NanoStudio 2 - FREE for a short while

Robin2

@Simon said:
Everybody knows when you buy software it might not be around forever.

A small developer might drop dead or be hit by a truck and that's it for his software.

Or a large corporation like Apple or Korg might decide in the boardroom that the iOS business is not worth staying in - and that's it for their software.

Backup to iMazing and you probably will get years of extra use even if the software developer goes belly up.

Also, this is a reminder to me personally that i must get onto the habit of exporting unfinished projects and ideas to audio and MIDI. So easy to back up project files and think, ‘Good, that’s them safe to revisit at some point’, when that’s really not the case in the longer term.

Krupa

@wim said:
I can't blame Matt at all for not wanting to give out the source code. He spent years of his life on it. It's a part of him. You might think of software code as simply an impersonal object, but it's no less an expression of himself than anyone here's art. Imagine if you spent years pouring your life into a symphonic piece or a painting and people who understand nothing about what you put into it called on you to let someone else add a few movements, or paint in some grassy hillsides or something.

Imagine yourself heading toward retirement and thinking "What am I going to do with myself?" Would you not perhaps like to keep the option open to finish and perfect that creation that you worked so hard on and loved so much but had to set aside because you had to pay the bills?

Sometimes it's not all about us.

It’s great he addressed the open source thing, something many had wondered about, but his position is reasonable, perhaps even hopefully hints at more to come…

oldsynthguy

@wim said:
Imagine yourself heading toward retirement and thinking "What am I going to do with myself?" Would you not perhaps like to keep the option open to finish and perfect that creation that you worked so hard on and loved so much but had to set aside because you had to pay the bills?

I already am. And I too have customers that rely on me, so I’m starting to think about how I can transfer my business to safe hands, so I don’t let them down.

I’m not thinking of starting up again after, but if I did, and I’d abandoned loyal customers, I doubt the new venture would be much of a success.

@wim said:
Sometimes it's not all about us.

Quite.

Rayantee

Hello, is it possible to save the samples from the packs on my iPad because they sound very good?”

Raggamuffin73

@Rayantee said:
Hello, is it possible to save the samples from the packs on my iPad because they sound very good?”

great question, i would love to know this aswell

wim

@Raggamuffin73 said:

@Rayantee said:
Hello, is it possible to save the samples from the packs on my iPad because they sound very good?”

great question, i would love to know this aswell

This may or may not help answer that…
https://www.blipinteractive.co.uk/community/discussion/comment/13147/#Comment_13147

cramdog

@wim said:
Awesome and very classy handling of some of the questions boiling around...
https://www.blipinteractive.co.uk/community/discussion/3476/some-questions-answered

The man has style. 😎
There are a few people around that I wish everyone would give the full benefit of the doubt. Matt is one.

.

@espiegel123 said:

,

I think a lot of people here don't realize the enormous investment of time involved in coding something of NS2's depth AND the amount of prior experience and knowledge required to get to the level where one could write something like NS2.

,

By the way, the post written by Matt in the URL link by @wim and the post by @espiegel123 [Note: I quoted only part of it, not the whole.] above caused a chemical reaction in my head. As a result, my brain automatically remembered the film “Fitzcarraldo” by Werner Herzog. (Telepathy to Matt: I mentioned “Fitzcarraldo” in the sense that what is associated with it is beyond good or bad, it is awesome and overwhelming.)

@wim said:
I can't blame Matt at all for not wanting to give out the source code. He spent years of his life on it. It's a part of him. You might think of software code as simply an impersonal object, but it's no less an expression of himself than anyone here's art. Imagine if you spent years pouring your life into a symphonic piece or a painting and people who understand nothing about what you put into it called on you to let someone else add a few movements, or paint in some grassy hillsides or something.

Imagine yourself heading toward retirement and thinking "What am I going to do with myself?" Would you not perhaps like to keep the option open to finish and perfect that creation that you worked so hard on and loved so much but had to set aside because you had to pay the bills?

Sometimes it's not all about us.

