I just fired up a project and thought I'd give the CA-2A a spin... 
A box pops up saying it's in Demo mode and will cut in and out periodically bla bla bla??
I thought it was a freebie this month?? 

It still needs to be activated. Activation is automatic when installed with the Command Center otherwise; it is a manual process like the rest of the current Cakewalk products. The activation option in on the menu in the upper right of the UI.

Hmm,I did use the command centre!   But I'll try that too. 

Well weirdness abounds. Now it works.. I like it. Just used it on the master buss of a bluegrass type song. 
Set at 40 gain and 35 peak reduction it was just right to bring up the mix and smooth out the rough edges.. brilliant.. 
 
The other effect I just used for the first time was the LP EQ on the vocals. That will now be my Go to EQ as well. 
The vocal, an older lady,  had a irritating peaking at 340 and 2,600 hz, I used the analyser to find that out.
Pro channel is useless. Dialed in those with a tight Q and applied max reduction and it made no difference. 
With the LP EQ you could hear right away what was happening and it was sooo easy to use. I like the little ghostly background graph too. 

scook
It still needs to be activated. Activation is automatic when installed with the Command Center otherwise; it is a manual process like the rest of the current Cakewalk products. The activation option in on the menu in the upper right of the UI.

Online activation actually happens the first time you use it (not done by CCC!!!) i.e. you need to be online the first time you pull it into a project - in the about box it will report to be in demo mode and then within seconds list your serial number (and then it should stay authorized when offline) ...

<<<The vocal, an older lady,  had a irritating peaking at 340 and 2,600 hz,>>>
 
Hey Cactus,  sounds like you're recording my ex-wife.