February 20, 2024 - Course Correction
On January 25, 2024, we transitioned to a free app -- MIDI Designer Pro X -- with an optional subscription. We heard the disappointment from our existing customers, and we want to correct course.
Today, we are making some changes (now out since MIDI Designer Pro X 10.1.0). Everyone who purchased MIDI Designer Pro 2 prior to our switch to subscription on January 25, 2024 will have lifetime access to all existing features before the 10.0 update.
This includes the core MIDI Designer Pro experience that users know and love and all features that were previously purchased as IAPs (including Stream Byter plugin, Extra Features Pack and Cloud Backups). Future features we develop may also be included, depending on their complexity and cost to maintain.
We are a small company, so we designed the original one-year access plan as a precautionary measure since we were not certain if we could support lifetime access. We sincerely apologize for putting our current users in this position.
Without you, we would not be here today. We deeply value each and every one of you. Your feedback and layouts power MIDI Designer Pro and have helped shape the app into what it is today. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Dan, JK and the MIDI Designer Team
[leaving the below post because it still provides valuable insight into the reasoning]
Why Subs 1/x: One-Time Purchase Problems
We explained a lot of the reasons that we went with subs in our "Why Subs" video here. The fundamental goal is to get MD into the hands of as many users as possible for free.
Why Subs 2/x: The Death of the Lemur, the Legend
But the short vid really begs the question: why do we need users to pay over and over again, instead of just once?
As many of you know, Lemur -- a legendary MIDI controller offered on iOS and Android -- was removed from the App Store in 2022. MIDI Designer was headed quickly in the same direction. Software development is extremely expensive and we cannot just stop. The pressure is constant and furious:
- Apple keeps updating iOS, iPadOS and macOS, requiring fast developer response, code changes, and communication changes.
- The tech continues to advance -- new hardware, MIDI 2.0 is coming out, etc. -- so we cannot sit still either.
- User feedback requires response, new-feature development and app refinement to keep users happy and get new users.
Why Subs, 3/x: Leave my App alone!
Some users have said, "why don't you leave MDP2 alone, offer no updates ever, remove it from the App Store when it doesn't work, and make a new app?" This approach has multiple, hard problems:
- How would we communicate to potential new buyers of MDP2 that it's already dead as far as updates are concerned?
- How would we communicate to old MDP2 users that we're going to remove the App from the App Store because Apple broke it via update?
- how would we determine the App is dead? When it's somewhat broken on the latest iOS version due to an Apple upgrade? How would we know if the break is bad enough to sunset the App (no updates, no downloads)?
- How do we explain to new users which App to purchase? We cannot have the App in the App Store not for purchase.
- etc. etc.
Why Subs, 4/x: You're Just Doing This to Make Money!
While we're hoping that Premium can, eventually, fund app development, support and other activities in full, the answer is NO. We're doing this to offer the App for free -- with a limited feature set (no page changes, notably) -- to all users with no limits. Eventually, YES, it would be nice to buy a sushi dinner once in a while for the team, but initially the goals are meager: to get MD into the hands of as many users as possible, and to cover costs and fund current and future development.
We've been rolling since 2012, have issued 85+ updates, and users seem happy. Now it's time for me, Dan with our team -- mostly JK on support/community and various users who help out with things like translation -- to attempt to cover costs and avoid having to remove the App from the App Store.
I get it, MIDI Designer is essential to me, how can I help?
If you love MIDI Designer, think about how to do your part to keep us from going the way of the Lemur.
- Consider buying a Premium Sub now. You can turn on "Ignore App Purchase Date" under config to start your sub right now instead of waiting for your loyalty year to expire.
- Think about how to promote MD on the Internet. Do you have photos or videos to share? Hit us at up team [at] mididesigner [dot] com and let's see how we can work together.
Thanks for checking out MIDI Designer!
Dan
Dan :: Software Author & CEO :: MIDI Designer :: dream | create | play