And the post by @wim above reminds me that the “Dune” (film) was rebooted(?) in 2020s.
[Having said that, the old Dune and new Dune have different filmmakers. But my point is not about who should or should not make Nano Studio 3 or something new or different. My point with the example of the new Dune film is that we don’t know what will happen in the future in a good way, not in a bad way. At least I never expected the new Dune films to be created at all. (I can’t put it into words well, but, for example, some of music apps might have been inspired/influenced by Nano Studio 2. And someone might create software inspired/influenced by Nano Studio 2 in the future.)]

oldsynthguy

@wim said:

@Raggamuffin73 said:

@Rayantee said:
Hello, is it possible to save the samples from the packs on my iPad because they sound very good?”

great question, i would love to know this aswell

This may or may not help answer that…
https://www.blipinteractive.co.uk/community/discussion/comment/13147/#Comment_13147

I managed to create a user kit from an existing one, and can see it in Files. However it’s packaged up the contents into a .slt format (Slate, I’m guessing), and no idea how to unpack it.

However, this might be a way to individually copy the IAP kits, and then move them to the User folder, safe from when the app is removed from the Store.

Edit: hmm, I’ve saved a couple of kits this way and the files are small and the same size, so it’s probably just saving a reference to the IAP kit.

Maybe the dev could provide a link to download the kits we purchased, before he disconnects our accounts?

israelite

@Simon said:
Everybody knows when you buy software it might not be around forever.

A small developer might drop dead or be hit by a truck and that's it for his software.

Or a large corporation like Apple or Korg might decide in the boardroom that the iOS business is not worth staying in - and that's it for their software.

Backup to iMazing and you probably will get years of extra use even if the software developer goes belly up.

Why a customer who bought software should bother what’s going on with the dev or company that released the software?
Your access to the software you bought license for shouldn’t be dependent on the fact that the dev is not renewing their licence in the App Store or if he is making a decision to pull the app out and make it unavailable for FUTURE purchases.

I know that mostly apple is to blame, not a rant against developers, and pushing people to jail breaking…

israelite

@Simon said:
Everybody knows when you buy software it might not be around forever.

A small developer might drop dead or be hit by a truck and that's it for his software.

Or a large corporation like Apple or Korg might decide in the boardroom that the iOS business is not worth staying in - and that's it for their software.

Backup to iMazing and you probably will get years of extra use even if the software developer goes belly up.

Imazing doesn’t really work. I tried restoring Mela 3 to a new device and imazing wasn’t able to install this app. It was only able to restore presets and other user files from NS2 that was already installed.

Simon

@israelite said:
Imazing doesn’t really work.

OK. In that case I guess we are doomed.

espiegel123

@israelite said:

@Simon said:
Everybody knows when you buy software it might not be around forever.

A small developer might drop dead or be hit by a truck and that's it for his software.

Or a large corporation like Apple or Korg might decide in the boardroom that the iOS business is not worth staying in - and that's it for their software.

Backup to iMazing and you probably will get years of extra use even if the software developer goes belly up.

Imazing doesn’t really work. I tried restoring Mela 3 to a new device and imazing wasn’t able to install this app. It was only able to restore presets and other user files from NS2 that was already installed.

Had you archived the app using manage apps ? It sounds like you backed up and restored your data which is different from using the Manage Apps funcuonality to download and restore apps.

oldsynthguy

@Simon said:

@israelite said:
Imazing doesn’t really work.

OK. In that case I guess we are doomed.

@wim said:

@Raggamuffin73 said:

@Rayantee said:
Hello, is it possible to save the samples from the packs on my iPad because they sound very good?”

great question, i would love to know this aswell

This may or may not help answer that…
https://www.blipinteractive.co.uk/community/discussion/comment/13147/#Comment_13147

You know, all this negativity and confusion could be fixed really simply, if the dev just adds the IAP packs to the built-in presets.

Then we wouldn’t be running around like headless chickens, trying to work out a way to keep our purchases.

wim

@espiegel123 said:

@israelite said:

@Simon said:
Everybody knows when you buy software it might not be around forever.

