Subscription model: a practical concern

I know there is controversy with MIDI Connect’s moving of Lemur to a subscription-based model. By and large, I’m on board with the reasoning expressed here, so I will sidestep that discussion to bring up a practical concern.

If I understand it—please correct me if I’m wrong!—a subscription model necessarily requires that the software be online from time to time, in order to check that it is paid for.

I use Lemur as a live performance tool, and I’d bet a lot of others do too. And the thing about that is you cannot assume there will be Internet connectivity (or cell service) at your gig. There usually is, but I’ve certainly been in situations where there is not. I’ve played a houseboat in the middle of a lake, a dingy club down three flights of stairs, a secluded beach—no internet, no cell. Heck, I went to see a musical at a big theatre smack in the middle of Manhattan, and when I got to my seat, no cell coverage.

The point is, there could certainly be a situation where I’m sitting down at a live venue for my second set, I look at my iPad, and Lemur is saying ‘please connect this device to the Internet before proceeding.’ And there’s no Internet.

So my humble suggestion is that MIDI Connect think very hard about ways to potentially ameliorate that concern. Again, I’m OK with the financial aspect of Lemur’s subscription policy—and I acknowledge that I’m lucky to be able to say that!—but the presumable requirement that it phone home from time to time makes me somewhat reluctant to pony up that cash right now.

Any ideas, folks?

Thanks for your message!

Absolutely, this knowledge is baked into the paywall. I also use Lemur offline.

1) Subscriptions aren't checked unless you exit out of the app or every 12 hours
2) The subscription isn't checked until 1 hour past the expiry to give the billing provider time to update
3) If it has expired it enters a grace period for 72 hours where you can still use the app
4) If you cancelled the subscription you can start an extended grace period for 48 hours where you can still use the app. You can start the extended grace period at any time, even a year past your expiration date. This is to give users who don't want to resubscribe the chance to download their projects so they won't get locked out.
5) Repurchasing a subscription resets all grace periods

All of this is calculated offline without requiring an internet connection.

Let me know if that works for you. The rules can always be adjusted.

midikinetics. midikinetics, not MIDI Controllers. Ugh, how embarrassing. Apologies, midikinetics!

Anyway, thanks for your prompt response! Your clarifications are welcome, especially point 3.

Let me explain my preferred workflow, and then I have some questions about your point 1.

I use Lemur as a frontend to control software instruments hosted in Plogue Bidule. I do not use MIDI, only OSC, and I don’t use WiFi, only a tethered USB-Lightning connection to the iPad. Therefore, I rarely connect the iPad to the Internet even at home (except once a month or so, to check for updates and download the latest digital version of Sound On Sound magazine). I find it useful to not connect more often than that as it can cause the IP address to change.

Do I understand point 1 correctly to mean that Lemur wants to be connected to the Internet every 12 hours, and if it cannot, the 72 hour grace period is triggered? And when you say ‘unless you exit out of the app,’ do you mean just switching to another app, or fully quitting (i.e., by calling up the App Switcher and swiping up on the Lemur window)? And if I do that, Lemur will want to connect to the Internet again?

Thanks again for your attention!


H

Is this an accurate interpretation?:

If one has a monthly subscription and usually keeps the ipad offline, after the month has passed Lemur will check if the subscription is still active. If it can't get confirmation (because of no internet connection) then it gives 72 hours grace period. If still no internet connection happens after 72 hours then Lemur is locked.

Worst subscription model ever conceived. Hard pass.

Dear friends,

We’ve heard your feedback—thank you for your emails and messages. The overwhelming concern was about the subscription model itself, rather than the price. In response, Lemur will now be available as a one-time purchase for $99, which is currently the lowest sustainable price for the app.

For those who already subscribed:
- Yearly subscribers can crossgrade for free.
- Monthly subscribers can crossgrade for the difference between a yearly and monthly subscription.

This change is in progress but still requires Apple’s approval, as they may have specific rules regarding crossgrades.
No action is needed on your part. Once approved and available on the App Store, you’ll see the upgrade option when you update the app. If further action is required, we will post updates here and notify you in the app.

Additionally, we are exploring more uniform pricing across the US, Canada, the EU, and other select markets based on regional analytics.

Thank you again for your feedback and support!

Have you explained anywhere what users get in the so called new version.
Because as far as I can see it’s exactly the same app as I’ve been using for the last 10 years with a few small tweaks .

midikinetics wrote: Dear friends,

We’ve heard your feedback—thank you for your emails and messages. The overwhelming concern was about the subscription model itself, rather than the price. In response, Lemur will now be available as a one-time purchase for $99, which is currently the lowest sustainable price for the app.

thank you very much midikinetics.

Phil999 wrote: https://github.com/MIDIKinetics/LemurChangelog

Yep, they are the tweaks I was referring to.

Three weeks have passed since the announcement that Lemur will be available as a one-time purchase, but it looks like nothing has changed in the app store yet. Is there any update on when we can expect that option to be available?

Thanks for your message! We're actively working on this.

The delay is due to building the necessary infrastructure to market-test a Loyalty Reward Subscription Program. This would allow us to keep the monthly subscription option while giving subscribers the ability to convert their subscription into a free lifetime license after a set number of payments. The details are still being finalized.

To be clear: If you’ve already purchased a one-year subscription, you will still receive the free lifetime license as previously announced—nothing has changed. For current monthly subscribers, we plan to transition to this Loyalty Reward Subscription Program, giving them the option to trade in for a lifetime license at any time or continue subscribing until they qualify for the free lifetime license.

Apple has strict guidelines around subscription models and rewards programs, so we’re ensuring full compliance and flexibility in case adjustments are needed. This means both the code and user interface must be adaptable to support different payment structures, and we must provide timely alerts for users to know when they become eligible for rewards, etc.

We appreciate your patience and will share updates once everything is finalized.

Thank you for the update! Looking forward to being able to purchase the app hopefully soon...

I’m hearing a lot of crickets here in 2026.

The delay is due to building the necessary infrastructure to market-test a Loyalty Reward Subscription Program. This would allow us to keep the monthly subscription option while giving subscribers the ability to convert their subscription into a free lifetime license after a set number of payments. The details are still being finalized.

This all sounds to me like you are taking advice from some schmuck with a degree in marketing who does not care about the specific product at all.

Maybe instead, try continuing to support a well-loved bit of software that many people find extremely useful?

Can you not make any money from that? Or is it just maybe not enough?

Sorry to be so cynical, but our times are what they are.

H

Also, waiting for more information...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyYJsd-9On4
We use[d] Lemur for giant touchscreens at music festivals. (and would like to do so again in the future!)

Lemur is a great frontend! I'm was a daily user for nearly 8 years, with a number of large Lemur projects used regularly by hundreds of people.

From someone with a Lemur setup preinstalled on a number of offline old devices (and Android at that...)
I struggle to justify the £70 at this time..
I'm going to, do not get me wrong, but the price prevents the priority.
I also used to be able to recommend lemur to newcomers and interested passers by, that they could get started from their phones for a few quid..
That is no longer the case.. Which is a shame..

We understand you have to make money, or try to recoup some time in earnings. We do..
Maybe you could have considered a lite version, or kept pricing on the legacy similar.. for users who are more casual.
For us "abusers", who use lemur in advanced projects, or for public installations, we could pay for nightly builds..

Get it sorted for android, and show me some regular updates, i'd actually consider subscribing..
It makes me a little money.. not much, but enough to justify the means.
I don't think there are many of us.. and for those that could, might just go elsewhere...

We urge you re-double your energy, just in a more suitable financial direction.

Reach out if I can be of any assistance.
Regards, A passionate Lemur user.