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Subject:Who actually purchased these products
Posted by: shitcomputer
Date:6/9/2003 7:23:49 PM

A reply to a later topic got me thinkin, who here actually has purchased their sonic foundry products and helped support the company, and who has just gone and cracked them and cost SF millions of dollars?? Hahaha just wonderin bout that.

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Chienworks
Date:6/9/2003 9:07:10 PM

Well, i'll admit i haven't paid for every SonicFoundry license i have, but those i didn't pay for were given to me by the company. No cracks here!

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: kylen
Date:6/10/2003 12:52:01 AM

...A reply to a later topic got me thinkin, who here actually has purchased their sonic foundry products and helped support the company, and who has just gone and cracked them and cost SF millions of dollars?? Hahaha just wonderin bout that. ...

I always pay, it's way cheaper than if I wrote it. How about you - you didn't say.

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Geoff_Wood
Date:6/10/2003 4:36:27 AM

I started off many years ago (back in the hobby days) thanks to a.b.s.u , Radium, Zone, Artic (etc) . As a result of being impressed with the products/support and some lucrative introductory offers from SF , now have bought and paid for 4 products and several upgrade cycles.

geoff

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: captn_spalding
Date:6/10/2003 6:59:46 AM

Mine are all paid for. I believe that most of the folks who run cracks are like petty shoplifters - the thrill is in the theft, not in the actual use. Their computers are loaded with cracked software, little of which they can actually use with any proficiency. I wonder, do they post score cards? "I got 137, now! nya,nya,nya,nya,na"

..spalding

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: vanblah
Date:6/10/2003 9:55:34 AM

I just had this discussion the other day with a co-worker. The general feeling is that it is a pissing contest among people who collect crackz.

Interestingly, my coworker had this point: it is because certain software is easy to "steal" that it becomes ubiquitous. Can anyone think of a certain brand of software that is easily stolen (you don't even have to crack it) and has become the standard for most PCs? Incidentally, my coworker was a tech. writer for Redhat a while back.

It can be a very valid marketing strategy to saturate the market with crackable software and become the standard. Then you release a version that is not so easily crackable.

All of my audio editing software is paid for by the way.

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: captn_spalding
Date:6/10/2003 10:26:22 AM

Yes, I can see where such a strategy would work for a software firm with resources. But there are numerous examples of people who just chucked it over this issue. A friend wrote what became the standard backup product for the Amiga. he worked like a dog to keep up with new tape drives and other technology. By the time he got out he estimated that 80% of the copies running were stolen. These thieves were brazen enough to contact him for patches and fixe! So, just as an organism must live and deal with parasites and civilization must live and deal with sociopaths, so must we live and deal with software thieves. I have nothing but disdain for them, but also know that that disdain means nothing to them.

..spalding

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: dndemattia
Date:6/10/2003 10:39:46 AM

I own SF 5.0, Acid Pro 3.0, Vegas Audio and a whole lot of Acid loops - all purchased and/or upgraded.

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: keether
Date:6/10/2003 1:52:17 PM

I bought SF Studio XP 5, and upgraded to v.6 thinking what a great product for not many bucks.

However, 12 years ago I could barely afford a PC "clone" (remember that word?) and didn't hesitate to accept a friend's OS and word-processor and spreadsheet. What's a computer without basic tools, after all? I did a lot of borrowing, and yes, it was dishonest. The alternative was NO computer use, NO getting hooked on the dominant OS. After a few years the hardship of not owning my own software became so obvious that I became a devoted owner. And by now it seems unthinkable to load something suspicious into my carefully nurtured and cared-for machine. Everything I use, I paid for.

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Bobunit
Date:6/12/2003 12:41:02 PM

I purchased SF 5.0w/NR bundle, ugraded to 6.0, Acid 4.0 w/6pack bundle and love it all.


Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: shitcomputer
Date:6/12/2003 8:36:05 PM

I do agree that software theift is wrong, yet i beleive it has played a major part in the growth of certain programs. Imagine if nobody could crack sound forge, it would be a lot smaller market. I also agree with captn spalding, that some people do just crack programs for the thrill of it. I myself have purchased my sonic foundry products, but in the initial game of things yes - i cracked them. Not for the thrill, but for my own use for composing and editing. Its quite interesting to hear what everybody thinks about this, but it got me thinking again - who would actually say they are running cracked software on the forum of the products website?????

