Ableton Forum

I am considering buying Live 6 but before I depart with the cash I would like to know how does copy protection work exactly.

I have two computers (Mac and Windows ones) and, as I understand, buying Live allows me to install it in both computers.

Now if I upgrade my hardware or reinstall the OS I have to beg Ableton to grant me another license and that stays for the rest of my life (???). Besides I have to wait for an undetermined amount of time to receive the license (???)

What about running different OS on the same computer. Extra licenses also?


Is this right? I thought dongles were a hassle or NI's scheme was complicated but this beats them all in terms of absurdity.

At least the dongle allows you to use the program ocasionally on another computer, specially if you play Live you never know when you're going to be in trouble and may have to borrow someone else's computer. With Logic or Cubase you just install the soft and place the dongle, with NI you can use the software for 30 days before you get the new license codes... with Reason you just install it as many times you need on whatever computer and I don't think the fame and profitability of Propellerhead has suffered from this.

Please correct me if I'm wrong because I'd love to be.

trotz wrote:I have two computers (Mac and Windows ones) and, as I understand, buying Live allows me to install it in both computers.

correct.

Now if I upgrade my hardware or reinstall the OS I have to beg Ableton to grant me another license and that stays for the rest of my life (???). Besides I have to wait for an undetermined amount of time to receive the license (???)

What about running different OS on the same computer. Extra licenses also?

there doesn't seem to be 100% agreement on this one. AFAIK:
- you can unlock more than just twice. for how often exactly only the abes know.
- when reinstalling your os you _should_ be fine. especially when you backup your unlock file.
- when you change your hardware, yes, you might have to unlock again.
- don't know about different os on one computer. but as stated above, you have more than 2 unlocks.

At least the dongle allows you to use the program ocasionally on another computer, specially if you play Live you never know when you're going to be in trouble and may have to borrow someone else's computer. With Logic or Cubase you just install the soft and place the dongle, with NI you can use the software for 30 days before you get the new license codes... with Reason you just install it as many times you need on whatever computer and I don't think the fame and profitability of Propellerhead has suffered from this.

for live situations you can install the live demo on any computer. it has full functionality, you can open your sets and do your gig. only thing you can't do is save.

kronk wrote:there doesn't seem to be 100% agreement on this one. AFAIK:
- you can unlock more than just twice. for how often exactly only the abes know.
- when reinstalling your os you _should_ be fine. especially when you backup your unlock file.

That's great news. I read another thread about someone having to request additional reg files everytime he reinstalled the OS.

- when you change your hardware, yes, you might have to unlock again.

Not such a big problem, then. I hope not having to update the macpro that often. It is usually the PC that gets upgraded one or two times a year.

- don't know about different os on one computer. but as stated above, you have more than 2 unlocks.

Is anyone here working on apple computers with windows either by using bootcamp or parallels? I'd appreciate your comments very much.

for live situations you can install the live demo on any computer. it has full functionality, you can open your sets and do your gig. only thing you can't do is save.

Good idea. If midi controllers and such are already configured then it should be easy to save the night without much hassle.

Thanks for sharing your info.