Smart Subscription - The Aptly Named New VEGAS Subscription Plan

fr0sty wrote on 9/14/2023, 2:11 PM

Team VEGAS announces this on the SAME DAY Adobe announces they are jacking up the price of their subscription plans... A proper way to do subscriptions where you OWN YOUR SOFTWARE AND GET TO KEEP USING IT after you stop subscribing.

This also bridges the gap between perpetual licenses and 365 users for the online features that people want, but don't want to have to subscribe perpetually to enjoy, like the content library, online storage/collaboration, voice to text/text to voice, etc.

Copying over to this forum as well since the news forum isn't as heavily trafficked.

Hi everyone. You might have noticed that this morning we've launched a new subscription option for all versions of VEGAS Pro. We call it SmartScription: It's a two-year subscription that enables users to keep a perpetual version of the software when the subscription contract ends.

Why have we done this? It's no secret that the industry is changing. Subscriptions are increasingly becoming important for software companies, and we're no different. The days of VEGAS "big bang" releases are gone and we now deliver value throughout the life cycle of each version. This enables us to bring you new features and improvements as soon as they're available. It also makes it easier to understand and plan future revenues, expenses, and so on. Subscriptions play an important role in helping us achieve this.

However, we fully understand why some users do not like subscriptions. So, when we introduced subscriptions several years ago, we maintained our perpetual offering so that you still have that choice. SmartScription is simply another option to solve one major issue with traditional subscriptions: the fact that you lose access to your software, and thus to any of your projects, as soon as your subscription ends.

Rest assured, however, that SmartScription does not replace any of the current options. You can still choose a traditional perpetual license, a one-month subscription, or an annual subscription. SmartScription simply gives you another option that enables you to benefit from all of the subscription-only features (like Text to Speech and so on) at a lower cost than a perpetual license and future upgrades and lets you keep a perpetual version when your contract ends. We hope this new option works for you. You can find more details about the SmartScription offer at https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/subscription/

As always, thanks for your constructive feedback and support!

Gary

Comments

fr0sty wrote on 9/14/2023, 2:12 PM

Meanwhile over at Adobe HQ...

Over the last 18 months, we’ve unlocked an unprecedented number of creative capabilities including Denoise in Lightroom, Frame.io for Creative Cloud in Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects, and Share for Review in Photoshop and Illustrator, workflow enhancements and new products to expand the value of your subscription. To reflect the increased value that we have already delivered to our members and given new costs associated with producing generative AI content, today we’re announcing price updates for our individual and business offerings. Starting November 1, 2023, the price of specific Creative Cloud plans will increase in North America, Central America, South America and Europe.

They are also charging users per use to use their AI features, you now have to buy "credits" to use the AI stuff.

MikeS wrote on 9/14/2023, 2:41 PM

That's a great option. But - and there's always a but - will there be an upgrade/crossgrade option for those of us who have quite literally just bought Vegas Pro 21 on a perpetual licence??

fr0sty wrote on 9/14/2023, 2:50 PM

This FAQ answers how that issue is handled: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/subscription/

DMT3 wrote on 9/14/2023, 3:16 PM

Pretty decent pricing.

Wolfgang S. wrote on 9/14/2023, 6:37 PM

This FAQ answers how that issue is handled: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/subscription/

The page is not found. Error 404.

This is the correct link:

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/subscription/

RogerS wrote on 9/14/2023, 10:27 PM

This addresses the biggest issue I have with subscriptions and why I never paid for one with Adobe. Nicely done, Magix.

J-Toresen wrote on 9/15/2023, 4:02 AM

@MikeS wrote:

That's a great option. But - and there's always a but - will there be an upgrade/crossgrade option for those of us who have quite literally just bought Vegas Pro 21 on a perpetual licence??

@fr0sty replied:

This FAQ answers how that issue is handled:

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/subscription/

SmartScription FAQ

How does SmartScription work exactly?

