KVR Audio

harryupbabble · Post by **harryupbabble** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 5:22 pm

I'm thinking of saving up for a DAW. Are there any top-notch ones that I can buy at a (physical as opposed to virtual) music store in, for example, New York City and would not require one to register via the internet or anything like that to work? Open the bought package and just install and run?

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 5:31 pm

Maybe Cubase and protools but you still have to install the ilok and elicenser software and update that and the main application from time to time.

Reason may also not requiere online activation. But all those three use a dongle.

harryupbabble · Post by **harryupbabble** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 5:41 pm

rod_zero wrote:Maybe Cubase and protools but you still have to install the ilok and elicenser software and update that and the main application from time to time.

Reason may also not requiere online activation. But all those three use a dongle.

I read somewhere that Cubase does require registration. I am okay with the idea of no updates. I would have no problem with dongles. I forgot to mention that I am using Windows 7, 64-bit. Also, the DAW has to be able to run 3rd-party VST plugins.

lfm · Post by **lfm** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 6:05 pm

harryupbabble wrote:
rod_zero wrote:Maybe Cubase and protools but you still have to install the ilok and elicenser software and update that and the main application from time to time.

Reason may also not requiere online activation. But all those three use a dongle.
I read somewhere that Cubase does require registration. I am okay with the idea of no updates. I would have no problem with dongles. I forgot to mention that I am using Windows 7, 64-bit. Also, the DAW has to be able to run 3rd-party VST plugins.

Cubase Elements does not require any registration at all as trial - but expands period I think if you do.
After buying Elements I got an Steinberg key - and move the license from computer to that key.
Then installing Cubase on a second computer, I just needed to insert key in usb, not required to register anywhere.

I think the same procedure works for Cubase Pro and Artist.

It''s just some newer Hub collaboration stuff that needs computer to be online.

KingClarkie · Post by **KingClarkie** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 6:05 pm

Last time I bought Cubase in a box it came with a dongle and a license all ready to go but that was nearly 10 years ago. I wouldn't like to risk it today given the following statement from Steinberg regarding Cubase 8:

Internet connection required for activation, account setup and personal / product registration. Additional downloads may be required for the installation.

The only recent-ish boxed software that I can recall not requiring internet activation are older versions of Cakewalk products, in particular SONAR which was serial number activated up to version X3. However, even if you can find this in a box it's likely to be an unpatched initial release and without updates probably won't be the stablest of options.

I don't know if you would class it as 'top-notch' but Mixcraft is available boxed and is serial-number activated though I think you still need to apply online to get the actual serial number.

LawrenceF · Post by **LawrenceF** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 6:20 pm

harryupbabble wrote:Are there any top-notch ones that I can buy at a (physical as opposed to virtual) music store in, for example, New York City and would not require one to register via the internet or anything like that to work? Open the bought package and just install and run?

I seriously doubt it (beyond something maybe initializing in demo mode), for 'top notch' anyway. Otherwise people would buy it and pass it around to everyone they know to use it for free... unless it requires a hardware dongle.

Cubase might do that, no idea. Or it might actually force you to register your dongle and/or download a license to the dongle via the net, or activate your dongle licence via the net, no idea if the dongle in the box already has a license on it.

braj · Post by **braj** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 6:43 pm

Reaper from what I recall will let you run it unregistered forever with only a nag screen. You should still purchase it if you use it, but I don't think there is anything complex in their copy protection either. You can argue it is not 'top tier' but many would disagree. What is the issue against registering exactly?

braj · Post by **braj** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 6:45 pm

Why buy from a physical store as well? The time it takes to read this post you could download Reaper and be done.

harryupbabble · Post by **harryupbabble** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 7:41 pm

braj wrote:Reaper from what I recall will let you run it unregistered forever with only a nag screen. You should still purchase it if you use it, but I don't think there is anything complex in their copy protection either. You can argue it is not 'top tier' but many would disagree. What is the issue against registering exactly?

