Is Creamware still alive?

[astroman]

Unfortunately, it seems Creamware are bankrupt again.

There is a German online register for insolvency . It says ...
This is somewhat like "Chapter 11" in the USA.
....

while the registry thing is correct, the rest is wrong. this kind of rumor mongering is the kind of thing that could wreck the company for real and for good. this is a small matter, not like the original insolvancy. there are no bank creditors lining up for payment. there's no need for the corp to be dissolved. the matter could be discussed, but it's a private, court matter. stop creating panic unnessessarily. if you wish to argue with me about my post, do it via pm.

the company is alive and functioning. i've gotten product and new keyfiles since that date.

... and like 'chapter 11' the purpose of filing the case is to find a way to continue the company's business in whatever way, as a whole or in parts, as a new corporation or whatever makes sense (socially and economically).
It's a fairly complex item and can have a multitude of reasons.
As Gary writes it makes no sense at all to discuss it without any background information.

cheers, Tom

[Kermit Jagger]

while the registry thing is correct, the rest is wrong. this kind of rumor mongering is the kind of thing that could wreck the company for real and for good.

A rumour is something unsubstantiated and yet you say the registry entry is correct ?!

Frankly, I'm all for Creamware having a long and fruitful future, if only to protect my investment.

In any case, I don't wish to argue, I only wish to know the truth, and if the truth is Creamware is doing fine, then great.

In the meantime, lack of communication from the company to explain what's happening is what creates the problem in the first place. No news is not always good news.

it makes no sense at all to discuss it without any background information

Indeed. Can someone tell us exactly what is happening ?

[nprime]

I think it has been demonstrated repeatedly that the answer to that question is ...no!

[Badger]

I'd just like to back up Gary's message by confirming that Creamware are definitely still operating. In fact I recently ordered a new plus I/O plate to replace my old "classic" one which arrived the day before yesterday. Creamware even included a packet of sweets in the parcel!!

In the course of ordering I spoke to Ralf and others at Creamware by phone (all of whom were extremely helpful and courteous). The only (slight) complication was that I couldn't order by credit card (had to order by bank transfer).

I don't know what the alleged current difficulties involve, but I've never experienced anything other than an excellent level support and helpfulness from Creamware whenever I've dealt with them and so I wish them well over this period and for the future.

Regards,

Col

[simulfan]

Perhaps they sell the last tea-pot out from the cupboard.

You need solvent partners and fundamental knowledge of new and up to date environments (VISTA) to stay on the market. They still missed to develop 64bit-drivers for WindowsXP64bit. You can not lay back and retire on glory of past days.

Have a nice day
Marcus

[frokka]

Actually, this might be the perfect timing for Microsoft to buy Creamware and compete more directly against Apple. There are things they have said recently that indicates they understand the need to beef up the whole Windows Pro DAW platform. Like Steve Ball (not Ballmer) from the video / audio dev team:

I use a Mac at home for my own music work. I’ve been recording music on Apple machines since 1992. I also work in parallel on music on Windows machines. I live in both worlds. Until late 2001, there was not sufficient will (read: defensible business justification) within MS to address Windows audio and video performance, quality, fidelity, latency. We are now in a different landscape.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2006/06/2 ... ic-on-mac/

[Shroomz~>]

I personally recommed a strong rope shaped into a noose to go with your vista sandwich.

[astroman]

... Until late 2001, there was not sufficient will (read: defensible business justification) within MS to address Windows audio and video performance, quality, fidelity, latency. We are now in a different landscape.
...

yes we are, we have i-tunes and a million i-am-a-producer jerks, you-tubed via google and my-spaced...
you don't subscribe to marketing blurb, don't you ?

cheers, Tom

[scardanelli]

If Creamware are still alive then how come:

1/ They don't answer their e mails.
2/ I cannot open the Mypage log-in.
3/ They do not answer their phones.

This is the very worst customer service I've EVER come across, I'm selling my Pulsar II as soon as I can find someone to take it off my hands. This company treats its users with total disrespect. As a user of hi-tech studios and owner of UAD and TC Powercore for many years I am utterly amazed that Creamware are still in business if they treat their customers this way. No other company I deal with has this much arrogance, not even Digidesign/Avid - and they take some beating. No wonder Digital Village in Birmingham warned me off buying the Scope Professional package.

[Shroomz~>]

No offense Simon, but I've dealt with Digital village in Brum & they don't have a f*ucking clue about much other than guitar stuff & the sound systems they sell & hire. Most likely the guy there who advised you against a Scope pro card is the type of dude who couldn't figure out installing & running a Scope card, yet still claims to be user of hi-tech studio gear. ROFLMAO

Sorry you couldn't get your card running btw Simon, but honestly ... it ain't Creamware's fault

[scardanelli]

it may not be Creamware's fault - but then, I expect some help in getting it sorted and I've received NONE, zero, zilch, bugger all, and therefore am very pissed off. As I said, no other company I deal with ignores custimers like this. How do you explain that? And, to be honest, we are well past the days of hacking into our system files to get a piece of hardware working. Nothing i've bought in the past three years apart from the Pulsar has given me an installation problem. Let's face it, if it didn't work properly that would be one thing. BUT it will not install properly, period. I've e mailed them about the problem and had no replies. Apart from a request for the serial of the hardware, which I sent.