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Chienworks
Date:6/13/2003 6:15:27 AM

We have had several users post just exactly that ... that they were using cracked versions. They may not have realized that was what they were saying though. It seems to happen more often in the ACID forum, but a typical post will be something like, "Yeah, so i downloaded ACID like my friend told me, and then he sent me to this site to get some sort of unlock code. OK, that works, but i can't figure out what to do next. I'm trying to rip to MP3 and it won't let me." *sigh* We've had more than a few of those.

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: captn_spalding
Date:6/13/2003 6:58:08 AM

Certainly I know many people who argue a gray area - "I run a cracked version of the software to see if I like it then either buy it or delete it" - but I don't buy the argument I've heard that runs something like - "It's really expensive and I'm poor so I got a cracked version off of the internet". Stealing a loaf of bread to feed your family is one thing, but " I'm stealing this software to make an awsome mix for my family" doesnt work for me.

...spalding

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: keether
Date:6/13/2003 2:54:13 PM

I agree with captn spalding but I know I'm doing that with my head. It's my heart that said 'yes' when a friend put basic software on my computer. But that was a long time ago, and there was no downloading then, and software was much more expensive. That was brought home to me recently when I found an old file of 1991-92 PC Mag clippings I'd collected as a beginner to learn more about my computer. Lotus' Ami Pro word-processor cost $450 back then! I see why I didn't just go buy it!

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: shitcomputer
Date:6/15/2003 8:22:19 PM

This topic is fun to listen to i rekon

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: juan2003
Date:6/16/2003 12:21:09 AM

Hey shitcomputer !!

Unfortunatly the cracks softwares they are killing and destroy at Sonic Foundy products,
for such a reason the exclent Sonic Foundry maybe colapse, disappear and to lose millons of millons of dollars and then WE WILL CAN'T TO SEE NEW FONIC FOUNDRY PRODUCTS OR UPDATES!! and that will be very terrible and sad for Sonic Foundry users.

Then dear shitcomputer, take you crack softwares and STICK IT UP YOUR ASS WITH LOVE.
Juan Pastor, from Lima - Peru

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: rraud
Date:6/16/2003 7:14:37 PM

My2 cents: I buy all the programs I use. I am a Pro.
Most of the hackers are not going use these porgrams much anyway. And they would not buy them if they had pay.

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: ironman
Date:6/17/2003 9:19:41 PM

yep shitcomputer, you really started something! My two cents: I believe in subsidizing good programmers. I bought NR 2.0 & xfx before I got them bundled with SF 5.0! If it's really good, pay for it! (if you want tech support, at least pay for it! people who can develop have a talent, but people who can 'splain it to folks like me, they have a gift!) Knowing people who can crack this stuff, it is easy (for me) to see the challenge (for them), the real dishonesty is in providing what isn't yours to others. Because, you're right, most crackers don't use it, they are busy with cracking the upgrade. And most users of cracked versions are not crackers...

BTW Juan2003 - well put, yo simpatico

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: MyST
Date:6/17/2003 9:36:13 PM

https://www.sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=3&MessageID=143591

This post asking for help with obvious cracks was about as funny as I've ever seen on these forums. Check out the apps this guy has, and no knowledge of digital audio what-so-ever!

M

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: shitcomputer
Date:6/18/2003 6:40:31 PM

For you JUAN. You are ov\bviously a <edited> moron, no seriously you must be quite stupid. Do you read fast, or do u just not take in what you read. I clearly said that i own my sonic foundry products ! *In fact what i said was that i had cracked version for my first version which was 4.5. Your post actually makes little sense, and i found it hard to distinguish what you actually meant. So lets all take a minute to think about who really made an ass out of themselves now- JUAN or me. I'd say you JUAN, and i think you should read my earlier posts as i am not running any cracked Sonic Foundry products. <edited>

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: SonicJG
Date:6/24/2003 3:04:39 PM

OK everybody, this was supposed to be a polite conversation about cracks. Let's try and keep it that way, and save the vulgar language and name-calling for the dinner table.

