While the industry’s move to subscriptions has its downsides, I think it’s a net benefit to post-production.
Adobe introduced their Creative Cloud subscription model in 2012 causing quite a stir. Their stock has since skyrocketed and it is considered a huge money maker for them. For the most part, consumers paid more, and Adobe had less incentive to fix bugs and add features.
Since then, plugin companies have also tried the same trick. While I agree that holding core apps hostage has hindered ads, I think signing up for plugins and add-ons will aid creativity rather than hinder it.
Why is that a good thing
I regularly use Boris FX’s Mocha Pro software. It’s a great flat motion tracking plugin and makes my life a lot easier if I need to work on a difficult stretch or (heaven forbid) something. It costs $37 a month.
Then I usually use Reg Giant Plugins, now owned by Maxon. Their Universe pack is really helpful for creating a soft glow on movie footage, and I’ve been pretty effective using their Trapcode set for quick graphic blanking in After Effects. Universe costs $30 a month and the entire suite costs $79 a month.
The reason I love using these subscriptions is because I don’t have to pay for them. My client is. When I need a plugin, it’s because the client succinctly calls it. It’s simply much easier to charge $37 for motion tracking software than it is to charge a set fee. That also means I had a receipt to prove it cost $37.
If I were to pay full price for Mocha Pro and the entire Red Giant suite (unfortunately you can’t do that anymore), it would be a nightmare trying to figure out which customers need certain tools and how much to charge. It also means that I always use the latest and greatest versions of these tools, making it easier to work with other post-production professionals. That becomes especially poignant when macOS users start working on an M1 machine.
In light of the subscription model trend, I would avoid using expensive plugins or have to make sure clients agree with me spending $300 on a plugin package. It’s much easier now to earn $50 line items for a plugin.
Flip side
If you check Aescripts, you should be able to purchase most plugins. Sometimes you’ll get stuck in After Effects and need to pay $30 for “Global Renamer. Other times, you may need a consistent workflow between After Effects and Grinder.
I would still find myself switching to a subscription-based plugin if I had the choice. Until recently, it was easier to pay $24 whenever I needed to use Capture One, as it wasn’t my daily driver. If a customer needs Capture One on set, it will only pay a $24 fee. Let’s face it, that’s much cheaper than renting a Mac Pro with Capture One from the studio.
Has any subscription software caught your eye recently? Do share your favorite plugins below in the comments.
