Yes!
Steinberg updates decisions are the worst.
I had “Absolute 4” installed on my Audio-workstation (“Windows 7Pro x64”) for more than 2 years without any problem.
Then, the latest SDA (Steinberg Download Assistant) update /upgrade broke everything.
I can’t even reinstall “Absolute 4” on “windows 7” (if I wish /need to).
I made support tickets but to not avail. They simply blame “Windows 7”.
The funny thing is that I use several other collections like “East-West Complete Composer Collection”,“Spitfire-Audio BBCSO Core”, “XLN Keys”, “NI Komplete”, several other “Air Music-tech” VSTis and everything works just fine, only the Steinberg stuff does not work anymore.
The solution Steinberg pointed to me was… upgrade to “Windows 10”. What!?
When I decided to get “Absolute 4” I was warned about all this problems by several musicians friends but, in my optimistic way of life, I thought that it couldn’t be that bad… well it is… In good faith I cannot recommend any Steinberg products anymore.
It is your opinion of course. You are completely entitled to have it, despite being somewhat biased and completely unfounded. I never had a security breach on “Windows 7” ever (since I installed it).
Windows 7 is still the fastest MicroSoft OS ever.
It demands less CPU, it runs on less than 40 services in the background.
It does not constantly try to phone home and allows me to compose orchestral music with more than 60 VSTi tracks simultaneously without any audio drop-outs or glitches.
I have also have “Windows 10” installed on the same PC (dual boot) and I can’t say the same about it. Yes, I do test it regularly for music production, specifically when new OS updates are released but the result is always the same, after 10 VSTi tracks I start to have drop-outs, clicks and pops… and yes, I did disable all unnecessary services to save resources and tuned-up Windows 10 (based on my own knowledge and on IT specialists recommendations) but to no avail.
Sure, next you can argue that the problem is my i7-4790@3,6GHz, 32Gb RAM, nVidia video card, the SSDs where I installed the virtual libraries or maybe my “Tascam US-16x08” audio interface. Then you can suggest me to buy a new 24 core CPU and connect it to an electric central to drain as much energy as it needs to make music, but then I may also ask why should I do any of this when I have all of it working just fine in “Windows 7” except the Steinberg products?
All of it because (apparently) Steinberg, in its infinite wisdom, decided to change the rules of the game and do not support a product (Absolute 4) that had “Windows 7” as minimum OS requirements in 2020 (when I bought and installed it) and now changed that policy along the way because of security? Security of what?
Yes, very wise indeed.
In fact they must be the only illuminated ones around, since the other vendors still support “Windows 7” on products that required “Windows 7” as the minimum OS on time of purchase. Following such philosophy, soon I’ll need to buy a new studio for Steinberg requirements.
Anyway, it is unavoidable that people have opinions, most of the time unfounded, only because it is cool to have such opinions that protect corporations instead of users.
Windows 7 is not Microsoft’s Fastest OS ever. That’s patently untrue.
Additionally, many of the “phone home” components were backported to Windows 7 and delivered via Windows Update, so unless you’re hyper managing that stuff you aren’t going to be gaining much. Windows 7 machines should be run offline, at this point, so it’s not like it’s ever going to be phoning home, anyways. It’s the new XP.
Beyond that, newer revisions of Windows perform better than Windows 7. They’re also less bloated. Microsoft has been removing a lot of non-essential legacy components from Windows that still exist in Windows 7. Some updates to Windows 10 literally ceded back Gigabytes of Storage to the user. That’s how much legacy bloat has been removed.
Secondly, and laughably…
Sure, next you can argue that the problem is my i7-4790@3,6GHz, 32Gb RAM, nVidia video card, the SSDs where I installed the virtual libraries or maybe my “Tascam US-16x08” audio interface. Then you can suggest me to buy a new 24 core CPU and connect it to an electric central to drain as much energy as it needs to make music, but then I may also ask why should I do any of this when I have all of it working just fine in “Windows 7” except the Steinberg products?
Mentioning energy usage while using an 84W i7 that is completely destroyed by 65W Ryzen 5/7 CPUs with higher clocks and [up to] twice the cores/threads at less power draw… or even 35W Laptop CPUs, is beyond ironic. You are worrying about power draw, but running a dGPU in a Music Production Machine that probably doesn’t need anything more than to drive a couple of 4K displays (at most) and play back some video when composing? Something the iGPU in that CPU can do.
Are we actually being serious, here?
