Ableton Forum

Ok this is maybe a bit off, but I think it's important that developers don't fuck up their users.
Like Spectrasonics has done to me.

I have bought both Trillian and Stylus RMX second hand. Spectrasonics do not allow this.
The seller has to pay a fee to Spectrasonics for the products to work. That's ok I guess,
but a good comparison would be that you couldn't buy a used Toyota without paying thousands of dollars
for re-regestering (compared on percentage of sales price).

What is NOT ok is that Spectrasonics refuses to do this after the deal has taken place!
I even remember sending Spectrasonics an email about this, and a question about getting a discount
if I bought a bundle with Omnisphere, Trillian and RMX. I never got an answer, so I bought second-hand.

Now the plugins wont work. A company who treats users of their programs like shis is not for me -
they would rather that I get their plugins as cracked-versions...!

V

Hard to bitch about a mfr who doesn't want to support second-hand software. It's pretty common and not just with music software. Actually mfrs are doing you a favor providing support for used products since they don't see a penny from the sale.

It's not just software these days, this summer I bought a second-hand Virus and the seller had to contact Access before I could access any of the online support pages...no access to OS updates and other downloads or even the user forums!

vido wrote:What is NOT ok is that Spectrasonics refuses to do this after the deal has taken place!

I'm sure this is to prevent piracy. How do they know you actually bought the software unless the seller tells them so?

Bummer that you're in this situation, but the information is already on thier website, took me only a couple seconds to find it:

http://support.spectrasonics.net/viewtopic.php?t=200

Can I resell Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments used to someone else?
Not without obtaining a license transfer from Spectrasonics. The sounds and software are licensed and registered ONLY to you. You cannot automatically transfer the license to someone else, and therefore you cannot simply sell it used. If you do attempt to sell it used without obtaining a license transfer, the buyer will not be able to use the product because it is registered and licensed to you. The Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments license is the right given to a single person to use the instrument. When you purchase the product, you are primarily purchasing the lifetime right to use the product and the sounds it contains in your own music projects. Also, if you sell any of your computers that have any Spectrasonics instruments installed on them, you are required to delete them first from the hard drive.

Does Spectrasonics allow license transfers?
The vast majority of sample libraries and sample-based virtual instruments on the market do not allow license transfers of any kind. However, at Spectrasonics we realize that there are certain circumstances where it can be a legitimate transaction. Because circumstances can vary so much, we only grant license transfers on a case-by-case basis. License transfers will be considered only one time and only for the original owner.

How would I obtain a license transfer and how much does it cost?
Depending on the circumstances, when a license transfer is granted, there is usually a transfer fee of $50 involved that pays for the transfer of all the rights from the seller to the buyer which include:

• The right to use the core library samples in new musical recordings
• The right to receive full tech support
• Continuing free maintenance support update privileges
• Issuing a new serial number and account, etc.

Can't you contact the seller and offer to pay the $50 if they initiate the transfer process? Sure beats not having access to the software at all.

Tarekith wrote:Can't you contact the seller and offer to pay the $50 if they initiate the transfer process? Sure beats not having access to the software at all.

+1

Sorry man, I didn't realize I was already logged in and that info was only available to registered users.

The most fucked up thing about this is that Trilian was brand NEW - never used and never registred, the seller had won it on NAMM. RMX was used and I bought it from another seller. Trilian is registred on me, with my own account-details and all.

But what does Spectrasonics do? They deactivate both RMX AND Trilian. And they wont answer support-related questions: which is somewhat understandable for RMX, but NOT for Trilian!

It's what I call a signature for bankruptcy for Spectrasonics is this is how they treat customers in general.

Information about license policies is available in great detail to anyone who visits the Spectrasonics web site:
http://www.spectrasonics.net/instrument ... re_faq.php

There is no need to log in as a registered user.

Glennn wrote:Information about license policies is available in great detail to anyone who visits the Spectrasonics web site:
http://www.spectrasonics.net/instrument ... re_faq.php

There is no need to log in as a registered user.

That list of ELUA requirements, draconian!

I almost bought Stylus RMX used a couple times, glad I didn't now.

I hope you get an apology for having Trilian de-activated. That's bullshitty.

As for Stylus RMX, sorry you got swindled by the seller. Sellers have to get approval first before selling and pay the fee. Then they can sell it. Sounds like the seller did not do that. You always have to make sure that the seller has approval to transfer the product and if you can't find information about the software company's transfer policy, get an answer from them first. But I know it can be frustrating as a buyer. And spectrasonics are quite slow to transfer licenses too so it doesn't help matters.

But yeah, Trilian being de-activated sounds like a raw deal. Maybe it's worth calling them up. Glennn who just just replied works for them I believe, maybe now that he's seen the thread he'll look into it. Strange he didn't have any comment about Trilian, but maybe he's checking it out, who knows.

I have to generally disagree with the thread title though. Spectrasonics aren't a bad company, they just aren't very good with transfers, which they've admitted is a fault.

Glennn wrote:Information about license policies is available in great detail to anyone who visits the Spectrasonics web site:
http://www.spectrasonics.net/instrument ... re_faq.php

There is no need to log in as a registered user.

Glenn who works in Spectrasonics, should spesificly be made aware that I never bought Omnisphere, only Trilian and then Stylus RMX.
Here is a quote on what Spectrasonics has written about used licenses for Trilian under Trilian-FAQ:

"Can I upgrade if I bought a used copy of Trilogy? Only if that copy of Trilogy has been properly license transferred through Spectrasonics."

My understanding of this is that you can buy software used, use it, but not upgrade to the next version without transferring the license through Spectrasonics.
NOTHING else is written about used licenses under the FAQ for Trilian on Spectrasonics pages. The link Glenn referred to is for Omnisphere - not Trilian.

I too am in the same postion, i just bought stylus rmx from an ebay user and can't use the product until the seller transfers the license. I've been in contact with spectrosonics who have helped in someway as to what needs to happen to get a new license but now its a cat and mouse game with the seller who hasn't replied to my messages in over 2 days. I understand they have a policy to maintain and deter would be pirates, its just a shame it takes so long to resolve

chivers wrote:I too am in the same postion, i just bought stylus rmx from an ebay user and can't use the product until the seller transfers the license. I've been in contact with spectrosonics who have helped in someway as to what needs to happen to get a new license but now its a cat and mouse game with the seller who hasn't replied to my messages in over 2 days. I understand they have a policy to maintain and deter would be pirates, its just a shame it takes so long to resolve

If the seller doesn't respond, you could open a dispute with eBay citing that the item does not work as described, or on the grounds that the seller did not specify that a license transfer was required in order for the product to work.

I've had similar experiences with this company in the past, including the fact that they just don't respond to emails from their paying customers. Big +1 to not buying anything from these people. It's really too bad because their products are pretty slick when they work!

Well this is the reason a lot of people just say "screw it" and install a cracked version of something. You won't have to risk deactivation. I'm not advocating anyone doing that but there are a few instances I can think of where using a cracked version of something would have eliminated the annoying "nanny" aspect of certain types of software (i.e., Waves).

I do not understand the logic behind restricting third party sales. Makes no sense at all. The person who made the analogy of selling a used car is correct. It's really stingy behavior IMO.

I don't have any experience with Spectrasonics products - although I was looking to buy a copy of Omnisphere for myself - but this kind of thing scares me, especially with an investment that large ($479 US).

Someone here should send their marketing department a link to this thread.