Softphonics are done???!!

[TritoneAddiction]

I do wonder why Softphonics AmplifiRe and IRE X2 Twin Convolution Reverb were pulled from the Shop while other products weren't. I mean it's fairly easy to tell if a sampled refill is reused, but aren't these REs different in that regard?

Impulse responses are samples, too. It's probably a safe bet that if he was using stolen samples for all his instrument libraries, the impulse responses he used for the convo reverb and amp cabinets were almost certainly also stolen.

I see. But isn't that hard to find out whether or not an impulse response is stolen? Maybe not. I guess you could just run a sample through the plugins and compare them.
I see Native Instruments has guitar amps/effects too, one of them looks kind of Marshally Maybe Softphonics got some "inspiration" from them.

[Aosta]

Unless NI and Props can make an agreement to keep the device in the store, directing retroactive and future royalties from Props to NI?

Wouldn't they also need Softhonics to release control of the GUI design for that too? It's a cluster F.

[jappe]

Don't know if there's some expropriation clause, but I think it would be in the interest of Softphonics to be helpful in this
I'm just thinking that minimizing the amount of victims is a good thing if it can be done.

Unless NI and Props can make an agreement to keep the device in the store, directing retroactive and future royalties from Props to NI?

Wouldn't they also need Softhonics to release control of the GUI design for that too? It's a cluster F.

[avasopht]

I see. But isn't that hard to find out whether or not an impulse response is stolen? Maybe not. I guess you could just run a sample through the plugins and compare them.
I see Native Instruments has guitar amps/effects too, one of them looks kind of Marshally Maybe Softphonics got some "inspiration" from them.

Nah, you just pass an impulse into the device and you get back the impulse response right back (well providing you can bypass any distortion).

[bxbrkrz]

[Ostermilk]

I was surprised to see this thread locked earlier. (shortly after Tiker posted 'go make music'.)

I can't think of anything that is more pertinent to a community focused on Reason Talk currently.

I'm sure it was a mistake gladly rectified now.

[Iapetus 9]

I never gave Softphonics a second thought, mostly because I think IDT based RE's are stupid when you have the NNXT and things like Kontakt available. Romplers...uggh. That said, I hope this is rectified in a nice manner and that those who did wrong, if any, are taught a lesson that this business is cut throat enough without the den of thieves. YMMV...I'll be making music.

[friday]

But I guess there's a lesson in it, like, how many people passed off his RE because it wasn't a big name or a 'pro' sound

Interesting view... Haha!

[normen]

Lets not forget that there is a chance that in the mind of the perpetrator his actions were legal and okay. It would be a head turner but I have seen worse misunderstandings.

[madmacman]

I never gave Softphonics a second thought, mostly because I think IDT based RE's are stupid when you have the NNXT and things like Kontakt available.

But this is exactly the issue - the latest IDT's and RE's are just the tip of the iceberg. There are the huge NNXT based orchestra libraries such as EncoRE, EmbouchuRE, timbRE, and so on.

[chaosroyale]

I contacted Props about this, because I own one of the re-sampled refills. I can't post the entire reply from Props because of their terms of service, but the short version of their reply is:

"We don't do refunds on Refills or Rack Extensions."

I actually noticed something was suspicious as soon as I purchased the refill, but I didn't have any proof, so I quietly decided never to buy anything else from softphonics and did not mention it on the forum. Very recently I put 2 & 2 together that this was the same developer putting out all those dodgy romplers and RE's.

I understand that props have to trust developers, and they cannot be held 100% responsible, but seeing as this was an RE not a VST, I was hoping for a store credit.

[Aosta]

I understand that props have to trust developers, and they cannot be held 100% responsible, but seeing as this was an RE not a VST, I was hoping for a store credit.

I'm guessing with that reply props will have some clause of non liability with the developer or at least it sounds like it because they have taken a cut of sales of the softphonics products also.
What if a Softphonics song challenge was created right now using what is very much looking like stolen content hosted by props using their rack extension technology? They have pulled the REs but many people still have them in their rack and purchased them in good faith that props released them complete and cleared.
Now THAT would be interesting! The R.I.P Song Challenge.

[RobC]

Lets not forget that there is a chance that in the mind of the perpetrator his actions were legal and okay. It would be a head turner but I have seen worse misunderstandings.

People prefer to make drama. If I dare to say to be careful what they comment, cause it might not end well, reaction is a "lol" in a nutshell. Some look for ways out to make remarks in a reworded way, and think it will be okay that way. Maybe with the eye of the "average joe", but if a lawyer takes a look, shiz can happen.

