Activation Limit - Wish I would have known earlier!!!

Lucio-Pascarelli wrote on 2/9/2022, 10:51 AM

I have been using Vegas Video for a long time, well before Magix came into the picture. Over the years I have been periodically upgrading to new versions, and because of this, I recently subscribed to Vegas 365 instead of upgrading my Vegas 18.

However, as I go on the road roughly 2 weeks of the month, I wanted to install the product also on my laptop to do some quick editing until I get back to my more powerful editing workstation at home.

I then find out that instead of the two devices I had with Vegas 18, I now only have one - I wish that was clearly said in the description of the product before I bought it. But worse, when I go to deactivate my primary PC I find out that you can only deregister once a month!

I basically do not have the right to use the software as would seem logical, and there is nothing written to this effect in the product description on the website, nor in the terms and conditions, nor in the invoice, nor in the registration e-mail. The only place you first see this is when you see try to deactivate. Very unfair!

Can the Magic/Sony adopt a more dynamic method of checking the license? I have other music editing software which is activated on-line every-time I start it, allowing only once PC at the time, and I think that is far more functional and fair.

Thanks.

Comments

jetdv wrote on 2/9/2022, 11:19 AM

The 365 version allows 1 activation. The perpetual version allows 2 activations. This is noted in many places on this forum but I do agree that information could be better shown on the website.

You can deactivate on the desktop and activate on the laptop and back an forth to use the one license on two machines. Yes, it's more of a pain but it can be done. Alternately, you could cancel your subscription (and lose the subscription only options) and get the perpetual version that allows two activations.

Musicvid wrote on 2/9/2022, 11:28 AM

Sorry for my previous response. I didn't notice the OP had purchased the 365 license.

Lucio-Pascarelli wrote on 2/9/2022, 11:36 AM

"You can deactivate on the desktop and activate on the laptop and back an forth to use the one license on two machines."

Only ONCE a month. If I could do it frequently I would not have posted my frustration.

And I am sorry, but one should not have to go to the forum to find out that there is such an important difference between the one-time and subscription. The way it reads, it seems more like a yearly or monthly fixed fee to get upgrades of the same one-time product.

vkmast wrote on 2/9/2022, 2:25 PM

A moderator-created FAQ on this forum, item 9:

9. How many computers can I use VEGAS Pro on?
You can use VEGAS Pro (14.0 and later) simultaneously on 2 devices. VEGAS Pro 365 can be used on 1 device at a time.

To deactivate a device, so you can activate a different one, visit your MAGIX account > My Products > Show More Details > Deactivate. This option can be used only once a month.

In VEGAS Pro 14.0 or later, you can also choose Deactivate the Software on this PC from the Help menu. This option can be used as often as you wish. An internet connection is required.

(Please ask by emailing infoservice@magix.net if you want this confirmed.)

@Lucio-Pascarelli

gary-rebholz wrote on 2/9/2022, 3:23 PM

@Lucio-Pascarelli, this is an unfortunate limitation of the website. Instead of going there to deactivate/reactivate, deactivate your software on Machine #1 from the Help menu. Then reactivate it on Machine #2 when you start the application and it asks for a serial number. Reserve using the website (which is supposed to give you two per month) for times when you don't have access to both machines.

There are no limits on the number of times you can do it that way. If this doesn't work for you, we'd be interested to know.

Lucio-Pascarelli wrote on 2/9/2022, 3:29 PM

Thank you. Will try.

Lucio-Pascarelli wrote on 2/9/2022, 3:39 PM

It worked, and it makes sense, and I have no problem accessing both machines when I need to do it.

It would be good to document it in a FAQ though.

Thank you again.

vkmast wrote on 2/9/2022, 4:07 PM

It's documented in the forum's user-created FAQs as mentioned earlier. As @gary-rebholz mentioned, it is sadly missing from the product pages (and the forum's "official" Support section).

But please do not overlook the forum FAQs, which were compiled (with no effort spared) by @NickHope, one of the forum's volunteer moderators, and are actually VEGAS-related. Several of the forum's "official" Support documents that you find if you click Product icons in the Help Center apply actually to MAGIX products.