As far as I can tell, you're both on the side of generally not condoning cracks, so please be kind to each other.

Thanks,
Joel

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Rednroll
Date:6/25/2003 12:58:51 PM

Myself at one time had a crack addiction. :-) It became where it was more of a thrill of hunting than actually using the software. I think I had aquired almost every audio program and plugin available. This is when I first started using the PC for recording and before I went out and purchased a program I wanted to make sure I wasn't spending a lot of time learning something that wasn't going to meet my needs. At this time I felt my time spent was worth more than the money I spent. In my case I think I may have helped some Sonic Foundry sales more than I stole away. I was teaching recording classes at the time for students, and students would always come to me for recommendations on which audio software to purchase. I was able to guide them in the right direction and would be able to give them the strenghts and weaknesses of all the options. I never gave away or sold any of these cracks, because I spent lots of time hunting and as I said, my time is money and they weren't mine to give away or sell.

There is good and bad that happens with cracked software. I like to think of Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop has to be one of the most cracked pieces of software that I've seen on the internet. The good thing that comes out of this is that Adobe photoshop is an industry standard and is recommended by all types of users (ie Pro/Beginner). So I guess the reality to me is that the better your product, the more sales you will have, and also the more cracked it will become, but the end result is a larger market share, where everyone has heard of Adobe Photoshop. Marketing costs money, cracking to me is a type of marketing in this sense. Now when the sales decrease and the cracks increase, then you have a problem you need to fix or you need to sell your company to Microsoft, who will make it part of the OS in the next Windows because everyone is using it.

All my Sonic Foundry/audio software is now legit/purchased, and I've gotten over my crack addiction. I do still have some cracked plugs laying around on CDrom. The only time I use them is when I'm beta testing Sonic Foundry software to report bugs, if something isn't functioning properly.

The people that really piss me off, is the ones selling cracks on the internet. IT ISN'T YOURS, YOU DIDN'T SPEND ANY MONEY DEVELOPING IT, YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T SPEND ANYTIME CRACKING IT. SO DON'T BE SELLING IT!!!

I sent an email to every audio software company out there about this website: WWW.WAREZSTORE.COM. It's still up and running. I think they even take credit cards....just the type of people you want to give your credit card number to huh? That will be forsale next by them at: WWW.WAREZCREDITCARDNUMBERS.COM.

previous crackhead,
red

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: juan2003
Date:6/26/2003 12:13:10 AM

<snip>

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: inspector
Date:6/26/2003 4:25:26 PM

Juan,

I think you should open up and express how you really feel...

purly in jest,
Steve

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: MyST
Date:6/26/2003 8:34:06 PM

"I do agree that software theift is wrong",and "I myself have purchased my sonic foundry products".

Both these quotes are from shitcomputer. So Juan, which one of these two makes you believe he pirated SoFo software??

You're the one coming across as rude now! Please don't polute our forums with these kinds of posts.

Before you ask...All my SoFo software was obtained from this site and is registered.

M

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: juan2003
Date:6/27/2003 12:13:22 AM

My excuses at everyone.

OK. I recognize and admit :I was VERY RUDE, but I reply the aggression from Shitcomputer before days.

The fact than use craks to harm a company of softwares , it bothers me then for it Sonic Foundry could be collapse and disappear and they would not have but upgrades or new products, and then that will be very sad and terrible

I thank sincerely at the replys from the users of this forum.

Try us to make music, video, good friends, sports, well jobs, etc, but always......think it, make it and live it !!.... with your mind and heart!!

God Bye!!
Juan

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Bjorn_Lynne
Date:6/27/2003 5:11:14 PM

I have purchased SoundForge, Batch Converter, Vegas 4 and DVD Architect. I'm kind of starting to think I might as well just have used cracks, though, because I've been having a nightmare with the Batch Converter (as descibed in this thread: http://www.sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=193961&Replies=0&Page=1 ) and no response at all from Sonic Foundry technical support, despite having filled in the support forms correctly. (I didn't expect to receive support in the forum, but I did expect to get it from their support form).

