Can someone clarify the CPTK situation please?

[ryanstewartguitar]

Hi everybody,

I am in dire need of the additional features included with PT HD in my personal studio. I understand that there is no longer a CPTK for PT 11, but I don't fully understand what my options are.

Is it true that the only way I can get the HD features of PT 11 is to upgrade from PT 10 + CPTK? Is there no possible way to get the PT HD 11 software without purchasing hardware? Also, can someone make sense of the screen shot I posted with upgrade pricing to PT HD 11? What's PT 9/10 and 10/11?

I have two rigs with UA Apollo 16's, and am not interested in purchasing any Avid hardware. I am needing HD not so much for of the track count abilities, but more for the smaller extras (VCA's, group customization, input monitoring, etc.) If anyone has any other ideas that might work for me, please let me know.

Thank you!
- Ryan

[Darryl Ramm]

If you have CPTK now you can upgrade as you noted.

You can only officially purchase PT HD with a hardware bundle.

The Pro Tools EULA prevents owners from unbundling their licenses from the hardware it came with and selling it. And Pace/Avid will not allow HD 10 or 11 license to be transferred between accounts. Some folks are selling iLoks with license on them, whether you will be ever able to upgrade those licenses in future or whether one day the license keys might jus evaporate are all a risk.

[ryanstewartguitar]

So if I purchase a secondhand copy of PT 10 CPTK then I can upgrade to PT 11 HD for $600? Will this mean that I'm able to continue upgrading to PT 12, 13, and so on? Or since I got a secondhand copy could that mean I am only able to upgrade to PT 11?

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by ryanstewartguitar

So if I purchase a secondhand copy of PT 10 CPTK then I can upgrade to PT 11 HD for $600? Will this mean that I'm able to continue upgrading to PT 12, 13, and so on? Or since I got a secondhand copy could that mean I am only able to upgrade to PT 11?

You likely won't be able to upgrade to Pro Tools 12, 13 etc. You should be able to upgrade to Pro Tools HD 12 or HD13, which I think you meant, but for which you'll likely be paying likely something in the range of $500-$1,000 per upgrade. But there are never any hard guarantees and I don't think Avid will ever promise anything.

If you want no risk then you have to buy the hardware/HD bundle.

OTOH Logic Pro X is $199....

Darryl

[ryanstewartguitar]

Ah yes, I meant the HD versions, sorry. Already have the new Logic...

[ryanstewartguitar]

So if I purchased something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVID-DIGIDES...item35cc74c7c2

That hasn't even been registered, I should be good, correct? It's just when it's a license transfer that things could get sticky with future upgrades?

[mesaone]

Originally Posted by ryanstewartguitar

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVID-DIGIDES...item35cc74c7c2

I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole. Something shady is going on with it (you'll notice the red text on the splash screen indicating an internal build, something tells me this person is attempting to sell a NFR license)

[ryanstewartguitar]

Ugh..

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by ryanstewartguitar

So if I purchased something like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVID-DIGIDES...item35cc74c7c2

That hasn't even been registered, I should be good, correct? It's just when it's a license transfer that things could get sticky with future upgrades?

So again here is the thing. This seller likely has no legal right to sell this software under any circumstances. Very worse case Avid could at some time in future remotely invalidate the license, and one day when you connect to iLok.com, poof you have nothing. Buying a non-previously registered package might sound better, until Avid wants your hardware serial number when you register (I can't recall if they do or no). And there is lots of history of what folks have managed to get away with in the past, I would not assume that guides how things will work in the future. It is your risk to take.

What is up with showing a pre-release Pro Tools 11 screen shot I don't know. I also don't know if Avid distributed time limited/expiring iLoks to Pro Tools 11 test/early access customer or not if if that screen shot really just has nothing to do with the iLok in this sale (if it's unopened/unactivated it can't be licensing this Pro Tools install so the screenshot makes *no* sense to show). But yes just seeing that they would make me stop, even with an other wise good seller rating.

[ryanstewartguitar]

Ya, that makes sense. I'm not looking to break any rules, I just want me some VCA's...didn't think it would be so hard!