Ilok or no Ilok?

[cryophonik]

I've had my iLok for almost 20 years now and have dozens of license stored on the dongle. Never had a problem with it, the only time I even remember that I have it is the odd occasion when I register a new iLok plugin, and it makes reinstalling everything to a new computer a breeze. That said, yes of course you can get perfectly good mixes using plugins that don't require iLok. I certainly wouldn't want to arbitrarily limit my choices based on copy protection, but other people do, so that's a choice you need to make for yourself.

[FranklyFlawless]

Some people use just only stock plugins for example. But it's all about time probably.

My use case is more about security auditing purposes, although I also do not agree with DRM as a concept nor practice.

[Alexander_D]

Of course if I will find an alternative for all my Ilok plugins, I will.stop using it... but once again, it's not easy... so many companies on Ilok system...
And IMHO it better to use one Ilok system, than so many central applications like Waves + Native Access + Arturia + UAD etc etc

[EuroHobbes]

I actually installed iLok for the first time for an eventide freebie. I've been tinkering with computer music for 30+ years and I had avoided it for all this time.

It installed something called bonjour from Apple that started immediate error popups in Windows. Uninstalled all of it and I'll happily go back to avoiding iLok for the next three decades.

[Alexander_D]

I actually installed iLok for the first time for an eventide freebie. I've been tinkering with computer music for 30+ years and I had avoided it for all this time.

It installed something called bonjour from Apple that started immediate error popups in Windows. Uninstalled all of it and I'll happily go back to avoiding iLok for the next three decades.

I am also was created my Ilok account for the freebies. But then I was decide to purchase Soundtoys, Oek sound and Cinematic Rooms... hehe. Great products for sure... and honestly don't know the good alternatives....

[gullfo]

All is good in this way? Ilok with physical key? I still don't buy it. I have not so many Ilok licenses
And all of them registered to machine

yeah, the only issue i've had with iLok in 12 or so years, i lost my key, but with some begging, i got all my licenses recovered onto my new one, and it's running solid 6 or so years now. Waves, i moved onto a USB key. cool. then it died for some reason. tried again. died. finally reached out to Waves who suggested buying a really high quality one (the $40 one versus the $5 one), and it's been rock solid for 5 years now...

for products which allow both PC and iLok registration, i use both. then i have the mobile option as well as in case the PC gets hosed. in some regards, i wish i could install all my product licenses on a key for mobile use because so many products use files, registry (windows), internet checks, etc.

[SirkusPi]

I"ve never had a problem with my iLok hardware key in 12 years. I've never tried the machine authorization, because it's specifically the convenience and reliability (in my experience) of the hardware key I appreciate, without worrying about any system or hardware updates that might trip up the machine authorization.

Also, I realize this is a once-every-five-years-at-most issue (at least for me), and so is not really a big deal, but I just got a new computer last month. I have many (way, way too many) plugins, and the ease of moving my iLok from one computer to another versus going through individual authorizations for other plugins was amazing. Made me wish, for a couple of days at least, that all my plugins were iLok. It's not that other systems are necessarily bad (u-He is super quick and easy), but they're all separate, and so dealing with each of them one after the other was exhausting.

[lfm]

I am also was created my Ilok account for the freebies. But then I was decide to purchase Soundtoys, Oek sound and Cinematic Rooms... hehe. Great products for sure... and honestly don't know the good alternatives....

Soundtoys and Oek Sound is brand names, and many plugins, hard to give advice not knowing particular needs you have.
- did you get all of them for each brand?

But LiquidSonics Cinematic Rooms if you use Standard version doing stereo and not needing surround, looke at Wavearts Panorama maybe
- lots of cool features there to build a landscape
- define a room and materials in it etc so get early reflections
- one side open like a stage situtation etc

https://wavearts.com/products/plugins/panorama-7

In general have a look at Waves that have something like 500 plugins at least.
- put license on computer or any memory stick to move between computers
- easy to move licenses around like this in Waves Central as well
- good comprehensive gui on all plugins and A/B testing and help accessible
- save presets in plugins menu itself, no need to look around on disk
- excellent support with skilled support agents

Look at bundles that take care of most of your needs and buy single plugins to complement that.

I bought in on everything I need 10 years ago and they run still on windows 11, no problem at all.

[Vortifex]

The only online authorisation system I ever had a problem with was UA Connect. One day a project froze while I was working on it, I had to alt-F4 the DAW. I couldn't even load the project afterwards, or any project with the UAD stuff in. As much as I like Polymax and Opal, I'm not ever risking that happening again.

[uOpt]

yeah, the only issue i've had with iLok in 12 or so years, i lost my key, but with some begging, i got all my licenses recovered onto my new one, and it's running solid 6 or so years now.

Do you recall how long it took for all those companies to reset your licenses?

[osiris]

The only online authorisation system I ever had a problem with was UA Connect. One day a project froze while I was working on it, I had to alt-F4 the DAW. I couldn't even load the project afterwards, or any project with the UAD stuff in. As much as I like Polymax and Opal, I'm not ever risking that happening again.

This is what I got - Polymax and Opal and I got them from a 3rd party vendor that never mentioned iLok, then when I get them from UAD I notice some things were key, some things were not. The only response I got from UAD was : buy a key.
Then, if UA Connect pops up, you have to quickly open iLok and sign into that or you get an error from UA Connect.
So, if you're internet is working, then connect and sort everything out. I don't think it's a good system.

[BONES]

I was very anti-ilok for many years, mostly because of the dongle (HW Key) but since they started offering machine activation, I've been using it and it's more than fine, it actually has advantages over some other protection methods if you work across multiple machines.

I've had problems on a couple of occasions and iLok's support were great. They contacted the vendors and got permission to reset my licenses and then did so. It didn't take any longer than getting a response from a single vendor often takes and they didn't make me jump through any hoops to get it done. I'd be perfectly happy if all of my licensing went through iLok.

[traz]

no problems..... ilok works for me ....more years than I can remember....three different computer changes....easy install of my plugins....110 plugins to be exact. Everything works.

[Alexander_D]

Yeah. So many thoughts. And it's OK for sure. I am.also will.bw very happy to have more simple protection for my plugins...
Seems that Ilok always working in the background? Right?

[multree]

I don‘t use iLok. I prefer a simple serial number. CR is okayish if need be, as long as I can remove unused machines.