly liase with 5 different studios and the only tool from SF - Soundforge has made the grade in most of these places..for the simple fact that it works. No fancy crap...no huge learning curve...no great big giant PC required. Fire it up and start editing. That's acceptance. Some things to think on while SF ponders 4.0b - just make it work as advertised and let's try and get some positive excitement and feedback going on Acid 4.0

Oh I see that Acid is back up to 499.00 today. Not good.

7. Your specs if you care to put them up - Too many to mention but see above for some.


Cheers,

Cuzin B

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: zendar
Date:10/1/2002 7:55:06 AM

cuzinB is smashing it right now!!! SONIC FOUNDRY ARE YOU LISTENING TO THIS MAN??????

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: PHATDRUMS
Date:10/1/2002 9:03:45 AM

nice post cuz i wuold also like to add a point about pros taking on protools etc rather than sf products is that most pro studios came up up through the mac route
rather than pc infact i believe most studios in fact every large pro studio i ever ever been in has been mac based this not a critic of the pc more a view that the mac was /is a more stable platform for sequencing a few years ago in particular
and most revisions of the most popular apps were ahead on the mac for many years
although that seems to have changed these days

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: decrink
Date:10/1/2002 10:05:45 AM

Great post Cuz. I agree with you. I'm only using Acid 4 for home studio experimentation. I would never expect it to be in use yet in studios where I do outside tracks. Seems like a number of PC pro guys around here use Creamware Pulsar. I would still never bring up 4.0 for clients in my home studio. I still don't trust it after the initial boondoggle with Delta drivers. Even though I'm having fun learning some new soft synth interfaces and getting keyboard stuff working (I come from guitar/violin/mandolin recording mostly with good mikes and Vegas) Acid 4 is just a play toy for me right now and that is how its viewed in the pro environment. Its the same (though I think undeserving with Vegas Video). I use it all the time as a multitracker but it is sensational for video work. I am doing film work constantly now and the editing is superior. I just saw an article in ANOTHER computer magazine about how to get your home movies to DVD and what do they talk about? Final Cut $999, Premiere (now there's a piece) and other low end stuff.

Back when, I did almost some complete album stuff on Acid (was it 2.0?). Now its just on my 'fun to play with when I'm done working' list. I guess for $99 that'll do for now. Can't see it at $499...

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: nlamartina
Date:10/1/2002 11:17:56 AM

Nah nah... A generalization that wasn't meant for offense. I was trying to be humorous by breaking up what I felt were genreal groups, but I'm finding more and more that 2:00 humor usually falls flat in the morning! =) So there are heros, grunts, apprentices *wink*, trolls, and even troll converts. Yeah... Go WarCraft.

All in fun,
Nick

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: MyST
Date:10/1/2002 11:23:06 AM

All's well. :)

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Maruuk
Date:10/1/2002 3:42:47 PM

decrank--Please point out where I've ever said "everyone" is having problems with 4.0. In fact, I've specifically pointed to those individuals who are having little or no problems, limited in numbers though they may be.

As to SOFO being "ruined"--never said it, an absolute lie on your part. I'm very hopeful SOFO can keep supporting Acid and make it work for the average user again.

Please cease and desist from making up a pack of lies about what other posters are saying so you can pontificate from your ivory tower about it. It renders everything else you write worthless.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: decrink
Date:10/1/2002 4:42:46 PM

Apologies to Maruuk, I mischaracterized what you have said. I'm not trying to pontificate from any white tower either. What nlamartina said in the initial reply was true about the respondents to my post being self selected towards negative feedback. Its just that I read lots of posts about all the troubles different people have had and it seems like there must be more like me, early troubles but now got it working and am enjoying the program.
I was only trying to find out with my post how people are rating the program now that some of us are getting it squared away. By the way, are you getting it squared away? Is it working at all for you now?

