So I just tried to install and check out Gullfoss (Dynamic EQ Plugin) that requires an iLok account. I forgot my ilok password and user name as I haven't used it for years (since hollywood orchestra days). I requested to reset and recover the password and user name. They sent me an email with a link to click as per the usual procedure. 

First, no matter what password I typed in, I would get a strange 'Capture Invalid' come up. I triple checked I had followed all their requirements for a safe password.

Second, I tried to create a support ticket which led me to a page where, you guessed it, I had to sign in to my iLok account, which is going to be hard considering I don't know my user name or password.

Third, I thought I would return via the email link to the original page to have another shot at resetting and recovering my password. The link was now dead. It would just give me a blank screen.

Moral of the story:  If VSL are going to migrate over to this company and expect thousands of users to deal with iLok, I would suggest someone at VSL tell them to get their iLok'n act together.

Hi JBuck, 

I just tried the same and didn't have any troubles. 
We will keep an eye on these procedures, and I hope that you situation was just a glitch. 

Thanks for letting us know, you are absolutely right that these basics have to work reliably. 

Best,
Paul 

@beatpete said:

Paul:

I'd just like to re-iterate how useful it would be to have a third option to have iLok locally on each computer therefore not requiring a dongle OR an internet connection.

Looks like a good option, three iLock dongles in my case is a lot of money, and there will be situations that somebody doesn't want to be dependant on a good working internet connection to work with the VSL products.

Does this all mean that I can have my VSL licences stored on an iLok dongle and the iLok server so if anything happens to my iLok dongle I can use the cloud instead?.

This is why machine activation would be great for the users of VSL products. Then we can just deactivate the licences on the machine that was damaged/stolen and reactivate the licences on our new machine. Done.

Very safe for VSL and users. 😃

Why not?

Hi JBuck, 

There will be no machine activations available with our products. 

All other possibilities that come with iLOk (Zero Downtime, Theft & Loss Coverage) will be available for all users. 

Best, 
Paul

1) If I choose to use the iLok cloud service for my VSL licences, will I need to first deactivate all licences on my eLicencer dongle. If not, what is to stop someone using both at the same time?.

2) Is there a quick way to transfer multiple licences from dongle to cloud and vice versa in the iLok licence manager?. AFAIK I must drag each licence to my account one by one. For someone with over 20 VSL licences this seems very tedious.

If I choose to use the iLok dongle and it becomes damaged, will I be able to immediately transfer my licences from my damaged dongle to cloud via the iLok licence manager and continue using my VSL products?.

Hi JBuck,

@JBuck said:

1) If I choose to use the iLok cloud service for my VSL licences, will I need to first deactivate all licences on my eLicencer dongle. If not, what is to stop someone using both at the same time?.

2) Is there a quick way to transfer multiple licences from dongle to cloud and vice versa in the iLok licence manager?. AFAIK I must drag each licence to my account one by one. For someone with over 20 VSL licences this seems very tedious.

If I choose to use the iLok dongle and it becomes damaged, will I be able to immediately transfer my licences from my damaged dongle to cloud via the iLok licence manager and continue using my VSL products?.

1) You don't have to decativate your eLicenser licenses. You CAN use both at the same time. Great, right?

2) I'm afraid I don't know of a bulk-transfer, but I also hope that this is something that will be added by iLok. 

3) If your dongle is damaged in a way that does not let you access the licenses, you cannot transfer any licenses from it to the cloud. Here is an overview of the possibilities with iLok. That's why iLok offers Zero Downtime. And this is the link to the iLok FAQs regarding broken, lost or stolen iLoks. 

Have a great sunday!

Paul

@beatpete said:

Paul:

I'd just like to re-iterate how useful it would be to have a third option to have iLok locally on each computer therefore not requiring a dongle OR an internet connection.

Quite a few composers I'm in touch with state the dongle/cloud (or, to put it another way, lack of machine activation) is the only thing preventing them from purchasing VSL products.  It's anecdotal, but I see that sentiment echoed throughout various forums as well.  I suppose it comes down to a cost/benefit analysis...

Hi JBuck,

Regarding Bulk-Transfer: You can select multiple licenses in the iLok license Manager and transfer them at once (Ctr-A / Cmd-A to select all, ctr+click to select multiple, click+shift-click to select a range; drag-and drop to new location)

Best, Ben

Given that eLicenser is gone anyway sooner or later, I think the change to iLok is a good move. Cloud will bring new customers who have for years asked that from different vendors.

However, there's one thing I don't see specified anywhere, not even in iLok site. Cloud requires constant internet connection and if it is lost, after few minutes there's supposed to be a nag about it. I'm wondering how often Cloud will check the connection? I'm interested in this because my net connection slows down and fails often, like every 30 minutes or more and can be down for a few minutes at any given time. Obviously this will be a problem if the connection is checked, say, every few seconds and I can't do anything in the meanwhile.

Does anybody have actual experience about this?

