We’re still getting a lot of reports of copy-protection issues when installing music software with OS8 on the Mac; here is the latest from C.K. Haun, Apple’s MacOS 8 Tech Lead:
| "PACE Key Disk Copy Protection with OS 8: There are some applications (primarily high-end digital audio and MIDI applications) which rely on a Key Disk authorization scheme known as PACE. Essentially, PACE writes a code number to the hard drive which is then verified each time the application is launched. Most newer applications use the current PACE protocol referred to as "interlok" which installs flawlessly with Apple’s Mac OS 8 release. Some applications (Steinberg’s Cubase VST 3.5 and earlier, other older Steinberg PACE protected applications and Digidesign’s SoundDesigner 2.82 and earlier) use the older, pre-interlok PACE authorization protocol called PACE III. During the install of one of these specific applications, pre-interlok PACE III will perform an expansion of the application. This expansion currently conflicts with Mac OS 8, preventing the proper installation of pre-interlok PACE III applications over Mac OS 8. The good news is that it’s an expansion issue, not an authorize/deauthorize problem. If the user does a dirty install of Mac OS 8 where the PACE III protected application has already been installed, the upgrade will work fine and the user will gain all the benefits of Mac OS 8. A user could even deauthorize the PACE protected application, do a clean install of Mac OS 8 and then reauthorize the application and all would still be fine (assuming all appropriate extensions are manually moved from the previous system to the new Mac OS 8 system). Simply put, everything should work fine as long as the PACE III protected application is installed (expanded from it’s tome) before the Mac OS 8 install. Most applications that use the PACE key disk authorization protocol have upgraded to the new "interlok" version which works beautifully with fresh installs over Mac OS 8. We encourage you to contact the developer of your software to confirm that you have latest version. They will be able steer you through any small issues you might stumble across." |
Thanks C.K.! In addition to the applications mentioned above, Mark Of The Unicorn tells us that their Performer 5.5 release still uses the older PACE, while the new version of Digital Performer does not; it has the latest PACE version and installs fine under OS8.
W>e also have various reports from users that some of Opcode’s applications may still use the older PACE protection. inSync reader Andres tells us that, "I have been informed by Opcode that they will have a fix for Galaxy Editors + Librarian by the middle of September. I tried to un-install an earlier version of Galaxy installed previous to OS8 and could not remove it."
Obviously, the involved manufacturers are all working like crazy to resolve this issue. For now, follow the advice above (which is what inSync has been saying all along): If you’re upgrading to OS8 (and it is very cool) just be sure to install PACE protected music software BEFORE you do the OS install.