VEGAS Pro 365+ has a minimum running term of 24 months. After the initial one-time upfront payment, you will be able to access subscription benefits for these 24 months. At the end of the minimum term (24 months), you can decide whether to extend or unsubscribe. If you decide to unsubscribe, you are entitled to a perpetual license to the latest version of VEGAS Pro.

I currently own a perpetual version of VEGAS Pro, what happens if I buy a SmartScription?

If you choose SmartScription, you will of course keep access to the software you currently own. VEGAS Pro 365+ will be available to you immediately after receipt of payment and activation.

Problem: the FAQ says nothing about "upgrading" from Vegas 21 to SmartScription. So, if you already have purchased a perpetual version of Vegas 21, you have to pay exactly the same amount for SmartScription as a person who doesn’t have Vegas 21.You cannot upgrade.

Conclusion. If you already have upgraded to VEGAS Pro 21 Suite perpetual, you have to pay $199.00 more than a person who hasn’t upgraded yet.

Jøran Toresen

MikeS wrote on 9/15/2023, 4:08 AM

This FAQ answers how that issue is handled: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/subscription/

I'd already seen that, and it doesn't answer the question I have got - it simply says that I get to keep my existing perpetual licence and software, which, frankly I'd expect. My question is, having just the other day purchased VP21, do I have to pay the full price for the Smartscription, the same price someone who does not already have VP21, or is there any sort of upgrade/crossgrade offer. The FAQ doesn't seem to answer this.

RogerS wrote on 9/15/2023, 4:44 AM

I don't think they figured it out yet.

MikeS wrote on 9/24/2023, 2:45 AM

Been away on vacation - anyone seen any news on a crossgrade price yet?

Reyfox wrote on 9/24/2023, 9:11 AM

Not yet!

fr0sty wrote on 9/24/2023, 12:24 PM

A member of the VEGAS team did say in the news forum thread that they are working on it.

J-Toresen wrote on 9/24/2023, 12:47 PM

@fr0sty, the problem is that VEGAS-Daniel only refers to users who already have an ongoing subscription.

Hey janndk, thanks for your feedback. Of course, we haven't forgotten you and other users who already have an ongoing subscription. At the moment we're working on a solution to how to handle this. As soon as we have one, we'll let you all know. So for the time being I kindly ask for a little patience.

My concern is: If you already have upgraded to VEGAS Pro 21 Suite perpetual, you have to pay $199.00 more than a person who hasn’t upgraded yet.

Jøran Toresen

MikeS wrote on 9/24/2023, 12:53 PM

Yep, that was the concern I raised

fr0sty wrote on 9/24/2023, 8:33 PM

I would imagine they are looking at options to address that as well.

Howard-Vigorita wrote on 9/25/2023, 11:47 AM

Seems to be a much improved subscription approach.

But I am a little confused about perpetual license updates. Specifically, the statement at the end of the FAQ: "Once you unsubscribe and switch to perpetual you will need to make additional purchases for each update." With existing perpetual license versions, updates have always been free as long as they continue to be released for that particular version. This FAQ says earlier: "If you decide to unsubscribe, you are entitled to a perpetual license to the latest version of VEGAS Pro." Under existing practices, I would expect that perpetual license would entitle the user to updates as long as they continue to be released for that version... it would be irksome to get only a perpetual license to an early release of a new version without entitlement to the bug fixes that generally follow. And get no license for the previous version which might be more stable.

J-Toresen wrote on 9/25/2023, 1:27 PM

@Howard-Vigorita

Good point!

Jøran Toresen

VEGAS-Daniel wrote on 9/25/2023, 2:20 PM

@fr0sty, the problem is that VEGAS-Daniel only refers to users who already have an ongoing subscription.

Hey janndk, thanks for your feedback. Of course, we haven't forgotten you and other users who already have an ongoing subscription. At the moment we're working on a solution to how to handle this. As soon as we have one, we'll let you all know. So for the time being I kindly ask for a little patience.

My concern is: If you already have upgraded to VEGAS Pro 21 Suite perpetual, you have to pay $199.00 more than a person who hasn’t upgraded yet.

