THE END-ALL CD ARCHITECT POST. LISTEN UP....

nlamartina wrote on 3/19/2001, 6:00 PM

Honestly folks, I don't see what the big hub-bub is
about. Like you, I also am an avid CD Architect user who
expressed a desire to upgrade to Sound Forge 5 from Sound
Forge 4.5 (XP in my case). Like you, I was also a bit
surprised to find CD Architect it won't dock with Sound
Forge 5. Maybe even a tad disappointed. However, this
hasn't stopped me from using both Sound Forge 5 AND CD
Architect. Why? Simply because I use CD Architect as a
seperate program from Sound Forge 5. It's not that
difficult. Here's the process:

1. I mix my tracks in ACID 2...
2. Master them in Sound Forge 5 (resample to REDBOOK)...
3. Print them to disc with CD Architect.

Is it too much to have both SoundForge 4.5 XP and Sound
Forge 5 installed on my system at the same time? Absolutely
not! Sound Forge 4.5 XP (the one CD Architect is docked to)
still has its own little icon on my desktop. Its presence
doesn't offend me. It doesn't shout out "MEAN STUPID SONIC
FOUNDRY HATES CUSTOMERS LIKE YOU! UP WITH PROFIT! DOWN WITH
ARTIST!". No, it just sits right next to the Sound Forge 5
icon, only it's now labeled "CD Architect". When I want to
run it, I just double-click, go to "Tools", then "CD
Architect". Vola! CD Architect is open and running, ready
to meet my every need. Is that so hard? No! Is my
investment in Sound Forge 5 worth the two extra clicks it
takes to get CD Architect open, or the miniscule amount of
harddisk space it takes up? YES! DO THE MATH FOLKS! Not
buying Sound Forge 5 just cuz it doesn't dock CD Architect
is silly, especially if you have it already. But hey, it's
your loss, and not mine.

Still a thoroughly pleased CDA and SF5 customer,
Nick LaMartina

Comments

Doug_Marshall wrote on 3/19/2001, 6:19 PM

Sounds reasonable as you say it, Nick, however, without
further upgrades the end of the line for CDA and 4.5 is
assured as hardware and OS leave them behind. I understand
from reading other posts that there are also issues that
crop up if you have to reinstall 4.5 after 5.0 is on your
system. Enjoy the peaceful coexistence while you can! :-)
Doug

DataCowboy wrote on 3/20/2001, 9:31 PM

It's not such a problem if only one software company does
this kind of thing with only one product and thoroughly
ensures the two required versions work perfectly and
reinstall happily forever.

But that isn't how software is and that isn't how companies
are. Telling a software company you find their behavior
unacceptable seems a rather kind way to clue them in and
discourage future occurances.

Hex
www.thefreeside.com

DataCowboy wrote on 3/20/2001, 9:31 PM

RixWare wrote on 3/21/2001, 1:24 PM

Yes, you are exactly right. No harm, no foul. A few extra
clicks don't mean that much, and everything still works.

Until, that is, you decide (or need) to get a new CD
burner. Then you will be, alas, SOL.

+

nlamartina wrote on 3/21/2001, 8:09 PM

I agree that voicing one's opinion to a company as a means
to encourage change is a good idea and everyone's right. I
just don't feel it's warrented at this point.

Also, concerning the reinstall issue, it's no biggie, at
least on my system. Both copies of Sound Forge exist
perfectly. If the need arises to reinstall, I'll simple do
4.5 XP first, and then 5.0. Again, not too much of a big
deal to me, but I only speak for myself I suppose.

Nick LaMartina

nlamartina wrote on 3/21/2001, 10:40 PM

Rix, you are correct, that future drives may not work with
the software, but keep in mind that by the time the need
arrises to actually get a new drive out of neccessity, it
will probably be because there's a new, better format
avaiable, such as SACD or DVD, in which case CD Architect
will be rendered obsolete. Plus, in worst case, you could
just buy a new drive, write a CD from CDA on the old drive,
and mass-copy it on your new drive. Just a thought.

Nick LaMartina

Spambait1 wrote on 3/31/2001, 7:34 AM

"Rix, you are correct, that future drives may not work with
the software, but keep in mind that by the time the need
arrises to actually get a new drive out of neccessity, it
will probably be because there's a new, better format
avaiable"

Uh, unless your old cdr drive dies like mine just did last
month. Was forced to upgrade to a Plextor 12/10/32 SCSI.
Now I'm screwed as far as CDA is concerned. I've spent the
last month looking to migrate to Steinberg or maybe Red
Roaster, but they simply don't compare to CDA. Why should
I be forced to hunt Ebay for some old CDR drive in order to
use CDA? It seems that Sonic Foundry simply doesn't want
to get off their lazy butts and update the CDA driver
database. Great customer support guys! Let's not forget
just how much money we dished out for CDA in the first
place. It ain't exactly cheap, now is it? For that kind
of money, I expect a little better treatment than to be
dumped by the wayside.

