Comments

Former user wrote on 10/15/2017, 12:23 AM

Vegas is widely pirated. Just search for serials or watch youtube on how to crack it. I don't know how it affected them financially but it was one of the easiest to crack of the main NLEs.

Kit-As-Was wrote on 10/15/2017, 12:48 AM

OK, guys, is there a utility that I could deploy/employ to monitor when and if the Internet is being summonsed? I want to test a theory.

Your firewall should be able to tell you provided that it checks outbound traffic. Failing that there is wireshark, free though I've never used it.

Peter_P wrote on 10/15/2017, 1:27 AM

I've lost hours of work because my computer isn't permanently connected. Vegas 14 opened but crashed without warning when I pressed save.

That happened to me as well and it was gone after starting Vp14 with internet connected. No message was shown.

 

I very much doubt that phoning home to validate a licence will limit piracy.

I think this is already proven by the short time this happened after release :

I don't know how bad the piracy is (or isn't), but I did notice a shocking amount of YouTube videos advertising "cracked" versions of Vegas 15 almost immediately after its release.

 

NickHope wrote on 10/15/2017, 2:01 AM
I think this is already proven by the short time this happened after release :

I don't know how bad the piracy is (or isn't), but I did notice a shocking amount of YouTube videos advertising "cracked" versions of Vegas 15 almost immediately after its release.

But we can't be sure that those versions won't attempt to phone home at some point after the initial installation, whether to activate codecs or as a routine.

One application that does seem to have dealt with the piracy problem is Propellerhead Reason, which is now at version 9.5. I don't see any cracks available past version 5. They use Codemeter for authorization. It phones home every time I start it. That doesn't bother me personally, but it appears that offline authorization is an option too.

Peter_P wrote on 10/15/2017, 3:53 AM

But we can't be sure that those versions won't attempt to phone home at some point after the initial installation, whether to activate codecs or as a routine.

I don't know. Do they have to activate the codecs?

Grazie wrote on 10/15/2017, 4:01 AM

OK, lets cut to the Quick here: MAGIX, does my PC need to be continually connected to the INTERNET to keep VegasPro running? Once I’ve done the registration will VegasPro keep functioning?

NickHope wrote on 10/15/2017, 4:28 AM

But we can't be sure that those versions won't attempt to phone home at some point after the initial installation, whether to activate codecs or as a routine.

I don't know. Do they have to activate the codecs?

In the legitimate version of VP15, 6 codecs require additional activation the first time they are run (which Altarvic's script makes easy). I just thought the hackers might not have discovered or considered that, or possible periodic home calls.

Grazie wrote on 10/15/2017, 4:56 AM

@Nick : What do you think of my question for MAGIX?

Wolfgang S. wrote on 10/15/2017, 5:27 AM

That can be answered by Magix only, but not by the moderators. Regardless what they think or beliefe.

Desktop: PC AMD 3960X, 24x3,8 Mhz * RTX 3080 Ti (12 GB)* Blackmagic Extreme 4K 12G * QNAP Max8 10 Gb Lan * Resolve Studio 18 * Edius X* Blackmagic Pocket 6K/6K Pro, EVA1, FS7

Laptop: ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED * internal HDR preview * i9 12900H with i-GPU Iris XE * 32 GB Ram) * Geforce RTX 3070 TI 8GB * internal HDR preview on the laptop monitor * Blackmagic Ultrastudio 4K mini

HDR monitor: ProArt Monitor PA32 UCG-K 1600 nits, Atomos Sumo

Others: Edius NX (Canopus NX)-card in an old XP-System. Edius 4.6 and other systems

NickHope wrote on 10/15/2017, 5:29 AM

@Nick : What do you think of my question for MAGIX?

It's a good question that needs a definitive, public answer, since what we've been told appears to contradict the evidence in this thread, the EULA, and this support article.