A small developer might drop dead or be hit by a truck and that's it for his software.

Or a large corporation like Apple or Korg might decide in the boardroom that the iOS business is not worth staying in - and that's it for their software.

Backup to iMazing and you probably will get years of extra use even if the software developer goes belly up.

Imazing doesn’t really work. I tried restoring Mela 3 to a new device and imazing wasn’t able to install this app. It was only able to restore presets and other user files from NS2 that was already installed.

Had you archived the app using manage apps ? It sounds like you backed up and restored your data which is different from using the Manage Apps funcuonality to download and restore apps.

Yes, that sounds right. Here's how to do an app backup. I've never had it fail so far, but have only tested with maybe a dozen apps.

https://forum.loopypro.com/discussion/comment/1363294/#Comment_1363294

You'd want the other type of backup to restore your user data too I guess.

israelite

@espiegel123 said:

@israelite said:

@Simon said:
Everybody knows when you buy software it might not be around forever.

A small developer might drop dead or be hit by a truck and that's it for his software.

Or a large corporation like Apple or Korg might decide in the boardroom that the iOS business is not worth staying in - and that's it for their software.

Backup to iMazing and you probably will get years of extra use even if the software developer goes belly up.

Imazing doesn’t really work. I tried restoring Mela 3 to a new device and imazing wasn’t able to install this app. It was only able to restore presets and other user files from NS2 that was already installed.

Had you archived the app using manage apps ? It sounds like you backed up and restored your data which is different from using the Manage Apps funcuonality to download and restore apps.

I doesn’t matter which option I am using NanoStudio 2 backup file has the exact same size… But I will try to do it with mela 3 and try restoring it again.

yellow_eyez

Instead of sunsetting it, he should’ve either sold it for some or whatever he felt fair or to walk with something ; and then either give to dev who would keep it up (not giving away code) or give it to someone to give away free for a while before maybe charging again a small fee (for hosting iap). - (and if he sold the code and not just the app itself to also finish the audio tracks making it a full daw)- idk there could’ve been a better thing than losing such a gem
Sorry but this was just dumbbbb

Speaking of which , can someone link to a YT guide for how to backup an iPad app/iap on your mac (hopefully free but if not, I guess IMAzing? Or alternate ?)

ralis

I am just sad about the loss. I purchased NS2 when it was first released.

I love the piano roll and how responsive it is to my big ape man hands.

The sounds are amazing. It is my main “Sketch Pad” for music. It became my master sequencer for IOS and my hardware! I was trying to use it live but it crashed fairly often. I got used to writing on it and transferring tracks into a DAW to record audio and mix. I did not mind not having audio tracks but secretly hoped that someday it would then I could ditch the desktop.

NanoStudio 2 just clicked with me. I will continue to use it as long as I can (I will try iMazing)

This is just confirmation of the decision I had made a while ago to return to hardware. Synths, drum machines, sequencers, effects and mixer.

I buy them - I own them until death do us part. Yes, I may have to replace or repair them but… I can!

For the money I had spent purchasing licenses for Daws, effects and soft synths plus sample libraries that I can not longer use due to updates either software or hardware, software going defunct and companies switching to “subscription” plans. I have bought 12 synthesizers, 6 drum machines, 4 sequencers. Most of these were used and some needed repairs but I was able to have fun doing them.

I did spend on a mixer/interface because I wanted to hook everything up all at once.

BUT… it is all there, ready to use and it is all mine 😊 forever!

I pay for a license to use Reaper now. It was $60 and I have no need to upgrade for the foreseeable future. I only use it as a glorified multitrack digital recorder.

SevenSystems

I'm wondering about the general sentiment, as I'm strongly considering starting a Kickstarter campaign to open-source Xequence (which includes a full browser-based DAW-without-audio-tracks similar to NS2).

What kind of fundraising goal would people think is reasonable here? People mention that they would support such a campaign to open-source NS2 if Matt was open to this idea.

