Super 8 v2

Strange - just built a new (Windows) DAW 5 weeks ago now - and Super 8 (v2.1.0 - 105MB) was right there ready to roll.

The v1 version (54MB) was the Reaktor Version - which is also still available for install on my NA panel.

VP

Yes. It is not part of K14. Instead, V1 (Reaktor based one) has returned. IMHO, it was because NI did not want to invest to Apple Silicon conversion. But it is just my guess.

@Vocalpoint

One may use and install the both V1 (Reaktor based ensemble) and V2 (plugin), if one has licence. But only on Win and probably certain MacOS versions (but only x86 version is available). I am not Mac user, so Mac part is just my guess.

Also, if one has V2 licence, but it is not supported by his system anymore, he may ask for V1 licence.

The VST3 version - named Super 8 R2 - was discontinued because it didn't sell well. The focus is back on the Reaktor version (using 1.0.0 versioning). Mind you, this is based on information given by actual NI staff (Jeremy_NI).

You can still use the VST3 version if you own it, of course, but future OS updates (especially looking at macOS here) may render it non-functioning. Which is why it's recommended to switch over to the Reaktor version to be future-proof.

It's already dead on macOS as a VST3, since it's not M1 Native and never will be. Only people on Intel Macs should use it, and those will be phased out of the industry naturally over time. Those people should move to the ensemble simply so their projects are portable to whatever new Mac they end up getting later. For everyone else, back to REAKTOR.

The VST3 should be treated as a Windows-only version, at this point.

I don't think this Synth has many users, anyways.

NI probably chose Super 8 to "try this" specifically because it was one of the "lower effort required" options and they could easily get it out the door.

The issue is that Super 8 is one of the worst REAKTOR Synths to do this with, because it's the most redundant synth they have. Most DAWs ship with a perfectly serviceable VA Synth (Cubase, Logic, Bitwig, Live, Studio One, Pro Tools - the list goes on and on), so paying $99 for Super 8 was a complete non-starter to most users. It isn't even as good as some of the stock DAW VA Synths out there.

And why pay that when you could put that money towards U-he Diva, instead? Additionally, competing products are constantly discounting down to Super 8's price point. Pigments, Phase Plant, etc. HALion Sonic 7 gives away the VA Synth Engine, now.

This product, as a standalone offering, was doomed to fail because it was always priced too high for something so redundant to most users.

I think if they had done this with a synth like Razor or Kontour, or even off-shot TRK-01, those may have performed better.

The issue with Super 8 is that even when you got it in a Komplete Bundle, there was never really any reason for most people to care to use it because it was so redundant - and in many cases lacking in flexibility - due to what the DAW package already brought to the table.

And the price was too high to justify investing in, otherwise.

Shunting it back to REAKTOR basically means less people will use it. You'd be surprised the amount of people with a Komplete Bundle who don't even know half of those REAKTOR Ensembles exist, because they don't load anything through Komplete Kontrol (or own NI Controller Hardware) and they don't use REAKTOR as an instrument. Super 8 being in the VST3 browser did tons for its visibility.

It just wasn't worth paying for on its own... It never was.