@Paul said:
Hi Kmetal,
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Besides the fact that your existing setup will keep on working just like it is, license management is much more convenient with iLok, which will also allow us a few options in the future (give it just a little time to see what we have in store).
Not HAVING to use a physical key is a huge game changer for many musicians out there! So the iLok cloud, while it is not the perfect solution for everybody, is quite a change there.
Learn more about your [url=
with iLok[/url] right here.
I'd like to fact-check a few of your statements:
1) "So far I'm looking at $600 for 6x new iloks"
Last time I checked the price was around $50 for an iLok key.
2) "And to salt the wound, the Vi Pro Player I paid hundreds of dollars to buy and upgrade, is now free."
This move makes many users happy and it was high on time to catch up there. No intention to cause any pain. You paid around $115 for 3 licenses in 2017 (€108), I checked.
3) "And my MIR Pro and 6 Room packs won't work with iLok yet."
That must be a misunderstanding. The situation with MIR Pro is special, but MIR Pro and all RoomPacks work just fine in VE Pro 7.I'm [url=
this special situation here[/url].
4) "VEP 6 was out for about a year or so before 7 was released, that's really pushing the noting of "legacy"".
I'll have to correct that as well... VE Pro 6 was [url=
in August 2016[/url]and we have pushed development with VE Pro 7 immensely in the coming years until we were ready to introduce [url=
Pro 7 with a single license concept in May 2019[/url].
Best,Paul
Hi Paul, glad you took the time to reply, just want to clarify. I'm familiar with iLok, being a user since 2006. When I got into Vienna, I was a bit annoyed to be using yet another dongle. So in that sense the migration is long over due 😊
1). The $600 I started included the 6x VEP licenses and 6x iloks, $300 + $300 (presuming the vep is purchased at current sale price) my original statement was factual.
- the existing setup will work as is, but for an undetermined amount of time. There is no given time frame for how long Steinberg server's will be up, or how long I'll be able to use/replace an elicenser/Vienna key. The lack of support in an event of PC or single failure is the issue, and I think a rational concern.
- there is also the notion that licenses can't be transferred after a certain time from Steinberg to iLok, which is a strong incentive (push?) To transition sooner than later.
- upgrades aren't necessary, sure, but if the primary benefit to customers is the iLok cloud, then actually upgrades are necessary, since every edition current VEP is not supported.
- the upgrades are necessary purely because if one needs reliable operation, they have to. We are being asked to pay for Veinna's inability to make the licenses compatible.
2) right I'm happy others are happy that they're getting what was a premium product, for free. For people like me it's of zero added benefit, and feels like a bit of wasted money. And I stand corrected, the I never upgraded the VEP pro player, so it's was "a little over $100", not "hundreds of dollars'".
3) what am I misunderstanding? From the Veinna Website:
"Please note that currently only Vienna MIR Pro that’s integrated with Vienna Ensemble Pro 7 can be authorized through iLok. The plug-in version of MIR (i.e., the one that you can instantiate directly in your DAW) is currently not iLok compatible and needs a ViennaKey/USB eLicenser plugged into the computer you’re using it on."
- correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears I was factual saying my MIR Pro doesn't work with iLok yet.
4) ok "so a year or so" is corrected to "a couple years or so". Not a major disparity in our semantics.
- judging by this release schedule then VEP 8 isn't too far away. Which means the $300 I spend to for the privilege of using iLok, will keep me current for a relatively short period. And I'll again be charged for an upgrade. You have better insight on that than I do, so if you can make my assumption more correct, please do.
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As an aside, when I bought the Vienna Suite which includes a VEP license, for €1,091 (somewhere around $1200 give or take), in Dec 2020 ie a little over a year ago, not only did it [b]not [/b]say ahead of time it was only a single license, Vienna never told me that owners of VEP7 wouldn't get a VEP 7 license included. This was all disclosed post taking payment. Not a word before hand.
So in addition to the disappointment back then, it is now relavant since having that license could save me $50. It was far less important to upgrade when VEP 5/6 was actively supported.
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So you can certainly see where this stuff is adding up to some disatisfaction. iLok/bro upgrade fees, No Mir Pro plugin, lack of full disclosure on a previous product omission from bundle. Unknown deadline to transfer my licences. Lack of known end of life for VEP "legacy" editions.
Ive got no doubt you've got some cool stuff in store, but at present it feels very "company centric" not customer centric.
I found your upgrade price from the older Veinna Special edition, to Synchronized Special edition very reasonable. And I upgraded even tho it was not necessary.
I think a similar ethos should be applied to VEP users. I think we are being asked to pay for something that should really be free, and certainly, if not free, at a discount rate that's much higher than the present one.
If a larger discount can't be given, then at least some vouchers towards future purchases could be inckuded.
There is nothing about this current state that feels like anything but customers getting taken advantage of. This all feels very "Avid-like' to me, and I know Veinna is better than that. At least they always were.
Thanks.
-Kyle