Native Instruments released “The Finger” yesterday. “The Finger” is a Reaktor Ensemble by Tim Exile and I have a been a long time fan of his work. Despite the fact that if I have been terribly upset with Native since the non-release of Reaktor 6 (that at this moment seems to be something that will never happen) I decided to buy “The Finger”. After all it runs under a Reaktor 5 and I am still using that.
So off I went to the Native Instruments website, made the purchase, downloaded the installation package and opened it. And I got an error message: “Please run an installation of Kore 2 or Kore plater before installing”.
For those of you who know me you know what I said: “What the fuck?! I have Reaktor installed!!!” And the last thing I want is something like the Kore Player on my machine. I opened Reaktor to see if this time the installation package would recognize it and just extract the Ensemble. No such luck. Still the same message.
So back to Native Instrument’s website. If you can’t beat them join them. I went to the Kore player page and clicked on the Download for Free link. A message came up telling me that I should check my “emails” that would include the download link. I waited for like one hour. I received, twice, the notification for the subscription of the Kore Newsletter (my bad: I forgot to click it off when filling up the form for the free download) but no download link at all. I mean no download link at all.
I waited for another 45m and decided to fill out a Installation Support Help Request. I explained my problem with all the details (even included my IP address). I got an automatic message from NI saying that it would take some days to get back to me. “Right…” I thought “… time to go to the NI Forum”. So I did, and posted this message on the topic regarding “The Finger”:
I would Loooooove to be praising the whole Finger thing but unfortunately I bought the Software, downloaded it and can’t install it. I need to have Kore Player or Kore 2 installed even if we have a machine with Reaktor on it.
Came back to the NI Page to download Kore Player (That was already something that I did against my will) only to find out that:
1. The supposed link never reached my emails (sic) and that NI takes a few days to answer any support request.So, I buy a piece of software and can’t get it to work immediately because … I can’t download the FREE Kore Player.
Somehow I feel NI is showing me the finger, sorry to say it.
Cheers!
Just a few moments ago I got this message from Matt Jackson, a Product Designer from Native Instruments:
Fernado,
I’m sorry that you had problems sucking the .ens out of the Finger installer. I admit that it is an issue that you ned to have a Kore product installed in order to install a powered by Kore product (even if you don’t want the Kore part). We’ll have this fixed before the next Reaktor based Kore product. In the mean time please hold tight and if no one from support gets back to you soon, please let me know and I’ll figure out a way to get you what you need.
When I read this e-mail my relationship with NI instrument’s ended! Period! Not because Matt misspelled my name, no.
If this is a known issue why in the hell do they put on their website that their product “The Finger” will work with Kore 2, Kore Player OR Reaktor?!
At this moment I am short on €69/$79, with an installation package that doesn’t work and waiting for a link to download FREE Software! Ironic to say the least.
And that is why when NI show me the Finger I say Goodbye.
PS: There is ONE reason why this post doesn’t contain any links to the NI site. I am not sending them ever again traffic or a good word.
Strategist, Sound Designer, Electronic Music Producer, New Media Artist, Activist, Blogger, A&R of the 
@pedrocs @tomdavenport Here is why: http://tr.im/yXPT
RT @fjfonseca: Blog Post: "When #NI Shows me #TheFinger I say Goodbye": http://tr.im/yXPT #music #production (pls share)
Blog Post: "When #NI Shows me #TheFinger I say Goodbye": http://tr.im/yXPT #music #production (pls share) (via @fjfonseca)
Fernando, sorry to hear about this! False advertising is a big no-no, and a great way to lose customers.
RT @sonoplastico: Blog Post: "When #NI Shows me #TheFinger I say Goodbye": http://tr.im/yXPT #music #production (pls share) (via @fjfonseca)
@reaktorlovers Hey guys! When you have the time, please read this: http://tr.im/yXPT
Yeesh! That’s tough… –>RT @fjfonseca: Blog "When #NI Shows me #TheFinger I say Goodbye": http://tr.im/yXPT #music #production (pls share)
RT: @sonoplastico: Blog Post: "When #NI Shows me #TheFinger I say Goodbye": http://tr.im/yXPT #music #production
RT @sonoplastico: Blog Post: "When #NI Shows me #TheFinger I say Goodbye": http://tr.im/yXPT #music #production (via @fjfonseca)
Cripes. I guess that’s why I always Pirate NI products. It was obvious to me from the outset at least 5 years ago that NI’s marketing strategy was to try to flood the market with as many soft-synth/soft-sampler type products as they could to confuse consumers and squash out any competition. This story just rings like the chickens of that strategy coming home to roost.
By the way – I DO pay for software from most other publishers. These guys have always pulled shit like this, though. This story is just more fuel to the fire.
Bittorrent is your friend. If they treat you like a criminal – then be one – STEAL their product and teach them a lesson.
I won’t. What I did was reply to Mark. Here is a copy of my e-mail to him:
@kieronjames @thomasraukamp @ambienteer Don’t know if you read this already: http://tr.im/yXPT #NI
RT @fjfonseca #ICYM Blog Post: "When #NI Shows me #TheFinger I say Goodbye": http://tr.im/yXPT #music #production
Hi Fernando
Just a heads up to say that the installer’s been re-done on your (and probably some other people’s) request. You can now run the .ens directly from the installer if you re-download the installer link.
Best
Tim