MIDI Kinetics Forum

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: ↑09 Feb 2025 19:44 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: ↑09 Feb 2025 20:53 https://github.com/MIDIKinetics/LemurChangelog

Yep, they are the tweaks I was referring to.