[astroman]

first of all, if they were Digidesign...
...my Pulsar One wouldn't be supported anymore and I would have spent an extra 5k Euro in PC gear plus an xtra 10k for the DSP stuff, my phone calls (not that I need much...) would have been charged by the number and the company probably would never have run into any kind of financial havoc....

I really liked your straight way of claiming to be interested only in XTC and insisting on 'your way' of working things out - if the card wouldn't apply, you'd just sell it - fine.

But it's a bit strange to ignore anything beyond your very own perspective, and draw conclusions as if your were an expert.

The XTC mode of the card can only be secondary to the 'SFP' mode, you got to configure your XTC project that way because it's there is no other access to the hardware.
The flexibility to adjust the system to personal needs is a central (and unmatched afaik) feature and it's what sets this card apart from others.
For guitar and bass recording it's likely to be a different routing than for an electronic dance track - you may not see it (for obvious reasons) and you may not even need (for personal prefs)...

....I very nearly went out and bought a brand new Studio version before I found this one on E Bay, but fortunately for me, the salesman at Digital Village warned me that they weren't always reliable in terms of compatibility - - - - so I dip my toe in the water with a used one, and I'm very glad I didn't splash out over a grand. And to top it all, I've been unable to get into the MyPage to check which plug-ins I've bought with it, cos I want to sell it now....

yes, buy it on eBay and ask for free support, cherio

there is absolutely no need for that page - all the necessary information is with the seller (if he fullfills at least some humble mental requirements)
it's no secret that the registration server has been compromised by hacking attempts and is off the net for a long time now.
you have of course all the right to feel p*ssed off - no problem.

cheers, Tom

[scardanelli]

I didn't "buy it on E Bay and ask for free support" - I bought on E Bay to test the water, see if this system was a good system to add to my set-up. I find out that it isn't. Just because it's used doesn't mean I can't get some advice does it? I mean, a new user is a potential new loyal customer, but not in this case. Had it worked I would probably have ditched the Hammerfall and bought the Scope Pro. A smart company values all its users.

[astroman]

well, I admit I kind of 'borroughed' the quote above and exaggerated a bit - I think you got the point that it wasn't exactly targeted at you personally, but that type of attitude probably isn't totally rare
CWA support does in fact treat buyers from eBay as if they were 'original' customers, as I can confirm from a phonecall with Ralf.
There is often a lot of extra work for him that wouldn't be necessary if sellers/buyers handled the stuff in a more 'thoughtful' way.

The key registration procedure may look strange at first glance, but it's much more convenient than the (native) challenge - response system that rings the alarm whenever you change your configuration.
The system was originally developed without the option to transfer licenses - in that context CWA does a fair job (free of charge before eBay sales turned an exception into a regular case) and adjusted their procedures to requests from 2nd hand buyers.
Updates or 'specials' for long time customers have been remarkable imho.

Of course things could be improved, but it's a Germany based company and some business costs are extremely high here - search back for the last 5 years and see which (German) pro audio company did not go bust, was sold or in severe trouble

As you've noticed the product sounds excellent - and it is about the best audio bang you can get for the buck and I didn't regret a single one of my purchases (3 to 5k Euro in CWA and 3rd party stuff).

To be honest, you were pretty straight in your statements, so I didn't mind the 'standard' hint for peple who have trouble to install or certain restrictions in their setup:
connect a 2nd hand P3 in a 19" box via Adat and treat it as hardware outboard gear - a no brainer to setup, even Win98 would do - and you could still send automation data from your sequencer.

I have such a box that starts from a 1 GB flash disk - the latter cost me more than the PC where it's in...
and I'm planning a 2nd one since I found a tiny 1 unit rack for my mini-itx (just 10" deep) which will get a midi-controlled setup for guitar processing (autostart without need of a screen).
It will be centered around a SpaceF's Echo3, some amp simulations and strange modulation FX - and it will outperform ANY similiar gear from any shop

cheers, Tom

[dawman]

I have hard evidence, and proof finally. We will be able to buy our beloved cards 4 quite some time. Although the company that is buying out Creamware will undoubtedly put their name on it, Radio Shack has saved us. Just think when you need an adapter or something, you may as well buy another Luna card while you are there as well.

[katano]

you're kidding?

[paulrmartin]

I have hard evidence, and proof finally. We will be able to buy our beloved cards 4 quite some time. Although the company that is buying out Creamware will undoubtedly put their name on it, Radio Shack has saved us. Just think when you need an adapter or something, you may as well buy another Luna card while you are there as well.

And Circuit City has bought Radio Shack

[Liquid Len]

you're kidding?

The camera never lies.

[Shroomz~>]

Behringer? .. please tell me you aren't serious.

[Liquid Len]

Behringer? .. please tell me you aren't serious.

Um, no I wasn't serious. This thread had developed a certain humorous bent, I don't think Scope4Live is serious about RadioShack either.