Copy Protection: Dongles, Authorizations, Passwords, and mor

Blue Haze wrote:

JAH wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:It isn't the dongles or USB sticks that bother me in a software environment! It clicking around with a mouse that sucks!

Way off topic. Can we please keep this thread dedicated to copy protection? Every other thread in this forum is dedicate to what 'sucks'.

I beg to differ without the dedicated hardware virtual mpc would be no better than actually not as good as geist or any other software with third party controllers. But that is my two cents. Like others said before I tried it without the controller and it wasn't the same. Without the controller the whole project would suffer. But to each his own.

I hear ya, but in my usage software is by far more superior for sample library sorting and piano roll editing.

I should be able to drag drop and chop audio (boring stuff) with the Ren software, prepare a few kits then fire up my hardware and Jam!!.

I'd then like the ability to go back into a session and edit the notes i've played in piano roll without the need to be tethered to the hardware.

Surely Akai could give us the choice?

JAH wrote:Yeah....but what does this have to do with the pros and cons of copy protection?

Without the hardware as a dongle or whatever. Akai wouldn`t have any motivation to make sure that the hardware design, function and integration work as tightly as it should. Sorry to say but the Ren or the Studio would be no better than a mpd24. Hell akai could have saved a ton of money just throwing the software and mpd24/32 out on the market to compete with maschine with a downloadable mapped page for both the mpd24 and mpd32.

Retrofreak

I get what you are saying but I feel it you wanted a portable freelike system the Studio would have been the better choice.

Does the Studio allow me to use the Ren software without the hardware?

Retrofreak wrote:Does the Studio allow me to use the Ren software without the hardware?

Nope but it light and portable and I don`t know if it even has a power switch but to each his own. I want the Ren to work as tightly with the software as can be. I had enough of the mpd24s, korg controls, and keys to work with drum programs. I get you but it just a switch and if just chopping it important just leave the switch on a Studio in a bag attached to a long cable to your laptop.

Blue Haze wrote:

Retrofreak wrote:Does the Studio allow me to use the Ren software without the hardware?

Nope but it light and portable and I don`t know if it even has a power switch but to each his own. I want the Ren to work as tightly with the software as can be. I had enough of the mpd24s, korg controls, and keys to work with drum programs. I get you but it just a switch and if just chopping it important just leave the switch on a Studio in a bag attached to a long cable to your laptop.

Hmm maybe, but that will mean buying yet another MPC just to use as a dongle lol

I'd rather an iLok or something.

Retrofreak wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:

Retrofreak wrote:Does the Studio allow me to use the Ren software without the hardware?

Nope but it light and portable and I don`t know if it even has a power switch but to each his own. I want the Ren to work as tightly with the software as can be. I had enough of the mpd24s, korg controls, and keys to work with drum programs. I get you but it just a switch and if just chopping it important just leave the switch on a Studio in a bag attached to a long cable to your laptop.

Hmm maybe, but that will mean buying yet another MPC just to use as a dongle lol

I'd rather an iLok or something.

^^^
+1 on the ilok preference.

Blue Haze wrote:

JAH wrote:

Blue Haze wrote:It isn't the dongles or USB sticks that bother me in a software environment! It clicking around with a mouse that sucks!

Way off topic. Can we please keep this thread dedicated to copy protection? Every other thread in this forum is dedicate to what 'sucks'.

I beg to differ without the dedicated hardware virtual mpc would be no better than actually not as good as geist or any other software with third party controllers. But that is my two cents. Like others said before I tried it without the controller and it wasn't the same. Without the controller the whole project would suffer. But to each his own.

We're not talking about using the software to make complete compositions. But let's just say me and you are collabing on a track both using the Ren. I'm on the road with my laptop and you send me a project to check out. I can't even listen to it in the software until I get home and plug the unit in. Or If I'm on the road and I wanna bounce a rough draft of a beat for an artist real quick, I can't even listen to the project to make sure everything is good enough to send out. Maybe I want to just turn a track down or put the sequences in song mode or not include a sequence at all. Little shit like that where you don't need the controller. There's no reason I should not be able to hear my work if the controller is unplugged.

The only thing i think would be ok to disable when the hardware is not plugged is the ability to click on the pads with the mouse. Still be able to add/remove/move notes with the pen tool etc.
That way it would make the software mostly useless for people that don't have the hardware. And the software would still need to be authorized first anyway.
The very few people that would take the time to click on the grid to add notes one by one would do it because they don't have any money so there's no lost customers for sure.

Louie lou wrote:
^^^
+1 on the ilok preference.

I have two iLocks and a Steinberg key attached to my computer. Akai adding a MPC Ren software authorization to one of my ilocks will not negatively impact me one bit.

JAH wrote:

Louie lou wrote:
^^^
+1 on the ilok preference.

I have two iLocks and a Steinberg key attached to my computer. Akai adding a MPC Ren software authorization to one of my ilocks will not negatively impact me one bit.

Exactly. This way AKAI can protect their investment and the consumer the most out of their purchased product. I'm willing to pay 20.00 bucks for a license for my ilok just to be able to use the REN offline.

Everybody wins with this.. Akai makes 20 more bucks and I get to leave the REN at home when needed.

I wouldn't want the iLok thing though. I don't always take it with me everywhere I take my laptop.

DJ Hellfire wrote:We're not talking about using the software to make complete compositions. But let's just say me and you are collabing on a track both using the Ren. I'm on the road with my laptop and you send me a project to check out. I can't even listen to it in the software until I get home and plug the unit in. Or If I'm on the road and I wanna bounce a rough draft of a beat for an artist real quick, I can't even listen to the project to make sure everything is good enough to send out. Maybe I want to just turn a track down or put the sequences in song mode or not include a sequence at all. Little shit like that where you don't need the controller. There's no reason I should not be able to hear my work if the controller is unplugged.

Definitely. To go even further, having the software available untethered from the hardware also could potentially benefit those using other or multiple MPCs in tandem with the Ren or Studio. Imagine transferring projects from your compatible legacy MPCs to your hard drive(s) en masse, alongside your MPC software projects, all ready and fully editable. With just a laptop you could be able to recall and make small edits or even finish ideas (if you aren't a full on mouse/trackpad phobic) almost anywhere, export and send those revisions. I'm willing to bet that there is a demographic just for that type of batch usage alone. That's all assuming that they get the legacy support fully in order.

In any case, any solution except using the actual unit as the dongle would make the above more feasible.

DJ Hellfire wrote:I wouldn't want the iLok thing though. I don't always take it with me everywhere I take my laptop.

But there are multiple DAWs and tons of plugins that you can't use without an iLock. How do you (if applicable) use these products on your laptop when you are out and about?

JAH wrote:

DJ Hellfire wrote:I wouldn't want the iLok thing though. I don't always take it with me everywhere I take my laptop.

But there are multiple DAWs and tons of plugins that you can't use without an iLock. How do you (if applicable) use these products on your laptop when you are out and about?

I don't usually use my daw on the road that much. If I know I will need to use it, I will bring my iLok. Most of my plugins use password authorizations anyway. Honestly, I really don't see what the big deal is here. NI doesn't seem to be phased by their allowance to use the software freely without a controller, no iLok, and no computer amount limit. Maschine seems to be doing quite well on sales.