Grem

batsbrew
 
so, after all this palava, 
it boils down to this?
 
" Just an FYI, my issue from the antivirus upgrade did remove all of my network connections."

 
Yes, that doesn't seem correct to me.
 
I have Waves Central on my studio PC. I disable the ethernet adaptor through Windows Device Manager. So I have no internet. And I can still use my Waves plugins.
 
Something ain't right.

That's how I do it I have never had a problem.

"No internet connection" can mean several different things.
 
Pulling the network cable obviously prevents any outgoing or incoming packets, but doesn't stop Windows and other software from attempting to open a connection. It doesn't actually disable the network, only cripples it. It will not prevent all network overhead, as it doesn't stop an insistent program from repeatedly attempting to open a connection.


If, OTOH, you disable the network service or physically remove the NIC, then Windows will simply report to applications and services that there is no network. This assures zero network overhead, a good thing in the pursuit of maximum DAW efficiency.
 
Unfortunately, it also means software cannot query the NIC for its MAC address, and that software licenses tied to the MAC address will fail. Plugins that attempt to verify the identity of your computer will think it's a different computer. You'll run into the same issue if you replace your network card, or replace the motherboard that contains an integrated NIC.
 
This is a big part of what makes Waves' licenses so fragile. And why I will not knowingly purchase or use software that employs such schemes. Waves isn't the only one, btw. I no longer use Amplitube or Dimension Pro for the same reason.
 
 

Thanks BF. I don't like it either. Thanks for the tech reasons why it failed for me.

At this point since I already bought the software, I'm going to elect another license verification method.

talk to their tech support... I had an issue after upgrading to W10Anniv where it screwed up my waves installs and the links in SPLAT... I called them on SUNDAY and they answered quickly, took control of my computer and had me up and running in 15 mins, reinstalling my Waves stuff, resetting my SPLAT cache so everything was the way it was, and fixing some VST links for me to make things run quicker.  Best TS experience I've had in a LONG time.

OK, so I know it's a popular game around here to bash Waves -- with our esteemed Forum Host leading the way at every opportunity -- but I would just point out that anyone selling "fragile" or otherwise issue-prone products won't be in business very long, much less be the biggest firm in its industry, with thousands of satisfied professional customers who have been using their stuff for decades. 
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

BassDaddy

Grem

batsbrew
 
so, after all this palava, 
it boils down to this?
 
" Just an FYI, my issue from the antivirus upgrade did remove all of my network connections."

 
Yes, that doesn't seem correct to me.
 
I have Waves Central on my studio PC. I disable the ethernet adaptor through Windows Device Manager. So I have no internet. And I can still use my Waves plugins.
 
Something ain't right.

That's how I do it I have never had a problem.

Same here.

You're right, Eddie. Got to say that they are good. And often can be had at bargain prices with a coupon to boot. Still hoping they'll drop WUP though.

Eddie, I take issue with the word "bashing". I have said many times that Waves makes good stuff, that I've never had an issue with their product quality. They've long been a leader in innovation, which is why I jumped on Waves products as soon as they abandoned iLock.
 
But their copy-protection scheme, from a software engineering standpoint, is indeed fragile. The default mode of operation is to fail, and depends on a specific set of prerequisites in order to not fail. That's a textbook example of poor software design. I'd bet dollars to donuts that the vast majority of Waves' support call volume is license-related.
 
Compare that to less-draconian protection methods employed by most other vendors. For most of them, all you have to do is avoid losing a file to assure continued operation of your purchased plugins.
 
And none of them require you to pay an annual fee for the privilege of getting support. When my Waves plugins (twice) informed me that I had no license, I expected to find an email support link on the website. There was none. Only after digging through FAQs did I discover that without a WUP contract, Waves did not want to talk to me. Maybe that's changed since then, I dunno. But it left a bitter taste.
 
So is that "bashing"? I don't think so. Just stating the facts.

Fleer
Still hoping they'll drop WUP though.

That is the purest form of profit they have going for them.
 
It takes no data storage (save for date field in a database product record).
 
WUP is unlikely to go away, IMO.
 
Here's a little trick that usually gets me nearly two years of WUP for the price of one. It only happens because I own Mercury, SSL and Abbey Road.
 
SSL is rarely updated but Abbey Road seems to get a new product every 18 months or so.
 
Lets say I'm at the last 3 or four months of my WUP (remember I'm paying less $300/year when I buy WUP from AudioDeluxe). Abbey Road releases a new plug. WUP does not get me that for free (unlike a new Mercury plug), but I do get a discount as I own the rest of the Abbey Road Bundle.
 
So, I pay ~$75 for the new Abbey Road plug. That now extends my Abbey Road Bundle WUP for 12 more months (15 in total, 12 plus the remaining 3). So three months goes by (or maybe even six while waiting for a new Mercury plug to appear) and I purchase a WUP plan from Audio Deluxe. And since I own all three "bundles", all of them get extended by the 12 month beyond the last day of any active WUP. WaLa. I now have many more months than 12 for all bundles anywhere from 18 to 21 months.
 
I usually get 1 to 2 new plugs in Mercury per year.
 
For me I see WUP as a huge advantage because I typically see 18-20 months of coverage for the (discounted) max price of $215.
 
Before Lifetime updates I paid anywhere from $99 to $149 for SONAR annually. I see WUP (in the way I do it) as almost the same thing .

i prefer waves over all else 99% of the time, i have had fab filter total and melda total but when waves ditched the ilok it was pretty much all waves for me, gave away ff and melda bundles, could never stand the gui's, hideously repulsive to me, i found i could get the desired outcome much faster and easier with waves. never had an issue with them nor the installation and authorization process, to me it is straight forward and in no brain required territory, never understood why/how people had issues with it. wup, again it is what it is, it is not required, and if it there is an update to one of your bundles and you get a new plug, you can update your wup, or if there is updates to plugs that you find you require you update your wup, but you don't have to and i have no issues requiring fixes for my usage anyway. capped at $300 a year, so it's not that bad, i spend $250 a week on cigarettes so i am certainly not going to complain about paying $300 a year, or just paying wup when i feel it is benificial
 
plus in my experience the fastest and best support bar none in the business