Buy Finale Crossgrade Now To Upgrade to Dorico 7 Later?

[Eggsalad]

Would it work to buy the Finale crossgrade now (there’s a 25% discount, I believe), not activate it, and use it to get Dorico 7 when it’s released down the road? Or is there an expiration? Reason is to get Finale v27 and update Dorico. Thanks!

[charles_piano]

If you get a Dorico 6 licence, upgrading to Dorico 7 when it’s released will anyway be a paid upgrade, I believe (only intermediate updates within the same version are free).

[YourMusic.Pro]

I think if you manage to divine the exact day of the Dorico 7 release, and then activate 2 weeks before that date, you should be able to fall into the grace period…

EDIT: Or do what Ben suggests below, no crystal ball reading required…

[benwiggy]

@Eggsalad

(there’s a 25% discount, I believe)

First: Steinberg have a discount on their website for their products; but the Finale crossgrade is purchased from MakeMusic’s shop. As fas as I can see, it’s still selling at $149 (the previous additional 15% discount doesn’t seem to be on).

However, you are right that a Download Access Code is ‘dated’ from when you activate it; and if you do that after a new product is released, then you get upgraded to that version.
I recently bought Cubase 14 in the summer sale, but didn’t use the code until version 15 was released in November, and I was automatically updated to the new version.

So if nothing in the last 18 months has persuaded you to buy Finale 27, then doing so as a means to get a cheap upgrade to Dorico 7 isn’t really worthwhile, as $149 is greater than the usual $99 upgrade fee. But if you do still have Finale files that need viewing/printing/exporting, then you might want to get F27 “while you still can”, regardless.

[asherber]

@benwiggy

As fas as I can see, it’s still selling at $149

For a “limited time”, you can get an additional 25% off the crossgrade with promo code CYBER25 (during checkout at MakeMusic).

[Eggsalad]

Thanks, folks!

@benwiggy

I recently bought Cubase 14 in the summer sale, but didn’t use the code until version 15 was released in November, and I was automatically updated to the new version.

Do you know if the code would have expired at some point?

@asherber

For a “limited time”, you can get an additional 25% off the crossgrade with promo code CYBER25 (during checkout at MakeMusic).

According to Scoring Notes podcast, this runs through 12/5.

[benwiggy]

@Eggsalad

Do you know if the code would have expired at some point?

I doubt Steinberg are keen to outline the inner mechanics of their licensing scheme, just so people can ‘game’ it; but I suspect a code for v6 would be good within the lifetime of v7, at least.

Presumably it’s done so that anyone buying in the grace period (or managing to buy version n-1 after n is released); and presumably Steinberg is ok with the very small numbers of people that are going to buy something and hang on to it. After all, you only get the free upgrade once – when you activate, then you’ll have to pay for future upgrades.

[Eggsalad]

@benwiggy

I doubt Steinberg are keen to outline the inner mechanics of their licensing scheme, just so people can ‘game’ it;

Surprised at this characterization. I’m trying to find out what a product can and can’t be used for before buying it. If and when a product expires seems like essential info for a consumer. And the question flows naturally from the fact that the companies offer periodic sales for limited times. In any case, thanks for the reply.

[asherber]

@Eggsalad

I’m trying to find out what a product can and can’t be used for before buying it.

Dorico offers a 60-day free trial.

@Eggsalad

If and when a product expires seems like essential info for a consumer.

The trial expires after 60 days, but purchased versions do not expire, even after the next major version comes out—they just won’t get further updates.