I'm actually a fan of Reaper and consider it one of the "top-notch" DAWs but if you make a song using the unregistered Reaper... I don't think you can legally make money off that song.

Right now, I don't think I qualify for even a PayPal account. I don't even have a cell phone. So, it's hard, and scary, to buy stuff from the internet.

Also, it seems Reaper is not sold in physical stores.

At the moment I am using a desktop computer. In the future I expect to be even more broke than I am now and I might have to use nothing but a laptop computer and be like a nomad. I might have to use public library internet from different cities.

KingClarkie · Post by **KingClarkie** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 7:56 pm

harryupbabble wrote:I'm actually a fan of Reaper and consider it one of the "top-notch" DAWs but if you make a song using the unregistered Reaper... I don't think you can legally make money off that song.

I'm not a lawyer but I don't think copyright law works like that. If you use Reaper unregistered beyond its 60-day trial period then legally you can't do anything with it. If you make a hit song with it then it still belongs to you and any money you make also belongs to you. You might be on the receiving end of a claim for damages from Cockos and might end up penniless as a result but I don't think they can take your creative work from you.

Anyway, given your circumstances Reaper would seem to be ideal. It's as cheap a license as you're going to find, the registration process involves a one-off email message to deliver the key file and once you have that it's all you need. Reaper is mature (so no more out-of-date boxed copies) and updates are very small and quick to download. Best of all it's not too demanding on hardware and should work on anything from an old XP box onwards.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 8:14 pm

Yeah, i'm sure you can do a commercial track in the trial period with Reaper.

It's also the only DAW i can think of, of the "top" DAW's which doesn't require you to register anywhere. You get the serial via E-Mail, and you can activate it with that serial then. For Cubase, you need an internet connection in any case, because eLicenser will have to connect online. Same for Reason, at the very least you need to register to be able to activate/register Reason.

Zexila · Post by **Zexila** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 8:33 pm

harryupbabble wrote:
braj wrote:Reaper from what I recall will let you run it unregistered forever with only a nag screen. You should still purchase it if you use it, but I don't think there is anything complex in their copy protection either. You can argue it is not 'top tier' but many would disagree. What is the issue against registering exactly?
I'm actually a fan of Reaper and consider it one of the "top-notch" DAWs but if you make a song using the unregistered Reaper... I don't think you can legally make money off that song.

Right now, I don't think I qualify for even a PayPal account. I don't even have a cell phone. So, it's hard, and scary, to buy stuff from the internet.

You don't need PayPal for Reaper and it seems they are based in your city too, check this link http://www.reaper.fm/purchase.php

harryupbabble · Post by **harryupbabble** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 8:59 pm

Zexila wrote:
You don't need PayPal for Reaper and it seems they are based in your city too, check this link http://www.reaper.fm/purchase.php

Oh hey, wow. The third payment option (money order) might work. I wonder if other DAWs not mentioned yet offers similar payment options and simple serial-based activation. Anyways, thanks very much Zexila, and everybody.

LawrenceF · Post by **LawrenceF** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 12:38 am

harryupbabble wrote:I'm actually a fan of Reaper and consider it one of the "top-notch" DAWs but if you make a song using the unregistered Reaper... I don't think you can legally make money off that song

Even if that were true, how would anyone even know?

harryupbabble · Post by **harryupbabble** » Sun Dec 06, 2015 1:12 am

LawrenceF wrote:
harryupbabble wrote:I'm actually a fan of Reaper and consider it one of the "top-notch" DAWs but if you make a song using the unregistered Reaper... I don't think you can legally make money off that song
Even if that were true, how would anyone even know?

Maybe all DAWs, including Reaper, can invisibly or inaudibly watermark all rendered songs? And who knows what watermarking methods exist?

Anyways, I've been reading more about Reaper's licensing options. For the discount license it costs 60 American dollars if "You are an individual or business using REAPER commercially, and yearly gross revenue does not exceed USD $20,000". Does this mean Reaper wants to see my income tax?

DAWs That Don't Require Registration