Authorization Code

[sk8emerica6916]

can someone help me please i lost my authorization code for pro tools i wanted to know if someone could tell me theres or tell me some way to put itback on my comp wihtout the authorization code i have pro tools on a computer but the computers to slow so i am putting it on another comp so if someone could please tell me a way to get the code thanks

[lvjazzman]

Call Digidesign, If you are the legal registered owner they should be able to help.

[Justin]

Steve should be right. If you call Digidesign and have your registration info they should be able to help you reauthorize.

You may need the serial number off your interface. They're usually formatted as 2 letters, 5 numbers, and a revision number.

like: XY12345 rev 001

[sk8emerica6916]

i called digi design and they said i either need a reciept or the registration card i think i may have a reciept i have no clue where the card is. if ne one else would like to help or let me use ur authorization code that would be really cool so i can start recording again

[michaelhoddy]

let me use ur authorization code

That would be outside the terms of Digi's end license user agreement. In other words, shady at best, illegal at worst.

For the future, you should value ALL your registration materials (you ARE the legal licensee, right?) as much as the gear itself. Keep them all together, and in a safe place. These days, that's as much part of being a recording engineer as is pressing the "record" button.

I'm not trying to be a jerk about it, but I don't have a lot of sympathy for you. The same way I wouldn't if your gear got stolen, and I found out you'd left your studio unlocked when you left the night before. You just have to be on top of this stuff.

[lvjazzman]

If you never sent in the registration card, that is your problem... They have no record of you if it wasn't sent in. As far as someone sharing their authorization code... Good luck, since it would be illegal...

[chewyj]

It sounds like you people are supportive of Digi's end license user agreement. Am I the only one outraged by the whole digidesign/m-audio/pro tools "shady at best, illegal at worst" business relationship/practices? I already have a digital interface that I like very much, yet in order to purchase and use pro tools software I have to buy additional pieces of hardware that I don't want or need. That's not right.

[DAS]

1) This thread is over three years old...I don't remember what it was about.

2) Historically one of Digi's main reasons for only allowing their hardware to be used with their software is so they can maintain control over the whole widget. The thinking is that this greatly reduces the number of problems people have getting and keeping things working optimally, and from what we've seen of tech support on some products over the years I think this idea is valid (not that people don't have issues with Digi stuff too). It also allows them to do some specific types of hardware and software integration that wouldn't otherwise be possible (or would be much more difficult and costly to implement).

I won't try to speak to their economics...I suppose they could (in theory) raise the price of the software enough to cover lost revenues from hardware sales and (additionally) hire extra support folks to deal with the myriad of issues that no doubt would arise making it work with lots of different, sometimes unfamiliar hardware. These are things I imagine they look at from time to time. It may change one day, who knows.

[Smithcok]

Chewyj -

Do you feel the same way about Apple?

I'm actually on the opposite perspective (compared to you). I very much like the fact that the software and hardware are linked.
a) If things break, I have one place to go
b) Digidesign can actually (and does) test their hardware/software/computer/OS (etc) compatibilities
c) I know going in that things were specifically designed to work together

As an added bonus, Digidesign has seemed loyal to their customers (evidenced by the hardware exchanges, etc). Granted this point is probably the easiest to dispute, but the bonus of the hardware exchange still stands...

[chewyj]

Das,

Have you used a digital recording software program in conjunction with an interface made by a company that the software maker did not own or control? In my experience all I've had to do is change the ASIO driver and Clock source, then it works. I would think if the software is well designed, you wouldn't run into many problems on that front, but I don't know.

Smithcock, do you like apples? I use Apple products because I think they are well designed and reliable. I don't understand what point you are trying to make with your question. I assume it's something to do with apple software only working with apple products. No, I couldn't run OS X on a pc. ?

I'll bet you take your car to be repaired at the dealership. I did (when I had a car). I too like the idea of parts being specifically designed to work together. Logically, that makes sense to me. But, one of the most basic principles of consumerism is choice. If I know of a mechanic who I feel does good work and can make a repair for half the cost of the dealership, I have the option of deciding in what manner to proceed in having the repair made.

The truth of the matter is this: Pro Tools, arguably, is the best digital recording software program around (it's not the industry standard b/c it sucks). The company knows this, and has worked hard trying to figure out in what ways to maximize their profits. It's smart business. They seem to have developed a good system for deterring illegal usage. They have developed a loyal customer base due to good customer support and a first rate product. I simply just cannot get behind a company that so limits the way a consumer can use their product. Once you are all the way in their exclusive club, they will take good care of you, but until then, too bad. And the hardware exchange is a high incentive to keep you there. I just feel their business practices are unfair. I think that ignoring unfair and underhanded business practices, just b/c you are already in the club, will eventually come back to haunt you. Do you like having to bring your m-box along with you to the coffee shop or library to do some protools editing on your laptop? Are you going to pay $250 for the new Digidesign Mbox 2 Micro USB Audio Interface that will now allow you to do so without having to drag the m-box along? Do you feel the extra cost is justified because it has been tested and specifically designed to do what it has been specifically designed to do? Is spending that extra money worth it b/c you are buying peace of mind in knowing it's going to work b/c it has been tested and specifically designed to do so? Whew! What a relief.

