That's interesting - and important to know the current free version of Salamandra is not going to change at all, it remains full featured and not going to become crippled in any way. It doesn't mention exactly what the advanced features of the paid Plus version are.
Also of note, those who have donated (money) to its development before automatically receive a lifetime licence for the upcoming Plus version, and those who've never donated before can also get a lifetime licence with a minimum $50 donation before the end of April:
"..As a way of thanking you, everyone who has financially contributed to the project up to the date of this announcement (04/08/2026) will receive a lifetime license for Salamandra PLUS, including lifetime updates.
The donation model will be discontinued on 04/30/2026.
For those who still wish to contribute before the deadline, a lifetime license for Salamandra PLUS will be granted, including 1 year of updates. Contributions of R$ 50.00 will be considered for this benefit, amounts below this will be treated as symbolic support for the project..."
Notice there's an unrelated Salamandra software with the same name:
August 25, 2017 Salamandra: Detecting and Locating Spy Microphones with an RTL-SDR https://www.rtl-sdr.com/salamandra-detecting-and-locating-spy-microphones-with-an-rtl-sdr/
"Over on GitHub ... Salamandra is a tool to detect and locate spy microphones in closed environments. It find microphones based on the strength of the signal sent by the microphone and the amount of noise and overlapped frequencies. Based on the generated noise it can estimate how close or far away you are from the mic."
Don't know I need this but I like supporting a smart project!
@centinel I think more would pay for programs if it was optional. I have donated a couple of times to Salamandra. I like that it is not forced. Having a choice and being able to donate what you can afford, I think goes over better and most will give something.
@centinel I think more would pay for programs if it was optional. I have donated a couple of times to Salamandra. I like that it is not forced. Having a choice and being able to donate what you can afford, I think goes over better and most will give something.
However, in the case here, if you donate $50 before the end of the month then you get the bells and whistles and updates for life, but if you donate after this month then you won't get anything, no bells and whistles, no updates.
This "donation" offer is actually for a purchase of the future versions of Salamandra, so if you're going to "donate", now would be the time to do it!
Don't know I need this but I like supporting a smart project!
If you use Salamandra for automation then you kind of need it... Well not actually, but if your a Salamandra user then it would be prudent to donate now, otherwise it will cost you more for any updates.
@mark Nope .. I'm wrong. Neither one apparently provided independent attack and release. I was only talking out my ass. (Guess I do that sometimes). I should have looked it up before running my mouth.
However I do recall multiple discussions about using the left and right channel outputs for different purposes.
@richpowers I don't know what you were wrong about here, Is this about Salamandra in this thread or the Cuthbert processor?
@richpowers I don't get updates or keep downloading new versions. I have the ones in my computers and the versions I have now are good and I have 2 computers for broadcasting...one for back up, all set up and ready to go. There's nothing wrong with the version I have now why fix it if it ain't broke. Doesn't need updates all the time. Updates all the time, new versions all the time, a nuisance, when nothing wrong with what you got.
@mark I understand that, but after April 30 the free version will no longer be updated - isn't that what it says?
Besides, I agree on the don't fix what works, ZaraRadio hasn't had an update in 20 years I don't think, and it's still my favorite (primarily because Im familiar with it)
I went back and reread the website.
There will always be a free version that gets updates. There will also be additional features within the same software that you can unlock (they call it the PLUS version, which just confuses things) at a cost.
The one software package will continue to get updates. The free part will not lose any features. What is unclear is if additional features will be added in that free version, or in the licensed version.
If you use Salamandra now, and it meets your needs, nothing changes. If you do want some of the supposedly new & sexy additional features, then you might have to pay for the PLUS license.
I would imagine that some additional features might make their way to the free edition for usability concerns (such as support for new CODECS). But who knows? That's just my opinion.
It appeared to me that the drive for most of the referenced additional features was coming from commercial stations, and that we are not (which probably means that while nice, these features are not necessary for our micro powered stations).
@artisan-radio I think it's no different than what Zara did, They discontinued development on the base software but left ZaraRadio a available as Free, fully functional, with no further developments to come. and then continued development with a paid version (ZaraStudio) with more features and update eligibility.
All I was saying was that if you have any intentions of getting the Plus version of Salamandra, it would probably be cheaper to do it before the end of the month (for $50) instead of later when the price will be higher.
@richpowers I don't know what you were wrong about here, Is this about Salamandra in this thread or the Cuthbert processor?
Yes it was about the Culbert - Somehow I replied in the wrong thread! I must of had two windows open or something! I'll copy my above response to the appropriate thread.
Edit.. well now can't find where my above post was supposed to go!
The big difference is that Salamandra is keeping one version; Zara has two, separate versions. Salamandra is following the path of Stereo Tool - they have one product, some functionality of which is free, but you have to pay for other functionality.
The version of Salamandra that is current, or the version I have which is maybe the one before the current one is more then enough for us. It never has to keep being updated and needing a new download and has settings with the playback over and above Zara like the next track detection to get the best transition point which is adjustable for seemless track to jingle to track seemlessly just like commercial stations as one song is ending the other begins plus 10 band EQ and processing which I don't use for an external one but still...
Like Zara this could stay like it is as constant new versions and updating is to me a nuisance and not necessary just to do what I am now. If it ain't broke why fix it?
The reason I really switched from Zara more than it didn't do the analyzing of the ideal track transition times near as good is that it was malfunctioning with later versions of Windows 10 and 11 and Johny C said that's why he switched. The only updates that need to be done is to keep it compatible with future versions of Windows. That's the big problem with Zara is being 20 years old it wasn't compatible with current versions of Windows without having operating issues. Now all that has to happen is an Android version for tablets and I emailed but get no answer. Play it Live was good too but I couldn't figure out the setting of events and when I contacted the developer for help I was told to pay $185.00 for tech advice as the free version doesn't include help. But now I think youtube has something about how to set events in Play It Live.
I donated 3 times, a small amount each time to Salamandra. Zara is good up to Windows 8 and earlier versions of 10 but after that it is iffy. It might work till it doesn't.