Thoughts on Ilok?

[chk071]

Well, that would be a valid reason (for me it is). Just wondering what reason wuworld has.

[masterhiggins]

I’ve used ilok ever since waves was still using it (like 98). Never had any issues with it. I don’t update to the latest version right away, though. I let others be the Guinea pigs before I install anything. Good rule in general.

The transfer fees kind of suck, but that’s about it. Some unnamed companies will actually circumvent ilok’s transfer process to save you money, however. I appreciate that.

However, some companies (like sonnox) actually double-dip you on transfer fees. One from ilok and another one from sonnox. Complete bullshit.

[chk071]

I couldn't do without iLok even if I wanted either. Many of my favorite plugins use it (Eventide stuff, Softube stuff, Exponential Audio stuff, Relab stuff...).

[vurt]

i only ever used one for reason in the way back when.
never had any issues, but then i gave up on reason as it didn't work for me personally...
so never needed it again. probably still here somewhere.

[vurt]

I couldn't do without iLok even if I wanted either. Many of my favorite plugins use it (Eventide stuff, Softube stuff, Exponential Audio stuff, Relab stuff...).

that's the thing that counts, do i like/use this software?
after that, copy protection is irrelevant, so long as it works, focus on the tools!!

[chk071]

[Teksonik]

Copy protection is irrelevant....until it is.

viewtopic.php?t=550083

--------

The same exact thing happened to me, and the link above leads to some generic article not related to the situation at all. My PC is bricked.

viewtopic.php?t=546199

Some people care about the stability and security of their DAW systems. That plays a part in deciding what form of CP they're willing to accept.

If other people are fine with a CP method that gets its hooks so far into their system it can be bricked then there's really nothing more that can be said.....

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I couldn't do without iLok even if I wanted either. Many of my favorite plugins use it (Eventide stuff, Softube stuff, Exponential Audio stuff, Relab stuff...).

Same here...

Softube
Eventide
Universal Audio native (UADx/Spark)
Relab
Kush
Empirical
PSP
Nembrini
Slate
UVI

...boycotting iLok would result in my boycotting some of my favorite developers and products.

[vurt]

Copy protection is irrelevant....until it is.

viewtopic.php?t=550083

--------

The same exact thing happened to me, and the link above leads to some generic article not related to the situation at all. My PC is bricked.

viewtopic.php?t=546199

Some people care about the stability and security of their DAW systems. That plays a part in deciding what form of CP they're willing to accept.

If other people are fine with a CP method that gets its hooks so far into their system it can be bricked then there's really nothing more that can be said.....

i even added so long as it works.
which for many, ilok seems to.
computers aren't infallible.

[plexuss]

Copy protection is irrelevant....until it is.

Seems the examples you gave are anecdotes related to how iLok is improperly implemented in legacy software from a couple of plugin devs, not PACE themselves. It's always a risk installing old software including supposed new updates of essentially old software. These examples appear to be an issue with Sonnivox and AIR specifically. But YMMV and your opinions certainly will. If you don't like iLok simply don't use it, like everything else.

[egbert101]

Never had a problem with iLok because I refuse to use it. So never had any issues.

[Teksonik]

Copy protection is irrelevant....until it is.

Seems the examples you gave are anecdotes related to how iLok is improperly implemented in legacy software from a couple of plugin devs, not PACE themselves. It's always a risk installing old software including supposed new updates of essentially old software. These examples appear to be an issue with Sonnivox and AIR specifically. But YMMV and your opinions certainly will. If you don't like iLok simply don't use it, like everything else.

The problem was with Air installers but the cause was the Pace software getting its hooks so far into our systems. The Air debacle is what convinced me to drop iLok for good.

The Pace License software runs as a Windows service that loads on boot up even if you have no plans to use the software it's designed to protect. You can look into it further.

But again if you are fine with developers taking liberties with your system just to protect themselves then more power to you.

At any rate this debate has raged on for decades and fans of iLok will never change their minds any more than haters are going to change theirs.

So I'd advise the OP to lock the thread and go make some music. Nothing positive will come out of this endless argument.

Having said that I'm out of this thread to go make some more music..........

[Hink]

I don't avoid plugins with iLok, but I dislike it. It's annoying and messy and adds extra steps when trying to demo, etc.

this is how I feel though at this time I have no plugins with any dongle, I wouldnt let it stop me..I dont like jumping through hoops for simple things any more than anyone else. I know some people are concerned with breaking or losing, at one point I had three dongles (I have shared this before), I taped them to the back leg of my desk...never thought about them again until I didnt need them. Still I dont like these things, but I do like making music...I dont like changing strings, batteries, tuning (we wont even talk about tuning that hammered dulcimer) or even repairing guitars but it is necessary.

Right now I am dongle free and likely will stay that way, over the last dozen years my studio investments have been mostly hardware. If I did find something compelling with a dongle/ilock I am not going to cut off my nose to spite my face.

[plexuss]

Thats good info Tek. Your examples are good examples of some of the risks. I think they demonstrate that not only does iLok have an impact on one's system robustness but the way in the dev implement iLok as well - potentially increasing risks.

I run macPOS. I just checked in the Terminal with pas -lax and there is a Pace process running. I am going to assume this is to recognize the iLok key maybe. Never-the-less, your point is well taken, on macPOS there is indeed a Pace daemon running...

Code: Select all

/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/licenseDaemon.app/Contents/MacOS/licenseDaemon --backurl https://activation.paceap.com/InitiateActivation

I am not concerned. Until I am concerned. But for now iLok's track record on my mac has been long and solid with no issues.

[ghettosynth]

While I still prefer iLok to almost all C/R systems. I'm not really buying very much new that isn't Linux/serial number friendly. You might think that I'm restricted, but I'm not really, I have more stuff than I'm ever going to use.