Am I the only one that doesn't get why it has to HAVE activation? 
Um, it's FREE.
 
So I certainly get that they want you to sign up for a bandlab account and use and promote their other stuff.   Maybe if you want to buy additional content, etc.  And I would / will definitely do that if nothing else as a thank you.
 
But why even make the "FREE" version require some sort of "activation"????

It is free to those with a BandLab account. The activation process in there to insure the user has a BandLab account.

Why would they give it away for free without any requirement to become registered in their ecosystem? The activation process is all part of that. Nothing is totally free - in exchange for a professional DAW, you allow Bandlab to market stuff at you. If they just gave you the DAW with no requirement on your part then it would be a pretty poor business strategy (you know, like giving away the Adaptive Limiter and Linear Phase EQ, something which has been criticized to death on here). Having to register with BandLab and confirm your account via an online activation seems like a pretty small price to pay to use a DAW at no cost. 

Guys, they need to make a few $£ € someway. So give them a break. I paid for the full sonar version and couldn't believe it at that time that anyone would give me free updates for life. Now its completely free for all and users are still complaining but for what? I also have a miserable internet (5mb at most) connection slow for large files such 700 MB or 900mb. I use a wireless dongle that cost £15 to beam to my room.

sharke
Why would they give it away for free without any requirement to become registered in their ecosystem?

Because that's not how they make money!  They want to be a distributor of songs (15%) on their site.  The software IS a give away.   So sign up for an account - but DONT make it a authorization c/r type method for the DAW.
 
CR on a "free" piece of software is only good for one thing:  being able to NOT authorize it if they want.  With the recent Gibson debacle, my tolerance is at zero.
 

cityrat
Am I the only one that doesn't get why it has to HAVE activation? 
Um, it's FREE.
 
So I certainly get that they want you to sign up for a bandlab account and use and promote their other stuff.   Maybe if you want to buy additional content, etc.  And I would / will definitely do that if nothing else as a thank you.
 
But why even make the "FREE" version require some sort of "activation"????

  I'm still looking for that free DAW that doesn't require activation.  See Pro Tools Free, Live Lite, Studio One Free.

kitekrazy1

cityrat
Am I the only one that doesn't get why it has to HAVE activation? 
Um, it's FREE.
 
So I certainly get that they want you to sign up for a bandlab account and use and promote their other stuff.   Maybe if you want to buy additional content, etc.  And I would / will definitely do that if nothing else as a thank you.
 
But why even make the "FREE" version require some sort of "activation"????

  I'm still looking for that free DAW that doesn't require activation.  See Pro Tools Free, Live Lite, Studio One Free.

Or even REAPER (not free but not $$)  - it has a customized "keyfile" good forever (not tied to UID keygen etc) for range of versions.  I'm totally ok with that.  Sorta like the OLD Cakewalk SN.
 
 

cityrat

sharke
Why would they give it away for free without any requirement to become registered in their ecosystem?

Because that's not how they make money!  They want to be a distributor of songs (15%) on their site.  The software IS a give away.   So sign up for an account - but DONT make it a authorization c/r type method for the DAW.
 
CR on a "free" piece of software is only good for one thing:  being able to NOT authorize it if they want.  With the recent Gibson debacle, my tolerance is at zero.
 

It's BandCamp that has 15% of the Distribution, not BandLab.
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3745325
 

I, like others here, have my main DAW offline and is dedicated to audio work only.  That is, I keep my DAW PC clean of everything other than what I use for my audio/MIDI sound work.  I do not have a network card and avoid any software and hardware unrelated to my audio work, but for what is absolutely necessary for Windows and audio related programs and hardware.  That's the way I plan to keep it so that I can eliminate PC conflicts as much as possible.  I hope BandLab can respect that.  I've been a loyal user/customer of Cakewalk products for a long time.  I am hoping to be the same with BandLab.  Please don't give me (us) an ultimatum.
 
Kind regards,
 
tecknot

Kamikaze

cityrat

sharke
Why would they give it away for free without any requirement to become registered in their ecosystem?

Because that's not how they make money!  They want to be a distributor of songs (15%) on their site.  The software IS a give away.   So sign up for an account - but DONT make it a authorization c/r type method for the DAW.
 
CR on a "free" piece of software is only good for one thing:  being able to NOT authorize it if they want.  With the recent Gibson debacle, my tolerance is at zero.
 

It's BandCamp that has 15% of the Distribution, not BandLab.
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3745325
 

Thanks - my mistake, got them confused!