Once again, apologies for my mischaracterization. I was just going from the general vibe I've gotten from your posts over the last few weeks rather than going back and individually reading the numerous posts you have made. Actual words are always better than perceived attitude.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Maruuk
Date:10/1/2002 4:47:34 PM

Thank you sir, I appreciate the candor and what you're attempting to do by pulling together a clearer picture of the state of the product. Hopefully the subsequent revs of 4.0 will get a lot more good folks up and running with an essentially terrific application.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: SHTUNOT
Date:10/1/2002 8:52:20 PM

"Please point out where I've ever said "everyone" is having problems with 4.0"----LOL!!! You basically painted enough of a picture to everyone that there is a 85% to 15% bad to good ratio of users "suffering" over 4.0a. And how acid should have stayed as 3.0g with "rewire"...jackass!!! LOL. I can't believe ANYBODY offered an apology to you Mr.DOOM AND GLOOM himself. [or should I say Mr.Loophole...lol] Where did you get those numbers again? Take a pole did you? How's your system been running? Any probs? Improved your system spec from that 600 celeron? Hows that copy of sonar working for ya?...lol.

If anyones interested in a funny reading experience click on maruuks name and see this dude for who he really is.

"As to SOFO being "ruined"--never said it, an absolute lie on your part"--WHO'S LYING? Trying to cover your ass now that everyone can't stand to read your posts...I warned you!!! Again read back to what you've even said recently.Keep it up dude...makes my job a whole lot easier ;) .

The only person who should be apologizing here is YOU maruuk.... For taking the mood of the forum down with NO usefull hints/tips/workarounds/experience/GOOD CHEER other than your DOOM AND GLOOM "drama" you spew towards everyone. We always knew it was going to get better. Who cares if your finally admitting it now---"Hopefully the subsequent revs of 4.0 will get a lot more good folks up and running with an essentially terrific application"---Tomorrow you'll be back to your crap again I'm sure.

Hope to see any of you tomorrow at the V.A.S.T. tour here in NYC at the B&H photo/video/pro audio store in Manhatten. Later.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Maruuk
Date:10/1/2002 9:22:36 PM

SHUT-Try to focus here and act like you're not in the fourth grade. Well, I guess you are but try to deal with this on an adult level anyway. Life is not black and white. 2 things can be true about a product at the same time, not just one. Good things, and bad things can be going on at the same time.

I realize for a kid like you covered with skateboard scars it's reeeaally hard to follow this, but it's all part of your growing up, along with learning to avoid using curse words towards other posters.

I know, you can probably follow a fairy tale. Actually, that's perfect for you!

Once upon a time was a good king, who made good products in his kingdom. Then the king squandered all his money and started to make bad products because he couldn't afford to put good things in them anymore.

Many people just pretended the products were just as good as before because they loved the king. It was a sad affair.

But others thought facing the truth was the best thing, and they pointed out that the king was in ruin and the products blew technicolor chunks, and that the king must get back to the old way of making good products. This helped the king realize he couldn't keep making these crappy products and hold the kingdom together.

So what happened next was...

Well, stick around for the ending. It won't be long. It involves delusional morons who drink poison Kool-Aid offered by the King.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: SHTUNOT
Date:10/2/2002 7:43:19 PM

Another incredibly stupid rant...keep it up dude. Shows how much you really understand the tech sector in general. From what I've gathered today from the V.A.S.T. tour your dead wrong and as always spinning your "doom and gloom" yadda yadda...Be well...

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Jayson
Date:10/3/2002 12:09:36 AM

How do you rate something that doesn't work on some systems and has bugs in other systems. I am not new to this game here. I have Beta tested for Mircosoft in the past, and now Beta test for AOL DSL highspeed service. I get DSL for $20 bucks. Do you? I have never had a problem with ME or Via or AMD or what ever. All my machines (which is 5 in all) cook. I can do MPEGII work on my AMD K6III-550Mhz machines w/ Via chipset on a Shuttle Mother board. No, Problem. When using Calkwalk Audio, I have had large projects created with no problems. I bought a $20 piece of software from Magix that supported VSTi and DirectX plugin's and had better luck. Just because you buy the same car as me and haven't had any problems as me doesn't mean that my problems aren't real. Or that the problems of others aren't real.

I think what has turned me off here, is the attitude everyone has because some of us are criticizing a product that has some underlying problems. Using the Milk carton theory again, would you drink a glass of Elmers glue? When you goto pour a glass from the carton labeled milk that's what came out. Same here, I came to SOFO web site looking to upgrade from some of the older apps I was using. I read the feature and fell in love. I saw I had the right system requirments and downloaded it w/ my high speed connection (afew minutes max and it was done downloading). Then, like the honey moon being over, Acid disappointed me when we got home.

