another ethical issue

[cstockdale]

Now, I have just read the thread regarding putting XP on two machines at home, adn this got me thinking about a potential conundrum that is about to come up for me.

I have a desktop p4 1.6 GHz machine at home in my office/studio that is my DAW. On it I have Sonar 2.2XL, Reason 1.0, and numerous plugins. I primarily play guitar, but have certainly begun dabbling in keys/sampling/drum programming to a great degree. Currently we (my songwriting partner and I) jam in my studio, so there is no issue. However, we are about to link forces with a real drummer, and we can't jam at home anymore, plus are starting to plan gigging. When I do these things, I want to have stuff I have recorded (extra guitar tracks, synth sweeps, backing vox, drum loops) as an extra component. I can either move my desktop machine around with me (which we all know is a serious pain in the ass), or buy a laptop.

If I buy a laptop, what are the ethics involved with putting SONAR/Reason etc that I already have purchased and own the licences to on the laptop as well? I wouldn't be using the two machines at once, and I probably would attach an external hard drive to it so that I wouldn't have to copy the project files etc. between machines all the time....or is that the solution, to put all the software on a HD that I can move between machines?

Basically, I can't even begin to think of affording two copies of Sonar and Reason.

Anyone else do this?

 

[Jagular]

Hehe....I'm glad my thread got people thinking

I could justify this in my mind. Especially considering both machines will not be used simultaneously. In theory you could keep installing & uninstalling on the two different computers and be perfectly legal (I think). Your method just saves some steps in between. I assume though, by the letter of the law, it shouldn't be done, but I don't see this breaking the "spirit" of the law.

I differentiate your situation from mine (Windows XP) in that there is a distinct possibility that both machines could be used simultaneously and for two distinct funtionalities. I think I would be breaking the "spirit" of the law if I installe XP on both.

Well that's my $.02 anyway

 

[tf5_bassist]

From all the legal mumbo jumbo i've been taught on the issue (various computer networking/tech classes etc etc etc), it's technically legal to have as many installs as you want on as many machines as you want, provided that none will be used simultaneously. So yes, you can have a copy of Sonar at your studio, and one on a laptop. You're still using your legally purchased and allotted install, just on multiple machines. Nowhere in the EULAs does it say that you're limited by machines, except on some weird cases, like some radio broadcast software i've noticed (Jazler2 is one).

 

[Polaris20]

I was told by both Sonic Foundry and Cakewalk that in the issue of the laptop/desktop thing, it was ok to install on separate machines.

That may vary from company to company though.

 

[memriloc]

What the hell???...

Personally I don't think you have an issue at all...The way I look at it is, you bought it, you own it, there're both your computers so you have every right to install on both....

 

[fprod south]

Personally I don't think you have an issue at all...The way I look at it is, you bought it, you own it, there're both your computers so you have every right to install on both....

Actually, we don't buy software, we license it. I hope someday the courts rule that everyday consumers should only be expected to "buy" everyday things (like off the shelf software) rather than have to enter into licensing agreements. But I'm not keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[MiXit-G]

Re: What the hell???...

Personally I don't think you have an issue at all...The way I look at it is, you bought it, you own it, there're both your computers so you have every right to install on both....

Damn right!

 

[Track Rat]

Kind of neither here nor there but if I understand you, you want to use recorded tracks to sweeten live performance. I played in a band for years that did this. Originally with a sequencer but that proved too unreliable (as I'd imagine a computer could be too). We ended up using a mini disc recorder/player. I'd make our prerecorded tracks at home in the studio, transfer it to the left track of the mini disc (it was mono but what the fuck, we were playing live in a bar), the click track for the drummer to the right track. It worked out perfectly I made a disc for each set (one set= 45 minutes basicly so a set with alternate tunes easily fit on a 74 minute mini disc), the player gave a visual display on the name of tune you had que'd and most of all, it was VERY stable and never went tits up in the middle of a song, something I can't say about the sequencer.