Hi all, any time frame/schedule that switching to iLok thing is going to happen? Recently i wanna get into VSL world because their string sounds soooo good ... yet i found out they require elicenser usb that i dont have. Plus i don't wanna add another dongle i already have ilok. So the elicensing system is really the biggest reason i havnt already jumped on the VSL ship

Hello,

As Benzon said, the strings sound very nice but I also would be happy to know the migration date in order to dive into VSL for the first time. I'm actually considering the posibility of buying a VSL library without getting the Vienna Key at all and just let the product sleep on my computer until the ILok migration finally happens. But my second problem regarding the migration is related to USB Hubs.

Could someone help me choose a USB Hub thats friendly with ILok dongles?

I'm using a MacBook Pro (mid2012) with only two sockets (one for the audio interface and the other for the hub) and I read that a proper hub for these dongles would have to be a powered one. The thing is that I don't know which one will work and I'm aware that theres a lot of compatibility issues. I can't afford to buy the wrong one or having to go through a buy/return process because it would be very stressful and time consuming.

Of course the Cloud option can be useful but I still need the dongle for a stable workflow.

@153538 said:

Hello,

As Benzon said, the strings sound very nice but I also would be happy to know the migration date in order to dive into VSL for the first time. I'm actually considering the posibility of buying a VSL library without getting the Vienna Key at all and just let the product sleep on my computer until the ILok migration finally happens. But my second problem regarding the migration is related to USB Hubs.

Could someone help me choose a USB Hub thats friendly with ILok dongles?

I'm using a MacBook Pro (mid2012) with only two sockets (one for the audio interface and the other for the hub) and I read that a proper hub for these dongles would have to be a powered one. The thing is that I don't know which one will work and I'm aware that theres a lot of compatibility issues. I can't afford to buy the wrong one or having to go through a buy/return process because it would be very stressful and time consuming.

Of course the Cloud option can be useful but I still need the dongle for a stable workflow.

[/quote]The compatibility issue you may be talking about is with USB 3 ports as the iLok is USB 2. Some people have had issues getting solid communication between the iLok and USB 3 ports. The usual answer is to get, as you surmise, a powered USB hub. I like wall wart powered hubs and not bus powered ones so you're not pulling power from a computer port particularly on a laptop. I'm currently using a 7 port one from Startec.com that is externally powered. While I'm not on a laptop (I have a 2012 MacPro cheesegrater desktop) I need the extra ports a hub provides. There are several good sources in the US - I tend to use B&H - they're on the web.

[/quote]

I don't know if I'm using the "quote reply" in the right way but thank you Musicman691 for the info! I'll look for wall wart powered USB2 Hubs on the web. With this specific info I gain confidence that the purshase will be succesful and have me back in the music making as soon as possible.

Since I'm not a native english speaker I had to translate the word "cheesegrater" and saw some very funny memes about this Mac model. Thanks for the good laugh! ;D

Cheers

It's a shame there's no machine licensing. Steinberg just announced it's upcoming licensing, basically you get a three moth license before you have to connect to the internet again, also it looks like they're offering a one year license as well. This is for TWO computers.

With VSL, I'll either have to be online 24/7 or still carry a bloody dongle around...I don't mind on my desktop but with my new Mac M1 it would be so nice to be dongle free!

@beatpete said:

It's a shame there's no machine licensing. Steinberg just announced it's upcoming licensing, basically you get a three moth license before you have to connect to the internet again, also it looks like they're offering a one year license as well. This is for TWO computers.

With VSL, I'll either have to be online 24/7 or still carry a bloody dongle around...I don't mind on my desktop but with my new Mac M1 it would be so nice to be dongle free!

@musicman691 said:

What's so bad about carrying around a small dongle anyway? Compared to the size of the computer it's minimal.

Exactly! Easy to lose. Also, new laptops (like my new M1 Air) have fewer and fewer ports available so you have to also have usb hubs...

With iLok cloud, how do you move between multiple machines? Is there a limit?

I liked the key because I could just physically move between machines and plug in the key.

What if you reformat your computer's harddrive or an OS update breaks something? Can a license on the cloud be recovered? There's no way to deregister a computer that's been "deleted" as far as I know, or is there?

Also, I remember that PACE drivers cause all sorts of issues.

@synchronizer said:

What if you reformat your computer's harddrive or an OS update breaks something? Can a license on the cloud be recovered? There's no way to deregister a computer that's been "deleted" as far as I know, or is there?