I was the one that said SOFO must be on there way out. I'm not afraid of you. I said it because I found it in poor taste to create a new product that was defective from the first release. If Acid Pro 4.0 wasn't ready, SOFO should have waited so that they release a great product for us all (98SE,ME,2000 and XP Users). But because SOFO is under stock holder peer pressure, they released a under tested product. And if I would have paid $200 or $300 dollars for this crap I would have asked for my money back. The system requirments don't say will only work with SHTUNOT's system or Decrink's system only. It doesn't say I need to have a super duper lightning fast machine with endless memory and approval from some computer geek that it is DAW ready. I'm not bitter about the software not working, just bitter that SOFO wrote me an e-mail like I was new to this stuff. I'm not mad at you guys either. I'm glad you guys like to talk.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Maruuk
Date:10/3/2002 3:27:20 AM

Shut--Can you follow even the most basic elements of a company's quarterly financial statements? Do you have the foggiest notion of what a stock price means? I thought not. Stick to what you do best--being the forum goon.

Jayson--Way to stand up to the local gangbangers! Yes, they are hoping to intimidate you into thinking it's YOUR FAULT that 4.0 is a major failure. They are counting on the fact that forum posters won't read the dozens of posts from Acid users for whom AP 3.0 and all their other pro apps work fine, yet 4.0 blows up every time.

And they are really hoping we won't draw the logical conclusion from that. That 4.0 is the buggiest, sloppiest, least robust music app release from a major publisher in modern history.

All this crap about DP and Cubase being just as bad in any rev is total nonsense. Not even close. 4.0 is a virtual train wreck. It's conceptually muddled, interface issues abound, and it plain doesn't work on most systems.

Where is Acid going? SOFO isn't sure. "Acid was never designed as a full featured app!" proclaims SOFO. This would be a sound policy...if they stuck to it. But they blundered into meddling with its very essence--like sticking fins on the back of a Miata. And now the Miata won't even start.

Is SOFO just going to keep sticking more half-baked, buggy "features" into Acid until it IS a "full-featured" app? Where does this Dr. Frankenstein sewing-together of parts end? Answer:

With a monster. One that makes rudimentary, strangled noises, then keels over dead.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: PHATDRUMS
Date:10/3/2002 3:35:03 AM

whats sad really is that if the bugs are fixed the features will still be half cooked and in todays marketplace i dont think it can survive without being fully featured
it probably would be better sold as $400 vst loop tool plugin which is all i can really use it like anyway in the state its in

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Maruuk
Date:10/3/2002 12:08:42 PM

Yeah, it's important to not just see Acid as it is, but where it's going vs. it's competition. What everyone agrees on are its core strengths, ease of use, simplicity, effectiveness as a looper with a little audio. As the audio/midi/ReWired apps with a little looping expand to improve their looping and beat-slicing/dicing abilities, where will that leave Acid?

It's leaving the charming toy realm, but now must sink or swim on an equal footing with the big boys with mega-features. So it raises the legitimate questions for SOFO:

What are the product goals for Acid? Where are you planning to position it in the crowded marketplace?

It's no longer simple, and no longer stable, though over time, that can change. But is it going to be just a looper with VSTi and a little midi? Is that the 5-year plan?

I suspect these are questions that have not been asked enough inside the hallowed halls of Madison.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:10/3/2002 2:20:53 PM

*All I can do is shake my head*

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: MyST
Date:10/3/2002 2:29:14 PM

You 'n me both, mD!!

M

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: PHATDRUMS
Date:10/3/2002 5:16:56 PM

shake your head in what way ?
& when you shake your head does it crash?

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Maruuk
Date:10/3/2002 7:17:49 PM

Ah yes, the Bobblehead twins. They'll be giving them away free with each version of 4.0b--they'll be as shaky as the rev. At least we'll get SOMETHING that functions for our $499. You get to keep one and hand the other to your client as a consolation prize for the score that fried.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: asopaque
Date:10/3/2002 8:05:59 PM

hey folks! been lurking here for a while. just a newbie to Acid (a still addicted but recovering mac-head). Using 3.0g and tried the demo of 4. hmmm....didn't seem to like my Delta card, eh? oh well. back to 3 to learn the curve and watching this firestorm to see when the jump to 4 is in the cards.

i will say this. this forum seems to have much in common with other techie geek forums i've been on, like the Logic forums, and more specifically, the Looper's Delight list. Man, do we all like to bitch, or what?