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

I really like VSL as a company BUT this whole machine licencing thing is sort of baffling to me. I understand that there is not going to be machine licencing. But I would like to know WHY there isn't going to be machine licencing. I personally, was under the impression that machine licencing was as secure as cloud/dongle licencing no?.

Hi JBuck, 

Machine licensing by no means offers the same level of security as the cloud and key. 

Best, 
Paul

iLok gives us expiring licences (TLC) that we must renew every 90 days. But they only offer this service if you are subscribed to ZDT for $30 USD a year.

They could give us TLC for free. It requires zero personnel and costs them nothing. Nice one iLok!

@JBuck said:

iLok gives us expiring licences (TLC) that we must renew every 90 days. But they only offer this service if you are subscribed to ZDT for $30 USD a year.

They could give us TLC for free. It requires zero personnel and costs them nothing. Nice one iLok!

That $30 US per year is the cheapest insurance you can ever buy for music related stuff. I wouldn't be without it. Or a second iLok. I have two iLoks and separate ZDT (zero downtime) on each one.

@Paul said:

Hello LPA, 

There is currently no way to use our products without a physical key, but that will change with the transition to iLok and the iLok cloud. 

Best, 
Paul

Any idea when the transition will happen?

'Insurance' suggests that the licences will be replaced. This is not insurance. iLok requires that we submit an RMA request that will cost $49.95 USD plus shipping, outside of the 2 year warranty. Then they assess the broken iLok to determine whether the licences can be recovered and if not, we need to then contact VSL and tell them. If our iLok is lost/stolen then just skip straight to the last step. That's when VSL tell us that we need to pay 50% of the original price of the licences.

What we get for $30 USD is temporary 2 week licences while we freak out about having to pay VSL thousands of euros AGAIN. 

So the real insurance is the TLC which is just licences that expire every 90 days. which would still potentially leave us without the ability to use our products for 75 days. And why should that cost us $30 USD a year?.

@JBuck said:

'Insurance' suggests that the licences will be replaced. This is not insurance. iLok requires that we submit an RMA request that will cost $49.95 USD plus shipping, outside of the 2 year warranty. Then they assess the broken iLok to determine whether the licences can be recovered and if not, we need to then contact VSL and tell them. If our iLok is lost/stolen then just skip straight to the last step. That's when VSL tell us that we need to pay 50% of the original price of the licences.

What we get for $30 USD is temporary 2 week licences while we freak out about having to pay VSL thousands of euros AGAIN. 

So the real insurance is the TLC which is just licences that expire every 90 days. which would still potentially leave us without the ability to use our products for 75 days. And why should that cost us $30 USD a year?.

ZDT is just that - you can immediately get back to work while waiting for your RMA to be processed. To me that's worth the $30/year.

@Another User said:

So the real insurance is the TLC which is just licences that expire every 90 days. which would still potentially leave us without the ability to use our products for 75 days. And why should that cost us $30 USD a year?.

I'm not sure where you're getting the "unable to use products for 75 days" part?  As far as I can see, all one has to do is hit the "Refresh" button within a 90 day period.  Once refreshed, the 90 day period resets.  Kind of like an oil change.  Or am I missing something?

Paul, Ben, or any other VSL rep:

To prevent confusion and/or panic, can you please clarify the following:

1. According to the iLok website, having ZDT enabled allows us temporary licenses, regardless of whether or not the dongle is broken or lost/stolen.  So far, so good.  Having TLC enabled, according to their website, means that PACE is then authorized by the publisher of the licenses to replace the broken/lost/stolen licenses permanently, with no charge (other than the RMA fees and whatnot) to a spare or replacement iLok without needing to contact the publisher (in this case, you.)  Is this a correct assessment?  Or, to put it another way, if we have ZDT and TLC enabled, are we guaranteed to be able to permanently replace any and all VSL licenses in the event of breakage, loss, or theft?
2. Is there any foreseeable situation in which we, as JBuck put it, will have to pay 50% for our VSL replacement licenses?  If so, why?  And, how do we avoid that?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

- Sam

@Seventh Sam said:

I'm not sure where you're getting the "unable to use products for 75 days" part?

If you refresh your licences on the 1st of Nov, you lose your dongle on the 2nd Nov, ZDT licences are issued on 3rd Nov which last until the 17th Nov. For the 90 days to lapse until the licences on the lost/stolen dongle are void and thus can be activated on your new dongle, you will have to wait until at least 1st of February. 

Hello gentlemen,

It is all very clear on iLoks information pages, and there's nothing I can add to their description.
You can also check out the iLok support page with a lot of FAQs.

When using an iLok key, ZDT and TLC on an iLok 3 is the best combination to keep the licenses on your iLok safe and definitely worth the investment.
Moving your licenses to the cloud when you are traveling (or not working) is another option.
Using the cloud without the key is another option.

We have not published any numbers regarding the cost of replacement licenses on a lost/stolen iLok key yet.
With eLicenser, the cost was 50% of the full price of the replacement license.
It is easy to prevent these costs if you are a "mobile musician" and in danger of losing the key, with the Vienna Protection Plan that is still available at this point.

Best,
Paul