I could just buy the Digidesign Mbox 2 Micro USB Audio Interface as my membership fee to join the club, but it comes with version 7 of Pro Tools, which has been designed not to work with any Mac operating system less than OS X 10.4 (which I don’t have). The more insular these products become, the more their makers limit your choices, dictating which products you can choose to buy in the future, theirs. The dog chases his tail around faster and faster until the dizziness causes him to pass out and die, penniless.


Blah, blah, blah. The sad reality is that due to collaboration on a present project, I have to have Pro Tools. I need the software, yet cannot purchase it singly. In order to obtain it, I have to make an additional one time purchase of a small plastic box, which although may be a good product in itself, I have no want or use for. Basically, I have a great car that I love and I want to put their badass engine in it so it will run better. But, I can't b/c their engine has been designed in such a way that I have to buy their whole car before I can take it out. Oh well, boo-hoo for me. I have no choice but to bite the bullet and pay the extra money. They got me and I’m not happy about it.

[5454stevef]

But, one of the most basic principles of consumerism is choice. If I know of a mechanic who I feel does good work and can make a repair for half the cost of the dealership, I have the option of deciding in what manner to proceed in having the repair made.

That's true, and if you know of a software product that works as well as PT, and you can get it and use it for half the cost, you also have the option of using it instead. So I don't see that analogy as being very helpful. If Digi held some kind of monopoly on native computer-based DAW software I think you'd have a pretty good argument, but I don't see it.

It's hard for me to characterize a company's business model as "shady and underhanded", unfair, etc. when the terms of use of their products are so well known in advance to anyone who buys them - there's no deception going on there. You say that choice is one of the basic principles of consumerism, but you don't seem willing to concede that a manufacturer has a right to make choices in how they do business. Their choice is to make the product in the manner they think is best, my choice is to buy it or not.

I've had three different LE systems and each of them has performed solidly - I guess you would say that means I've drunk the kool-aid, and I suppose I have. That doesn't necessarily mean I wouldn't like to have more choices of hardware, but I don't blame Digi for that, I can always switch to another product if it bugs me that much.

SF

[Smithcok]

^^For my Apple reference

Yes indeed I am a very satisfied apple user :banana:

I brought it up as an example of another company who's hardware and software are very closely tied. I feel like your point is not unlike being mad about buying OSX and not being able to put it on your windows box.

For the USB dongle MBox - Digidesign has said a few times that that piece was designed really mainly for people with HD rigs that needed to edit while on the road playing or just traveling in general.

Good discussion. I actually had a long discussion with some very adamently anti-Pro Tools people today, this is a good extension (not saying you are adamently anti-Pro Tools)

[DAS]

Das,

Have you used a digital recording software program in conjunction with an interface made by a company that the software maker did not own or control?


Yes I have, but that's not important. What I was saying above is that I have access to statistics relating to our tech support calls and I believe there is validity to Digi's perspective that controlling more of the widget helps. Other companies do this as well (Apple, for instance) and while there are certainly top line fiscal motivations for that control there are also (from what I know about it) cost reducing aspects of it as well. Plus (my other point was) it does provide a means for more direct hardware software integration, which can provide operational benefits to the user.




I just feel their business practices are unfair. I think that ignoring unfair and underhanded business practices, just b/c you are already in the club, will eventually come back to haunt you. Do you like having to bring your m-box along with you to the coffee shop or library to do some protools editing on your laptop? Are you going to pay $250 for the new Digidesign Mbox 2 Micro USB Audio Interface that will now allow you to do so without having to drag the m-box along? Do you feel the extra cost is justified because it has been tested and specifically designed to do what it has been specifically designed to do? Is spending that extra money worth it b/c you are buying peace of mind in knowing it's going to work b/c it has been tested and specifically designed to do so?

I'd have to think more about what I really think is "fair." I guess that's subjective. I just want a product that works well for me at a "fair" price. Thankfully, with dozens of great products on the market, I feel I have a pretty wide choice in the matter. One reason why Digi is in the leadership position you seem to recognize is that their products, historically, work. I don't mean this on a trivial level. I mean a pro organization can count on them as a money making tool that gets the job done under pressure. They could have had the best features in the world, but if it wasn't reliable they'd be out of business or one of the more minor players. People are regularly up on these and other boards pointing out shortcomings in their feature sets compared to other products, yet hardly ever is anyone saying it is unreliable, etc. And they are number one, as you have identified. I am telling you that a significant part of that is because over the years they have controlled the whole widget. Over the (mostly early) years they have also dabbled in their own line of hard drives, expansion chassis, etc. They didn't do things like that because they really wanted to be in the hard drive business. They did it to take more control over managing the customer experience with their product. Things change, and there may well come a day when they let go of the hardware aspect as well.

Keep in mind (I think this point has been made already) that Apple very much does the same thing. Many of our customers believe Logic is the best program, but they have to buy Apple hardware to run it. My favorite video editor is Final Cut Pro. I have to buy Apple hardware to run it. No difference there.




