Pinnacle buys Steinberg for $24M

[peter2002]

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA and HAMBURG, GERMANY, December 18, 2002—-Pinnacle Systems, Inc., announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the stock of Steinberg Media Technologies AG based in Hamburg, Germany. Steinberg specializes in digital audio software solutions for consumers and professionals. The companies expect to close the transaction in early January 2003 and have agreed on a total purchase price of approximately $24 million, consisting of $8.2 million in cash and $15.8 million of Pinnacle Systems common stock. At closing, Pinnacle Systems will acquire all products, software, and intellectual property rights, along with all other assets and liabilities of the company.

http://www.steinberg-ag.net/presse/press_section.phtml?section=01&action=show&pressID=118

 

[pgwalsh]

That's a rather big surprise. First emagic and now steinberg. I never would have thought.

 

[barkmonster]

I Wonder if mac Cubase users (shame on you) will be in the same situation as Windows Logic users soon ?

VST as a plug-in format has practically turned proprietory anyway, there's only steinberg stuff and a few sample editors and quirky loop sequencer type applications that support the format as far as hosting them. VST has huge competition on Windows from directX aswell.

 

[Zenith]

have you actually noticed that Emagic keeps updating the Windows version of Logic? They said 'no more Windows updates after sept 1st', but hey, Logic 5.5 was recently released for both Mac OS and Windows...

 

[Kid Red]

For those of us on the outside, what does this have to do with Apple? Apple bought Emagic but they didn't buy this Steinberg Media Technologies, Pinnacle did. So I'm not seeing the connection and was wondering what it was.

 

[sedarby]

What's the point?

The point is that there are potentially many users of Steinberg products on Macs and this news may spell the end of support for them.

 

[daveg5]

I read this earlier today and it was rumored that someone would buy them on cubase.net forums, pinnacle wants to be the leading pro audio/visual software maker and could not wait for apple to snatch up steinberg, watch for MOTU next as they have the premiere line of audio/midi/firewire interfaces along with a easier to learn and grasp daw and interface.
I think this is good for cubase/logic users like myself as competition is always good Cubase has already gain some highend nuendo features ulimited history undo redo, print effect to harddicks when cpu is stressed, vst system link which allows you to connect 2 or more cpus for more processing, the widest selection of fx and instrument plug ins support vst and core for more audio cards asio and core(in os9 logic has more plugs cause it can use logics and most vst) they are both great and can only get better.
Cubase is my main daw in 9.2.2 very stable and works with my current hardware, i will soon get the sx version waiting for sound card and midi driver updates and will upgrade to logic 6 when apple appletizes the interface. i also use protools le from time to time with digi 001 (a friends) as I see it it will take about another year for all the dust to settle and we see what is compatable and not and who has the best GUI, it may be MOTU'shardware software integration that wins. right now is not the time to rush to an all osx daw until all the apps, plugins and drivers are update or at least announced if your nine is stable and compatable keep using it for at least another few months otherwise if you have to be all osx with still so many ? go right agead just keep making music.

Hers an informative article on the state of OSX music, although he mistakenly gave logic the credit as the first pro daw for OSX, it was actually Bias's Deck they have supported OSX from 10.1 on. also no mention on Yamaha,s MLAN firewire based interface or Yamahas one year discontinued DSPfactory 1 of the top 5 used cards with Cubase.
http://www.computersandmusic.com/xcgi/SoftCart.exe/store1/articles/01.html?E+mystore1
Peace Out

 

[daveg5]

Originally posted by Zenith
have you actually noticed that Emagic keeps updating the Windows version of Logic? They said 'no more Windows updates after sept 1st', but hey, Logic 5.5 was recently released for both Mac OS and Windows...

Its true i have a pc friend who loves using the logic front end with his protools setup.
Logic also work fine in OS9.2 which is still the most popular but not for long.

Apple could do itself and its pocketbook a favor by keeping logic pc current, just make the mac version with a better GUI and a few extra highend features like cubase's system link , plugins print to hardDISK(got it right that time.
espescially if Pinnacle pulls the plug (and profits) from the mac version, i doubt it cause the Mac market(protools,aviddv,final cut pro is exactly the market along with the pc that they want to dominate.
Pegasus Rules!!