I'm not sure either what's going on; I'd be interested if the main companies would enlighten us, such as Softphonics and Propellerhead software. I'm not interested in trolls making the "lulz" comments which make them 'so kewl', SJW's making videos, calling someone stupid after the website says "Please keep a candle lit for autism awareness." ~ very "smart" youtube guy - I'd rather drink a coffee, and talk to a lawyer to know what one can, and what one can't say, especially in a public video; but if the youtube views are worth the risk for him for some reason...

...
...

Haha, I forgot what I originally wanted to say, Normen. xD People should ask, not assume.

[nickb523]

Lets not forget that there is a chance that in the mind of the perpetrator his actions were legal and okay. It would be a head turner but I have seen worse misunderstandings.

This is a possibility.

It's not out of the question that Andrew himself removed all Softphonics from the Prop Shop. However, given the timeline of events that i have, it looks a bit darker i'm afraid.

Gutted.

[fotizimo]

Looking through Instagram, Andrew seems to have taken his account private, which is weird as I was following him. Now I cannot.

[miscend]

Not replying to his emails and closing all contact with his paying customers is quite a shady thing to do. I think there is still an opportunity to come clean. I’ve seen some talk online of ASD or autism, what I’ve seen is that people with these conditions can be real savants, they can be incredibly talented especially in the arts.

[Oquasec]

That sucks. They should keep plugins in the shop

[fieldframe]

What a mess.

Whatever comes of this commercially and legally, I hope Andrew is getting the treatment he needs and his health improves.

[aeox]

This pretty much explains why contact addresses get closed down, probably by someone who acts on his behalf.

Or a desperate ruse.

[esselfortium]

Not replying to his emails and closing all contact with his paying customers is quite a shady thing to do. I think there is still an opportunity to come clean. I’ve seen some talk online of ASD or autism, what I’ve seen is that people with these conditions can be real savants, they can be incredibly talented especially in the arts.

The website says:

"1. Constant manipulated bad press over some recent beta tests and smearing older reason refills has been the final nail."

Now, he coded a lot of his works from the ground, yet it still got defamed as if it was just some pre-made modules, which it was not. The second part of the sentence makes me wonder: ever thought about that he might have worked for other companies, recording, and owned rights to the same samples perhaps, etc? Everyone can speculate endlessly until the companies don't tell us what's gonna happen.

That is actually not true. His plugins were indeed simple premade effects from the IDT/GE set. And I don't mean this as an attack on anyone using IDT/GE, it's a fine platform that deserves to see more legitimate use. But these were about the laziest imaginable uses of it, and he was very shifty about it. After I expressed my skepticism on the forum, he sent me a PM offering me licenses of his products to keep quiet about it.

He wasn't just stealing samples and then doing everything else legitimately. His entire business was built around finding various ways of taking other peoples' work and slapping his logo onto it. In the case of the ReFills and IDT instruments, it was outright illegal. In the case of the IDT effects, it was merely deceptive, but even setting aside the shadiness there, he was selling these (and had early access to the new IDT) based solely on the brand identity and reputation he had built from theft. It's all tainted.



As for taking down his products, I've owned his EmbouchuRe refill for around two years now and as far as I'm aware there have been no updates made to it, even to fix simple bugs like broken keyswitch behavior or wrong notes in NNXT patches, so it's not a matter of wanting to be able to provide support for them, either. He's just been caught in a big web of lies and he's running away.

It is also hugely gross behavior to cite autism as an excuse for theft, throwing countless other people under the bus who have never used it as an excuse to build a business ripping people off.

[RobC]

This pretty much explains why contact addresses get closed down, probably by someone who acts on his behalf.

Or a desperate ruse.

I give up... : /

-

Keep beating a dead horse, everyone, and peck as much as you want like vultures do.

Like the Reason Expert says "Pish oph!" right?

"Congrats".

[aeox]

Or a desperate ruse.

I give up... : /

-

Keep beating a dead horse, everyone, and peck as much as you want like vultures do.

Like the Reason Expert says "Pish oph!" right?

"Congrats".

Give up on what? Trying to control peoples opinions and feelings is no small task. If this is something we can't openly discuss, than I apologize. It's just that it's a pretty big upset in the community and it's inevitable that people are going to share their opinions on it.

[RobC]

I'll be waiting for a declaration from Propellerhead Software and Softphonics.

This thread is like old bags gossiping. xD

[Loque]

I'll be waiting for a declaration from Propellerhead Software and Softphonics.

This thread is like old bags gossiping. xD

[fieldframe]

I'll be waiting for a declaration from Propellerhead Software and Softphonics.

This thread is like old bags gossiping. xD

In a case like this, the lawyers for each party will request that plaintiffs and defendants not publicly disclose anything until they reach a settlement (or it goes to trial, which is vanishingly unlikely). A settlement will generally also be reached for undisclosed amounts and often with no public admissions of wrongdoing.

So unfortunately, I think you'll be waiting for awhile.