Powered USB Hub.
 
'Nuff said.

I have 2 powered USB hubs and my dongles reside on those.  no sweat about ports, I have no issuies with iLok persay.
 
I recently went through the monumental task of reinstalling my EW library and updating to the latest PLAY engine version.
 
the EW installation documentation and installation setup was really cumbersome and more complicated than it needed to be.  I finally got the Symphony Complete installed and up and running.
 
PLAY now works on my new DAW system.  It better I have 32g ram and SSD HDs, blowing all the specs out of the water.
 
I don't like PLAY or the way the engine works, I'm to invested in NI Kontakt and how it works I guess.  Maybe it's just more learning and tutorials needed.
 
The EQSO library now that it is really working and I can use it, meh sounds okay but it's not something I really like the sound of or think it's really worth it.  At least my $500 investment isn't wasted as now I can actually use it where before I couldn't use it or it crashed so much it was useless.
 
I think I am going to save up money and go to Vienna sound libraries.
 
I don't think I will ever buy another EW library for PLAY engine, I just think the libraries are to expensive and I can get other libraries for Kontakt cheaper and in most cases better quality.

I've only used it sparingly but I haven't seen any issues with PLAY.

Me neither, and I do think EW pricing is great when you go for their Complete Composer Collection.
Bit, which two libraries would you go for?

bapu
I've only used it sparingly but I haven't seen any issues with PLAY.

I don't think the bugs effect everyone. However EW seems totally disinterested in troubleshooting them. The bugs I've had are related to pops and clicks appearing in bounced tracks. The tracks would be clean live, but has artifacts when bounced. To the extent they answered it at all it was "don't use fast bounce" which is BS given that all my samplers fast bounce fine or "your computer isn't powerful enough" also BS given that their samples were residing on a dedicated SSD.
 
However there are also some general issues with Play that they aren't interested in changing. One is the lack of sample compression, samples take a long time to load compared to Kontakt or BFD3. Another is the lack of an editor version. They called it Play Pro and had it for preorder about 5-6 years ago, but it never came out and nothing has been heard since. I enjoy the ability in Kontakt to change the mapping on samples, when needed, and you can't do that in Play.
 
What finally pushed me over the edge and made me ditch their stuff (Kirk Hunter and Soundiron were the replacements) was a shadowban on their forums. I was trying to get help with the issues I was having, as well as advising others who had the same issues they weren't alone and that I found Kontakt didn't have these issues, and they banned me. Not came out and said they banned me, mind, they banned me quietly and I just suddenly couldn't make posts anymore and couldn't access the members only tech support forums. All this was on forums for tech support only visible to customers, not to the general public.
 
So I've said "enough is enough," and my money has gone elsewhere. Instead of getting the Hollywood collection and some of their drums I planned to get, I've gotten Komplete Ultimate, Kirk Hunter Diamond CS2 CS3 CB2, Soundiron Choir, BFD3, and some others.
 
When I built my new desktop, I didn't bother to install Play. I find myself never using it, since I don't like the feeling of walking on eggshells and having to bounce each track when done and then listen for errors. Instead I just use the other stuff, load it all in RAM, and then just bounce the final project. So much easier for my workflow.
 
However, I will always say that your mileage may vary, I know others that have not had issue with their software. Just my experience. But personally, I won't give them more money.

Fleer
Me neither, and I do think EW pricing is great when you go for their Complete Composer Collection.

I did that when it was on a 50% off sale back in 2012/2013.

I bought the educational CCC bundle last December when they also had a $100 coupon. I got 7 libraries including their wonderful Hollywood Strings, Brass and Woodwinds (gold versions). You'd never get those prices from Kirk Hunter, SoundIron, 8dio, ProjectSam, Vienna or other competitors, even for educational use.

I actually really love EWQL SO, at least, the Platinum version. I also have Kirk's stuff, and they all complement each other nicely. On the other hand, I haven't purchased any EastWest products since the new PLAY engine (4?) was introduced because I have had NO problems with the older engine. I've been holding off until it appeared that the new engine has been more or less road tested. From all of your comments, it seems like that time is here?
 
Regards,
Dan
 

Hi Dan, I'm still a newbie so I couldn't tell you if it's really OK to switch to Play 4. Maybe best check their Soundsonline forum for that.

Fleer
Bit, which two libraries would you go for?

SO and Symphonic Choirs.
 
Actually, I'd happily snatch up the everything-bundle if I also happened to win the lottery the same week EW dropped iLok.