Arthur.S wrote on 10/15/2017, 9:04 AM

I've been using TMPGEnc products for a long time now. They all require periodic licence checking on startup. There is an option for "not now" if you're in a hurry. I admit that I found this a pain in the you know where at first, but I've gradually got used to it. It's quick and painless even though by default my editing PC is off-line. If Vegas 15 followed a similar pattern I would upgrade to it, but with the uncertainty shown above as to whether it's actually reliable (or capable of losing work!) if you're working with it off-line, not a chance. Magix need to step in and confirm one way or the other.

Peter_P wrote on 10/15/2017, 9:33 AM

MAGIX, does my PC need to be continually connected to the INTERNET to keep VegasPro running? Once I’ve done the registration will VegasPro keep functioning?

This is the wrong wording. It does not need to be continually connected, but once a while - and I have the impression this needs to be conneted at least once every month. You are also allowed to change your PC/licence once a month from within your account.

OldSmoke wrote on 10/15/2017, 9:50 AM

MAGIX, does my PC need to be continually connected to the INTERNET to keep VegasPro running? Once I’ve done the registration will VegasPro keep functioning?

This is the wrong wording. It does not need to be continually connected, but once a while - and I have the impression this needs to be conneted at least once every month. You are also allowed to change your PC/licence once a month from within your account.


And how would you know when to connect it? Would crashing be an indication? I think that is a poor indication and could lead to work being lost. Unless there is a proper indication that it needs to phone home, having a permanent connection seems the only way to ensure proper operation.

Proud owner of Sony Vegas Pro 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 and now Magix VP15&16.

System Spec.:
Motherboard: ASUS X299 Prime-A

Ram: G.Skill 4x8GB DDR4 2666 XMP

CPU: i7-9800x @ 4.6GHz (custom water cooling system)
GPU: 1x AMD Vega Pro Frontier Edition (water cooled)
Hard drives: System Samsung 970Pro NVME, AV-Projects 1TB (4x Intel P7600 512GB VROC), 4x 2.5" Hotswap bays, 1x 3.5" Hotswap Bay, 1x LG BluRay Burner

PSU: Corsair 1200W
Monitor: 2x Dell Ultrasharp U2713HM (2560x1440)

Peter_P wrote on 10/15/2017, 9:57 AM

And how would you know when to connect it? Would crashing be an indication?

That is the way it currently works on my system that is normally not connected to the internet - see above.

 

I think that is a poor indication and could lead to work being lost. Unless there is a proper indication that it needs to phone home, having a permanent connection seems the only way to ensure proper operation.

A permanent connection is absolut NOGO for me.

OldSmoke wrote on 10/15/2017, 10:06 AM

A permanent connection is absolut NOGO for me.

I can understand that. What I was trying to say is that in a way it does need a constant connection, otherwise you risk loosing work when it crashes. If there would be a message, asking you to connect, than it would not need a constant connection. Just my opinion.

Proud owner of Sony Vegas Pro 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 and now Magix VP15&16.

System Spec.:
Motherboard: ASUS X299 Prime-A

Ram: G.Skill 4x8GB DDR4 2666 XMP

CPU: i7-9800x @ 4.6GHz (custom water cooling system)
GPU: 1x AMD Vega Pro Frontier Edition (water cooled)
Hard drives: System Samsung 970Pro NVME, AV-Projects 1TB (4x Intel P7600 512GB VROC), 4x 2.5" Hotswap bays, 1x 3.5" Hotswap Bay, 1x LG BluRay Burner

PSU: Corsair 1200W
Monitor: 2x Dell Ultrasharp U2713HM (2560x1440)

Arthur.S wrote on 10/15/2017, 10:12 AM

Which is why confirming licence details on startup once in a while as per TMPGEnc is the most sensible option. Doing it randomly in the middle of you working on a project is plain daft.

Kit-As-Was wrote on 10/15/2017, 10:22 AM
A permanent connection is absolut NOGO for me.

