BlueBox Development plan?

[sydilaxe]

This forum is full of ideas, bugs, requested features etc... So yes - small bug fixes are just necessary fixes, as something is not working as expected. But no any new features etc. Seems BB development was stopped

I am sure there is more to come. The last update was in May and development work/ testing takes time. I am happy with the Bluebox as it currently is, but I would definitely like to see more features added. I am sure we will see 2.0 software someday, but they have a larger product line to work on firmware updates for now with the nanobox line. 1010 is still not a large company, so I think we can be patient on this one.

[Steve]

This forum is full of ideas, bugs, requested features etc... So yes - small bug fixes are just necessary fixes, as something is not working as expected. But no any new features etc. Seems BB development was stopped

Having been around, you know if we still make it - we are still working on it.

[Dcramer]

It’s certainly more capable then when I looked at it last year, good to see bugs being fixed and it is able to record pre-fader as I’d been hoping for. I bought mine today

[demian]

I haven't bought the Bluebox yet although i suits 75% of my needs. For me the most important features that are currently not in the firmware yet, being able to use the bluebox as audio input card with my daw, side chaining on channels with internal compressors, some filters, and send files back and forth between a computer through usb.

One side note that i have, because i see several companies being slow with releasing firmwares, i wouldn't mind if you could buy a device with 2 years of support and paid firmwares after, as long as they are being developed within reasonable timeframes and with a reasonable amount of new functions. It would give more faith when buying a product and possible boost sales because of that.

I won't buy the Bluebox now, first i wait to see what the next firmware does.

[Steve]

I haven't bought the Bluebox yet although i suits 75% of my needs. For me the most important features that are currently not in the firmware yet, being able to use the bluebox as audio input card with my daw, side chaining on channels with internal compressors, some filters, and send files back and forth between a computer through usb.

One side note that i have, because i see several companies being slow with releasing firmwares, i wouldn't mind if you could buy a device with 2 years of support and paid firmwares after, as long as they are being developed within reasonable timeframes and with a reasonable amount of new functions. It would give more faith when buying a product and possible boost sales because of that.

I won't buy the Bluebox now, first i wait to see what the next firmware does.

"reasonable" can be defined in many ways. From our founder, "buy a piece of gear based on what it does TODAY. Don't invest your time and money into what it MIGHT do tomorrow."

[Suspect Frequencies]

I would not purchase a piece of equipment knowing I would have to pay for bug fixes and functionality after a set time frame. It is beneficial for a company to keep adding to and updating a gears functionality because it becomes a form of free advertising for the product with all of the buzz on forums, uTube videos etc.

For instance, if new updates were available at the same time for both the BlackBox and BlueBox, I would not release them at the same time. I would release one, allow the buzz to build, then release the other as the buzz from the first subsides. This would cause discussions to ebb and flow multiple times throughout the year, keeping the focus on the company for longer.

Both the BlackBox and BlueBox discussions web-wide have been stagnant as of late.

[demian]

"reasonable" can be defined in many ways. From our founder, "buy a piece of gear based on what it does TODAY. Don't invest your time and money into what it MIGHT do tomorrow."

This is a populair thought, but i disagree. When i buy a phone or computer i want it to be supported in the future to by it's vendor, i base my choices partly on what i can expect.

[Steve]

I hear you. But we don't make phones or computers. And we have been transparent about this very issue.

[demian]

I would not purchase a piece of equipment knowing I would have to pay for bug fixes and functionality after a set time frame. It is beneficial for a company to keep adding to and updating a gears functionality because it becomes a form of free advertising for the product with all of the buzz on forums, uTube videos etc.

For instance, if new updates were available at the same time for both the BlackBox and BlueBox, I would not release them at the same time. I would release one, allow the buzz to build, then release the other as the buzz from the first subsides. This would cause discussions to ebb and flow multiple times throughout the year, keeping the focus on the company for longer.

Both the BlackBox and BlueBox discussions web-wide have been stagnant as of late.

I was already expecting an answer like this, but a reasonable timeframe can be defined when advertising the product. If you know that you can expect every year around Q4 a big update and bugfixes through the year, one could be more confident that wanted but missing options will be implemented. A company can do this for free, or include it in the sales price of the hardware ofcourse, but i see regularly that companies are not too interested in making firmware updates as they see it as 'costs'.. if they could make money with a firmware update it would motivate them to develop this and this would result in a better product and better sales. All kinds of scenarios are possible, for instance, paid firmware updates for early adopters and being freeware after 6 months. I am not saying it should be like this exactly, but a business model could be developed around the development of firmware with the goal of a better product and more revenue for the company. So win-win.

[sydilaxe]

I haven't bought the Bluebox yet although i suits 75% of my needs. For me the most important features that are currently not in the firmware yet, being able to use the bluebox as audio input card with my daw, side chaining on channels with internal compressors, some filters, and send files back and forth between a computer through usb.

If you are waiting for the Bluebox to function as an interface, you might want to buy a TX-6. I don't think it will ever happen and they have clearly stated that it isn't in the development plan.

[Suspect Frequencies]

I was already expecting an answer like this

I was already expecting a rebuttal like this. And I still disagree with your points. I would not like this type business model from hardware manufacturers, and would not support such a company with dollars.

Good luck in getting companies to adopt your plan!

[rev-eng]

There are things I'd like to see implemented but no gear is perfect for all one's needs and 1010music are among the quickest and most responsive companies I've come across in terms of firmware updates. You can wait years for big manufacturers to release new firmware, if they do at all!

[jayneural]

I think what happened is 1010music kinda set the expectations high with previous hardware seeing major features and improvements over the couple or more years after their release.

So I understand now some of us are expecting the same pace in the development of the newer products. Unless 1010music can afford increasing the size of its dev team with its current sales, I can only expect the updates to slow down, like we are already observing.

It doesn’t mean the firmware is abandoned and won’t have any new features but just don’t expect the pace of almost monthly updates with major features that we’ve had at some point with the Blackbox.

At that time I was feeling like 1010music was making a custom product for me as almost every feature I requested for the Blackbox was implemented (still begging for a couple of them : more FX and stems export).

Also if there are bugs / stability issues, they also become the priority. So if I can give an advice. Be patient, but don’t forget to make music in the meantime. Don’t do the mistake to let your hardware taking dust just because you lack a feature.

[Steve]

jayneural - well said.

demian - we 100% support our products. Often, with free firmware updates. If the bluebox does not do what you need it to do - maybe it is just not the right box for you.

[klaasklever]

This is a populair thought, but i disagree. When i buy a phone or computer i want it to be supported in the future to by it's vendor, i base my choices partly on what i can expect.

...but luckily music gear is different. even because phone and computer updates are not truly working like people need it. i want to buy a product, not a subscription to a hardware service.

[RollrightKnights]

The point is moot IMO, and the analogy with smartphones doesn't bear close analysis. Essentially the Bluebox is a standalone product.

If there was never another update released it would continue to work in its current form, whereas phones need updates to be able to utilise and work alongside developments in app technology etc.