KVR Audio

jackson · Post by **jackson** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:40 pm

Just thought of something that would be particularly applicable to hosts/sequencers.

Why not use a custom built USB/firewire based RAM stick with the executable program and essential files loaded on it as a dongle? The files could only be launched directly from the dongle with built in encryption based on unique identifiers in each dongle.

The upsides would be in my mind:
Less hard disk storage and usage from the host.

Fully portable sequencer, you just get one piece of hardware which could be used on multiple systems.

Fast execution speed due to being stored in RAM (or would the interface slow it down too much?)

Downside? Losing the freaking thing, I guess

What say you?

butter · Post by **butter** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:44 pm

That's been thrown around here quite a bit actually. I think it's a good idea personally.

mandolarian · Post by **mandolarian** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:53 pm

Couldn't be any worse than PACE. But, as a stoopid user, I don't see the benefit to me. Flash drives ain't that fast. And people using USB soundcards have yet another possible conflict to deal with.

Now, the UAD card is a dongle with some utility.

arguru · Post by **arguru** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:53 pm

This scheme had been since ages by others already:

Although is not really uncrackable... it could work/help, but it will raise costs a bit. And I dont imagine pluggin cardtriges in my PC =)

jackson · Post by **jackson** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:30 pm

I can see it now:

Logic 8 now with Ms Pacman...

peteblues · Post by **peteblues** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:42 pm

and I remember, on the C64, cartridges got cracked left and right. Afterall, it's all running on the system processor and memory, and can be monitored

jackson · Post by **jackson** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:21 am

But I think modern day encryption techniques are a little more sophisticated than in the C64 days, no?

I was very surprised to see how long it took people to crack Cubase SX 3. Probably set some new records in the "scene".

Rhythmic · Post by **Rhythmic** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:32 am

mandolarian · Post by **mandolarian** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:37 am

Ditto!

peteblues · Post by **peteblues** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:37 am

doesn't matter how well the encryption is...the code has to be executed unencrypted.
And, although I don't entirely agree with Rhythmic, I think that nothing is worse than getting the customer pissed off, when the copy protection is actually keeping them from using the product they bought.

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:55 am

Rhythmic wrote:I've got an even better idea. I think these developers can stick their copy protection up their ass no matter what form or method they use. I have yet to see software that's worth so much effort to copy protect in the first place. Case in point? Cubase SX 3! What trash!

Heheheee...

Anyways, I somewhat like the idea to actually have the executables on a dongle as well. That way you could indeed take things with you and use them on every system.
The bad thing: I couldn't imagine running a multitude of programs of a dongle, plus, it'd still be a dongle that could break, that you can lose... whatever.

What about the following idea for a proper copy protection: Proper customer support, reasonable prices and updates actually making sense so you just want to be a legit user?
Ah, I see, impossible...

Marc JX8P · Post by **Marc JX8P** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:25 am

I don't think it's very practical to have the executable on the dongle - but a dongle based scheme definetely has my preference if that means you will be able to use the software on multiple pc's and just plug the dongle in where you work. Ideally though, you should be able to use the software in a limited fashion (for example, no saves or for a short period) without the dongle in case the dongle gets damaged or so or even better, you should get two dongles.

Continuing on that scheme, it would be nice if the software manufacturers could settle on a protocol where you could store all of your licenses on the dongles.

Cabinfever · Post by **Cabinfever** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:31 am

Sascha Franck wrote:What about the following idea for a proper copy protection: Proper customer support, reasonable prices and updates actually making sense so you just want to be a legit user?

I think this is the only way. All software can be cracked and increasingly 'clever' protection ideas just make real users increasingly unhappy.

Developers need to look at their product and services and say: "What can I do to motivate people to actually buy my product rather than use a crack ?"

Adding irritating authentication procedures is not a good answer to that question.

wolf_of_badenoch · Post by **wolf_of_badenoch** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 am

Cabinfever wrote: Developers need to look at their product and services and say: "What can I do to motivate people to actually buy my product rather than use a crack ?"

Actually it's worse than that. All software will be cracked...it may take a while but someone will do it. Probably most of the people using the cracked software wouldn't have bought it anyway even if it was uncrackable, so by spending effort/money on copy protection you end up annoying the legit users who are going to pay anyway, and you end up diverting your attention from improving the product

diverdee · Post by **diverdee** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:10 am

added value from goodies only available to registered users, great customer service, nice box & manuals possibly newsletters with interesting techniques & walkthroughs, pretty stickers & shoulder bags.
That's all the kind of stuff people appreciate - but the great customer service will become increasingly important - it only takes being fobbed off once to create a negative example which will be spread all over the net like wildfire.

New (?) copy-protection scheme idea