All user reviews of 1/5 for the PACE Anti-Piracy Inc. iLok

The iLok dongle system is too unpredictable and therefore not reliable for live performance. I recently went thru terrible stress when, on a major production in New Zealand, the licenses of my iLok 2 weren't recognised anymore and moreover I couldn't open Logic X files using Sonnox plugins (at least to replace them with iZotope equivalents or else). I noticed that the plugins that can be transferred to my HD (GRM Tools, Flux, etc…) never failed whereas the Sonnox which cannot be transferred and requires the use of the physical iLok fail from time to time (and require internet connection to work again…). During a studio session you might spend a couple of hours to fix the problem but forget about it in live show/performance or in a place without internet connection.

I’ve read here and there advices about getting cracked versions of my plugins. What a ridiculous situation: I would have to use cracked versions of plugins for which I paid and own the license… How can the software industry let such thing happen? It is like they are paradoxically rewarding theft…

On the other hand, I never had problems with any challenge/response protection in over 20 years (Native Instruments, Ableton Live, iZotope, etc, etc…). So handy not having to plug a dongle when travelling a lot with a laptop (working in cars, trains, flights…) plus the risk of forgetting to take the dongle with me.

I wrote a letter to iLok and Sonnox support letting them know in details my awful experience and asking them to allow for HD transferable licenses for any plugins I paid for and for which I need a professional grade reliability (especially the Sonnox in my case): they didn’t get back to me as of today. In the meantime, I’ll stop using the plugins “locked" on the iLok for any professional work…

Be warned.

I use it since I can not do otherwise: far too long.

What I like most: it's nice, it blinks green, it's too good.
What I like least: the principle of the dongle in general.

It is "a priori" very practical: a scalable dongle that manages all licenses. Seen as it is happiness. But with a little time we realize the main disadvantages:

- Obligation to leave it permanently on the computer or no software.
- $ 25 per license transferred plugins for free but subject to license it does not laugh for long.
- If you lose (uncommon) you're going to bite the fingers and anything over.

In the category of "non-choice" is pretty awful. Attractive in appearance, the principle is at the limit of fliquage.

As this stuff is compulsory and optional Digidesign, I put the maximum in the wrong direction: absolute zero. (Yes, it takes a cold)

Such as the opinions below ...
well, it's tedious to install, but required to access some plugs: the plug fortunately that motivated the purchase of this stuff done quickly forget its uselessness ...

short a wonderful invention for pumping in under the guise of piracy and all that stuff ... knowing that I tested the version of software that I bought with a version found by chance on the net ... (I said I have all my licenses without exception, history ...)

flight ... 45 euros for nothing ... I do not understand the clubs who are willing to go through this stuff to distribute their plugs, it's actually a big barrier to the purchase ... it should simply be offered with buying a license first soft, then it would be logical and honest ...

I will receive the iLok next week ...... I bought silver orchestra play, but I doubt it was the key to use it because the free play of orchestra did not require a software ilok installed on the PC. So I told myself that this would be the same for the silver ...... I am wary of when there were written "iLok required.
I had to work arrangements for emergency travel is missed .... I'm angry eastwest cons and I say clearly, they do not change their policy, I prefer to have their software without paying for them .. ..... 50 euros for protection is the flight manifest (some have found the key to 30 not me). they stop their paranoia among eastwest and we hear about this shit ..... company! increasingly the key did not prevent piracy and everybody knows it. without this extra cost, I'm sure fewer people would be reluctant to buy software rather than steal them but hey ...... it was my little rant

So I do not know what sounds like the silver ...... and if ever the key to cram and I find myself without a license, I say plainly I crack the protection.