Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
Forum Statistics

191,221 users have contributed to 42,789 threads and 257,330 posts.

In the past 24 hours, we have 2 new thread(s), 8 new post(s) and 41 new user(s).

  1. Home
  2. Sample Libraries
  3. Vienna Instruments Libraries
  4. Why oh WHY can't Vienna use an iLok?

  • Why oh WHY can't Vienna use an iLok?

    B
    B

    I'm getting really sick of syncrosoft - the amount of times I have to reboot due to some "License center" issue is really effecting my train of thought!

    I don't understand why it takes around 2 minutes for the VSL plug in to open (First time after booting up)?

    Compare this to iLok with Altiverb and EWQL Play: Never, once in over 2 years of use have I ever had to download any new drivers, reboot my system, troubleshoot etc. Altiverb opens everytime and usually takes 10 or so seconds to do so!

    Is there a reason why VSL prefer to use syncrosoft's frankly vastly inferior system?\
  • P
    P

    with you on this one!

    100% behind copy protection, but it shouldn't affect workflow - i'm constantly having random problems with syncrosoft. I use ilok all the time for Mach 5 and autotune. no problems with that. i wish i wish i wish VSL would change to ilok, but can't see it happening...
  • C
    C

    Can honestly say I've had no problems with the Syncrosoft dongle. Have had to upgrade to the latest version of the License Control Centre prior to registering new libraries on a couple of occassions, but apart from that it's been fine....for me.

    Colin
  • H
    H

    yep. me too. never had a problem with either of the two. I have several EWQL play libraries on iloks, and VSL and Cubase 5 on Syncrosoft dongles. Frankly I prefer Syncrosoft, since it lets you know which licenses you have registered on which dongles through the License Control Centre, and that is very handy when you have multiple dongles. Also Syncrosoft dongles are smaller:)
  • T
    T

    Actually I've asked the exact reverse - why can't the PLAY libraries and Waves use Syncrosoft!  [:@]
  • D
    D
    last edited
    last edited

    @bobulusbillman said:

    Is there a reason why VSL prefer to use syncrosoft's frankly vastly inferior system?\

     

    On all the systems I have ever used a dongle on, Syncrosoft has been far superior to iLok. Currently I have no problems with either device, but your experience doesn't match mine.

    What OS are you running?

    DG
  • B
    B

    I've had these problems on a Power Mac G5, and a Mac Pro. With 10.4.11 and 10.5.6 respectively.

    I never have to think about the iLok, it just sits there out of sight and I forget about it. But the Vienna Key I sometimes end up trying to move around USB ports as every so often simply launching VSL in Logic will cause Logic to hang.

    Maybe this is just a Mac problem but with syncrosoft I'm very much aware of the copy protection. Whereas with iLok is basically invisible in terms of intrusion.
  • D
    D
    last edited
    last edited

    @bobulusbillman said:

    Maybe this is just a Mac problem but with syncrosoft I'm very much aware of the copy protection. Whereas with iLok is basically invisible in terms of intrusion.

     

    Sounds like a Mac problem to me as well. I have exactly the same attitude to Syncrosoft as you do to iLok. I doubt that everyone can be satisfied at the same time.

    DG
  • C
    C
    I would like to say from a non-computer musician dude that I wish Vienna would switch to ilok. Would make life so much easier. I have had some issues with the syncrosoft key and never with the ilok. Also everything I have comes on ilok and hear the horror stories of what happens if you lose your syncro key(I have to move mine machine around alot and sometimes I just won't use vienna stuff because I am to paranoid about losing the key). I am sure VSL has much bigger issues to deal with but this is one that would be good for me.
  • D
    D

    It seems it is from each one's point of view.

    For example, I wanted to purchase Ministry Of Rock and Voices Of Passion from Eastwest but there is no way I would get an iLok. I have Sonnox plugins for Powercore and they wanted me to get an iLok to get the latest versions. I never got it and I got stuck with the old ones instead.

    For me iLok is way more problematic than Syncrosoft, and I find Syncrosoft very straightforward to use.

    Apart from that, I use Cubase and Wavelab, as well as some VSTi's that require a syncrosoft key and if Vienna turned to iLok that would mean me carrying one more dongle on my laptop and a USB hub as well[:P]

    I get your point but I am happy with Syncrosoft key here...