The most prominent past campaign I can think of is the open-sourcing of Blender (3D software), which successfully raised EUR 100,000 (EUR 200,000 in today's money).

dendy

@oldsynthguy said:
I managed to create a user kit from an existing one, and can see it in Files. However it’s packaged up the contents into a .slt format (Slate, I’m guessing), and no idea how to unpack it.

However, this might be a way to individually copy the IAP kits, and then move them to the User folder, safe from when the app is removed from the Store.

Edit: hmm, I’ve saved a couple of kits this way and the files are small and the same size, so it’s probably just saving a reference to the IAP kit.

Maybe the dev could provide a link to download the kits we purchased, before he disconnects our accounts?

Yup, bank is basically folder containing Package.slt file - this file contais settings of kit.. if you use in kit some own samples, they are stored in same folder like Package.slt file, but if there are used bundled samples, there is just reference to them and they are not part of slt folder

Very similiar concept is used for Obsidian patches..

Btw it’s nice to see people like those banks, I made few of them :-) If i good remember Crushed LoFi, Electro 1,2, Trance 1,2, Hardstep 1,2, Head Slap 1,2 (not sure with this one, maybe i made just samples and somebody else built the kit)

Fun fact if anybody interested - I synthetized literally all samples in those kits above using only Obsidian.. Those samples were not edited or processed outside of NS2 All just plain old good Obsidian and bundled FXs (sometimes multiple times resampled and tweaked)

Basically all samples (except of 808/909 kits) are original sounds made for NS (if i good remember lot of them were sampled by Matt or other guy from beta team from real instruments)

Oh gosh, what a great times were back then.. lot of nostalgy, lot of great memories …

dendy

@ralis
This is just confirmation of the decision I had made a while ago to return to hardware. Synths, drum machines, sequencers, effects and mixer.

Same story for me. When i realized NS2 will never have any of things i would love to have there, i started slowly transition to HW - after 4 years with mostly Elektron gear (my first digitone video is august 2020) combined with various synths - no regret. Nobody takes HW away from you by some OS update or by some idiotic regulation 👍

reezygle

There is a permanence problem with any software or even firmware because by definition they change over time. It’s worse with apps as Apple constantly is changing the operating system without any regard for full backwards compatibility so that devs don’t have to constantly update their apps.

I don’t know if anyone’s been following the MPC 3 firmware saga. Not only Akai changed the workflow that’s been around for years, they also actually stopped some major functionality like clips. The pad mutes amongst other things are full of bugs. This is professional equipment that’s not cheap. Yes you can downgrade but the point is nothing remains the same forever except for hardware without any firmware. But even hardware breaks over time and the ones that stick around become really expensive collectors items. One example, SP 1200 which is now over $5k. Like @jwmmakerofmusic said we have to make art with what’s available.

It’s really hard to be an independent app developer. It’s tough to see how these laws are making it even harder for them to get compensated for their great work. I admire their passion for what they do, most knowing they really can’t make a living from it. I’m lucky to have used NS2 for a while. Even though it hasn’t usually been my first choice, I will still pop it up every once in a while and make something until it breaks.

@jwmmakerofmusic maybe it’d be good to create a “The last dance with NS2” challenge thread. Or call it “NS2 creations.” Not time bound but open forever until no one can dance with NS2 anymore. Maybe it quiets down quickly but maybe if a mass workaround for these laws changed for independent developers, then maybe the developer decides to pick it up again or make something even better. Hell we thought Amen Break Generator was dead but it’s back now.

I know set workflows are important for professionals because speed of production is crucial for them. Since I’m a hobbyist, speed of production is not important and part of the fun at least for me is doing things differently and switching workflows.

dendy

btw the mood of discussion here is like NS stops exists in 2-3 months .. that is not the case .. it can easily work on our devices for few more years until Apple finally breaks it by some evil update …

So.. when i sm thinking about this.. maybe there is completely different way to look at this …

I just bought new iPhone so no new device for me at least for next 4 years .. So until then - I will enjoy NS and will try to make as much music with it as possible;) Especially because I know every new song may be definitely last one..

