Has PT HD 12 Upgrade Licensing Changed?

[simontheoracle]

Has anyone seen this? I think the $399 is new as I haven't seen this before.

https://www.avid.com/US/products/pro...ware/licensing

Upgrade from one of the following and stay current for just $599 for the first year, then renew for $399* each year thereafter:

Pro Tools | HD 9, 10, or 11
Pro Tools with the Complete Production Toolkit
Includes an annual Avid upgrade plan, which provides all future Pro Tools upgrades for one year, plus priority help, renewable annually.


* To be eligible for the $399 renewal price, you must renew your upgrade plan before it expires.

Definitely a step in the right direction. I just now hope they sort out details for those that don't upgrade by deadline day. Their FAQ hasn't changed. Still says more details coming soon.

[joachim]

Originally Posted by simontheoracle

I just now hope they sort out details for those that don't upgrade by deadline day. Their FAQ hasn't changed. Still says more details coming soon.

"Pro Tools | HD 9, 10 and 11 customers are eligible to purchase an annual upgrade plan for $599 through December 31, 2015. If you're eligible but do not purchase an annual upgrade plan for Pro Tools | HD by the end of 2015, you may purchase a plan in 2016 for $999, then renew thereafter for just $399/year (as long as you renew before your plan expires). "

3rd note at the bottom. Means a 400$ penalty, doesn't it ?

[simontheoracle]

Originally Posted by joachim

"Pro Tools | HD 9, 10 and 11 customers are eligible to purchase an annual upgrade plan for $599 through December 31, 2015. If you're eligible but do not purchase an annual upgrade plan for Pro Tools | HD by the end of 2015, you may purchase a plan in 2016 for $999, then renew thereafter for just $399/year (as long as you renew before your plan expires). "

3rd note at the bottom. Means a 400$ penalty, doesn't it ?

Wow! I didn't notice that. Thanks for pointing it out. This isn't good news at all!

[joachim]

Originally Posted by simontheoracle

Thanks for pointing it out.

Thank YOU for sharing the link, otherwise I would not have found it.

[audiobob]

Originally Posted by joachim

3rd note at the bottom. Means a 400$ penalty, doesn't it ?

Or a $400 discount until the end of the year.

Actually this deal, if it really is what it is, is not too bad. I upgraded to 11 at the beginning of 2014 for $599. So if i upgrade to 12 Dec 31st 2015 i'll have about 2 years with 11, which makes $300 a year. Then it will be $400 a year after that. Basically $100 more a year for me to stay current...which is much better than I expected. I can handle that.

Of course that is, if I'm understanding the confusing mess that Avid has become.

[simontheoracle]

Basically you either upgrade by deadline day and continue to renew before your expiry date to get it for $399 per year

OR

You probably never will upgrade if you don't upgrade by deadline day

[Righty27]

So, to get this clear ...

* First HD upgrade (before end of year) = $599
* Subsequent HD upgrades = $399 (whilst not lapsed)
* Subsequent lapsed HD upgrades = $599

As Simon says (see what I did there?!), hopefully a step in the right direction ... with some incentive/discount to keep plans continuous and a 'reasonable' (the originally-announced price for a normal renewal) upgrade if the plan lapses ... all on condition of paying full support plan price the first time.

Any news on similar approach for 'vanilla'? (Edit - just visited the link and unchanged 'vanilla' details alongside HD ... so looking unlikely - this might just be designed to address Avid's long HD plan silence as opposed to a pricing/licensing proposition rethink ... they don't want us non-pros!)

[jonathan jetter]

it's a step in the right direction, of course. $399 is better than $599.

but i'm just done with it.

there's been too much nonsense, too much of my own time spent trying to decipher what's what, too much silence and too many contradictions from Avid, and too many bugs in the software.

this should all have been sorted out when subscriptions/support plans were launched, and there should have been one simple document detailing the pricing, along with one simple press release to announce it.

i don't mind paying $400 (or $600) / year if it helps my business. but i very much mind wasting my time + energy on this stuff. and PT12 has little in the way of compelling features for HD owners.

[Righty27]

... and who's to know if this is just a tactical change to get the probably missing/hoped for revenue through the door in 2015?

Note - year 1 plan price is unchanged so would be presented as a successful change which meets original targets. Once everyone is on board, would you be surprised to see $399 become $499 followed by $599 (for renewals before lapsing), with the other fees increasing too?

Problem here is that Avid have shown their cards and maybe misjudged the reaction, even if many of us do appreciate the challenges of running a software business, especially up against e.g. Logic at $199 outright! Maybe, the Pro Tools software part of the business needs to operate more efficiently, possibly with less expensive-to-run support ... but the reality of this may not suit a public company.

[mlange]

He who makes the rules......

$399 = better
$399 "penalty" = not better

There will need to be some pretty amazing product feature additions to motivate HD users to spend $$