    Well, I would be happier with Challenge/Response but life isn't perfect...
  • H
    H

    I use both syncrosoft and iloks. I run cubase 5 and VSL on 4 syncrosoft dongle and on 2 iloks, I use 7 Eastwest software. Both syncrosoft and and ilok dongle are used simultainously on different machine, and everything works fine. Sometimes VSL licences are not found in VI, but then I upgrade the LCC, and everything will be back to normal. I can't really quarrel. Honestly I still prefer Syncrosoft, since the LCC gives me the ability to visually see which licence collections are on which dongles.
  • I
    I

    I vote for iLock as well. Never had a problem. It just does its thing in background so you never even notice it. With Syncrosoft, however, there is constant updates but worst of all I find it completely unprofessional that it just sits there with no indication of what it's doing for a minute or more when you load a VSL instrument. With today's computing speed I really can't see why it needs more than a couple seconds unless it actually checks the hdd for installed files which should absolutely not happen every time you load up your first instance of a VSL instrument (after loading your daw). This hardware/software combo might be very effective at combating piracy, but it is doing so at the inconvenience of the legitimate users who have invested a lot of money in these products. The iLock shows it doesn't have to be this way.
  • D
    D
    last edited
    last edited

    @inwinterhesleeps_18121 said:

    I vote for iLock as well. Never had a problem. It just does its thing in background so you never even notice it. With Syncrosoft, however, there is constant updates but worst of all I find it completely unprofessional that it just sits there with no indication of what it's doing for a minute or more when you load a VSL instrument. With today's computing speed I really can't see why it needs more than a couple seconds unless it actually checks the hdd for installed files which should absolutely not happen every time you load up your first instance of a VSL instrument (after loading your daw). This hardware/software combo might be very effective at combating piracy, but it is doing so at the inconvenience of the legitimate users who have invested a lot of money in these products. The iLock shows it doesn't have to be this way.

    1. Syncrosoft works in the background for me as well.
    2. I don't update Syncrosoft, except when I buy a new product. Why are you updating more often?
    3. My licences take 4 seconds to scan. Scanning content takes the next minute.
    4. I can't compare with iLok directly, as I as only have about 8 iLok products.

    DG
  • T
    T

    I have a ton of both, spread across 6 machines. I've never had a single issue with ilok ever in either PC or Mac. 

    It's always worked and just about every processing plug I own is ilok protected. 

    Syncrosoft on the other hand works fine in my PC's, but I have had some issues with it in Mac. I've had to reinstall

    it several times in the last two months because it would suddenly stop seeing my licenses. Usually a reboot

    fixes it, but twice I've had to go as far as a reinstall to get it to work. 

    It does seem that syncrosoft may be more problematic on Mac. 
  • M
    M

    I am consistently having to reboot my Mac because VE cannot find my Syncrosoft license. With iLock I have to date not had any problems.

    Michael
  • D
    D

    And there's the rub. I would put money on the fact that the vast majority of users who don't like Syncrosoft dongles are OSX users. Also that the vast majority of users who don't like iLok are Windows users. Not much any of us can do about that.

    Having said that, I've been lucky with all my recent iLok purchases, as I've had none of the usual problems associated with iLok in the past.

    DG
  • D
    D
    Oh , the hits keep on rolling.. I sure hope I'm happy when I finally get to use this product, because it has been PAINFUL just trying to get it. Now, if I'm hearing you right, the iLok doesn't work with VSL?? Boy, what a misrepresentation!! The website indicates the product DOes work with USB security devices... it gives a few examples, but it doesn't say that it doesn't work with one of the biggest selling products in that category!!!!! Come on!!! So now what else do I need to buy to get this to work (if my downloads ever complete)?
  • D
    D
    last edited
    last edited

    @dinosaur said:

    Oh , the hits keep on rolling.. I sure hope I'm happy when I finally get to use this product, because it has been PAINFUL just trying to get it. Now, if I'm hearing you right, the iLok doesn't work with VSL?? Boy, what a misrepresentation!! The website indicates the product DOes work with USB security devices... it gives a few examples, but it doesn't say that it doesn't work with one of the biggest selling products in that category!!!!! Come on!!! So now what else do I need to buy to get this to work (if my downloads ever complete)?
     

    Wot U on about? VSL has never used iLok. VSL has never said that it uses iLok. It uses a Syncrosoft dongle.

    DG
  • D
    D
    Well, I just bought the program. I Also went out and bought me an ILok for it yesteday. From the Vienna website: If you already have another eLicenser USB protection device (e.g., from Steinberg or Arturia), you can use it for the VIENNA INSTRUMENTS, too. Please download the latest “License Control Center” from the eLicenser website so all the relevant VIENNA INSTRUMENTS information is available on your ViennaKey. The only difference from the original ViennaKey is that you can’t run Demo Mode #1 (see the button “Demo Modes” on the product page) on an eLicenser USB protection device not issued by the Vienna Symphonic Library. Is there any indication in there that ILok won't work?? Need Syncrosoft.. Say it!
  • D
    D

    Maybe it should be spelt out more clearly, but as Syncrosoft has been purchased my Steinberg and has changed its name, it may be that there was no way to be clearer. FWIW if you had typed eLicencer into Google I doubt that you'd have made the mistake in buying an iLok. Hopefully you can return it and get the correct dongle. on the plus side you will have saved a few pennies.

    DG