You never know, one day the industry might get its act together and actually cooperate. I don't mind if there's one standard that works for most s/w. The manufacturers did it years ago with midi, so it has been proved it can be done.
I don't mind having a USB dongle - what I do mind is that I can't d/l different developers' licenses onto just the one dongle.
Personally I won't buy anything C/R protected; that's just my personal dislike. And PACE...don't get me started.
Shit, I wouldn't even mind if something like DSP cards became the norm - OK, they're expensive compared to native (at least the card itself is, not the plugins), as long as you could load most plugins onto the one card. Maybe an option of cards with differing memories so you have a cheaper option if you don't intend to use too many plugins, and bigger cards for those of us that are greedy. With defined upgrade paths.
I dunno...but I do agree that it's becoming a pain sometimes. There are now 2 plugins .... no, 3 that I would dearly like, but simply won't buy because of PACE. I have the choice of buying UAD (which I will inevitably do soon) or not - at least all those plugins work the same way and are stable.
There are some devs that release plugins with Ilok etc that are simply losing potential sales. I would really really snap up the Princetons and probable some URS plugs, but won't because of PACE. So they'll lose me to UAD - and once I've gone over to UAD, I can't see I'll have the need for a long time to want to buy native reverbs or Eqs and probably compressors at all. So it's not only Princeton and URS that lose custom to UAD - it's other devs, because of no fault of their own. I like the native plugin system - but if too many of the better plugins go PACE or other C/R, then I'll just have to turn my back on them.
Thank god for companies like GMedia, Kjaerhus etc that still have simple registration but release quality plugins.
Challenge/response, dongles and other "copy protection&
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- KVRAF
- 9064 posts since 1 Aug, 2003
Halleluiah! Three cheers for serial numbers!kritikon wrote:Thank god for companies like GMedia, Kjaerhus etc that still have simple registration but release quality plugins.
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SuitcaseOfLizards SuitcaseOfLizards https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2363 - KVRAF
- 10879 posts since 3 Apr, 2002 from Austin, TX USA
I don't use dongle-protected software. I don't have to (as if anyone really *had* to). Plenty of capable hosts that don't require a dongle or C/R to function.
None of my VSTi involve dongles. I can get all the quality I want without having to deal with dongles or C/R. Serial numbers rock my world!
Same for effects, no C/R or dongled ones in the lot.
My DAW is rock-stable, the music I make is fine for me and everyone else that's heard it, audio-quality-wise (my mixing skills are still lacking, alas).. AND I get the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing I'm supporting a pile of small developers with my hard-earned money.
If everything goes dongle and/or C/R, I'll stick with what I have until I can't get a PC and OS that runs it, and switch back to hardware again.
It's just a personal thing and, the more I hear about problems with big companies treating customers with copy-protection issues like scum, the happier I am with my attitude!
Great Prorec article, by the way.
None of my VSTi involve dongles. I can get all the quality I want without having to deal with dongles or C/R. Serial numbers rock my world!
Same for effects, no C/R or dongled ones in the lot.
My DAW is rock-stable, the music I make is fine for me and everyone else that's heard it, audio-quality-wise (my mixing skills are still lacking, alas).. AND I get the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing I'm supporting a pile of small developers with my hard-earned money.
If everything goes dongle and/or C/R, I'll stick with what I have until I can't get a PC and OS that runs it, and switch back to hardware again.
It's just a personal thing and, the more I hear about problems with big companies treating customers with copy-protection issues like scum, the happier I am with my attitude!
Great Prorec article, by the way.
Bandcamp: https://suitcaseoflizards.bandcamp.com/
Linux Mint, Waveform 13 Pro, U-He synths, Audio Damage effects,.
Linux Mint, Waveform 13 Pro, U-He synths, Audio Damage effects,.
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- KVRAF
- 2685 posts since 14 Jul, 2005 from Australia
I'd love to add my thoughts here if I may... Just recently, I purchased a lot of commercial software for general use and music. for me, copy protection goes a little something like this...
Serial / Key File = the best
Dongle = as long as it doesn't make the system unstable (e.g. iLok), I can live with it but I'd prefer a serial or key file.
C/R based on CPU / Motherboard = acceptance as long as the ccompany allows for unlimited free activations when a person upgrades their PC. I prefer serial / key file over this of course. Company response must be automated (within 10 mins)
C/R based on Windows Install: unacceptable, disgrace to software ! (e.g. Native Instruments)
The only software I have / will purchase(d) which use anything but a serial / key file are...
- Cubase SL3: very stable dongle, doesn't cause any drama and cubase is rock solid. At least their copy protection works, took them almost a year to crack v3 and 3.1, 3.2 and future versions will probably never be cracked.
- Melodyne Uno: this uses C/R based on CPU / motherboard and you can rerequest a new activation at any time and it is received instantly (I asked the company about this via email).
