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  4. MISSION COMPLETED: Moving from eLicenser to iLok

  • MISSION COMPLETED: Moving from eLicenser to iLok

    H
    H

    Hello Everyone,

    It is my pleasure to announce that we’re starting to prepare the move to a new license management platform.

    eLicenser has served us well during many years, but we’re also well aware of some limitations of the platform that we want to overcome for our customers and for us.

    Thus we’re currently preparing the transition of all of our products to PACE’s iLok license management solution. This will take some time, but we’d like to let you know as early as possible that many new options in license handling will be available to our customers in the future, and that the entire process of purchasing and activating products will be streamlined and improved.

    To make the entire migration as easy and hassle-free for our customers (and for us ;-), here are a few key facts we’d like to share that early in the process:

    • FREE TRANSITION: Moving your licenses from the eLicenser to the iLok platform will be free of charge for you.

    • CHOICE OF KEY OR CLOUD: You will be able to choose if you’d like to store your VSL licenses on the iLok hardware key or in the iLok Cloud without using a hardware key.

    • COMPATIBILITY: Under the iLok system, you will still be able to open existing projects as long as the eLicenser is connected. Once the project has been saved again, the eLicenser will no longer be required.

    • CONTINUED SERVICE: You’ll be able to continue to use the ViennaKey/eLicenser USB key as well as the eLicenser Control Center for as long as it is working on your computers’ operating systems. Your licenses are safe and perpetual. Steinberg will keep the eLicenser license server available as long as possible, so you’ll be able to move licenses between eLicenser USB keys and will receive replacement licenses in case of damage, theft or loss of your eLicenser key (for free if you have a valid Vienna Protection Plan) well beyond the time when the iLok system is already available to you.

      For every registered product in your VSL account, you will receive an iLok license. You will NOT be asked to return or delete any of your existing licenses on the eLicenser.

    We’ll be able to provide more information later this year. Before you ask, at this time we don’t know when exactly we’ll be able to start moving licenses to the iLok platform, but you’ll be the first to know as we move along in the process.

    What’s more, we’re now offering ViennaKeys at a substantial discount, and we’ll include a free €20 voucher with every ViennaKey order in our web shop.


    Best wishes from Vienna,
    Herb Tucmandl
    CEO
  • Fabio BiolcatiF
    Fabio BiolcatiF

    Definitely good news!

    Thank you Vienna!

    VI Special Edition 1-3, Reaper, MuseScore 3, Notion 3 (collecting dust), vst flotsam and jetsam
  • M
    M

    Wow!

    The Dongle was the reason why I stopped buying VSL Products although I like them.
    Maybe other Libraries sound better but the Software is so great compared to others ->Vienna Instruments Pro and VEP!

    After I had a real nightmare about loosing or damaging my Dongle I spend extra money for the Vienna Protection Plan but I always thought it's a shame to pay for that.

    I think that I won't be the only customer you'll get back.

    Thanks and greetings!

    Markus
  • Dewdman42D
    Dewdman42D
    Good news! I hope this will somehow mean we can use ilok dongle and no insurance required
  • S
    S

    One question, for clarification:

    Once the licensing system has been moved to iLok, will a Vienna Protection Plan still be required to be able to get free replacement licenses for products we've purchased licenses for in the case of theft/damage/etc. to our iLok dongle? 
  • M
    M
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    @herb said:

    • CHOICE OF KEY OR CLOUD: You will be able to choose if you’d like to store your VSL licenses on the iLok hardware key or in the iLok Cloud without using a hardware key.

    In case we choose the cloud solution (which I personally would prefer) does that mean we can activate only one computer - or maybe more? With libraries growing bigger and bigger it does sometimes make sense to split up a library between 2 (VePro) systems. And it's meanwhile common that plugin developers allow more than one activation - e.g. Soundtoys.
  • MackerM
    MackerM

    Thanks for the good news, Herb.

    Speaking as one who for too many years didn't want to become a VSL customer simply because of the dongle key requirement, I've a strong feeling this change bodes well for your future business. That in turn will also be good for all your customers.

    Live long and prosper, VSL!
  • B
    B

    I use ZDT for that.
  • B
    B

    Will we be able to put a license on a computer rather than the cloud or physical Ilok?
  • LAJL
    LAJL
    Hello Herb, that's a fantastic decision. Ilok is so much better in Hardware and Software. Stichwort Lizenzdaten-Wildwuchs ... This could be an opportunity to clean up License Data ... maybe on Bundle-basis. Thanks. Best,Lars
  • F
    F

    Is it possible to get informed by email as the changeover proceeds?
  • PaulP
    VSL Team
    PaulP
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    Hi everybody, 

    We'll keep you up to date right here, and of course you will also be informed via newsletter as soon as we are entering the transition phase!

    @LAJ: "Lizenzdaten-Wildwuchs" is one of those german words that makes people afraid of our language 😊.

    Best,
    Paul 

    Paul Kopf Product Manager VSL
  • LucyL
    LucyL

    "Lizenzdaten-Wildwuchs" is one of those german words that makes people afraid of our language.

