The fact that you admit to #3 is enough to prove my point -- you admit to benefiting financially from the Beat Thang having a good reputation, therefore, your view is biased.
The fact that you talk about "business and running websites" proves that you consider the Beat Thang website as a potential stream of income on-the-side -- if you truly "loved the company and product" like you said in one of your videos, you wouldn't mind paying a small amount of cash out of your pocket to spread the word.
It costs me only $50/yr. ($4.16/mo.) for a top-level domain name and unlimited-bandwidth hosting, so don't get started about how "insanely expensive" that is. Even Soundclick costs more than that.
The fact that you did the same thing for Maschine doesn't make a difference. So you potentially profited from another device as well -- that won't distract from what you're doing with the Beat Thang.
Regardless of your purposes and viewpoints when you initially created your site, the fact that you get paid when someone buys Beat Thang (and your admitting to this point) is enough to prove your bias. It makes no difference whether the money is going to cover server costs, because the incentive is the same -- you're still out approx. $50 (or however much you spent for hosting) if people think the Beat Thang is a piece of sh!t.
I don't have enough info to prove that you're a developer (or paid beta tester, or both), but I definitely have reason enough to be suspicious.
I was a communications (marketing) major and business management minor in college while I was doing music (in addition to mounds of "real-world" experience), so I'm certain that I'm not "out of my league" when it comes to businesses and running websites.
You've already lost the argument, and from here on it's just a matter of strength-of-victory.
If you're a "marketing minor" then you would know it's nothing but an alternative to companies paying for adspace, just like magazines or any other type of advertisement.
That fact doesn't cloud my judgement or reporting on the product, I've been very vocal about it's shortcomings, but all I have to go on is the software.
I've stated many times that I prefer other software that allows me to do more than what this can. And I've openly advised folks not to look at it to replace Reason, FL Studio, or anything that they may be currently using.
So again, say what you want, but you've proved nothing. I'm not a paid beta tester or developer, nor do I work for them.
I started that website way before they even offered advertising or anything, funny how companies take notice when you do something constructive huh?
I started the Maschine site the same way, and don't get anything from the company for it, doesn't change my opinion on Maschine one bit.
If people like it they like it, if they don't they don't. All I'm doing is putting the info out. The only reason I started the beat thang fan site in the first place is because I thought development would be a lot faster and further along and I'd have more to post on it. It's been slow, and I don't as much info to post as I thought...so it is what it is, a lesson learned.
I never said a domain/hosting was "insanely expensive" lol, I said the banners and affiliate programs are a form of support for the site, which includes the time I put in to them.
So what If I run my sites as a side business? Does that invalidate the information being provided? I think not. I'd love to one day be able to do nothing but review and test products all day, and be supported by advertisers, similar to an online magazine. Not unlike this very site we are on now.
However I pull no punches and no one gets a "free pass" because they support the site through advertising or banners, if something is wack it's wack, and if it has issues it will be told.
As it stands now, these sites are just that, something on the side that I love to do. If there are companies who value the platform enough to pay for advertising then it's all good. Some do, some don't, I'll keep it going regardless because I enjoy this stuff.
So...all your babble means nothing and you've still proved nothing.
Everything I do or have done on my sites is out in the open for all to see. Including you, you didn't "uncover" anything lol.
Really, you should get back to talkin about the gear man, you're really making yourself look desperate.