- Windows XP Pro: no choice here really but it is very easy to activate this product if you have upgraded computers and takes around 5 minutes.
Was considering Waves, URS & Princeton but didn't touch em due to the iLok. Honestly, iLok / interlok in my opinion is the biggest bulloks ever introduced into protection ... why ? Because it really does make your system unstable (try the Autotune demo and watch the crackles appear in your audio) and it doesn't work (it had been reported on a Pro Recording site that the cracked versions of iLok plugins were way more stable as they didn't contain any interlok crap).
I hate buying software which could potentially be rendered useless if the company goes out of business. I think there are enough alternatives though that this isn't a problem for the most part. Just look at all the alternatives and only buy the copy protected programs which have no better alternatives.
Here's how it works for me...
Plugins: Sonalksis (analog baby), Kjaerhus (stunning !), Voxengo (Aleksey is a god ... ), Elemental Audio (not my faovurite but still great), UAD-1 (tied to hardware but still acceptable if you don't intend to come back to your projects in several years after they are complete).
High end Vocal Correction: Autotune = ewww, Melodyne is the only option here and it's cheaper and more powerful anyway.
Sequencers: Sonar, Cubase (if u love it as much as I do, then it's easy to live with the dongle). A few others here too ?
Scoring: Overture, best program ever ! and great developers
Forget all the rest
Wave editing: I use Wavelab Lite that came with a computer magazine lol
Summary: I think that heavy copy protection is a pain in the butt in general amd I will always choose software based on protection technology before even considering how good / bad they sound. I think it's a good approach to take as it does help narrow down your possible product list. Only resort to heavier copy protection if there is no viable alternative with easy copy protection.
Just my 2 cents
Cheers
Fots
Serial / Key File = the best
Dongle = as long as it doesn't make the system unstable (e.g. iLok), I can live with it but I'd prefer a serial or key file.
C/R based on CPU / Motherboard = acceptance as long as the ccompany allows for unlimited free activations when a person upgrades their PC. I prefer serial / key file over this of course. Company response must be automated (within 10 mins)
C/R based on Windows Install: unacceptable, disgrace to software ! (e.g. Native Instruments)
The only software I have / will purchase(d) which use anything but a serial / key file are...
- Cubase SL3: very stable dongle, doesn't cause any drama and cubase is rock solid. At least their copy protection works, took them almost a year to crack v3 and 3.1, 3.2 and future versions will probably never be cracked.
- Melodyne Uno: this uses C/R based on CPU / motherboard and you can rerequest a new activation at any time and it is received instantly (I asked the company about this via email).
- Windows XP Pro: no choice here really but it is very easy to activate this product if you have upgraded computers and takes around 5 minutes.
Was considering Waves, URS & Princeton but didn't touch em due to the iLok. Honestly, iLok / interlok in my opinion is the biggest bulloks ever introduced into protection ... why ? Because it really does make your system unstable (try the Autotune demo and watch the crackles appear in your audio) and it doesn't work (it had been reported on a Pro Recording site that the cracked versions of iLok plugins were way more stable as they didn't contain any interlok crap).
I hate buying software which could potentially be rendered useless if the company goes out of business. I think there are enough alternatives though that this isn't a problem for the most part. Just look at all the alternatives and only buy the copy protected programs which have no better alternatives.
Here's how it works for me...
Plugins: Sonalksis (analog baby), Kjaerhus (stunning !), Voxengo (Aleksey is a god ... ), Elemental Audio (not my faovurite but still great), UAD-1 (tied to hardware but still acceptable if you don't intend to come back to your projects in several years after they are complete).
High end Vocal Correction: Autotune = ewww, Melodyne is the only option here and it's cheaper and more powerful anyway.
Sequencers: Sonar, Cubase (if u love it as much as I do, then it's easy to live with the dongle). A few others here too ?
Scoring: Overture, best program ever ! and great developers
Forget all the rest Wave editing: I use Wavelab Lite that came with a computer magazine lol
Summary: I think that heavy copy protection is a pain in the butt in general amd I will always choose software based on protection technology before even considering how good / bad they sound. I think it's a good approach to take as it does help narrow down your possible product list. Only resort to heavier copy protection if there is no viable alternative with easy copy protection.
Just my 2 cents
Cheers
Fots
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- KVRAF
- 4222 posts since 23 Feb, 2004 from Tucson Arizona USA
What's that? Never seen it, and Googling for it was inconclusive.soundpalace wrote: Scoring: Overture, best program ever ! and great developers
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- Mr KVR
- 1601 posts since 23 Oct, 2000 from UK
- KVR Audio
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1889.htmljames0tucson wrote:What's that? Never seen it, and Googling for it was inconclusive.soundpalace wrote: Scoring: Overture, best program ever ! and great developers
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- KVRAF
- 2685 posts since 14 Jul, 2005 from Australia