    License data - wild boar?! 

    Come on, your language is terrifying!

    xx
  • LAJL
    LAJL

     



    „Heidenei    !“

    ... the goal has been achieved :)
  • F
    F

    definitely good news: as a user of both platforms I have to report that using iLok is always a better experience, for both software and hardware stability.

    That should be already a good reason, but I know that there's even more benefits at corporate and licensing side, so it sounds like a win-win option for VSL and customers.

    Looking forward to it!
  • takaekuT
    takaekuT

    Hi everyone, I often use Cubase. I haven't experienced any special trouble with the eLicenser key. So I wanted to continue using eLicenser.

    However, there was news that Steinberg would abolish the eLicenser key ... I think it can't be helped.

    eku542 (Windows10, Cubase, Dorico)
  • J
    J

    Hi,

    So far I have been using both systems: iLicenser and iLok. Up to now I havent' experienced any problems with either of them, but from the very beginning I found both keys a pain in the *ss because of the immanent danger of loosing the licenses and having to pay again for them. It was and is an unwieldy solution to keep these licenses on a USB-stick. In most cases they don't work properly in a USB-hub, so you have to insert them directly into the computer and I have an iMac with only 4 direct USB-busses... And what with the problem of breakdown or failure of the key? The VSL insurance... That is of course a possibility which I finally have chosen for. Licenses on an external key is outdated and rather primitive. Some programs have a choice: either the key or a little piece of license software on your own computer, with the permanent ownership of the program in case of loss, failure, theft... Why isn't that possible in Vienna?

    In my opinion, it is very unjust that (without insurance) you have to pay again in case of a broken, stolen or lost iLicenser for the libraries and software you once owned (at least the use of it). It can be coupled to the computer's Mac-address. From what I've read here, I understood that it would be possible to store the licenses in a cloud. That is already a far better solution, but here again there is the immanent danger of being at the mercy of an external instance (the firm's cloud) and the availability of the internet connection. Without these, no working with your purchased beloved libraries...

    I hope that Vienna comes with a smarter solution to overcome all these possible problems in the next future, other than again a USB-key.

    Jos
  • S
    S
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    @Jos Wylin said:

    In my opinion, it is very unjust that (without insurance) you have to pay again in case of a broken, stolen or lost iLicenser for the libraries and software you once owned (at least the use of it). It can be coupled to the computer's Mac-address. From what I've read here, I understood that it would be possible to store the licenses in a cloud. That is already a far better solution, but here again there is the immanent danger of being at the mercy of an external instance (the firm's cloud) and the availability of the internet connection. Without these, no working with your purchased beloved libraries...

    There are other libraries/plugins that I own that require the use of an iLok and - as you mentioned above - allow those licenses to be stored into a cloud.  As far as I'm aware, those companies don't require insurance policies like the Vienna Protection Plan. 

    This begs the question (which I am addressing to the team at VSL): once the migration to iLok is complete, will the Vienna Protection Plan still be something we are required to purchase to protect us from having to re-purchase licenses that are rendered unusable by stolen/broken/damaged dongles?

    - Sam
  • J
    J

    Hi Sam,

    Thanks for the reply.

    At the moment, I work with one VST program (SparkVerb) that requires the iLok. When I installed it, I had the choice: license on my iLok key, in the iLok cloud or on my local HDD. I chose the latter. No problems so far. In the iLok installation program, I can see SparkVerb registered at iLok via my HDD. No trouble either with repurchasing in case of loss.

    So you see it's possible without all that hassle with insurances etc. As I said before, I find it very weird that we should have to pay twice for the same purchase. (Illegal in Belgium!) And there is more bad news coming up...

    I've noticed that all Vienna's attention goes to Synchron nowadays (for quite some tome actually) and that the 'older' libraries and player are left totally behind and neglected (although they keep selling them). I asked a question about this issue and it appears that in due course the VI(pro) libraries will be stopped altogether. They say that they will guarantee 'as long as possible' their support. I find this rather shocking. During many years, I've put together a huge library of VI pro (full) instruments and I'm very pleased with them. I've learnt to work with them in a satisfactory way, together with the Vienna Suite, MIR Pro, VE Pro and other applications. Now they announce the end of the library, as if we have an endless amount of money at our disposal to restart building the whole lot again with Synchron (and I even don't like the sound of that hall, so why on earth would I go on putting my money into these instruments...?)

    I don't want to be rude. I'm very thankful for the VI libraries and the sonic results I can get with them, but the next step is simply one too many and I feel pretty disappointed about that.

    Jos
  • M
    M
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    As proposed I have bought a spare ViennaKey last December to have no downtime which I also cover with the Vienna Protection Plan. Was this an unnecessary investment since I have to change to iLok?
    Your VSL Announcement at VI Control states that you offer a free €20 voucher with every ViennaKey order and the ViennaKey also is discounted. But the discount is not usefull if ViennaKey is going to become useless as well as the voucher. Do you expect people to buy a useless thing only to get a voucher?

    Maybe I missunterstood something or it is too early to critisize your intention because it is not final yet – which I hope!

    Regards
    Martin