Pro Tools 11 free trial

[poodieyang]

hi everyone,

ok so i downloaded the free trial version of pro tools 11. durin this process it says select a location, this license can only be activated to an ilok2, please plug one in. sooo now im wondering why this isn't exactly free because it seems like i have to buy an avid product in order to activate pro tools. is this true? if there's any way around this without me having to spend my money please let me know.

thank you all,
poodieyang

[Touchwood Studios]

try out Pro Tools First

[Southsidemusic]

Yes You need an ilok2 for copy protection which is outlined in basically every place where PT is talked about. It is a $50 dollar part and it is not an Avid product, it is a Pace Product that lots of Plugin developers use for Copy Protecting their software. If you wanna try out PT you can absolutely do the PT First option but you need to know the limitations of PT First as there are some hence it's free version. Good option to get to know how it works though as the layout and workspaces are the same.

Here you can look at and download and register PT | First version.

http://apps.avid.com/ProToolsFirst/

[poodieyang]

thank you for your help (-:

[VRW]

Originally Posted by poodieyang

im wondering why this isn't exactly free because it seems like i have to buy an avid product in order to activate pro tools. is this true?

Yes and no. Yes, you have to have an iLok2 to be able to house the license for Pro Tools. No, this is no Avid product.
This is a separate company which makes those iLoks only and manages the accounts of all iLok users. You need to
open an account there (it´s free) and then you can transfer all licenses to and from your iLok (hardware dongle) via
this account. This is the website for the iLok stuff.
https://www.ilok.com/#!home

And not only Avid use the iLok for their PT license but many of the high end plugin/VI manufacturers use the iLok to
authorize their software (like MCDSP, Slate, Lexicon, Soundtoys, Softube, SSL, Sonnox, Metric Halo etc. to name a few
only). So, yes, it´s kinda PITA if you haven´t got an iLok already and do want to try the PT11 trial version.

What you could do in place of using the PT11 trial would be to download and try Pro Tools First.
http://apps.avid.com/ProToolsFirst/
It might not be the same as for functions and capabilities but it´s the latest version of Pro Tools just very limited. To be
able to use PT First you only need an iLok account but no iLok hardware dongle. Via the iLok account you register your
computer and you are good to go. As mentioned before to open an iLok account only is free, doesn´t cost you anything.

If however you intend to buy more plugins/VIs in the future you may check the manufacturers websites of those plugins
if they want an iLok for authorization too. If there is only one which will need it, it will make sense to buy the iLok 2 anyway.

All the best to you!

[VRW]

...I see, Christopher was faster , he already has covered it all. Cheers.

[Southsidemusic]

Originally Posted by VRW

...I see, Christopher was faster , he already has covered it all. Cheers.

Swedish Internet is faster

But VRW added links so teamwork makes the ... DUC work