We have recently learnt that Antares no longer support iLok licensing for any of their current products including Auto-Tune Unlimited, Auto-Tune Vocal Studio, Auto-Tune Pro 9.1, Auto-Tune Artist, Auto-Tune EFX+, Auto-Tune Access, Auto-Key and AVOX 4.2. Instead, they are now using Wibu licenses, which are machine authorised, which is bad news for freelancers who need to be able to transport their licenses around to wherever they work.
Paid upgrade to newest version of @AntaresAudio Auto-Tune Pro. Why would they drop support for iLok? VERY inconvenient when changing rooms/studios to have to install ANOTHER authentication platform (WIBU) and the plugin, and the Antares Central app? Might be time to say goodbye.
— Soularity Sound | Korey Pereira (@SoularitySound) January 31, 2021
For example, we saw this tweet from Korey Pereira from Soularity Sound. As Korey says, with the latest version of Auto-Tune Pro (V9.1), Antares has changed the licensing system they use from iLok to Wibu licensing, which works within Antares Central and authorises the computer you are using it on.
This isn’t an issue for people who only ever work on one single computer, but for anyone who wants to use a single license across more than one computer, then with machine authorisation systems, you have to first the deauthorise one computer before authorising another computer.
With the iLok system, you deposit your licenses on a dedicated USB dongle called an iLok. If you need to use the software on another computer, you simply unplug the iLok from one computer and plug it into another computer and as long as both computers have the software installed, whichever computer has the iLok plugged in, will be able to use the software.
This affects all the current Antares product range. The only Antares product that this doesn’t affect the legacy product, Auto-Tune 7 TDM/RTAS.
We asked Antares for a response, including a number of specific questions. In response, they provided us with this statement…
"The majority of our customers asked for this and are thrilled with the new solution. Yes, there are some workflows that need a portable solution, and we are looking into the best way to provide a solution for that in the near future."
This decision by Antares may please those customers who would need to buy an iLok just to run an Antares product. but why not enable the iLok machine authorisation option so that their customers could have the best of both worlds.
For whatever reason, they have chosen to completely change their licensing system. However, the decision means that for people like Korey, who are freelancers and use their iLok, to be able to take their toolset of plugins with them, wherever they work, may, as Korey suggests in his tweet, might now choose to say goodbye to Antares and choose to use another brand’s products.
Our Advice
If you need to use Antares products with an iLok we recommend not upgrading to the latest version of Antares products. For Auto-Tune Pro that means staying on V9.0, for AVOX, don’t go above V4.1.