As I understand, the reasoning behind opting for the cloud is exactly to avoid this situation. If the license is saved on the cloud, it doesn't need to be recovered.

@synchronizer said:

What if you reformat your computer's harddrive or an OS update breaks something? Can a license on the cloud be recovered? There's no way to deregister a computer that's been "deleted" as far as I know, or is there?

As I understand, the reasoning behind opting for the cloud is exactly to avoid this situation. If the license is saved on the cloud, it doesn't need to be recovered.

I see.

Also, how easy is it to move between computers? It's useful to be able to run things on one computer at a time without having to transfer things manually.

@beatpete said:

It's a shame there's no machine licensing. Steinberg just announced it's upcoming licensing, basically you get a three moth license before you have to connect to the internet again, also it looks like they're offering a one year license as well. This is for TWO computers.

With VSL, I'll either have to be online 24/7 or still carry a bloody dongle around...I don't mind on my desktop but with my new Mac M1 it would be so nice to be dongle free!

I agree, Steinbergs upcoming licensing system seems superior to the ilok from a customer point of view. Still, ilok is pretty flexible compared to the e-licenser, and I assume ilok offers greater protection against piracy. My DAW is always connected to the internet, so I will probably opt for the cloud solution to get rid of all my dogles once and for all. I hate dongles marginally less than I love VSL's software and sample libraries. 😊

@beatpete said:

It's a shame there's no machine licensing. Steinberg just announced it's upcoming licensing, basically you get a three moth license before you have to connect to the internet again, also it looks like they're offering a one year license as well. This is for TWO computers.

With VSL, I'll either have to be online 24/7 or still carry a bloody dongle around...I don't mind on my desktop but with my new Mac M1 it would be so nice to be dongle free!

I agree, Steinbergs upcoming licensing system seems superior to the ilok from a customer point of view. Still, ilok is pretty flexible compared to the e-licenser, and I assume ilok offers greater protection against piracy. My DAW is always connected to the internet, so I will probably opt for the cloud solution to get rid of all my dogles once and for all. I hate dongles marginally less than I love VSL's software and sample libraries. 😊

Cloud is a pain because what do you do when (not if but when) you lose your internet connection? You're stuck and if you're in the middle of a session you look stupid to anyone else in the room. I love having a hardware iLok and will be happy to get down to just the one.

@musicman691 said:

Steinberg's upcoming system will be a disaster. Already living through that type of system with BFD 3 drum program. You have to stay logged in to their license manager even when offline. And you're computer has tp log in to their site every few months to re-up one's licenses. Trouble is right now that time period is fluid and everyone gets a different amount of time between renewals. My daw isn't connected to the net unless it really has to for updates and downloads.

Cloud is a pain because what do you do when (not if but when) you lose your internet connection? You're stuck and if you're in the middle of a session you look stupid to anyone else in the room. I love having a hardware iLok and will be happy to get down to just the one.

There is no solution which will suit everyone needs and I agree on both above counts. Just built new PC, de-bloated Win10 from useless rubbish and it will stay off-line, just as my previous Win7 did, for the past 2 yrs. I usually download stuff over the Linux (the only OS I use for the net) and move over, using external SSD (there are some rare exception and VLS, which I'm looking to buy will be in that basket). Internet outages happen. I only have dedicated desktop PC and for that reason, physical dongle doesn't bother me even, if I'd have to use a hub, but  can run extra USB ports off the motherboard header, if needed.

V

@synchronizer said:

What if you reformat your computer's harddrive or an OS update breaks something? Can a license on the cloud be recovered? There's no way to deregister a computer that's been "deleted" as far as I know, or is there?

As I understand, the reasoning behind opting for the cloud is exactly to avoid this situation. If the license is saved on the cloud, it doesn't need to be recovered.

I see.

Also, how easy is it to move between computers? It's useful to be able to run things on one computer at a time without having to transfer things manually.

I don't know if iLok works this way, but for other software that I use with cloud licenses, I just have to login with my email/password on the other machine (assuming the program is already installed, of course).

@synchronizer said:

What if you reformat your computer's harddrive or an OS update breaks something? Can a license on the cloud be recovered? There's no way to deregister a computer that's been "deleted" as far as I know, or is there?

As I understand, the reasoning behind opting for the cloud is exactly to avoid this situation. If the license is saved on the cloud, it doesn't need to be recovered.

I see.

Also, how easy is it to move between computers? It's useful to be able to run things on one computer at a time without having to transfer things manually.

