on several occasions (like eg. a fair) it has become common practice to secure various parts from beeing *displaced*, even if they are of a dimension which would make us assume it would be impossible to displace them ...

ideas and suggestions to make a license expire regulary or beeing dependant on *touching a server* should be considered very carefully and in their whole depth of pros and cons - i think it is much more critical to have a license stored on the computer or bound to a harddisk/network interface/ect than to a dongle. de-authorizing a license from a computer or harddisk which has died can easily become a mess and reveals finally the same problem as not beeing able to access a license on a key which is *offline*

it sound to me a little bit like spirit of the age is tending to make everybody else responsible for taking care on things/gear/ect except oneselves ...

let me add a counterexample here: i have a really expensive backup software for which the serial number has been lost somewhen and obviously nobody ever registered it at the vendor's website. not only that now i'm not able to upgrade it aslo i would need to purchase a new full version and i will never be able to transfer the license to another server - i would be really happy to have the license on a dongle to simply attach it to another machine ...

christian

If the dongle breaks or dies it's no problem to replace the dongle and all licenses.

The dongle has to be registered and the dongle has to be sent to our distributors (or to Vienna).

Than we can look at the dongle number and check the licenses holding on that key in a Syncrosoft database interface.

And than you will get a new dongle with new licenses from Vienna.

best

Herb

.. as this post already explains ... in 1a) 1b) and 2)

christian

edit: and you can request a demo mode license to get up and running again with almost no delay ...

@Another User said:

let me add a counterexample here: i have a really expensive backup software for which the serial number has been lost somewhen and obviously nobody ever registered it at the vendor's website.

 The analogy with a car is not, I think, a perfect one. If, for example, you lose the key to your "Mercedes" (or any other car) you can get another without paying for a new car. You can insure your car against loss or theft, but the price of the key is, most likely, less than the deductible.

The basic problem with using this analogy is that automobile manufacturers do not confront the same problems as software manufacturers. There are, so far as I know, no ubiquitously available, inexpensive, automobile duplicating machines that would allow you to make perfectly functional copies of your Mercedes  (and thus get two or ten for the price of one + the cost of the "duplicator" and materials) while software can be copied in just such fashion from hard drive to hard drive. Hence the need for copy protection.

However the problem of lost or stolen Vienna keys may need to be thought through more comprehensively so that, if possible, some kind of technical solution might be offered.  (What if, for example, the first time a key was inserted into a computer, it required a visit to the Syncorosoft site for an authorization check - - so that keys reported lost or stolen could then be automatically deauthorized.) In the meantime, buy insurance. 

the analogy with a car is far away from beeing perfect but to spin your objection further: since copying of software happens at almost no costs consequently the first specimen of a software should be paid and all following ones almost free (because only copies) .... obviously also not applying.

additionally the situation is different because we don't talk about software but copyrighted content - you can get a replacement for your ViennaInstruments or ViennaEnsemble software whenever you like.

as posted earlier: any alternate method like *touching a server* or actually *touching when inserted into a new computer* needs extensive considerations of pros and cons.

many music computers (if not most) are not connected to the internet, thats why i find the offline license download so useful.

the only occasion such a method could even work is when a license is beeing transferred or added, in case the dongle is kept offline you never have a chance to check.

christian

Hello Rachmaninoff3,

Yes, the demo license we send via support will work with your custom presets, no worries.

Best,

Paul

Doug,

I have lost the vienna key that allowed me to run the vienna ensemble pro on my master computer.

How do I obtain a  new  one?

james Ferguson

Doug,

I have lost the vienna key of the VEP server on my master computer.  What is the process for  obtaining another on?

Thanks,

James Ferguson

Woodstock, GA, 30188

Hi James, 

Please contact support@vsl.co.at, my colleagues will guide you through.

Best, 
Paul

Hi, 

Happy to say that Jim has found his key (but decided to inform us via email). 😊

Best, 
Paul

Forgive me if this has been answered already...

I'm not worried about losing my key, I keep it in a safe place and if it gets stolen well then thats just sods law. I'm just worried about breaking it from inserting/re-inserting it whenever I use it - sometimes the red light doesn't light up when I insert it for instance and I have to try again). I'm glad we can return it and get a replacement by covering the postage costs.

I bought a new key to cover me for 2 years, but I just think it's a waste to buy one every 2 years (economically and environmentally).

If it breaks outside the 2 year warranty period can we pay for a new key and the P&P? Or are there license costs we have to pay in addition to this?

Thanks

Hello PauloRego,

This is the procedure for a broken key that is NOT covered by the 2 year hardware guarantee:

In case a ViennaKey is damaged, users have to send it to our office in Vienna (American users: to the office of our distributor ILIO based in California) to enable us to take a look at the kind of the damage.

If the damage on the ViennaKey shows signs of external force, he will of course have to pay for the new ViennaKey, PLUS a handling fee for the new licenses (EUR 20 per contained license, minimum fee EUR 30).  

Just an idea: You can always keep old keys as a backup, or pass them on to friends or schools (to check out Steinberg/VSL Software with demo licenses). 

Best, 
Paul

Hey Paul,

Ahh ok thanks for clearing that up!

Paulo

I live in England.  If I buy the Vienna Key direct from VSL, it costs 41 Euros including VAT and shipping. If I buy one from Time and Space in the UK it costs 20 GBP.  Will the key bought from Time and Space have the same TWO YEAR guarantee and terms as one purchased direct from VSL? (An official answer from VSL please).

Currently, I have seven dongles registered with over 50 licences and those dongles are at least 7 or 8 years old.  I am worried at the HUGE expense I might incurr should one or more of them fail.  I will have to transfer all those licences from the seven keys to one new one as I am unwilling to pay 7 times 41 Euros (i.e. 287 Euros!) every two years...

Hello nicholash, 

Yes, the ViennaKey will have a 2 years guarantee wherever you purchase it. Please keep the proof of purchase (your receipt). 

Best, 
Paul

@nicholash said:

I live in England.  If I buy the Vienna Key... If I buy one from Time and Space in the UK it costs 20 GBP.

Get a Steinberg Key from GAK. £18.25, including shipping.

DG