You guys keep adding irrelevant details. Code changes and car tires have nothing to do with it. It's a licensing issue.

Now, I can totally sympathize with your position and I wish you good luck convincing Magix/ProDad to change the way they do things.

But there is an important message that should not get lost: As of right now, if you buy Vegas 15 upgrades with bundles, then you can not assume the additional software to work with the next version. So, for example, the Boris 3d unit, will very likely not be licensed for Vegas 16. There is nothing that says it will, and in fact it is listed as "Free software, part of THIS OFFER ".

Maybe it ought not to be that way but my advice is BUYER BEWARE.

 

 

So basically, Kevinermark, what you're saying that we the buyer with all the power of our all mighty dollar have no chance of swaying the bad decisions riddled full of Lawyer B.S. and licensing mumbo jumbo? The details you speak of are as relevant as the power of the license. Unethical business practices will always try to dominate the buyer. Intelligent buyers, with options, will always sway the businesses with their power of spending their money else where. And there are some pretty competitive options out there... DaVinci Resolve - Free, and Premier to name two big competitors. Who's really at the mercy of who here? I'll tell you this, many have walked away from Vegas Pro 15 just over this issue alone. You can try to remove the players responsible from blame under the protection of "the license agreement made me do it" excuse.But the customers here are not stupid (well, most at least). Vegas Pro and all it's functionality (and lack thereof) is not a one time kind of use and toss tool. As of the last edition, Magix (in this case) tried to fix some serious lackings by adding to their program and it appears they did so badly and at the cost of the productivity of their long term and devoted customers! Bad move no matter how you spell it out. I don't know how Magix or ProDAD could find a better way to loose customers and show those remaining how little they actually care then in stunts like this... kind of counters the hard work they did trying to keep Vegas Pro alive - wouldn't you think?

Agreed (a GREED! hahaha). Our old stereo or tires or seat covers should fit if we just bought the same car, just a year newer. SERIOUSLY doubt there was enough code change to warrant needing to RECODE the plugin.

There is no recoding required at all. All that happened is the license fails to recognize the new version and places a watermark. ProDAD thinks it's entitled to more money for existing users to keep using the same product - unchanged.

I think you have as much luck as I did trying to convince Adobe to give up on their software rental scheme.

Go have a beer and chill out :)

I found a kind of workaround if you have also VPro 14 with that stabilizer.

Analyse first the events in 14 and open that project in VPro 15 for rendering.
I did not try to edit the project further in 15.

My work around is so silly it hurts. I made another copy of my project and then deleted all media that did not require stabilization. Then I export from VegasPro15 each individual clip as a separate video. Then I stabilize each clip in VegasPro14 using Mercalli 4 (which otherwise would work just fine in VegasPro15 if not for the license B.S.), save and re-import into the original project in Vegas Pro 15. Heck, with that work flow I might as well stabilize in Warp Stabilizer in AE then re-import. And this is what happens when companies like Magix fails to consider the long term effects and the needs of it's customers. How much is this upgrade and what really are we getting for our money?

I think you have as much luck as I did trying to convince Adobe to give up on their software rental scheme.

Go have a beer and chill out :)

I've got my beer right in front of me ;-) But here's this, you failed with Adobe because you tried to convince Adobe... you should have tried convincing the blinded masses who pay Adobe their rent for life fee scam (and I'm with you too on how stupid that scam is). I'm talking to the masses here, those affected just like me. I hope Magix and ProDAD both read this and listen - it's their chance to make things right by their customers and win back our support. I'll chill when the deed is done. So pass another beer please. :-)

This can be thought of as rights-managed licensing, as opposed to royalty-free licensing. ProDAD licensed their product to use in one version, same as I might license a clip of a shark to a producer, on a rights-managed basis, to use in one specified episode of a TV show. Doesn't necessarily entitle them to use it in the next episode, or the next series. They pay the same again for that. Hence I'm cooler with this from a moral point of view than some of you, but it doesn't win proDAD any fans. And I think their use of the word "upgrade" is unfortunate. They should just talk about licenses.

Someone who's considering buying VP15 Pro or Suite should ask Magix Sales exactly what the license deal is for the NewBlue, Hitfilm and Boris add-ons.

ProDad ... how NOT to win friends and influence people.

At the very least, proDad/Magix should offer an option to have a version of Mercalli that will work in future versions for a higher price and a version that only works in the current version of Vegas for a lower price. Then one can at least make a rational choice, but as it stands now, it is just plain wrong. It should be very clear exactly what the deal is, not hidden away as has been done.