I'm an avid hardware looper, with tools such as Digitech PDS, Lexicon Jamman, Line6 DL4 and Echo Pro in my arsenal. Early last year, we all waited with baited breath for the release of the uber-looper...the Electrix Repeater. They went over deadline on their release date, made a lot of poor excuses, and sold off their entire inventory of other products to fund the release. And HOW did the looper's delight list scream and whine and pout that our beloved toy wasn't in our hands. And when we got it? finally? We screamed and whined and pouted about what was wrong with the damn thing. And yet...we loved it too. It's one of the most powerful tools for doing what we do (real-time looping), despite it's flaws.

By the way, anybody seen an Electrix Repeater in stores lately? I didn't think so. No, Electrix is no longer in business. Gone. I now have an orphan of a tool. Sure, an extremely fun and powerful tool, but an orphan nonetheless.

hmmm...wait, i've got a couple of other orphans, too. Digitech PDS and a Lexi Jamman. But they still work, and despite their flaws and limitations, are a blast to loop away with.

To end this blabber with something hopefully relevant...It's all about making music. If 4.0a still doesn't work for you, well, work with 3, have fun, and make some bitchen music. If SF fixes the problems, flourishes, and takes over the music world, well, then you can gloat that you were there in the beginning. And if SF quietly leaves this planet, leaving you with an orphan that will no longer be supported? Well...

I know how you feel. The lifecycle of hardware electronics is now in the same realm of software revisions. And there ain't no demos or cracks of hardware boxes available, dig? You dive in and take your chances. But we are blessed with tools today that allow normal geeks to play with toys that only the finest studios in the world had 20 years ago. Enjoy it, y'all! Why beat the crap out of each other over a software prog? Too much time on your hands between those gruelling sessions?

just my 2 cents,

Rich

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: MyST
Date:10/4/2002 6:39:04 AM

Maruuk...
For a person who complains an awful lot about being insulted and such, asking other posters to be banished by SoFo off the forum...you sure are quick to fire the insults.
Where did I personally insult you on that post???
Just because I don't agree with your doom and gloom scenario, you use me as a target to build yourself up?
Knock yourself out!! I've been here awhile, and insults coming from you don't really amout to diddly squat.

Send me your adress so I can send you some money for a good anger management course.

M

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: oZZion
Date:10/4/2002 1:15:04 PM

What do you mean... "and thoase who are trolls"? Wouldn't you prefer to rephrase that as those who have a life and are artually using Acid and not surfing the web except when they need info. The fact of the matter is, there are going to be alot more people that will seek out this and other forums to get infomation that they can't find the that slinky tiny manual that comes with Acid 4.0.

Perhaps you give good info and should be applauded. I don't know because I am new to this forum, but I had to say something.

Advanced Sonar User
Semi- New Acid Head (Not a troll)

oZZion

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: MyST
Date:10/4/2002 1:25:17 PM

oZZion, you might want to keep reading...Nick explains his post.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: nlamartina
Date:10/4/2002 2:15:07 PM

"Wouldn't you prefer to rephrase that as those who have a life and are artually using Acid and not surfing the web except when they need info..."

That's defined as a 'lurker', not a troll. Read my previous post. Again, just a silly little generalization.

- Nick

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Maruuk
Date:10/4/2002 2:43:18 PM

Oh please, your patronizing, insulting remark shared with MD directed specifically at my post puts you square in the fray, sir. Now you're trying to weasel out of it, but the fact is, if you just say something like, "I disagree because blah blah blah..." I have no problem with that.

But this constant childish sarcastic ad hominem put down garbage is going to get response every time. You show me one instance anywhere where I have instigated a negative personal comment about one of your posts, or anyone here.

As I always have maintained, if people want to argue specific issues, great. I have never been ad hominem over issues, that's the way it should be. But the moment you adopt the personally insulting, sarcastic tone that you just did, all bets are off.