I had to go back to using an old version of Soundforge with batch converter on the tool menu. It's a pity that SF never bothered to answer my plea for technical support, and I'm stuck with a Batch Converter I have purchased, but I can't use it. So for the future I guess I'll use cracks, at least that doesn't feel quite as infuriating when it's not working and nobody's answering at tech support.

Yes, I'm disappointed. :-(

Bjorn Lynne

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Geoff_Wood
Date:6/27/2003 6:03:55 PM

Bjorn,

If yo had "no response at all from Sonic Foundry technical support" , how come :

Snip ****** "I contacted SF support and they asked me to uninstall the batch converter, delete the "C:\Program Files\Sonic Foundry\Shared Plugins" folder, and re-install the batch converter." ***** .

Telepathy ?

That the uninstall failed, clearly shows that you have something like corrupted files, hard drive, or OS. Nothing that SF can do other that what they've already suggested, which in the circumstances might extend to a reinstall of Windows, but that's nothing to do with Sonic Foundry or Batch Converter.

BC works fine for me and many others.

geoff

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: MyST
Date:6/27/2003 9:13:17 PM

Bjorn, did you enter your serial number where asked in the support form? It says that people entering the serial numbers will get priority.
I just e-mailed support this week and received replies the next business day. I'm not saying it's always like that, but SoFo's support is usually excellent.
As far as your case is concerned, did you clean out the registry of anything related to BC?

Just curious...How do you know BC uninstall caused your PC to crash? Maybe your PC crashed at 80%, causing the uninstall to go bad. Just a thought.

M

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: captn_spalding
Date:6/28/2003 8:33:27 AM

Bjorn. Let me see if I follow your logic. If we were talking about automobiles it would go something like this: I bought a 2003 Toyota Camry. I'm having trouble getting it started. (Reasons unknown. Engine may be bad or it may be out of gas) I've hat to go back to driving my 1998 Toyota Camry. Therefore, next time I want a new car, Im going to steal it.

I know you are frustrated by your experience and hearing that the issue may not easily be resolved does not help. But the fact is things can go very bad on PC's for what appear to be the most benign changes. (Iwon't bore you with horror stories) Geof may be right you may have to re-install Windows. So backup everything you can, put some music on and get to it.

..spalding

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Bjorn_Lynne
Date:6/29/2003 1:18:49 PM

>If yo had "no response at all from Sonic Foundry technical support" , how come :
>Snip ****** "I contacted SF support and they asked me to uninstall the batch >converter, delete the "C:\Program Files\Sonic Foundry\Shared Plugins" folder, and re->install the batch converter." ***** .

I thought it was pretty clear, but apparently not. I did get one response from SF support, they suggested a re-install. I did that, and it didn't help. I answered back and said as much - no response at all. I filled in the support request form again (yes, with serial number) - and no response at all.

>Telepathy ?

I'm so impressed with your grasp on sarcasm. You must be so pleased with yourself. I just can't see where I acted so stupid that you felt you had to go and put me down. I guess it made you feel better.


Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Bjorn_Lynne
Date:6/29/2003 1:21:36 PM

>started. (Reasons unknown. Engine may be bad or it may be out of gas) I've hat to go >back to driving my 1998 Toyota Camry. Therefore, next time I want a new car, Im >going to steal it.

Not because the car stopped - more because the people at Toyota didn't bother to return my call when I needed their help. which would be a more accurate comparison.


Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: Geoff_Wood
Date:6/30/2003 5:17:51 AM

You are expecting Toyota to help you because your road is broken.

geoff

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: shitcomputer
Date:7/5/2003 5:53:07 AM

who said anything about roads, but seriously thanks to the people that stuck up for me and pointed out that i was legit - i am just thinking to myself DAM what a topic, theres more replies on here than any other topic ive seen WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO

Subject:RE: Who actually purchased these products
Reply by: whr
Date:7/29/2003 10:37:59 AM

I've paid for everyone of my many SF products and continued to buy upgrades. I would like to complement the people at SF for being very gracious in giving permission to install their products on more than one machine for the purpose of completing more than one task at a time. They have been outstanding to work with.

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