Doug_Marshall wrote on 3/31/2001, 10:48 AM

Spambait1,

CDA undoubtedly became unprofitable for Sonic Foundry.
There's no other explanation for discontinuing this pre-
eminent product. You don't kill off a best seller. The fact
that we want an update changes nothing. There obviously
weren't enough new users to make that effort viable.

How much would you be willing to pay for an updated version
of CDA? $0? $100? $1000? Sonic Foundry isn't obligated to
lose money on our behalf no matter how angry we are. They
have fulfilled their obligation to us with a great initial
product (CDA) and multiple free updates. They aren't
required to provide patches in perpetuity--nor should we
expect that.

Someone will step in to fill the CDA void, hopefully soon. -
Doug Marshall

DataCowboy wrote on 4/2/2001, 10:03 PM

EMagic is filling the gap, unfortunately only for Macs.
Check out the newly released and powered-up Waveburner Pro.

Hmmm, a graphical dedicated Red Book Audio CD burning
application. I guess they didn't realize there's no
demand, future, or money in such software. =^)

Hex
Shake your money maker

MollyF wrote on 4/3/2001, 1:52 PM

Have you ever stopped to think how much it costs Sonic
Foundry to support every new drive? First, I doubt they can
just simply get free drives from the manufacturer (they are
not Adaptec). Second, a developer has to spend time
analyzing the new drive, then tweaking the driver code to
make it work. Then, they have to rebuild CD Architect so it
will work with the new driver - a new installer has to be
created. Then it has to go through SQA. Finally, the
information must be passed onto Customer Service and they
post an announcement declaring support for the new drive
and upload a new build to the website. A new master CD is
created for production runs.

Now do the math - if they have to do this for most popular
new drives, that comes to several drives every month. This
isn't trivial. I'm guessing that it cost Sonic Foundry a
lot more than the revenues from CD Architect. Now, what
would be better, drop CD Architect, or drain the company?

BTW, CD Architect should work with MMC compliant drives.
Most new drives are SCSI or ATAPI MMC compliant. Have you
tried this setting with your Plextor drive?

MollyF wrote on 4/3/2001, 2:01 PM

Why would you think they dropped a profitable product. Do
you think they did it to just piss you off?

IT WASN'T PROFITABLE!!!

I wonder if Emagic has broad drive support???

That doesn't mean someone else can't make money doing a CD
Architect.

Maybe Sonic Foundry will come out with something that will
replace it. I've seen them add CD burning functionality to
ACID, Siren and Sound Forge. Next will be Vegas. Just add
the PQ Editor to Vegas, support all of CD Architects
markers - voila, the perfect CD mastering application. 10x
better than CD Architect.

DataCowboy wrote on 4/3/2001, 5:48 PM

Yes, I have considered it.

Sonic Foundry will do what it must do, and I, as a
consumer, will do what I do. I will also endeavor to let
Sonic Foundry know when what it is doing is not what I want
them to do. They don't have to listen, I don't have to
speak, but isn't everyone happier when it's all out on the
table?

If users can only speak up when we have all seen the
company's financials, deliverables, worker skill set
profiles, and have a full working knowledge of the
software's architecture, we never could. And then just
think how bad software would be today.

Hex
my tongue was in its cheek but now it has better things to
do --
ok, it's back now

MollyF wrote on 4/4/2001, 11:52 AM

That's fine.

I'm not trying to inhibit anyone from speaking out. I was
just a little tired of only hearing one side.

That said, I hope they come out with a new version or
something that replaces CD Architect in the future.

sasha wrote on 4/11/2001, 3:57 PM

Hi there.
Although it may sound (and probably is ;) an ugly solution,
but:
After installation of SF5 and quick realization that CD-A
isn't going to work, I've created another win installation
on the same machine and installed 4.5+CD-A on it...(CD-R
driver, too) && (Different directories, of course). So, I
can make my edit/create -> save -> reboot to new win
installation -> use your CD-A.

Ugly, I know -- but I like it too much, and, as many of you
are pointing out, money are already spent...

MollyF wrote on 4/13/2001, 11:11 AM

Why would you have to reboot. SF4.5 and SF5 should be able
to coexist.