Steinberg is likely still learning how to manage all this transition properly. Their history has been just stable product releases in timely manners, so there wasn’t much need for constant announcements. But now, this whole licensing timing of individual products messes up a lot of the update timings.
I can empathize, and feel that Steinberg just needs some time to sort this out because this is quite a massive change for all their products.
A lot of excellent products to manage, a lot of licensing issues to work with, a lot of business decisions, a lot of other software updates to go along with the licensing transitions. It’s a lot of work spread thinly around different parts of their products, so it’s understandable why it takes so long and is so confusing.
But, it’d be better if Steinberg at least confirm to their users that this takes time. Long silence and vagueness isn’t going to build hype and interest, it only builds doubt in Steinberg’s interest of their own products and loses the interest of potential customers.
Does Steinberg typically include 3rd party libraries in Absolute? I don’t know the history of how Absolute has been treated. I do see Olympus Choir Micro that it comes with in the current Absolute and that one isn’t developed in house but by SoundIron.
Zaria by Sonic Atoms is featured on Steinberg’s site as part of a sale. Would such a library show up in Absolute 6 or is this very unlikely and I should just get it now separately outside of Absolute?
As someone who just purchased Cubase 12 Pro, I’m wondering if I should jump on the Absolute 5 offer before it expires tomorrow (not as an upgrade, but as a first time purchase)? Am I going to wish I just bought the thing while it was cheap after I get more involved with Cubase?
Its definitely a steal at that price. The only thing to really take into account is how you go about upgrading/updating things…
The thing with Absolute is, once any of those instruments get updated, you’re kind of stuck waiting for Absolute itself to get updated as opposed to the individual instruments. For example, Halion 7 is due out any time now, when that comes out, you’re going to be in a weird spot either waiting for Absolute to get updated to include it, or you may have to pony up and update to Absolute 6 if/when it comes out to get everything up to date if that makes any sense. You won’t be able to just buy the Halion upgrade/update on its own when it gets released.
Basically, instead of waiting around for Groove Agent, Halion, etc new versions/updates, you have to wait for Absolute updates instead. Same situation with the licensing. Everything in Absolute except Halion has been moved over to the new licensing system. Absolute owners are still stuck having to use the dongle for their license until the WHOLE package gets moved over to the new licensing system.
Thanks for the info. I think I will go for it. I will just use the software elicenser on a single machine until the new Steinberg licensing is available. I think I can handle not getting updates immediately for the various parts like Halion 7 when it comes out, as long as I know I will eventually get it with an Absolute upgrade.
I took advice from @Dr.Strangelove and got Komplete 14 from Native Instruments and am pretty happy with it. The price was not a steal though. It’s a huge ecosystem with lots of 3rd party contributions as mentioned. Still exploring its potential. Comparing it to GA5, H6, and other A5 components I would think that an A6 would have to come with H7 to stay competitive.
Tempted to buy A5 on sale right now, but I’m wondering if I qualify for the upgrade pricing, they aren’t really clear on that for my situation. I’m Nuendo 12 user, and both padshop 2 and retro 2 are included - which technically should qualify. But I haven’t paid for any of the Steinberg instruments that qualify on their own, which may be a requirement? Not sure. It’s only a $50 difference from what I’m seeing, but for the most part I’m more interested for the upgrade path going forward. Anyone know of the upgrade works this way, it certainly has with other companies like Izotope.
Anyone have any thoughts if Absolute typically includes 3rd party libraries? I have my eye on Zaria but am wondering if there is a good chance that could be included in the next Absolute upgrade. Thank you.
Unfortunately from what I understand Padshop or Retro 2 do not qualify for the upgrade to Absolute. The only exception is if you own Halion already where you can “crossgrade” to Absolute. For the best deal if you are new to Absolute, is to buy it from Best Service at about $204 (last I looked) instead of $250 on Steinberg’s site.
The crossgrade is only for users who purchased those plug-ins separately. The plug-ins that are included for free with Cubase/Nuendo/etc do not count, sorry.
Third party libraries are generally not included. I believe Olympus Choir Micro made it in because it’s also included with Dorico, and choirs were a clear weak point in the collection (previously, only New Agey Yamaha-style choirs were included).
I don’t know what Steinberg is planning for Absolute 6, but if they include any other third party libraries, I would guess it would be something bread-and-butter.
You mean Halion Sonic SE 3. The full version of Halion Sonic 3 included with Absolute 5 has an almost completely different set of presets, based on newer samples. Most of the sample-based sounds included with HS SE 3 come from the original Yamaha Motif workstation, with a very small selection of cut-down sounds from the full version of HS3.
Thank you, that’s what I was looking for! Again, they don’t make it obvious, but my guess was that you would have had to of bought them separately to qualify for the deal - if it’s the license info they are looking for. I’d much prefer them to just grey out the option if I’m signed in to make it easy. Nuendo is my work horse DAW of choice, but I haven’t used too many Steinberg native apps with it before.
Thanks for your response. I went ahead and got Zaria! Now, I just wait for Absolute 6…hopefully not too long for Halion 7 and some hopefully other major additions to the product line!
Are you sure? I’m using HALion literally right now without a Dongle (purchased last week with Absolute 5). Also, there’s no mention of a Dongle requirement on the purchase page anymore…
Is your Halion on eLicenser or Steinberg Activation Manager? I don’t have Absolute 5 authorized, but it may be on eLienceser as a soft license instead of needing to be on a physical dongle on eLicenser.
As @composingkeys mentioned, Absolute 4 and 5 (maybe also Absolute 3 - I don’t remember) can be activated on soft eLicenser, so you don’t need a physical dongle for Absolute. However, soft eLicenser is limited - you can only activate a single computer and once you have put a licence on a USB eLicenser then you can’t move it back to soft eLicenser.
My Absolute 5 licence is on soft eLicenser, as are all my remaining eLicenser licences other than VST Connect Pro 5 (which is USB eLicenser only). I look forward to migrating the rest of my Steinberg licences to Steinberg Licensing.
Sadly, I believe the sale ended on Nov 30th, 2022. I just purchased Absolute 5, and I am not using a dongle, just the software based eLicenser. I’m looking forward to migration of Absolute to the new Steinberg licensing.
It’s a huge ecosystem with lots of 3rd party contributions as mentioned. Still exploring its potential. Comparing it to GA5, H6, and other A5 components I would think that an A6 would have to come with H7 to stay competitive.