Try, "You're wrong! I happen to know the company is in great shape because X, Y and Z." Deal with the facts as facts, and disagree all you want. But go down the insulting road with anyone here, and you're asking for it. Duh.

Actually, I find the whole 4.0 dysfunctional circus pretty interesting and amusing! Especially with so many folks desperately trying to spin things away from reality. I think of myself as a reality vendor--of course I'm going to get abuse for that--how many people actually want to face facts? Not too many here, but the Truth Squad is growing...

It is fascinating to see how many users have been turned onto ReWire from this forum, and how many have been literally shocked by the astonishingly bad showing of 4.0. And now more and more users are quoting the stock price and building that into their overall product strategy. This is all good stuff--users armed with more information to protect their investment and their studios. So if they choose to stick with Acid, as I hope they do, they don't do it blindly with unreal expectations.

Obviously, a lot of road blocks are being thrown at me and the many others who have sought to propagate the full picture here on the forum. And BTW, I mean the full picture, I say a lot of nice things about Acid, but of course that gets ignored by the rabid PR dogs.

There are many issues: the excellence of 3.0, the putridity of 4.0, the fact that SOFO has dropped the conceptual ball on Acid and seems rudderless market-wise, the hope that by 4.0g or 5.0, some robustness and general-usage can return to the product. And the underlying fact that SOFO has a history of great products, and retains a lot of good will for that, even now.

If you can't face the very real, not imagined, doom-and-gloom of the state of the company right now, that's your problem. But unless I inherit enough wealth to buy the stock back up to $64 from its current .72, there's nothing I or you can do about it. But how am I responsible for that disaster??? This is MY doom and gloom?

Hell, I'm perfectly happy--if Acid can get it together: Great! If it doesn't, there's always Sonar: Great! The user is the big winner here, it's an embarrassment of riches for us all. That's why SOFO can't take us for granted anymore--we have many places to go now that we didn't have last year at this time. SOFO has a limited time to get this app back to the garden.

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: iandgs
Date:10/4/2002 2:54:04 PM

1. Reliability - not bad once i upgraded by Audigy drivers and my Via chipset drivers, cleaned out my hard drive, defragmented and reinstalled windows 98 and finally upgraded to acid 4.0a. The upgrade to the program might have sorted all my previous crashes out (and there were many!) but the other stuff needed to be done anyway. It still crashes about once every hour though which is not really acceptable.
2. Features - vsti support is excellent although on playback some notes do not release which is annoying. Of course the ability to slice up beats, copy em, paste em is brilliant and as always acid loops beautifully. Who needs recycle?
3. Work getting done (pro or amateur?)Amateur and to be honest i've only moved from acid 3.0 in the last 2 months
4. Fun quotient - huge fun being enjoyed by all...
5. Overall - still some glitches which i hope will be fixed in the next revision but acid 4.0 has the potential to be a an incredibly powerful tool which is far easier to use than other programs e.g. fruity loops, reason (i stand open to correction on this point..)
6. Other (your own rating or comment)
7. Your specs if you care to put them up - 256mb ram, 2.0ghz, win 98se, p4

Subject:RE: Rate Acid 4.0a here now
Reply by: Jayson
Date:10/4/2002 6:22:05 PM

Would anyone buy a $400 TV from Wallyworld (Walmart's) and not expect it to work? Would you paid $400 for auto repairs to have the man tell you your car if fixed, and then it breaks down before you get it out of the garage bay? Would any one buy anything for the cost of $400 and recieve less then what you paid for? You will if you buy this product. Sorry, just my 2 cents here.

Everyone must face it. Acid is not a little boy anymore and has grown up. It will become a professional app. For $400 it is a professional app. This is not Moding anymore. I wonder if the stock holders know that SOFO is producing products that the masses can't use. After all the stock holders want a return. How do you get a return? You sell products. How do you increase your returns? You sell a sucessful product or products to alot of comsumers. SOFO's stock holders lost what ever shares they would have recieved from there first release of Acid Pro 4.0 from me. And totally lost me with 4.0A. My hope is they will get it right. From a producers point, Acid 4.0 has the features to kill there competitors. Just right now there tring to fight the battle with a dull sword. Make music not noise.....Jayson! Peace out.

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