Pro-Tools Studio - licenses nightmare etc.

[Chris7514]

Hi Everyone,
finally after PT 12 I upgraded to PT Studio. Currently PT 2022.7. On both systems. Unfortunately I had to surrender perpetual on iLok2.
I have two systems :
-one in the studio on iMac (27-inch, Retina 5K, Late 2015, 32 GB Ram, 3,2 GHz Core i5) High Sierra 10.13.6. Focusrite Scarlett 6i, two SSD T7 HD etc.

- The portable one on MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012, 2,3GHz i7). Also OSX 10.13.6
In addition to PT, I have bunch of licenses on physical iLok2, so I need to have it plugged in to USB port regardless.
Until now I had PT 12 license (perpetual) on iLok2, no issues. But I had to upgrade to PT Studio because of the plug-ins upgradeability issues, bunch of VSTs, Kontakt, etc.

My issue is : I may need to use my portable system on MacBook Pro in remote locations with no internet at all (in the cabin, outdoors etc.). Is it possible to use PT Studio on a laptop with iLok2 connected to USB, or this annoying “Cloud” license that requires PT to be connected to the internet entire time will prevent me from using PT Studio ? Is there a possibility to have the license also on physical iLok connected to USB ?

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by Chris7514

My issue is : I may need to use my portable system on MacBook Pro in remote locations with no internet at all (in the cabin, outdoors etc.). Is it possible to use PT Studio on a laptop with iLok2 connected to USB, or this annoying “Cloud” license that requires PT to be connected to the internet entire time will prevent me from using PT Studio ? Is there a possibility to have the license also on physical iLok connected to USB ?

You don't have anything to worry about. Simply make shure, with iLok License Manager, that you 'activate' your PT license to your iLok2, and it will work just as before. iLok Cloud is a solution for people with stable internet connections that don't have or want to use a physical iLok.

If your PT license has been on the ilok all the time, it might be that you don't have to do anything after the upgrade, and it will just work, I'm not shure.

[Chris7514]

Thanks ! I tried my best working it out on iLok License Manager app. We’ll see what happens

[albee1952]

You should also look on your iLok to see if an expired license is there. An expired license will prevent PT from opening, even if there is also a current license(de-activate the expired license).

[jeffro]

Originally Posted by Chris7514

...Is there a possibility to have the license also on physical iLok connected to USB ?

Your Pro Tools Studio license only includes 1 'seat' so it can't be activated in multiple locations.

Your license is currently in your iLok Cloud which is set to Managed mode (so it acts like a physical iLok and you manually activate/deactivate licenses to/from it). See avid.secure.force.com/pkb/articles/How_To/Transfer-license-iLok-Cloud-to-iLok-Key which shows moving it from iLok Cloud to iLok USB Key.

iLok Cloud provides a solution for users that don't have (or don't want to purchase) an iLok USB Key, work in an environment where having an iLok USB Key plugged into a computer poses a theft risk, etc. Since you have an iLok USB Key you can activate your licenses to that, then plug it into whatever system you want to run Pro Tools on.