iLok or eLicenser?

So far I have managed to avoid dongles for my music software, I have used Hasp and Sentinel dongles extensively at work an they have always been problem free.
 
I am seriously considering buying XLIS4, but it needs a dongle. There are two options iLok or eLicenser, as the eLicenser is being offered free with the software I am tempted to take that option.
 
I know iLok opens up more GAS opportunities but my main concern is reliability, the debate rages about the reliability of iLok but I see very little written about eLicenser? Has anyone had good or bad experiences with eLicenser?
 

carl
I won't get into the dongle debate.
I have both, never had any problems with either.
 
I got my original iLok in 2003 & still works (but Ilok2 is usually needed for most software today.)
The original elicenser I needed for Tascam's Gigatudio years ago is also on my computer & running Cubase daily.
 
PS. I picked up a few elicenser spares for about $10.00 per, don't remember where though. You could probably find deals on them if you look around & get extras just in case.

^^^^

What he said...

I agree, DM, the eLicenser is far less hassle then the iLok...

But both have been worry free for me for the most part.
Only problem I had with iLok 1 was when it would only work with a
32 bit browser.  That drove me crazy till I figured it out...

I had both the iLok 1 and now have the iLok 2.  The iLok 1
I got with Pro Tools... and that's where it stayed...everything
else I transferred to the iLok 2...

The new iLok manager software is a MILLION MILES ahead of the old...
it's been completely hassle free...for me.

dmbaer
I normally would not buy anything that required a dongle, but I did make an exception in the case of Cubase.  A DAW is such an all-encompassing piece of software that I felt an exception could be made.  As it turns out, I also picked up Halion at the same time (and in an attractive bundle deal with Cubase for an incredibly good deal).  It needed the same dongle as Cubase, and one came free with the software, so that part embodied no pain.
 
The eLicenser usage has been painless.  I had an iLok briefly and it was a major pain when I sold it and the one piece of software that required it.  Should I ever need to sell Cubase (highly doubtful), I might have some negatives to report.  But so far, no problems at all.

I balked & balked at spending $40.00 for a $3.00 USB stick, but finally bit the bullet and sprung for it, begrudgingly all along the way so that I could use my Waves plugs.
 
I've had the exact same experience as dmbaer, including the same software deal, except my ilok just stopped working in less than a year.
 
If it wasn't for Waves themselves bailing on the ilok system that they've used for so long, I would have lost all those licences as well as my $40 for the ilok crap.
 
Since then, any products I've looked at the require the ilok garbage instantly get kiboshed right then & there.
 
Incidentally, more companies are adding themselves to the elicenser protection system now.
There are many still using Pace's ilok, but it seems some are jumping ship.

elicenser i just bought and I use it with my vengeance plugins and it was super simple. Ilok in the past has had me pull my hair out. along with newer profanity that I made up trying to get it to work. Glad I never got hooked on waves or plugins that needs Ilok.

carl
Waves stopped using iLok over a year ago, now people moan & groan about their License Center.

Which I found MOST PLEASANT.  I wish more followed that design.
You could install your licenses to your hard drive or to a USB drive.  If you were re-doing your machine
you could send your licenses to the Cloud, then bring them back when done.

It even had a "recover" feature, even though you could only do it once a year...

It was a great thing to me...but I'm Wave-less now...

Jim Roseberry
If you want to run specific software/plugins, I wouldn't let the dongle alone deter you.

Agreed. There's a lot to be gained from some of those tools that are dongled up.

I haven't had any issues with iLok.

In my Steinberg UR44, I got an e-license and the manual warns you NOT to lose it, as effectively, that's what you bought, according to Steinberg...  the interface was free, you just bought the little USB thingie that lights up.
If I don't have it inserted, whenever I fire up X3, it asks me where my Steinberg effects are (that are in the interface), so I just let it live in a USB port now.  I prefer the auth/registration setup best, but this seems to work ok.  It allows for using on other machines, apparently as the reasoning behind this method

My i-lok experiences have been quite good.

Older i-lok works no prob.

Second and new i-lok2 died in guarantee period and all expenses were paid by Pace/i-lok. (If I remember correctly - should check credit card bill!!!!) New one works great.

my main tip is to never mix 32bit and 64bit installers.


i-licenser question. My copy of wavelab has installed a license on my computer. Can this be moved? ie removed from old computer to new laptop?

I have purchased XILS4 and decided on the eLicenser option because it was include free in the introductory offer. My main issue with dongles is having to buy them.
 
 Its not uncommon to have at least two Hasp or Sentinel dongles attached to my work laptop and I dont find it an issue.