The funny Thing is: they have such an offer! But it was not communicated at all what the user purchases really.

The more expensive option is the extra Mercalli 4 plugin that you can purchase standalone for Vegas. I purchased that and it works both in VP14 but also in VP15. But frankly spoken, that was not specified at all at the proDAD homepage, proDAS did not mention that this plugin will be work in future applications like Vegas Pro 15 when I purchsed that 2 years ago. So maybe I was lucky here only - because it could have been also the other way round.

Exactly the same Point - missing communication - is true for the Mercalli 4 plugin that was bundled with Vegas Pro 14. Nobody communication that this will not work any more in a future Version as we see it by now.

And by the way, the NewBlu Titler that came with the Vegas Pro 14 Suite seems to have the same constrains. Yes after the Installation of Vegas pro 15 I find the plugin also in Vegas Pro 15, but it seems to run as Trial Version only. So it is not proDAD alone.

So the learning is that one cannot be sure what happens with the plugins purchased now with the Vegas Pro 15 Suite - you simply do not know if they will run in Vegas Pro 16 or not. 

Interesting thread.  It raises the question of having upgraded to VP13 with VP14 thrown in (£100), do I really need VP15.   Not convinced it would be worth the hassle.

I'm reversing my perspective. I only bought 14 BECAUSE it came with prodad M4 bundled.. ONLY reason. BUT, realistically, to me, I don't do enough video work to warrant buying ANY updates. AND, I've not used ProDAD even once yet, except playing around. So, I no longer give a rip, if needed, I'll render a stabilized clip from 14 to use in 15, and ProDAD has lost a potential "customer for life", for life. :P

And since it is code I OWN, exists on MY harddrive, I may look into a hex editer and muck around with it abit.

And since it is code I OWN, exists on MY harddrive, I may look into a hex editer and muck around with it abit.

Unfortunately that's not true. The software and the individual components of this product are the property of proDAD GmbH. You only own a license to use it. I expect the licensing agreement you agreed to when installing it probably also forbade you from modifying it.

I emailed ProDAD last night and received a response. 🙂 They WILL have an upgrade path for those of us who have received the plug-in with the Vegas Pro 14 Suite bundle. It should be on their web site sometime this coming week at https://www.prodad.com/Video-Stabilization-for-Professionals/Mercalli-V4-Plugins-for-Vegas-29796,l-us.html.

I do not know what the cost will be, I have asked but not received a response yet. Perhaps they are still figuring that out. This to me is a very good thing for those of us who use the stabilizer.

For me this whole dispute is like I bought a car (model VegasPro 14, made Magix) last year with a special introduction offer, a sophisticated roof rack (Mercalli 4). Now, this year, I bought a new car (model VegasPro 15, also made Magix) and this sophisticated roof rack, that I got for a special price with my former car, doesn't fit on my new car, unfortunately.

What can I do, keep my old car besides my new car, for those drives when I need a roof rack. Or should I sell my old car together with the roof rack and with that money, buy the universal roof rack (Mercalli 4 SAL) that fits on all models of Magix?

Anybody interested in buying a one year old car with a nice roof rack? Only serious biddings please!!!

For me this whole dispute is like I bought a car (model VegasPro 14, made Magix) last year with a special introduction offer, a sophisticated roof rack (Mercalli 4). Now, this year, I bought a new car (model VegasPro 15, also made Magix) and this sophisticated roof rack, that I got for a special price with my former car, doesn't fit on my new car, unfortunately.

What can I do, keep my old car besides my new car, for those drives when I need a roof rack. Or should I sell my old car together with the roof rack and with that money, buy the universal roof rack (Mercalli 4 SAL) that fits on all models of Magix?

Anybody interested in buying a one year old car with a nice roof rack? Only serious biddings please!!!

3POINT - you actually didn't get it right, the sophisticated roof rack you mention will fit on your new model car.... it's just that the maker of the rack refuses to give you permission to use it on the new car and would rather you pay them again to keep using the same thing you already paid for except they (ProDAD in this case) is calling it an "upgrade!" But through all the B.S. others are trying to justify this thru lawyer excuses using words like "it's not tangible property," or "intellectual rights," and "Licensing Rights." You see, Mercalli 4 plug-in for Vegas Pro 14 actually works just fine on Vegas Pro 15, no modification or recoding required. It's a "mother may I" Licensing fiasco preventing it from being use through a watermark.

