KVR Audio

Obsolete462444 · Post by **Obsolete462444** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 9:25 am

Some of us prefer to keep their audio computer offline for various reasons, such as avoiding potential infection with malware or just to minimize distraction during creative work. Some have their setup in rehearsal rooms / studios with no internet connection.

More and more plugin companies switched to an activation / authorization procedure that requires internet access. The worst are those that require you to install their own "authorization manager" first + require an online connection on the device.

Which plugin companies are user friendly and support offline activation / authorization, such as providing a serial or key file? Please name the ones you know about!

So, here is the list of plugin companies that enable offline installation and activation / authorization!

Optimal: Plugin companies that don't require an active internet connection on the audio computer for activation / authorization. Typically they use a simple serial code / activation key:

Audio Damage
Audiority
Audiothing
Bandlab (Cakewalk)
Bitwig Studio
Cockos (Reaper)
DDMF
D16 Group
DMG Audio
Fabfilter
Fuse Audio Labs
Harrison Mixbus
Hornet Audio
Klanghelm
LVC-Audio
Renoise
Reveal Sound
Shattered Glass Audio
Sonimus
Synapse Audio
TAL Audio
Tokyo Dawn Labs
Toneboosters
U-HE
ValhallaDSP
Voxengo
Wavesfactory
Xfer Records

not optimal, but offline activation is possible (requires additional steps such as creating a challenge-response code or installing an "authorization manager" first, usually locked to the hardware):

Ableton (need to create challenge-response / machine ID locally first)

Arturia (you need to install their Software Center but then you can offline authorize)

Black Rooster Audio (need to create a license and store it on an USB flash drive / stick, which will serve as a dongle - needs to be plugged in)

Cytomic

Goodhertz (need to create challenge-response / machine ID locally first)

HOFA (requires HOFA plugins manager)

MAAT (need to create challenge-response / machine ID locally first)

Plugin Alliance (you need to install their Installation Manager first on an online machine and transfer the files in a convoluted process, but it works)

Sknote (need to create challenge-response / machine ID locally first)

Waves (possible, but very convoluted process)

DarkStar · Post by **DarkStar** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:39 am

frizzbee · Post by **frizzbee** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:45 am

FabFilter uses serial.

DuX · Post by **DuX** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:01 am

Your list contains all of the companies I support, not just because they can be authorised offline, but because of having high quality plugins, too. Besides Klanghelm, u-he, Tokyo Dawn Labs, Hornet, TAL, Audio Damage, Toneboosters and Valhalla DSP, I couldn't work with audio and make music without, and to add to your list:

Voxengo
DMG Audio
Synapse Audio
Cytomic
D16 Group
Reveal Sound Spire
Sonic Academy ANA 2
Xfer Records

All can be easily authorised offline and use no dongles, nor those stupid download apps, registration centres, or whatever they call them. Those are plain, nonsensical rubbish.

scalawag · Post by **scalawag** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:51 am

Sonimus

scalawag · Post by **scalawag** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:54 am

Sknote

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 12:02 pm

Love 'em or hate 'em but Plugin Alliance offer an offline activation option.

Obsolete462444 · Post by **Obsolete462444** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 12:06 pm

Added Audiority and Fuse Audio Labs

midi_transmission · Post by **midi_transmission** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 12:19 pm

scalawag wrote: Thu Jun 11, 2020 11:54 amSknote

Afaik not anymore. They changed the copy protection that you have to create an special installer for a hardware id. Maybe someone that uses Sknote can clarify it.

mike_the_ranger · Post by **mike_the_ranger** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 12:41 pm

Are dongled products also offline in that sense? I mean once it is on the dongle (which has to be done only 1 time and requires internet connection) it can be used on *any* offline workstation.

DuX · Post by **DuX** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 12:47 pm

I forgot my main DAW and they also provide a really great and handy bundle of free plugins - Cockos Reaper and their ReaPlugs.

ReaStream, for example, is incredible for connecting DAWs audio+MIDI from one computer to another over ethernet. You don't even need an audio card on your laptop if your DAW supports "dummy audio" like Reaper.

@mike_the_ranger: And what happens if you lose or break the dongle? Or it gets stolen? The hassle of having to keep an eye on it, and to have it with me all the time, would be enough of a hassle for me. Not to mention small number of USB ports on laptops. One for the MIDI controller, one for mouse, one for the dongle. You often need a USB hub. It's just an unnecessary hassle.

Obsolete462444 · Post by **Obsolete462444** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 12:57 pm

mike_the_ranger wrote: Thu Jun 11, 2020 12:41 pm Are dongled products also offline in that sense? I mean once it is on the dongle (which has to be done only 1 time and requires internet connection) it can be used on *any* offline workstation.

I won't list the ones that require a dongle, because the issue with dongles is that there are too many different ones around.

For example: I use Cubase that has an eLicenser dongle. Already one USB-port is occupied now.

Let's say I add a plugin that uses an iLok dongle, I will lose another USB port. Some computers only have one or two or three USB ports available altogether. So, dongles (or in some cases regular USB drives that store the license) are not really a user-friendly solution. They can further complicate the setup!

I want to list plugin companies here, that allow an easy, user friendly setup on offline machines. This can serve as a reference for people using an offline setup, so that they immediately know which companies are safe to use.

mike_the_ranger · Post by **mike_the_ranger** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:05 pm

It was not about blocking usb ports, losing dongle or things like that, but from an online/offline perspective... What makes a system user friendly is still in the eyes of the user

Obsolete462444 · Post by **Obsolete462444** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:26 pm

mike_the_ranger wrote: Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:05 pm It was not about blocking usb ports, losing dongle or things like that, but from an online/offline perspective... What makes a system user friendly is still in the eyes of the user

Maybe you want to check who started this thread, then you will also understand who determines what this thread is about

This thread is about listing companies which support user friendly installation and activation / authorization procedures on offline computers.

Companies that require a dongle do not qualify!

I gave you the reasons, if you feel different, start your own thread about companies that use dongles if you like dongles so much!

mike_the_ranger · Post by **mike_the_ranger** » Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:32 pm

Your description also says no "authorization managers" still you list them

I think I'll continue writing into any thread I want

Anyways I think HOFA has an offline setting too.

List of plugin companies that support offline activation