Number Of installations, MPC Element

Hello, I was wondering if any of you could help me find out how many times, or on how many computers, I can install MPC Essentials software oce I bought the Element. I can not seem to find the answer to this question, I gathered that the MPC Software can anly be installed on 4 computers.
Thank you in advance!

The MPC Software/Essentials license (same license terms I believe) states that you can only install the software on one computer at a time, multiple concurrent installations do not seem to be allowed. You can check the license by running the Essentials installer (just run it until the license shows) . For example:

1.1. Device license. You may install one copy of the software on one hardware device for your internal business use or your own personal enjoyment. The software may only be used by one person at time, unless you have purchased licenses for additional users......

10.1. Device transfer. If your license is limited to one hardware device, you may transfer your licensed copy of the software to a different device for your internal business use or your own personal enjoyment provided that you completely remove the software from the former device.

Akai used to have an FAQ that stated you were allowed 4 unique authorisations, but that FAQ is gone, and there is nothing in the license about any kind of authorisation limit, although I believe people have confirmed that this is the case (as people have reached it and required a reset). But any auth limit is separate to the above quote license terms - officially your are not allowed to install the software on multiple computers simultaneously. So before installing on a second computer, you must uninstall from the first computer.

However I can't really see how that restriction can be practically enforced or monitored, especially if you only ever use the one computer at any one time.

I also believe that EU privacy law would require that Akai make it very clear if the software was 'calling home' to do anything other than check for any available software updates.

Q: any idea if the software calls home during uninstall to advise uninstalling ? or is that procedure left unverified ?

Laz wrote:Q: any idea if the software calls home during uninstall to advise uninstalling ? or is that procedure left unverified ?

Nah, its not exactly like an American Express card. Usually its automatically updated and bug reports via internet connection but not phone calls.

Laz wrote:Q: any idea if the software calls home during uninstall to advise uninstalling ? or is that procedure left unverified ?

Easily verified - uninstall the MPC Software and check your firewall log. As far as I'm aware, the MPC Software only uses the internet during initial activation and to 'check for updates' (automatically on start up, or when you manually select this from the MPC menu). Once installed it doesn't actually require internet access to function - the updater functionality isn't even automatic, it just downloads the update file and you have to manually run it separately - you can of course skip that and download the installer direct from the Akai site.


IMO the reality is that many people have a laptop and a desktop so will want the MPC Software installed on both devices, but they'll only ever use one installation at a time - e.g. desktop for day-to-day stuff, laptop when travelling. The idea that they are actually going to go through the PITA of uninstalling and re-installing each time they switch to using a different device is pure fantasy.

It's not as if Akai even offer additional software licenses ATM, so even if someone wanted to be completely 'legit' and run the MPCS on two devices without the need to uninstall, they'd have to purchase another Ren or Studio to obtain that second software license!

Not ever an issue for me as I do have both a Ren and a Studio

Thank you for your kind answers!

thank you too to the both of you for answering my query.