Plugins/Companies using serial, a keyfile, or watermark copy protection

[MrJubbly]

TruePianos / 4Front Technologies
https://www.truepianos.com/
(serial)
A 50% off sale is currently being held until version 2 is released.
The demo version is still 1.X, but there is already a version 2 available for download by registered users. Version 2 is compatible with Apple Silicon.

I think you meant to say that version 2 (v2.0.90) is already available for Apple Mac users (only), right?

I just logged in to my customer account and the most recent available Windows version is still v1.9.5 (dated from Dec 03 2017).

[Junolab]

Apologies if this is slightly off-topic, but wouldn't a watermark leave a difference in the sound? That seems like a terrible way to do copyright protection.

Not at all. There are different types of “watermarks”. A developer can custom compile the plugin with customer information, such as name, address, etc. It has been known to be done in the past. It doesn’t have to affect the audio at all. Now, if a person were selling samples, they could watermark the samples by adding code to the audio that is outside the range of hearing, and still be undetectable. The watermark could be added to the picture graphics in a picture. There’s lots of ways to identify who it is that originally purchased a plugin that was spread on the net, without affecting the sound. It’s not a very strong form of copy protection, but it works.

Pretty annoying to have your compressor triggered by a highly fluctuating frequency in the + 20k range. It’s good ideas but could easily bring more trouble for the user than the “good ol’” solutions.

[Paree]

Not sure if Vital meets the criteria but the plugin can be used without any sort of copy protection offline. You do need to sign in once to download the presets and wavetables but you can back it up (its just your documents folder) and use it offline without needing to connect to internet.

[FTsounds]

Another good one to add
https://www.alyjameslab.com/index.html

[ruslan.st]

TAL should be removed from this list.

How does our registration process work?
You can resgister the plug-in on up to 4 systems. Our portal tracks the number of activations and you see them in your account.
You can delete registered computers in your user account after one year. We can also delete earlier in special cases. Contact us for this.

[audiojunkie]

TAL should be removed from this list.

How does our registration process work?
You can resgister the plug-in on up to 4 systems. Our portal tracks the number of activations and you see them in your account.
You can delete registered computers in your user account after one year. We can also delete earlier in special cases. Contact us for this.

Oh wow! Disappointing news!! Please post a link to where you got that quote.

[ruslan.st]

Indeed. It is in their FAQ, second question https://tal-software.com/FAQ

[Dunbar]

Very sad to see Tal abandon user friendly serial activation.

I chose Tal Sampler over its competition precisely because of the activation method. Fortunately, I still have a backup of the old installer and serial. Nonetheless, I will be considering other options in the future.

[ruslan.st]

Preparations for C/R are also visible in user area https://tal-software.com/UserArea
Now there is "Offline Registration..." dialog added.

[Sahul]

Our products validate the computer registration from time to time.

Very very sad indeed . Do you know if current plugin versions already implement this new C/R system?

[sprnva]

He'll have to update the about page next as "We are not a marketing driven company and we also do not spend a lot of time and money into a secure copy protection systems. Our main focus is on the product itself." doesn't really fit any more.

[whyterabbyt]

He'll have to update the about page next as "We are not a marketing driven company and we also do not spend a lot of time and money into a secure copy protection systems. Our main focus is on the product itself." doesn't really fit any more.

So you have evidence that they did 'spend a lot of time and money into a secure copy protection systems?' I mean maybe it was cheap and fast.

[e@rs]

news. I simply avoid buying plugins using C/R from small developers.

[audiojunkie]

It is with a great deal of sadness that I have removed TAL-Software from the list. I feel bad, because it feels as if he quietly snuck that change into his products.

[Frankie.T]

It looks like xfer is changing too, at least for Serum 2, so sad.

https://support.xferrecords.com/article ... horization