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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
“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?
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.
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.