Sporadic/periodic connection is NOGO for me. My limit is reverification with updates and I find even that a nuisance. What evidence is there that such verification stops piracy, anyway? Incidentally what system does Blackmagic use with Resolve? Their basic editor is free.With the crashing and lost work that Peter I have experienced it looks like whatever system Magix are using is buggy. There needs to be another solution. Software that requires periodic verification needs resisting. It's miserable model. As it is it appears, Magix have sneaked it in after declaring to long time users that they wouldn't.

Peter_P wrote on 10/15/2017, 10:24 AM

What I was trying to say is that in a way it does need a constant connection, otherwise you risk loosing work when it crashes.

No, there would be no need to check (monthly), if the only way to deactivate the software would be possible from the progamm via Help/Deactivate. This definitely would require an internet connection, while doing to let it be set in the MAGIX account of the user. But that is a controlled action the user is aware to need the connetion.

 

OldSmoke wrote on 10/15/2017, 11:16 AM

What I was trying to say is that in a way it does need a constant connection, otherwise you risk loosing work when it crashes.

No, there would be no need to check (monthly), if the only way to deactivate the software would be possible from the progamm via Help/Deactivate. This definitely would require an internet connection, while doing to let it be set in the MAGIX account of the user. But that is a controlled action the user is aware to need the connetion.

Not sure what you are trying to say. Is there an exact period at which I need to connect? If one would work on a three weeks holiday trip with no access to internet, is it guaranteed that it will not crash because it is trying to verify itself?

Proud owner of Sony Vegas Pro 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 and now Magix VP15&16.

System Spec.:
Motherboard: ASUS X299 Prime-A

Ram: G.Skill 4x8GB DDR4 2666 XMP

CPU: i7-9800x @ 4.6GHz (custom water cooling system)
GPU: 1x AMD Vega Pro Frontier Edition (water cooled)
Hard drives: System Samsung 970Pro NVME, AV-Projects 1TB (4x Intel P7600 512GB VROC), 4x 2.5" Hotswap bays, 1x 3.5" Hotswap Bay, 1x LG BluRay Burner

PSU: Corsair 1200W
Monitor: 2x Dell Ultrasharp U2713HM (2560x1440)

Grazie wrote on 10/15/2017, 11:23 AM

Hey Grazie, your VP is needing to connect to the internet in the next two days. Have a nice day, you gorgeous creature 😍. Thank you for being such a great supporter of our product.

Shouldn't be too difficult for the Magix Hobbits to weave together?

Kinvermark wrote on 10/15/2017, 11:25 AM

Good discussion. In terms of combatting piracy, I would point out that it isn't an all or nothing game, and also, it is not only about technical solutions. For example, if Magix were to get the widespread YouTube "crack" videos taken down that would probably significantly reduce the numbers of "casual" thieves even if the hardcore ones still found ways to obtain the software illegally. There is an entire emerging culture of using cracked software while getting Youtube advertising revenue and selling your presets and tutorials - clearly commercial use. IMHO this is very bad for software development and paying customers in particular.

NickHope wrote on 10/15/2017, 11:42 AM

Incidentally what system does Blackmagic use with Resolve?

Whatever it is in their Studio 14 version, it doesn't seem to have worked.

Peter_P wrote on 10/15/2017, 11:47 AM

Is there an exact period at which I need to connect? If one would work on a three weeks holiday trip with no access to internet, is it guaranteed that it will not crash because it is trying to verify itself?

It certainly depends on the start of you three weeks holiday to the last contact that was forced. I only assume that the period is one month, because this is the time you licence change is blocked after a change.

 

Grazie wrote on 10/15/2017, 12:22 PM

And adding brevity or levity, does the PhoneHome requirement affect the actual CODECs and the other needed licensed crucial, functioning items?

Need a nod from MAGIX.

Last changed by Grazie on 10/15/2017, 12:23 PM, changed a total of 1 times.

Grazie

PC 10 64-bit 64gb * Intel Core i9 10900X s2066 * EVGA RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra 10GB - Studio Driver 551.23 * 4x16G CorsVengLPX DDR4 2666C16 * Asus TUF X299 MK 2


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