Why is there a 4 computer limit on software install...

...when the hardware already functions as a dongle? This seems extremely pointless. Is this an effort to protect future paid software version updates or something? Either way, this is yet another reason the software should function without the hardware.

exactly! nukai should definitely go the NI route!

I often wonder if any thought goes into these type of things, it seems like they hear one company does it, so they must do it as well, without actually having any good reason to do it.

As we've mentioned before, the MPC license itself only allows for a single transfer - so once you sell your Ren, your buyer theoretically cannot sell it on because the software license can only be transferred one time. So then what? Akai don't say yet, but it would seem pretty obvious that at some point they have to offer some way to purchase just a software license because as with other MPCs, the second/third/fourth hand market is pretty big.

Or not of course. Maybe they want to kill the 'third hand' market, encourage people to buy new, or maybe they've just not thought it through that far? Who knows, guess it will be at least a year before any of this becomes an issue though - but if they don't sort it, there's going to be a lot of useless Ren's out there if there's no software to run them.

Of course if there's no option to purchase a software license on its own for your third hand Ren, that will just encourage people to look for a way to crack the software, it's inevitable. So Akai might as well offer a legitimate option and make money from the license sale, and perhaps offer support contracts etc.

MPC-Tutor wrote:As we've mentioned before, the MPC license itself only allows for a single transfer - so once you sell your Ren, your buyer theoretically cannot sell it on because the software license can only be transferred one time.

if I got ren 2nd hand and was 3rd user to register I wouldnt be able to

is akai tryna make people get stuck with ren

ableton gives me 3 or 4 unlocks, if I run out I email them with a reason for additional unlocks n problem solved.

NI's transfer of ownership is pretty straight forward as well.

konc3pt wrote: if I got ren 2nd hand and was 3rd user to register I wouldnt be able to

Theoretically, yes. That's what the license says:

MPC Software license wrote:g) If you are the person who initially licensed the Akai Software, you may make a one-time permanent transfer of your license to another end user, provided that you do not retain any copies of the Akai Software and you follow AkaiPro’s license transfer procedures. For further information, please contact AkaiPro.

Not entirely sure why they'd stop additional transfers unless they have a plan of some kind. I would have thought the prospect of eternally providing free software updates to third and fourth hand users cannot be something they relish (which is fair enough TBH), so my assumption is that eventually they'll be offering the option to buy a license to use with your third hand Ren.

I've only delt with NI and ableton as far as licenses go...is it common practice to charge end user for license transfer

konc3pt wrote:I've only delt with NI and ableton as far as licenses go...is it common practice to charge end user for license transfer

I know Avid/Digidesign charges like $25 for a license transfer of Pro Tools.

I just hate how these manufacturers punish honest buyers for the "potential" and inevitable actions of pirates. If I'm on the road with my laptop and someone sends me an MPC project to check out, or if I wanna bounce/track a beat real quick to send to an artist, with todays technology, why do I have to wait til I get all the way home to connect my big ass hardware to be able to perform these simple tasks that do not require use of the hardware?

If I want to make a ScreenFlow tutorial and I don't have my hardware handy and don't need my hardware, why do I have to deal with no audio? This is ridiculous.


Even Avid ditched this practice with Pro Tools over 2 years ago and they were one of the last still using hardware dongles. I don't think any other major software/hardware manufacturer uses this practice any longer. So I really can't understand why they chose to pick this method back up. I don't mind having a 4 computer limit, but let me use my software without the hardware when I need.

The whole thing is just stupid...they're providing fuel to the fire to crack the damn software....once that happens no authentication is going to be happening at all.

good point hellfire

mQueue wrote:The whole thing is just stupid...they're providing fuel to the fire to crack the damn software....once that happens no authentication is going to be happening at all.

was gonna say the same thing...kinda like what happened with maschine

And the whole thing is, if I didn't own Maschine or MPC Ren hardware, I wouldn't want to use the software. Who would want to do that? The beauty of making a beat in these two pieces is using the hardware with it. These two programs do not shine as a production solution without their hardware. I'd rather use Reason or FL Studio if I was using a 3rd party controller! Maybe it's just me, but I don't see any value or desire in pirating MPC or Maschine.

you right about that hellfire...after selling my maschine I left software installed on computer so I could still play back projects I've used maschine kits with. but had no desire to do anything else with it

I think it's pointless as well. The Ren and software goes together and using the software without the Ren is pointless. I don't even think they have an idea why they said ok, we are only going to give them 4 licenses and that is it.

Is the license tied to the computer itself? What happens if I upgrade computers or if the computer I just got I had to return for some reason and I've used all 4 of my license. Do they provide you with another one for a fee or for free?

**** wrote:exactly! nukai should definitely go the NI route!

What do you mean the NI route? It's 2 installs on their stuff, Maschine may be an exception at 3. Truth be told I once left my laptop on running NI software, then I fired up my Mac and ended up running the same app. 2 installs can't be run at once. Service Center knew and remotely zapped one the installs from existence.

EDIT I was looking at the 4 installs in the thread title. You must have meant the need to have the controller attached, couldn't agree more.

DJ Hellfire wrote:If I'm on the road with my laptop and someone sends me an MPC project to check out, or if I wanna bounce/track a beat real quick to send to an artist, with todays technology, why do I have to wait til I get all the way home to connect my big ass hardware to be able to perform these simple tasks that do not require use of the hardware?

I 100% agree with this post, but I've tried that, and you dont need the hardware to bounce out tracks. Only to hear what you're doing.
Regardless, there are many reasons you shouldn't need it attached to listen as well.

jigdagod wrote:Is the license tied to the computer itself? What happens if I upgrade computers or if the computer I just got I had to return for some reason and I've used all 4 of my license. Do they provide you with another one for a fee or for free?

You have to deauthorize the computer you no longer want to use most likely!