KVR Audio

Jax Pok · Post by **Jax Pok** » Wed Nov 16, 2016 9:10 pm

Soundtoys made my buy an ilok, pay an extra £38 or don't use them, then the Slate plugs came making it even more essential. Never had a problem with ilok since I started in 2010 and it's easier than using serials.

Mike / Matrix Lab · Post by **Mike / Matrix Lab** » Wed Nov 16, 2016 9:35 pm

Ah, the silent majority. Make iLok Great Again.

C-note · Post by **C-note** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 5:34 am

I prefer iLok, eLicenser and ignition key over serial or C/R.

Dakl · Post by **Dakl** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 3:22 am

I'm also wondering about this, with reference to Xils products. The site, as far as I can see, just assumes I know what iLok and eLicenser do and it doesn't say anything about me needing an additional piece of hardware, so I want to confirm: if I buy a Xils product, do I need to order a dongle from somewhere as well? Both Stix and Xils 4 look interesting to me but neither is cheap and if they require a dongle as well, I can easily do without.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 10:27 am

Dakl wrote:I'm also wondering about this, with reference to Xils products. The site, as far as I can see, just assumes I know what iLok and eLicenser do and it doesn't say anything about me needing an additional piece of hardware, so I want to confirm: if I buy a Xils product, do I need to order a dongle from somewhere as well? Both Stix and Xils 4 look interesting to me but neither is cheap and if they require a dongle as well, I can easily do without.

For StiX and Xils 4, you can choose the 'Soft Ilok' version, wich doesnt require an hardware dongle, and allows 2 simultaneous installs on 2 different computers.( the choice is given when during the check out process between all the versions : eLicencer, Ilok, or Soft Ilok)

Also : If you want to buy the two units, pay attention to the fidelity points program. It will give you a discount on the second instrument ( Dont know if you should buy one instrument, get the points, then buy the second one, or if it can be done simultaneously though)

Dakl · Post by **Dakl** » Fri Nov 18, 2016 11:01 am

Lotuzia wrote:
Dakl wrote:I'm also wondering about this, with reference to Xils products. The site, as far as I can see, just assumes I know what iLok and eLicenser do and it doesn't say anything about me needing an additional piece of hardware, so I want to confirm: if I buy a Xils product, do I need to order a dongle from somewhere as well? Both Stix and Xils 4 look interesting to me but neither is cheap and if they require a dongle as well, I can easily do without.
For StiX and Xils 4, you can choose the 'Soft Ilok' version, wich doesnt require an hardware dongle, and allows 2 simultaneous installs on 2 different computers.( the choice is given when during the check out process between all the versions : eLicencer, Ilok, or Soft Ilok)

Also : If you want to buy the two units, pay attention to the fidelity points program. It will give you a discount on the second instrument ( Dont know if you should buy one instrument, get the points, then buy the second one, or if it can be done simultaneously though)

Thanks for answering that question. I guess those things are back on my shopping list.

robotmonkey · Post by **robotmonkey** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 8:01 am

I will not go into all the other technical and philosophical aspects why iLok and PACE suck donkey balls, but during the sale madness it's quite evident that it has detrimental effect on sales. The simple fact is that even if an iLok plugin is steeply discounted one has to add the cost of getting an iLok. Which here would clock in about 80$ with shipping. So none of those iLok plugins look that appealing anymore. Then again, it's good antidote to impulse buys.

This is of course not applicable to soft iLok which probably was forced into existence by developers who were left in disadvantaged position compared to developers with more customer friendly copy protection.

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 9:02 am

robotmonkey wrote:I will not go into all the other technical and philosophical aspects why iLok and PACE suck donkey balls, but during the sale madness it's quite evident that it has detrimental effect on sales. The simple fact is that even if an iLok plugin is steeply discounted one has to add the cost of getting an iLok. Which here would clock in about 80$ with shipping. So none of those iLok plugins look that appealing anymore. Then again, it's good antidote to impulse buys.

This is of course not applicable to soft iLok which probably was forced into existence by developers who were left in disadvantaged position compared to developers with more customer friendly copy protection.

Maybe, if it's someone's first iLok product. For people who already have an ilok that decision has already been made and I think that there's an opposite effect. I prefer iLok plugins and that has an impact on my choice to purchase.

sbangs_air · Post by **sbangs_air** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 3:53 pm

I think there is a common misconception that products utilizing this system must use a physical key.

We have found its actually extremely flexible as it offers Anon authorisation C/R, account based soft unlock and optional key or multi-license server support few solutions offer all of these options. The vast majority of products utilizing this now support this soft unlock method "Eden". The client and backend are not like they once were and use next to no resources and are very stable. You can activate and be on your way in a matter of moments.

We have in excess of over 1 million happy users across all our products using the platform.
While it won't be everyone's cup of tea we would advocate not to write it off.

Megakazbek · Post by **Megakazbek** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 5:14 pm

I think the main issue is that PACE is selling their product primarily to developers and since users are anyway stuck with it if they buy certain products, PACE can just ignore their complaints. For example, it's easy to secure everyone's licenses and protect them from computer or dongle failure simply by storing activations in the cloud and making periodic checks with the server, but why do that if you can milk extra money from users?

Taurus · Post by **Taurus** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 5:46 pm

Don't buy software with dongle and every company throws there dongles in the trash.

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:20 pm

My recent experience with iLok:

-Bought PolyKB II
-Got serial delivered by E-mail
-Opened iLok/Pace Manager, entered serial
-Put the license on my iLok key
-Downloaded PolyKB II from Xils and installed on my computer
-Loaded up PolyKB II in my DAW of choice

So all in all a rather quick and troublefree process, took less than half an hour.

A serial may be easier, but as long as I got the license on my iLok key I can install PolyKB II on how many computers I like, I just need to plug iLok into the computer I am using at the time.

The main beef I got with iLok is the $25 transfer fee you have to pay in case you want to sell the license later.

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 11:26 pm

sbangs_air wrote:I think there is a common misconception that products utilizing this system must use a physical key.

I may be in the minority, but I prefer the physical key. It's not foolproof but, unlike a hard drive, it has no moving parts.

Those of you who think that you're going to mount some sort of boycott of iLok, you're dreaming.

tapper mike · Post by **tapper mike** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 7:55 am

It's not a dream. I've been ilok free since I was born.

mladi · Post by **mladi** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 8:07 am

tapper mike wrote:It's not a dream. I've been ilok free since I was born.

Only fair that the rest of us will be iLok free when we are dead = Rest in Pace so to say..

iLok?