I don't know if iLok works this way, but for other software that I use with cloud licenses, I just have to login with my email/password on the other machine (assuming the program is already installed, of course).

@JBuck said:

I'm Pretty sure that iLok will check the licence/connection every 3 or so minutes.

Thanks. With the flaky connections I sometimes have, barely workable and a definite no-go if in the middle of, say, long playback. Oh well, it seems it's going to be an iLok dongle replacing eLicenser one for me then.

@JBuck said:

I'm Pretty sure that iLok will check the licence/connection every 3 or so minutes.

Thanks. With the flaky connections I sometimes have, barely workable and a definite no-go if in the middle of, say, long playback. Oh well, it seems it's going to be an iLok dongle replacing eLicenser one for me then.

Likewise for me. It's going to have to be a dongle. I need to be able to work away from any wi-fi. 

To replace Vienna Protection Plan on an iLok you will have to get it covered with Zero Downtime ZDT AND make absolutely sure to enable Theft/Loss Coverage for it!

ZDT without TLC does not provide you with permanent replacement licenses, you just get short lived temporary licenses which allow you to continue and buy you time to contact each manufacturer and apply for RMA or plead / pay for replacement licenses.

A big plus of Zero Downtime with Theft/Loss Coverage enabled is that it covers all licenses from all manufacturers on a single iLock.

I still plan to add a Vienna Protection Plan for iLok if that becomes available. 

Activating TLC (Theft/Loss Coverage) on an iLok means to my understanding that all licenses on the iLok become temporary for 90 days from the last time the driver can contact the server while the iLok is connected. So if an iLok is stolen or abused it will only function for 90 days, after which the licences expire until they are re-activated by connecting to the server. This reassurance for the vendors allows Pace to issue new permanent licences to you, in addition to the short lived temporary licenses you get from ZDT (Zero Downtime) alone.

Edit: seems that I misinterpreted the technical details, see next post by

@musicman691c said:

There's nothing on the iLok site that a new dongle requires brand new ZDT/TLC. ZDT/TLC is completely optional for one's ilok. The new iLok is NOT subject to any old 90 day cycle. You may be confused in that each iLok has to have it's own ZDT (if you want it to). You don't have to have ZDT on a new/replacement iLok. An old iLok's ZDT does not carry over to a new iLok. Each iLok is a separate entity.

For Instance I have two iLoks. Each has their own ZDT setup. I don't have to have ZDT on the second iLok but I choose to be safe and have both covered. That way if I have an iLok that seems to be flaky I can move the licenses over to the other one with no problem.I've been dealing with iLoks for almost a decade now and know what's what

I prefer a dongle over a single activation on a computer, as it allows me to quickly move all my licenses to a different computer, there and back again, as many times as I please (of course the same is true for a cloud license).

If a manufacturer offers more than a single activation and uses either iLok or eLicenser I always put at least one on a dongle.

In my experience internet access is more likely to fail than computers, which in turn are more likely to fail than dongles. This is even more pronounced in live situations. If a computer becomes irresponsible then it can be difficult to quickly get replacement for computer activated licenses.

Both computers and dongles can be stolen, but dongles are much more likely to become lost. Theft/Loss Coverage and Vienna Protection Plan took the scare out of stolen or defect dongles or computers from me.

However, it would be nice if I needed only a single dongle used by all manufacturers.

(I'd love if Steinberg and Arturia would offer to use iLok as an alternative.)

Especially for Vienna products it would also be very helpful if individual licences of a single dongle could be used by different computers on the LAN using some sort of license server. This way there is no need to distribute the licenses between multiple dongles when using different computers for various instruments. It would also make ZDT coverage cheaper.

PS:

I hope we get iLok licensing before my Vienna Protection Plan for the eLicenser expires.

PS2:

I just got a new USB-C Gen-3 iLok, bought ZDT coverage for it and in the iLok License Manager simply selected all licences of the connected Gen-2 iLok and dragged them on the new one - the transfer of 28 activations completed in half a minute.

@badibeat said:

Activating TLC (Theft/Loss Coverage) on an iLok means to my understanding that all licenses on the iLok become temporary for 90 days from the last time the driver can contact the server while the iLok is connected. So if an iLok is stolen or abused it will only function for 90 days, after which the licences expire until they are re-activated by connecting to the server. This reassurance for the vendors allows Pace to issue new permanent licences to you, in addition to the short lived temporary licenses you get from ZDT (Zero Downtime) alone.

Thank you for the clarification. So I mixed that up some.