Native Access offering me an incompatible factory library update

PK The DJ · 2024-09-23T18:15:55+00:00

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I've not upgraded to Komplete 15, but when I open Native Access I'm shown an update to the Kontakt Factory Library 2 (1.4.0).

Luckily I checked the release notes, which stated that it requires Kontakt 8.

Why then is it being shown? I don't have Kontakt 8.

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Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/185544#Comment_185544

Yes. Native Access "should" config itself based upon your product mix AND OS - quite frankly.

So if I am installing KK v2.9.6 (because I have a MKII S-Series board) - KK v3 should never be shown.

Same deal with Kontakt - if NA "sees" that Kontakt 6 is the only version I have installed - not only should NA "offer" the correct Kontakt library versions based upon my Kontakt version - it should also never interfere by downloading anything to do with K7 or K8.

Unfortunately - many users have multiple versions of Kontakt installed and until NA can handle installing different versions of the same Kontakt library - to DIFFERENT locations - like installing Ethereal Earth (K6 version in a specific folder) and Ethereal Earth (K7 version in a different folder) - this will be very challenging to navigate.

And I believe NI knows this - but instead of doing the work and allowing users like @benmuetsch to do exactly what he describes - installing the OS and product selection that he wants - NI simply kneecaps NA by only allowing it to ever install the latest libraries as the default - regardless of what the user would like.

Which of course - forces users to backpedal into the manual hassle of downloading all these old installers and hacking their product mix back in time.

LostInFoundation

I’m afraid that until they will see users saying “My XYZ program was not working anymore, so I bought the new version” they will continue on this path.

Double victory: they can continue to pretend they don’t know they have to fix things AND new cash coming in from selling new versions

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/185594#Comment_185594

Well - cash is king.

Making $0.00 on old product (and spending even more to support it) makes no sense - business wise.

LostInFoundation

Since I’m always confronted with the same old “spending for support”… explain me for one time: how much would it cost to NI to send some emails to provide owners of a product with its activation code once they don’t want to deal with it anymore? Or to write this so difficult activation code in owners’ accounts together with the Serial? (Which, between, is what they should do, since the contract they signed with us at the moment of taking our money said exactly this in their EULA…before they deleted it because not in their interest)

Because THIS is all we are asking, not the so much mentioned “support that can’t last forever”

Vocalpoint

@LostInFoundation

"Since I’m always confronted with the same old “spending for support”… explain me for one time: how much would it cost to NI to send some emails to provide owners of a product with its activation code once they don’t want to deal with it anymore?"

Your statement is 100% lucid. On the surface - for you and I specifically - this would probably cost (almost) nothing. But it is not as simple as that.

What if 10000 users want an email? Or 100000? What is the cost (internally) to do the work involved to send out 100000 codes and then get all those users to promise to never (ever) contact NI support?

How to supply 100000 users with the tools to use the code we just sent them? What happens if 32516 of those users do not understand the email they just got and come back to the forum - clogging up the boards looking for answers. Or 16439 cannot get the activation code to work - and on and on.

If you could actually guarantee a plan like this would generate zero overhead - you might have something there. But you cannot. Any overhead - no matter how small - becomes a cost. Whether time, talent or resource.

I am guessing if this ever came to pass - considering that some users around here cannot even install Native Access properly - is shooting way too high.

My take is (unfortunately) - very few possess the technical skill to just take an activation code and run with it. Which makes this a support concern no matter how we want to frame it.

LostInFoundation

Just one answer: the cost to send 100000 code to the users has already been paid…by the same users when they bought the device and they were said so in the contract.

Or nowadays is it legal for a company to just cash the money but not completely provide what you paid for? (in this case, included the warranty to have a code).

And I have another question: what is the technical skill (possessed by very few) required to write a number when opening a program for the first time and having a prompt asking you “Do you have an activation code?” like many other programs do?

Because in my book, the 10 fingers we have in our hands pushing the numbers on our computer keyboards are more than enough as “technical skill”. Well…even one single finger would be enough 😂

Vocalpoint

"The cost to send 100000 code has already been paid…by the users when they bought the device and they were said so in the contract"

NI won't see it that way. Someone's wages (probably a lot of someones) will still need to be paid to find/generate codes and then direct them to where they need to go. You can use the "I already paid" argument if you want but no company is going to do this kind of work for free - especially one that bought NI decades after the old owners made promises they could not deliver on.

And technical skill? With 100000 codes going 100000 people - are you assuming that all of them have the skill to rebuilt their system exactly the way it was - in say - 2008 - to even get to a happy place where they could enter a code? This would be the only use case for these activation codes.

All I would say to that is - all you need is one person trying to enter a code and it's not valid. Or an error pops up or this or that…again start the support model costing engine…we have liftoff.

While I like to think I have some technical skills - even I would be hard pressed to rebuild/replicate my 2009 era DAW these days - even with a 2 week head start :)

LostInFoundation

Once again: it’s not work for free. We paid for it.

And…sorry…but I can’t understand the whole part about “rebuild/replicate.

I would not have to rebuild/replicate anything: one of my studio computers is in that state (exactly to freeze it in time). All I would need to do is installing the product (if they allow me to) and push the numbers on the keyboard when prompted. Really not too difficult. But maybe I’m too skilled and I don’t know writing a number is in facts an elite thing

LostInFoundation

And…another “once again”: do you think companies would accept if we acted with them like they do with us?

We buy something. We should give them 1200 bucks for the product, but instead we decide to give them only a part of what we promised: 1000 bucks and we deny them the 200.

I don’t think they will accept things easily like we do. Or even come to the point to justify us: “poor guys. Time has changed. Cost of life increased. Let’s accept they will not give us the 200 missing”…

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/185629#Comment_185629

Well - this is really not about you or what you have at the ready over there.

It's about everyone else - and their ability (or non ability) to freeze an specific environment - we have no idea how skilled (or not) they are.

And in all the rare occasions I have ever seen anyone actually needing a manual activation code - it's usually directly related to an old PC dying (finally) after years of use or a hard drive failing etc.

So that would require a full rebuild - using 2009 era parts, a super old OS etc etc. We have all seen these posts.

LostInFoundation

Well…like we have no idea they must rebuild/replicate anything…

But I see the conversation is going round. I think I’ve got your point…and you’ve got mine 👍🏼

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/185630#Comment_185630

You seem obsessed with this concept of "pay once, take advantage of - forever - even if 20 years has gone by".

Never gonna work bud - especially for software.

And as far as "we" acting like "them" - what does that even mean?

For me - if I do not like a product - I give the company zero and move onto to someone else's thing.

LostInFoundation

Again the history of “forever”…

Yes, if I pay for something where they tell me “in case, we will provide the Licensee with a key which ensures the continued use of the Licensed Software independent of changes of the computer” ,that is what I expect.

I would also give 0 for a product I don’t like…but if I buy something I like, I expect them to give me what I paid for, which in this case includes what THEY wrote in the EULA.

But as said…going round…and I would add in an useless way, since you deny even the facts.

Therefore…this is my last post. If you want at any cost the last word, go for it.

Btw: yes, I’m obsessed…but not with "pay once, take advantage of -forever. But with “ I paid for something. I want that something”. Also called: maintain the word you gave. Which, in this case, is not only a word, but a contract

Vocalpoint

"Yes, I’m obsessed…but not with of "pay once, take advantage of -forever. But with “ I paid for something. I want that something”. Also called: maintain the word you gave. Which, in this case, is not only a word, but a contract"

We get it. It's been your thing since forever.

But repeating it over and over does not make it true.

I am out. You take care LIF

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