I could just buy the Digidesign Mbox 2 Micro USB Audio Interface as my membership fee to join the club, but it comes with version 7 of Pro Tools, which has been designed not to work with any Mac operating system less than OS X 10.4 (which I don’t have). The more insular these products become, the more their makers limit your choices, dictating which products you can choose to buy in the future, theirs. The dog chases his tail around faster and faster until the dizziness causes him to pass out and die, penniless.

Most of the companies apply various forms of pressure to update software. We have good relationships with many of them and they all complain about how hard it is to support multiple versions of multiple platforms. It is irritating sometimes, but I can't run their business. It's a business decision they have to make. I know that they know they lose some customers when they do this, but they all say they just have to move forward on this stuff.



The sad reality is that due to collaboration on a present project, I have to have Pro Tools. I need the software, yet cannot purchase it singly. In order to obtain it, I have to make an additional one time purchase of a small plastic box, which although may be a good product in itself, I have no want or use for. Basically, I have a great car that I love and I want to put their badass engine in it so it will run better. But, I can't b/c their engine has been designed in such a way that I have to buy their whole car before I can take it out. Oh well, boo-hoo for me. I have no choice but to bite the bullet and pay the extra money. They got me and I’m not happy about it.

"extra money" -- I can see how you would think that way, and it does seem like that in your case. But I really do think it's possible (just playing Devil's advocate here) that the software could cost as much or more to buy separately anyway. They would have higher support costs, would have to make up for lost revenue from potentially not selling as many of their higher end hardware boxes, potentially more cost in copy protection, and more cost in making up for lost revenues from cracks, etc. I don't have access to their balance sheet, but some of all of this would be bound to raise the cost of just the software somewhat. This has always been an issue for them, and that's one reason why they came out with the Micro in the first place. We (and probably many other dealers) asked them for a smaller dongle (than the previous MBox Mini) for our customers who wanted to be more portable and/or have less invested in Digi hardware. This is what they came up with. To call it an audio interface is arguably a slight stretch. Many users perceive it as a sort of dongle that's easy to take along to run the software.

I can see your perspective, but I don't agree that it's shady. It's simply a decision they've made in how they operate their business. And one that has proven to be very successful for them over the years. All of the other companies are welcome to write software that is so good that nobody has to buy Digi. In the end the chips fall where they fall. I would respectfully say you just need to get over it. If you don't like it then don't support them anymore than you have to. They are smart people. If it hurts the bottom line they'll change it. Let the chips fall... I can see a time in the future where they may just charge more for the software and not have it tied to hardware. We'll see. Tell them what you think. You'd be surprised how much they listen to and care about what their customers think and want.

[5454stevef]

But I really do think it's possible (just playing Devil's advocate here) that the software could cost as much or more to buy separately anyway.

I think that's pretty likely. Compare the retail price of M-Powered, which is just disks in a box ($250 +/-) with that of LE with a MBox2 Mini ($300 +/-).
Fifty bucks doesn't seem like much of a difference when you compare the two. An M-Audio interface costs a minimum of $100 so there you are at $350with an interface like a FastTrack that isn't nearly as nice as the Mini.

This is an interesting and potentially inflammatory topic; nice to see people can disagree without being disagreeable.

SF

[Tarktones]

Wow, I'm really late chiming in on this oddly revived thread.

However I think a lot of really good points have been made here in the case for Digi. Chewyj, sorry I understand that you want digi's software with your own hardware, but I think DAS and Smithcok have brought up quite a number of good points.

There are those of us who would rather have personal control over each piece of the puzzle because we know exactly what we want and how to get it. But from a business perspective, and I'm not talking about Digi's, I'm talking about YOURS. I don't know about you, but when I'm recording clients, if something goes wrong they don't want to hear my sob stories about how this company pointed the finger at this other company and their support pointed me to someplace else who told me it was a problem with the first place I called and insert 20 minutes of holding for each of these phone calls.

You end up looking like a jackass, your clients get pissed about wasting time and money, and you can expect them NOT to throw more business your way. Artists and clients want the most reliable and efficient engineers they can get. And while you can control your skill level you are at the mercy of OEM's when it comes to being reliable.

I am a fan of Apple. I am also a fan of Digi. While I don't like some of the limitations they have on their LE software (and when they add ADC I will be free of gripes), I still think it's the best out there. As someone who works technical support for a terrible octopus of a corporation, I understand how difficult it is to get things fixed when it's NOT under one roof. As cool as custom built PC's are, if something breaks you're in a world of hurt. Imagine if your business hinged on that?

While I'd venture to guess that the majority of LE users aren't necessarily running a business, even to a direct consumer having 1 company to deal with their problems is a big relief.

Anything from the 002 and 003 series has ADAT i/o so you can hook up whatever preamps/converters you want to. And while Digi's LE gear isn't on par with Apogee, it's still pretty good. I'm just running an Mbox Mini for Pro Tools at the moment and I have zero complaints about it. It does everything I need it to do and does it well.

Also, I think you forgot to mention the evil of killer plugins that are RTAS-only. I really wish Steve Massey could clone himself so he'd have the time to write AU versions of Tape Head and the L2007.