You do realize that as components get more powerful, they also get more efficient? It’s more wasteful for you to run that old machine than it is for me to run my newer machine. My machine draws less power while generating less heat to deliver the same performance - and having far more performance headroom than yours.
Security of you. Even if you don’t care about it, they have to act in your best interest, otherwise they’re being negligent by basically propping up a dead OS that people have convinced themselves is better (it isn’t) simply because they’re paranoid about some background services.
Steinberg cannot be expected to support an out of support OS. That is a waste of resources. Sometimes issues with software are the OS’ fault, and Microsoft will fix these issues in an in-support OS so that applications function properly. With Windows 7, this is not possible. If Windows 7 is supported, and is breaking software, it means Steinberg has to work around Windows 7’s bugs to keep their software running. It is a problematic situation to keep support ancient OSes for this reason. Most developers drop support once the OS is a couple versions out of date. Windows 7 was due to be dropped the second Windows 11 released.
Windows 7 EoL was 14 January 2020. That is why the Support was carried forward that far. To give people who stayed on 7 through its entire lifecycle a chance to get and use the software, but also time to get off of it before the next release of the products/bundle.
They aren’t going to change the system requirements for a product halfway through its lifecycle. So, Absolute 4 catered to Windows 7 users up until Absolute 5 was released. Once Microsoft EoL’s an OS, developers generally stop supporting it 100%. This is expected, logical… smart.
You and those like you who sit on Windows 7 are outliers and an extreme minority in the market. As harsh as this may sound… you don’t really deserve consideration. You’ve had a decade to get off of Windows 7. 8 and 10 both supported your hardware.
See above.
Windows 7 EoL 14 January 2020. Most products will have been updated/upgraded since then - including Absolute - and the new versions will have dropped Windows 7 support. We all know how well support for old versions of software goes in the current era
Just like you sat on Windows 7, you can sit on Absolute 4 if you refuse to upgrade to an OS Steinberg supports in the latest versions.
Decisions have ramifications.
There is nothing “protective of corporations” about having the opinion that you should have upgraded your OS in the past decade. How long do you expect developers to cater to you and your ancient, out of support operating system?
Yeah, right you can argue and laugh as much as you like.
I don’t need the developers to support “Windows 7” for ever (in new products), but it is only fair to keep “Windows 7” support for products that require “Windows 7” as minimum OS requirements, right? If you are an intelligent person then you know that this fact alone refutes any other considerations you may have.
About “Windows 7” vs “Windows 10” in music production… I’m not talking from my @ss.
I’ve done many tests, latency, CPU cycles, process occupancy, audio processing threads and you are completely wrong about W10 being better at music production… (I wish) I tell you right now that I have no problem upgrading to “Windows 10” (only if if it worked form me) but since it does not, I can’t do it. If it works for you, then good for you.
I can’t even install “Absolute 4” in “Windows 7” anymore.
It should be possible since “Windows 7” is the minimum OS required by “Absolute 4” and I didn’t upgrade to “Absolute 5” (Well, I’m getting tired of repeating myself).
Since the latest SDA update, it is not possible to install “Absolute 4” in “Windows 7” or “Windows 8.1”. I tried in both since W10 does not work for me… and by the way, I’m free to choose the best OS that works for me, or am I not?
The workaround I found, was to install Windows 10 (dual boot) so I could reinstall “Absolute 4” on my SSD, then reboot to “Windows 7” so I can use the “Absolute 4 collection instruments” again. So, the problem is not even the instruments software is the SDA.
The latest SDA version (Steinberg Download Assistant) refuse to connect to the Steinberg servers (connection error) in “Windows 7” and “Windows 8.1” because the new SDA uses the latest TSL protocol 1.3.
“Windows 7” and “Windows 8.1” do not support TSL 1.3 (only windows 10 and 11 do).
This problem affects “Windows 7” and “Windows 8.1” users and there is not an option to maintain the previous SDA version that uses the TSL protocol 1.2 instead. (The SDA forces the update to the latest version).
The OS is a personal decision of each user and should not be imposed if the installed OS is the minimum required by the product when purchased (for ever).
About my GPU, again you are arguing just because it must be fun to you.
I need 3 displays. The built in iGPU cannot handle 3 outputs at the same time (not the way I need to configure them). The solution was to buy an nvidia GForce GT 720 passive (19W maximum consumption) to do the job.
And yes, I’m dead serious about all this, (maybe you are not) but hey, if you wish you can always offer me a new computer to solve my specific Steinberg issues.
I’ll give you my address so you can kindly send me your solution.
One thing I can tell you for sure, I don’t want any more Steinberg products.