Carpe Diem !

ralis

Yes it is a safe move you can always pick up another digitone if you had to.

jwmmakerofmusic

@reezygle said:
@jwmmakerofmusic maybe it’d be good to create a “The last dance with NS2” challenge thread. Or call it “NS2 creations.” Not time bound but open forever until no one can dance with NS2 anymore. Maybe it quiets down quickly but maybe if a mass workaround for these laws changed for independent developers, then maybe the developer decides to pick it up again or make something even better. Hell we thought Amen Break Generator was dead but it’s back now.

Could be a good challenge for March to be honest. I do have a February challenge to use Jim Audio apps only, but nobody has really participated (I haven't really made an official entry for it either lol). 😂

Simon

It was nice of the developer to make it free to the iOS music community.

He could have just suddenly removed it from the store like millions of other apps that vanish into thin air.

Thanks Matt!

dendy

@jwmmakerofmusic maybe it’d be good to create a “The last dance with NS2” challenge thread. Or call it “NS2 creations.” Not time bound but open forever until no one can dance with NS2 anymore.

Count me in as a regular contributor ! GR2 didn't really work for me in the end, so NS2 is probably forever my only option to make some music on iOS

israelite

@wim said:

@espiegel123 said:

@israelite said:

@Simon said:
Everybody knows when you buy software it might not be around forever.

A small developer might drop dead or be hit by a truck and that's it for his software.

Or a large corporation like Apple or Korg might decide in the boardroom that the iOS business is not worth staying in - and that's it for their software.

Backup to iMazing and you probably will get years of extra use even if the software developer goes belly up.

Imazing doesn’t really work. I tried restoring Mela 3 to a new device and imazing wasn’t able to install this app. It was only able to restore presets and other user files from NS2 that was already installed.

Had you archived the app using manage apps ? It sounds like you backed up and restored your data which is different from using the Manage Apps funcuonality to download and restore apps.

Yes, that sounds right. Here's how to do an app backup. I've never had it fail so far, but have only tested with maybe a dozen apps.

https://forum.loopypro.com/discussion/comment/1363294/#Comment_1363294

You'd want the other type of backup to restore your user data too I guess.

Thanks it seems to work. At least I was able to get the NS2 .ipa file.

@Simon in imazing: Tools > Manage Apps > Library (download NS2 from the cloud and drag and drop it to your files)

Simon

@israelite said:

@wim said:

@espiegel123 said:

@israelite said:

@Simon said:
Everybody knows when you buy software it might not be around forever.

A small developer might drop dead or be hit by a truck and that's it for his software.

Or a large corporation like Apple or Korg might decide in the boardroom that the iOS business is not worth staying in - and that's it for their software.

Backup to iMazing and you probably will get years of extra use even if the software developer goes belly up.

Imazing doesn’t really work. I tried restoring Mela 3 to a new device and imazing wasn’t able to install this app. It was only able to restore presets and other user files from NS2 that was already installed.

Had you archived the app using manage apps ? It sounds like you backed up and restored your data which is different from using the Manage Apps funcuonality to download and restore apps.

Yes, that sounds right. Here's how to do an app backup. I've never had it fail so far, but have only tested with maybe a dozen apps.

https://forum.loopypro.com/discussion/comment/1363294/#Comment_1363294

You'd want the other type of backup to restore your user data too I guess.

Thanks it seems to work. At least I was able to get the NS2 .ipa file.

@Simon in imazing: Tools > Manage Apps > Library (download NS2 from the cloud and drag and drop it to your files)

OK. Looks like we are not doomed. Thanks.

distantstar

Do apps that are forever discontinued simply disappear after a time? Like, can you reinstall them on a new device, say? Even if they, for example, are no longer in the app store? And will they still be in the app store, on that note? What exactly determines that?

cdnalsi

Perhaps on a small tangent, but is NS2 multicore like Cubasis 3, FLSM?