Sibelius8 is only 64 bit, but I want 32 bit! Am I a Luddite?

[Deleted]

Come to find out, Sibelius 8 installs only as a 64 bit application. Avid did not bother to compile a 32 bit version. Aside from the fact that maintaining backwards compatibility wouldn't be that big a deal from a programming perspective,* am I being unreasonable to want a 32 bit version? After all, there are circumstances when a 32 bit version would be desirable (other than not wanting to upgrade one's computer).
Many important add-on applications are 32 bit, and won't run in a 64 bit environment. I'm thinking of DAW networking software in particular (i.e Audioport), but there are others, too, that are so important that there is quite a market for jBridge, an application designed to bridge VST plugins making it possible to run 32bit plugins in 64bit hosts.
So, am I a Luddite?

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* all they would have to do is specify reduced functionality constraints for the 32 bit version, probably; there are very few innovations in Sibelius 8 that warrant 64 bit computing

[Ed Sharpe]

Yes, it does make you a little bit of a Luddite. I am sure that Daniel Spreadbury's new product will only be 64 bit when it comes out. Maintaining backward compatibility is perhaps not that complex, but it does entail a quite of bit of work keeping everything in sync and I suspect for Avid it is more of an issue of spending resources (money) to keep two code lines going. When Sibelius first came out it was 32 bit only, when Finale was still 16 bit or a combination of 16 and 32 bit.

The Sonar forums seen to feel that jBridge is not be be trusted and one really needs to move to all 64 bit VSTs for the best reliability, But Sonar does still offer their product in both 32 and 64 bit versions, but I suspect that will end in a couple of years. Sibelius is just a bit ahead of the curve.

[Deleted]

Who'd have thought I would be the Luddite. Oh well, such is life. Never had a problem with jBridge (that J couldn't take care of, I mean). Other than that, bridging VSTs has worked out fine ... and truth be told, it wasn't J's fault that the VST producers deviate from standard Windows APIs.

So, I'm lucky that I came on board the music scene when I did otherwise I would be thinking of shelling out a thousand bucks for VSL MirX and all the extras one needs to make it usable. As it is, I've got a DAW network for the price of Audioport ($79), plus the price of jBridge ($15). The CopperLan virtual MIDI driver is free! Life is good!