I'm another who was opposed to dongles years ago, but here I am now with a couple o'dongles (SyncroSoft & iLok) hanging out of my USB hub. I haven't found them to be the scary devils that everybody makes them out to be. As a matter of fact, I just finished upgrading the OS on my primary DAW and the reinstallation of my dongle-protected apps and plugins were the most trouble-free installations of them all.

As far as dongles being preferred more by professionals, naw, I don't think that's the case at all. That said, I do think that perhaps the more tech-savvy users are more likely to be OK with dongles because they have a better understanding of how they work, how to troubleshoot them if the need arises, etc.

I used dongled software for 15 years when I was in the sign trade, no problems whatsoever. Once it was there, we forgot all about it.

Dongles, or the lack thereof, have nothing that makes their protected apps more professional.
Some "pro" stuff has 'em... some doesn't.
The only trend I've noticed is that periodically companies change from one scheme to another... sometimes dropping a dongle... sometimes moving to one.

I only have two issues with dongle protected stuff:
- the services that come along with them... if they were just spots where my keys were stored, I wouldn't mind as much, but I know from Steinberg experience that service software, like any software, can have detrimental bugs, and since I don't think dongles are the only way to achieve a respectable level of copy protection, I find adding another bit of software unacceptable.
- I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really HATE taking them mobile. If I were an in-house only guy, it wouldn't matter... I'd install them, internal to the machine so they don't get broken (happens), and be done with it. But I'm not. I go out of my house. And since I don't think dongles are the only way to achieve a respectable level of copy protection, I find adding another bit of hardware to carry around, lose | get stolen... unacceptable.

For system restore simplicity and reinstalls on the same machine, I use backups. I back everything activated up immediately after installing the OS... it's the beginning of the chain.
For new system builds or major changes that require re-activations... I live with it... once, and then use my backups (don't replace my machines quickly these days either).

They're fine. If you have an app that requires them and you want it, get it.
But it doesn't make one a pro. For that, you'll need Pro Tools... HD.

Hehehe.

- zevo

Hey my ol pal

Just be glad he didnt drop the g and replace the i with an e. That would be nasty.

Dongles aint that bad. I have my Pod. It is a dongle for Pod Farm. I have a syncrsoft thing for my Arturia plugs and they sound right nice.

ORIGINAL: yorolpal

ORIGINAL: OldGeezer

ORIGINAL: yorolpal

Well, I used to say consistently that I was opposed to dongles. Then I got GTR. Then Korg Legacy Digital Edition. Then MOTU Ethno. Then Gear Box Gold. Then Amp Farm. And then a crapload of UAD, which is really very much a dongle. So I guess I'm a liar, liar pants on fire. In fact what I'm typing right now is probably not even true. Or is it?

You're an enigma!

Geeze, geeze (I've always wanted to say that!) your spelling's as bad as CJ's. Isn't that supposed to be just an "e" instead of "ig"??

i don't know bout you
But
or butt
when we were on tour
the traveling Dongle berry's were always with us
tended to leave some SKID Marks
but we were Well payed to travel ,does that Qualify us as Pro's
or was that Prose
Wasn't there a band Called the traveling Dingle Berry's?
Hangin round somewhere or other?