ilok?

[swivelingchair]

Can someone explain this device to me? If I have two separate programs that require an ilok will one work for both programs?

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by swivelingchair

Can someone explain this device to me? If I have two separate programs that require an ilok will one work for both programs?

It's pretty much a tool of Satan. The promise is that you can store your licenses on a dongle to avoid the hassle if you move software back and forth between machines a lot. The reality, however, is that if you lose the dongle or it gets stolen, you're basically out the total cost of all those software licenses.

If you spend an extra $30 a year, you can buy a "insurance policy" called ZDT. With that, the iLok folks will give you a two-week temp license to get you buy until you can buy a new license, but that's all that they guarantee. You get to negotiate with the individual manufacturers to maybe get a replacement. Now some companies who use iLok will give you a new license if that happens, but it is entirely at the company's discretion, and the biggest iLok abuser, Waves, will not.

Plus you now have an extra unnecessary device that represents a significant single point of failure. Anything goes wrong and now a whole truckload of software won't work.

My policy on these things is "just say no", and I encourage others to do the same. Just my $0.02. Unless you absolutely have to move your software back and forth between a bunch of different machines (and if so, why!?!), it just doesn't make sense.

[swivelingchair]

so if you only use software on one machine do you need an ilok?

[Massive Master]

Absolutely - The iLok contains your license to use the software.

[tnjazz]

Originally Posted by dgatwood

It's pretty much a tool of Satan.

This is true (although I do have one for my Waves plugins).

Originally Posted by dgatwood

My policy on these things is "just say no", and I encourage others to do the same. Just my $0.02.

What do you recommend in its place then? Free plugins will only get you so far...

[pohaku]

I avoid iLoks and use Hardware.

[SonicAlbert]

There are a lot of situations now where you can't avoid iLok, and where hardware is not an option. Think virtual samplers/instruments.

iLok is also very convenient if you use multiple computers. For example, I have my computer in my studio, but I also use some of my software on my laptop when I do live gigs. The iLok makes it easy to go from one machine to the next without having to deal with challenge/response or phone home copy protection schemes.

I don't use Waves plugins, but I have read that it is advisable to have an iLok dedicated to just Waves, and then have another iLok for your other stuff.

My setup is that I have two iLoks: one for the virtual instruments that I take on gigs with me, and one for fx plugins which I normally use only on my studio computer.

Finally to answer you last question, a single iLok will hold up to 100 licenses. So except in the waves scenario, you can use one iLok for multiple plugs.

[swivelingchair]

thanks to all for the help