ProTools /ilok License Management Advice Thread

[Matt Darcy]

I am currently going through another ilok recovery process with pace, and a few useful posts prompted a little reading and thought provocation made me write this thread and look for a few more seasoned views.

I'm an amateur home recorder whom basically uses pro-tools to record demos to be worked out with the band and then done "properly" in a studio with experienced engineers / professionals.

I use pro-tools on two mac's one which is static in my home setup, one which is vary rarely used, but is used for recording live sessions or what I call basement sessions where you have an idea and just grab the laptop, a mic, a guitar and an audio interface and just record there and then. This is very very rare, or normally planned well in advance.

so my base requirements are static setup %95 of the time, %5 of the time move to other mac and use that.

I don't have a huge amount of additional software I use, and certainly almost none that require ilok authorisation.

I wish to protect myself as best possible from the ilok process I've had to go through a few times, - I know I can get zero downtime, but I refuse to pay this as I feel it's a tax for a bad system, and even then it doesn't stop the process of having to send back a physical key overseas at a huge cost (relative) and effort, it just really gives you temporary licenses while that process is going on.


I'm having a look at the newer cloud based authentication that pro-tools and ilok supports, detailed here https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/hom...pro-tools-2018

I understand the premise of it's style a physical license that you move around, but I don't really understand in depth the pros/cons of my options.


as I understand it for pro-tools my options are

a.) use the ilok that I'm currently going through replacement on and move it between laptops when needed - this is my model to date

pros - easy, just move the usb key, job done. Can deal with any other potential licenses that requires ilok auth

cons - burns a usb port (as iloks suck with a hub) risk of failure, if the ilok fails out of action and the headache process begins.


b.) move the license to the main mac - and when I want to move, move it back onto the ilok and take it with me

pros - no need for ilok, no "real time" checking in the cloud every 5 minutes to see if license is valid - I 'think' if the ilok fails and I have to do the RMA process I'm safe as my license will still be held on the laptop

cons - minor hassle of moving license on/off ilok if I want to move, I'm not %100 clear on how to backup and maintain my license if the mac has a problem, I'm unclear on the reality of if I have to RMA an ilok while the license is on my computer, I'm pretty sure it's as simple as the recovery won't recover that license as it's not on the ilok so won't be transfered to the new ilok
(I'm also not %100 sure you can store the license on the mac any more)


c.) move license to the cloud

pros - can use both laptops on demand, no need for usb socket, I should be protected if the ilok fails (not %100 sure on this as with option b)

cons - needs internet connection (this shouldn't be a problem and if it is I just put it on the ilok in advance) - I'm not sure on the stability of the cloud service offering the license having no personal experience with it, I'm not aware of the recovery options / process if the cloud service has a problem, I'm also not aware of how the constant checking the internet for the licenses validity would have on the pro-tools usage, I appreciate it's a very light weight workload to do, but depending on how it's engineered I'm not convinced by what I read yet, so again experienced views would be appreciated.



Have I outlined the options enough, are they correct in my assumptions, I feel that option C is probably the best for me, but B on paper also looks very strong, I'd love to hear some opinions and views from experienced users.