 

[springscansing]

Originally posted by barkmonster
I Wonder if mac Cubase users (shame on you) will be in the same situation as Windows Logic users soon ?

VST as a plug-in format has practically turned proprietory anyway, there's only steinberg stuff and a few sample editors and quirky loop sequencer type applications that support the format as far as hosting them. VST has huge competition on Windows from directX aswell.

What is this pro-Logic nazism you are spouting?

Cubase 5 is the only thing that works flawlessly in my studio.

 

[springscansing]

Re: What's the point?

Originally posted by sedarby
The point is that there are potentially many users of Steinberg products on Macs and this news may spell the end of support for them.

They've already said mac products will continue to be produced. If they stop em, I'll go to Logic I guess. Blah. I can't though. I need VST damnit! Reaktor... I love you...

 

[springscansing]

Originally posted by daveg5

Cubase is my main daw in 9.2.2 very stable and works with my current hardware, i will soon get the sx version waiting for sound card and midi driver updates and will upgrade to logic 6 when apple appletizes the interface.

I'm with you there. Cubase is my main DAW in 9.2.2 as well, although I tend to be a bit of a cut'n'paste editor anyway. Boom boom choppiness.

But uh... yeah, IMO, the Logic interface sucks. If Apple Appleitizes it, I'll switch ASAP.

If Reaktor decides to support AU. Eh.. I could always go to Max I guess. *cringe*

Scary!

 

[Big Red]

Cubase is the only reason I even have OS 9 on my machine. I've tried Logic, and I know someone trying to learn the newest version in OS X, and the damned thing just doesn't make any sense to me.

I'm waiting for Cubase SL to be available for OS X. SX is really overkill for me, and I can't afford the upgrade anyway. I'm not too thrilled about losing all of my OS 9 VST plugs, either. I've assembled a ton of these in the freeware categories, and I need them! Oh well, Steinberg has been really flakey the past few years, and I'm really not all that saddened that they may be under new management. I don't want to learn Logic, though, please tell me they're being honest when they say that they aren't killing the mac version!

 

[nonreflectiveobject]

what's wrong with max, huh? reaktor can't even touch max/msp/jitter, except perhaps in a slightly easier learning curve. bah, reaktor. it's good that you know what max is, though. most people have never heard of it. i know quite a few people trying to implement fft stuff in reaktor. now THAT'S scary...

 

[barkmonster]

What is this pro-Logic nazism you are spouting?

Cubase 5 is the only thing that works flawlessly in my studio.

I did used to use VST 5 but it annoyed the hell out of me with the lame interface being spanned over so many windows and the crappy attempt at automation, midi is far easier with micrologic, audio is easier and far more flexible with Protools LE, I use those 2 instead.

I was only meaning it in a jest anyway, I just think cubase was only good when an Atari ST running it was the only real option. Now we've got far more powerful computers and software like Digital Performer, Logic and Protools, I can't see the point in cubase on either windows or mac os, unless you want to run VST instruments but there's wrappers for those anyway. I know logic is a pain in the neck to learn but cubase isn't exactly intuative either.

 

[usersince86]

Originally posted by daveg5
I read this earlier today and it was rumored that someone would buy them on cubase.net forums, pinnacle wants to be the leading pro audio/visual software maker and could not wait for apple to snatch up steinberg, watch for MOTU next as they have the premiere line of audio/midi/firewire interfaces along with a easier to learn and grasp daw and interface.

Back in the 80's MOTU was the best thing going, and may still be. It will be interesting to see how MOTU does in the OSX arena. It's a quiet sideline, but Apple now has an interest since it's in the game.

I agree that MOTU could be bought by someone... but who?

 

[pgwalsh]

One thing Logic has going for it is SoundSurfer. It makes hooking up your midi equipment a lot easier because it recognizes the patches. It takes its engine from SoundDiver, which is a great program. Cubase doesn't have anything that'll recoginze patches. You can bring a patch list in, but you need to find something to create it with. PIA. I like cubase other than that feature. There both very good DAW's.

 

[daveg5]

Originally posted by Big Red
Cubase is the only reason I even have OS 9 on my machine. I've tried Logic, and I know someone trying to learn the newest version in OS X, and the damned thing just doesn't make any sense to me.