BTW, with Vegas Pro 15 it isn't like you bought a new car. The core code is all still the same more or less, it's just a spiffed up version. Kinda like getting a new paint job and a new stereo. So it's more like the roof rack manufacture is telling you that you have to remove the roof rack because the car you own was modified a little.

Couldn't say it better myself.

And it still will not help. A software is no car and is no materiell asset that you own, but you hold only a license to use it under certain defined criterias. Regardless if it is well said or not.

To continue to cry about license constrains will not bring any solution. If proDAD will offen a solution you can think about to take such an offer or reject it, but I am assume that it will not come for free what you seem to expect (simply because you never purchased a license for Mercalli for Vegas Pro 15 from proDADs point of view).

Unfortunately that seems to be the unbeloved reality behind it.

Wolfgang S - your attitude is exactly what companies like ProDAD want everyone to think like. It helps them win by playing dirty and wouldn't life just be better for ProDAD and Magix if everyone just coward like dumb sheep and bought into the scam?!? You seem to work for ProDAD, you definatley support them and the flawed system ProDAD and Magix are trying to sell. As if something has to be "material" to fit into the same rules that honor, truth, respect, and integrity fit into. LOL. No matter the excuses that others, like you, push on us customers that are being wronged here, what Magix and what ProDAD is doing is wrong and the customers are smart enough to know and remember. The word is out there... keep adding to the negative outcome of it all. Trust me, others are looking at what is being said by who here and they hear it loud and clear.

@skyml

Your posts are far too aggressive. Just because someone doesn't agree with you does not make them "dirty / coward / dumb sheep" etc etc. There are now pages of your vitriol attacking both the software companies and fellow forum users who don't agree with your demands.

And frankly, the things you have said about Magix and ProDad are both libelous and defamatory. They are not "playing dirty" just because you say so.

Smarten up!

+1 Kinvermark

Both sides of the argument have been put numerous times. Both are valid arguments. Now I suggest we wait to see what proDAD come up with in the coming week. In the meantime please only contribute if you have something new to say.

sorry if that has already been said (I have been reading..): Purchasing VP14, I was meant to believe I also purchase licenses for the bundle products, obviously, through Magix, but nevertheless, from the original manufacturer, hence I end up with my individual Serial for my Version 4 Mercalli, which is the current latest release. I am personally happy if ProDAD only lets me use that license in one software version, but it should allow me to at least de-serialize VP14 for activation on VP15, since it's still only Version4, nothing different, Like you can install your software on multiple machines you own, until you run out of activations. But this is Magix hostage taking, sugar bread sucking in customers and dropping them when it gets serious. Yes, I am frustrated by this move, and I believe rightfully so.

PS Crippled 3-gen behind TitlerExpress3 and some of the other NewBlueFX still functioning in VP15, go figure..

Economically not a smart move by Magix, once people realize this practice, they will not by bundles anymore, and put their money for plugins elsewhere (some of those licenses will also work in other software I believe..TitlerPro5 in Vegas and DaVinci in parallel??)

/edit: one more point: If Magix decides not to bundle certain as-sold '$200 value' 3rd party plugins in a newer software release version, then they should refund this 'value' in the update price if they decide to drop the bundle. simple.

..Wonder how many +$400 extra-'Suite' or +$200 extra 'Pro' Versions Magix would sell IF it included the bespoke disclaimer on their sales website:

'*) Bundled software might loose functionality in future software version releases'

let's just think about that for a moment...

Wolfgang S - your attitude is exactly what companies like ProDAD want everyone to think like. It helps them win by playing dirty and wouldn't life just be better for ProDAD and Magix if everyone just coward like dumb sheep and bought into the scam?!? You seem to work for ProDAD, you definatley support them and the flawed system ProDAD and Magix are trying to sell. As if something has to be "material" to fit into the same rules that honor, truth, respect, and integrity fit into. LOL. No matter the excuses that others, like you, push on us customers that are being wronged here, what Magix and what ProDAD is doing is wrong and the customers are smart enough to know and remember. The word is out there... keep adding to the negative outcome of it all. Trust me, others are looking at what is being said by who here and they hear it loud and clear.

 

To attack other people in a personal way only because they do not share your opinion is not an accepted behavour according to the rules of this forum. So you are warned here.