CSistine

This is exactly the point! I have a couple of plugins nowadays that I cannot use anymore, because of auth changes (i.e. they cannot be used offline anymore)! Sure, I could for each provider dismount my pc in the recording room and carry it to the house, do the authorization(s) and then reinstall the pc in my recording room! What a hassle! Also all these "inhouse" authorizations are a real pain, if you exchange a system, because first you have to find out: Is it necessary to unauthorize the old system, can it be done, how? How many authorization seats are available (very difficult to find out for most providers) Does the new authorization require iterative activation, what is the period? Is offline authorization supported (also for new versions)? How does it work? Is permanent internet access required? How are upgrades handled? What hardware changes impact the authorizations? And the worst is that if you ask for something like this, several providers give you only a cheeky answer or no answer at all! (SynchroArts, Slate, Nugen, Antares, ...)

Today I got an email saying that my Synchroarts product activation has to be changed for future use (former iLok to online)! Is this legal? I bought the product because it was iLok authorization! Regrettably, of late I bought an upgrade in the prospect that my iLok license gets upgraded! Then I found out that new versions are no more iLok. Asking the support how I can change the upgrade to iLok authorization I simply got no answer! What a sh.. company! I will never more make business with them and I recommend anyone to stay away from such companies! In general I've noticed several activation changes with different brands in the last few years. The major problem is that the companies don't give transparent information what is valid! What kind of authorization, how many seats, is offline available, if there are different auths - which products does it apply to! On the internet you find a lot of old information and if the plugin producer does not have open information, where should you get it? Many vendors protect their products with such methods from pirates, they say, but they themselves pirate the consumers IMHO! Shouldn't it be vice versa?

More and more I get cured by price increase and "technical evolution". Installation, authorization and updates get worse and worse, take more time than making music (it's especially true if you sync some systems)! What a world! Luckily there are some exceptions, but the list of plugin providers that are on my black list has increased dramatically in the last 2 years!

... if you're online! (NOTE: It rhymes!)

A new plugin manager: They scare me to death! 😄 Frankly, if they do not reinstall the full offline possibility, then I will stay forever on the old version (and will not buy any Melda plugins anymore)!

It's the new trend coming from universities (younger developers): Reinvent the wheel! Or the Tower of Babel ...! Sadly a couple of plugin developers went on this route lately!

The only thing that worries me is the login-authorization on new products! Meh! Though I like the old products with iLok authorization, I don't know whether the changes also change the authorization (regrettably happened with several providers)!

IMHO there are some interesting deals! But regrettably almost all of them on plugins/libraries that I already own! ? I was interested in "The Ronroco", but then I had seen the "The Ronroco and Charango" bundle on APD that is definitely the better deal!

Lately I have the impression that PA (bx) makes a redo of all its plugins with this new kind of look without any fundamental changes. The only difference is the gui and the fact that the plugins use more resources! And they expect me to pay for it! Meh!

I hope that's not the future on this forum: BanLab!

I have all of them and like them! By the way SDRR was my first purchase! And for those that don't know: Klanghelm plugins do not have authorization hassles, you won't have trouble when you exchange your computer (as long as the plugins are supported on your operating system)!

And I doubt that the users will ever be compensated for the trouble they had to handle the issues with a 2nd format! ? Another flash of wit: The new idea with this silly VST3 subfolder, do you think it will improve plugin scanning? It's really another stupid, sophisticated flop that makes scanning slower! The more folders the more slower, it's quite simple! That's why I also hate plugins that need/install a folder full of other stuff in the same folder as the plugin itself! That maybe okay if you just have 30 plugins, but who has that few? ?

But nowadays projects load slower and slower, because the number of plugins that do automatic version check (internet access) is rising! What a stupid world!

Sorry, but I am "somebody" that ... ? I just wonder why you don't ditch Apple, 'cos actually, they are the root of the problem IMHO! All the time they turn everything upside-down and expect that the whole world adjusts to them! Not to mention that we Windows users paid billions for Mac-ification updates!

No, that's the Apple way! ?

I agree, this is an interesting one and if I would not have to pay additional taxes (as you?) or had a voucher I probably picked this one! Though as you, I have too many optical compressors already! Also, I have to admit that I already own quite a lot of PA stuff. And I don't like some of the newer ones (some are quite cpu hungrig). If I look at their plugin updates though, as a Windows user I am really disappointed! The last 4 years they almost only worked for MacApple! Not that I am one of those that claim constant updates, no, I am happy if a plugin works as it should, but some of their older ones could gain with a larger UI (or resizing) and some need efficiency improvement! These are my 2 cents!

Currently they don't have any plugin that I would pay $37.50 (inc tax) for!

Frankly, usually I purchased at low prices and with vouchers from PA, but it was only some kind of deal picking, I didn't really need those plugins! I wouldn't have more than 100 of their plugins, if the prices were/are above $30 (inc 25% VAT). In the case of above $30 prices maybe I would have purchased only 5 ones. So in the end it's been a big business for PA anyway, because 100 * $18 (my average) is much more than 5 * $100!

Really, you like it? I prefer more traditional reverbs like Lexicon, Exponential Audio, ... But YMMV! Also Neoverb is quite a cpu hug compared to other reverbs!

I think conversely, i.e. they let a younger, amateurish person do the newest changes! No joking aside! Frankly I see that the usage of almost all newer framework libraries causes too much inefficiency! Sadly this development has begun long ago and it consumes more power than the hardware improvements deliver! And yes, ToneBoosters are still on top regarding efficiency, even their newest plugin versions! Also Tokyo Dawn Labs, Melda, eaReckon, TBProAudio are on top of my efficiency list. It is interesting that these are all providers with user-friendly authorization, by chance? I've tested the new version and I have to admit that the increase of the consumption is not that much (about +50%). Compared to other providers it is still the most efficient EQ plugin (of my list) in respect to LP/HP.

Yesterday I was doing a comparison on LP/HP cpu usage with all of my EQs and Strips (at least the ones I use). The absolute winner was the British NEQ-1972! I fear with the new version that's not longer true! By the way the worst was PAs bx_cleansweep (I was surprised)!

One important thing keeps me away from diving deeper into IK's eco system: They don't support offline activation no longer! I had several issues in the past. The cheeky answers of their support said that it does not work for "current" products, although a) those were older products and b) the description for offline activation is still present on their site! Together with other issues (installation, authorization) I think, regrettably this company cannot be recommened! ?

Yes, I like X3 authorization! I am not a criminal (and not a Berliner ?), so for me an X3 license type is adequate!

For only $9 a month BandLab can subscribe me as loyal customer! Or for only $100 a year! ?

This has been ever true! So you have to do the batch resave always with the oldest version that you will that works! In your case do it with K5, then it works in K5-K7 without issues.