A new American pro audio plug-in company has opened a ‘one-stop’ shopping, service and support portal.
‘Our company Brainworx has been developing plug-ins for several years,’ says Plugin Alliance founder Dirk Ulrich. ‘Besides making our own plug-ins, we’ve worked with top German analogue manufacturers SPL, elysia and Vertigo Sound on plug-ins that have been available through the individual companies’ websites. This which required us to host several web stores, as well as providing tech support and download services on multiple servers.
‘This got crazy, as we had more than 100,000 users shared between those companies by Spring 2011.
‘Around that time, I was also talking to several US companies that were interested in releasing plug-in versions of their gear as well. Yet while I was happy about potential new collaborations, I felt it would be no longer manageable if we started more and more web services – user experience suffers if customers have to open multiple accounts to download and potentially buy plug-ins from different websites. As we are offering our own line of plug- ins with Brainworx, I decided to start a new company, which would serve as the online distributor and the service provider for everybody involved, and keep Brainworx as one of the brands in the lineup.’
The Plugin Alliance presently comprises Brainworx, German analogue and digital audio processor designer/manufacturer SPL, German manufacturer Vertigo Sound, German hardware and software specialist elysia, US audio hardware and software developer Chandler Limited, US microphone and signal processing developer CharterOak Acoustic Devices, US manufacturer Mäag Audio and Millennia Music & Media Systems, and Australian Neve and modern circuitry combination specialist Custom Series 75.
The Plugin Alliance licensing system uses a single license file for all purchases on a customer’s computer. The system can be activated online or offline, and allows simultaneous use of up to three computers. Solutions tailored to suit more than ‘Our system requires only one license file which, once copied to your music computer, then automatically activates all of your Alliance plug-ins at once, thanks to our online activation system,’ Ulrich confirms. ‘Simply activate your account, download a plug-in installer, start your DAW and open the new plug-in, enter your e-mail address and password, and the job is done.’
Affordable (even free) upgrades to 64-bit versions and Avid’s new native AAX format are available for all users, and all licenses bought from Brainworx, elysia, SPL, and Vertigo Sound already await existing customers. Anyone not wishing to join the Alliance can continue using any iLok-based installers perviously purchased.
‘As a professional user working in different studios all the time, this new system sounds like a dream come true,’ says Madonna producer David Reitzas. ‘I hate having to install drivers and USB dongle hardware whenever I work in a new studio just to make sure I can use the tools I’m used to. All major studios I know have an Internet connection these days to enable them to update their OS, DAW software, or plug-ins, but anyone who’s ever left their USB dongle at home knows what that means.’
‘I love the concept of the Plugin Alliance; the more companies that band together, the bigger the product can become and the better the product can become, because you’re using more resources and more brainpower on it, so I’m all for it, personally,’ agrees FOH engineer, Chad Olech.
More members are expected to be added soon.
More: www.plugin-alliance.com