I'm waiting for Cubase SL to be available for OS X. SX is really overkill for me, and I can't afford the upgrade anyway. I'm not too thrilled about losing all of my OS 9 VST plugs, either. I've assembled a ton of these in the freeware categories, and I need them! Oh well, Steinberg has been really flakey the past few years, and I'm really not all that saddened that they may be under new management. I don't want to learn Logic, though, please tell me they're being honest when they say that they aren't killing the mac version!

agreed i miss the osx gui but have found a program combo that gives os9.2.2 the same gui and antialias fonts, people think I am in osx www.aquamakeover.com, if you have to use os9.2.2 might as well have it look good. i did not use thier adock because a friend said it causes crashes, everything else is perfect, not a crash in cubase for at least 3 weeks. although i have 540MB allocated to it and use it by itself and maybe with rebirth once in a while i have Logic for the atari st and 4.7 for the os9 but grew tired of the GUI it looks so dated compared to dp3 and vst but it is a very capable program and in 9 gives you the widest range of plugins vst and logic, i just like vst better, the look the feel and it works with my yamaha dspfactory card, the best and only 5DSP and sound card under a $1000.
although next year i may add a powercore or uad dsp card (this cards have no inputs or outputs they just give you more dsp power for fx) or the pulsar dsp and sound card. once you use a sound card that gives you its own hardware based fx its impossible to go to a simple input/output soundcard.

 

[daveg5]

Originally posted by usersince86


Back in the 80's MOTU was the best thing going, and may still be. It will be interesting to see how MOTU does in the OSX arena. It's a quiet sideline, but Apple now has an interest since it's in the game.

I agree that MOTU could be bought by someone... but who?

personally I dont think they are selling i think they have passion above the almighty dollar and would not sell unless apple support is guaranteed, ulike apple and steinberg, motu does not make its flagship product for two platforms just one.

Whoever wants to control the pro audio world with a knockout punch shoul buy them now.
Just think of Apple buying and rebadgeing motu,s firewire interfaces and midi interfaces and giving it apple design, but letting MOTU DP4OSX be developed and supported by MOTU.

It would be like buying a honda and acura, or toyota and lexus.
Apple despertly needs an Apple branded firewire audio card, and midi interface with style and all the work is already done for them. make a smal l 2in2out or 4in 4out with midi for consumers and rebadge MOtu's other interfaces. and what ever happen to Yamaha's MLAN i thought that was gonna be the base of OSX audio, maybe Apple is in talks with themas a lot of music gear have that interface

 

[daveg5]

Originally posted by barkmonster


I did used to use VST 5 but it annoyed the hell out of me with the lame interface being spanned over so many windows and the crappy attempt at automation, midi is far easier with micrologic, audio is easier and far more flexible with Protools LE, I use those 2 instead.

I was only meaning it in a jest anyway, I just think cubase was only good when an Atari ST running it was the only real option. Now we've got far more powerful computers and software like Digital Performer, Logic and Protools, I can't see the point in cubase on either windows or mac os, unless you want to run VST instruments but there's wrappers for those anyway. I know logic is a pain in the neck to learn but cubase isn't exactly intuative either.

I guess to each his own , I am sure their are many digital performer users who only like thier program, basically once you get situated and comfortable with a DAW the last thing you want is to learn another one and go through it again if have to use new soundcards and plugins when your ear has just got used to what you have. some call it advancement, some call it pain, i call it a lot of both. actually all the programs are good glad we have 3 to choose from.
my moneys tite i think i will get sl instead of sx $99 not to bad, no i need a cheap soundcard with good sound, and a midibox to replace my usb and serial opcode(you would have thought that apple would have opcode midi support since they hired thr guy) wow thats about 4-600 , maybe i will just stay productive in 9 a little longer and use osx for everthing else since they now look the same.

 

[arvidvdb]

"Sonic Foundry is negotiating to sell parts of the company to erase its debt, chairman and chief executive officer Rimas Buinevicius said Tuesday.
It's too soon to release details, he said, but the Madison headquarters of the company, which develops software for audio and video editing and Internet streaming, will undergo changes to be announced within 60 days. "

hmmm.... Emagic-steinberg-sonic foundry,

big changes in audioland this year.
This is developping as quite an interesting platform-chess-game. Wonder who's buying sonic foundry... MS? ;-)