Jøran Toresen

Right, I was referring to actual subscribers. However, we are also currently working on a solution for how existing perpetual users of VEGAS Pro 21 can "switch".

Seems to be a much improved subscription approach.

But I am a little confused about perpetual license updates. Specifically, the statement at the end of the FAQ: "Once you unsubscribe and switch to perpetual you will need to make additional purchases for each update." With existing perpetual license versions, updates have always been free as long as they continue to be released for that particular version. This FAQ says earlier: "If you decide to unsubscribe, you are entitled to a perpetual license to the latest version of VEGAS Pro." Under existing practices, I would expect that perpetual license would entitle the user to updates as long as they continue to be released for that version... it would be irksome to get only a perpetual license to an early release of a new version without entitlement to the bug fixes that generally follow. And get no license for the previous version which might be more stable.

You're right and thanks for pointing that out, Howard-Vigorita. The more precise answer to this question is:
"You will keep getting free updates and upgrades as long as you remain a subscriber. Once you unsubscribe and switch to perpetual, you will receive free updates for as long as that version is current. When there is a new major version release, you will need to make an additional purchase to get the upgrade."

We will update the FAQ accordingly.

fr0sty wrote on 9/25/2023, 7:26 PM

Loving this quick and direct communication to address users' concerns. Keep that up!

Grazie wrote on 9/26/2023, 1:43 AM

Whilst the general thrust for improving the process of the means of ownership/use of VP is highly commendable, it was the following that got me thinking:

When there is a new major version release, you will need to make an additional purchase to get the upgrade.

What would designate, and establish a new major version? What I mean is that it doesn't take much to click-over from say VP22 to VP23?

Reyfox wrote on 9/26/2023, 4:48 AM

I'm guessing, like now, if you've bought your perpetual version of Vegas towards the end of it's version release, you aren't going to get the next version or iteration.

But you do bring up a good point @Grazie. What is the cutoff date? If my subscription ends early, in say the life of VP25, will I get the further updates to VP25 if I cancel the subscription, or, am I at the end of getting updates, even though there will be more down the line for VP25?

VEGAS-Daniel wrote on 9/26/2023, 9:26 AM

Whilst the general thrust for improving the process of the means of ownership/use of VP is highly commendable, it was the following that got me thinking:

When there is a new major version release, you will need to make an additional purchase to get the upgrade.

What would designate, and establish a new major version? What I mean is that it doesn't take much to click-over from say VP22 to VP23?

@Grazie, this is also a valid point. Thus, here's an updated version of the answer I posted yesterday. This should make it clearer now.

You will get all updates (for example, an update from VEGAS Pro 25, Update 1 to VEGAS Pro 25 Update 2) and upgrades (that is, major version releases like VEGAS Pro 25 to VEGAS Pro 26) free of charge for as long as you remain a subscriber. Once you unsubscribe and switch to perpetual, you will get all updates that are released during your perpetual version's life cycle (which ends the day of a new major release). When there is a new major version release, you will need to make an additional purchase to get the upgrade.

Grazie wrote on 9/27/2023, 4:09 AM

@Grazie, this is also a valid point. Thus, here's an updated version of the answer I posted yesterday. This should make it clearer now.

@VEGAS-Daniel - Yes, thank you, I understood all of that, even when you wrote it, which made me respond with my comment. OK, who in the TeamVegas, or how is a NEW version decided, outlined upon? Are there any form of "ratings" scales that you share internally, with each other?

I have more feedback concerning all of this, but I'll wait.

gary-rebholz wrote on 9/28/2023, 8:44 AM

@Grazie, you're muddying the waters moving the discussion away from the SmartScription issue. We will essentially follow the same procedures for deciding when we release a major version as we always have, which you seem to have been comfortable with previously. I don't see any purpose to discussing the details of that on an open forum, and especially not as a distraction to the purpose of this thread. Lets stick to the topic of this thread from here.