Is it safe to buy Cubase 8.5 Pro now in terms of grace period update to 9?

[koolkeys]

So, I did it and tried to just add it to my eLicenser but it automatically activated it on mySteinberg account, so I had no choice... just fyi for anyone else asking the same question. I don't know how I would have avoided it since it didn't prompt me. Just went to my account and my Cubase Artist 8.0 license was replaced by my new Cubase Pro 8.5 license...

You could try deleting the elicensor from your account (Cubase will still work), doing a perform maintenance in the control center, and then add it again later. I know it sounds silly, but I know that I've done that when moving licenses between elicensors and reorganizing, and it shows the Cubase activation date as the day I re-registered it (though it may actually be considered the day I moved it TO the new elicensor, so if you have a spare elicensor, might want to try that).

The reason it automatically did that is because the elicensor was already registered with My Steinberg, and it just replaced your license. In order for the activation date to be delayed, you have to wait to register the elicensor. The trick I just mentioned above may be worth trying.

Though you should be ok still with the grace period, I would think.

Brent

Ha! so glad to know this. Thanks for posting. I may do that in the event I need to.

No problem! I don't know for sure if it resets the activation date officially on the elicensor. In other words, I don't know if the elicensor keeps a memory of previous activations. But I do know that in My Steinberg, the activation date listed for Cubase matches with the most recent date. So it is definitely worth trying when upgrade time comes. Though I doubt you will need it.

Brent

[igoramos]

So, I did it and tried to just add it to my eLicenser but it automatically activated it on mySteinberg account, so I had no choice... just fyi for anyone else asking the same question. I don't know how I would have avoided it since it didn't prompt me. Just went to my account and my Cubase Artist 8.0 license was replaced by my new Cubase Pro 8.5 license...

I was thinking about this wrong. why so confusing? anyways, registering is different from activating. I get that now. So which is the important one for grace period? Registration or Activation?

Registration is the manual registering your eLicenser number in your Steinberg account. Activating is when you apply it to the dongle and license it for use on your computer... this is linked to your account but does not "register" the software.

[Googly Smythe]

Registration concerns the dongle or Cubase, and is done via the website. You never need to do this. Not ever. It may help if you need support, but I can't see how if you have a licence.
Activation is via the eLicenser software, whether you use a dongle or hdd to store your licenses. (This applies to all Steinberg software. Dongle only for the major software, I believe.)
Steinberg is only concerned about activation.
Activation is what counts for the grace period.

Ps, my money is on v9 coming in the 1st week of December.

[igoramos]

Registration concerns the dongle or Cubase, and is done via the website. You never need to do this. Not ever. It may help if you need support, but I can't see how if you have a licence.
Activation is via the eLicenser software, whether you use a dongle or hdd to store your licenses. (This applies to all Steinberg software. Dongle only for the major software, I believe.)
Steinberg is only concerned about activation.
Activation is what counts for the grace period.

Ps, my money is on v9 coming in the 1st week of December.

Thanks for the summary!! I'm counting on Dec. Just bought 8.5! thanks everyone for the help...

[Googly Smythe]

Offtopic: Thanks for mentioning your former user name in your sig, Googly Smythe. I just saw the avatar, and the location, and thought "Woot... two people with the same avatar, coming from the same place??".

That's just my evil twin - sometimes he escapes from the asylum!