A few days ago, I received news from Steinberg about a new, “exciting” way of user control. So as part of the exciting new freedom of my use of Steinberg programs, I will have to check in at Steinberg’s headquarters once every 30 days to be allowed to continue working with Steinberg’s programs, for which I will pay him the same as before. Of course, it’s all because Steinberg likes me and wants me to be better.
Let’s think - I have an Elicenser key, activated the product one time and never had to dutifully report to Steinberg to keep this product working, moreover, sometimes I took the key out of one computer and put it in another, started my Cubase Artist 9 in seconds and after the problem.
Now I have to start the internet, check if, for example, Windows will not download any updates (it’s better on my Mac Pro) that will turn my computer configuration upside down, it’s better to turn on some protection, etc. to another computer, log in and activate it back, that’s just great …
I have a question for Steinberg - you are decommissioning the E-licenser, but why don’t you want to let us activate one time without having to log in and activate the product again?
We buy your expensive software honestly, and pirates will surely breach your security and won’t have to activate your Cubase, Dorico etc … We want to be honest and pay for your products. I am asking this because our freedom and right to any kind of independence and freedom to use software are being increasingly restricted.
I keep hearing that we are important to you, and I have the feeling that you are treating us like a herd of naive and stupid milk cows with no rights.
A few days ago, due to the new “exciting Steinberg facilitation”, I panicked and wanted to buy Cubase Artist 11 as the last product that would give me a little more freedom to work with music in my studio. But there was a sobriety. After all, I have two Mac Pro’s in my studio!
and I can buy logic X. It is a great DAW and costs just over two thousand kronor in the AppStore here in Norway, while Cubase Artist 11 costs over 3500! Works perfectly with my Native Instruments and EastWest Platinum Symphony Orchestra. Thanks to my ID I can install it on my MacPro without any problem and I don’t have to reactivate it! …
What’s more. A long time ago I worked on the Cakewalk Sonar. I found Sonar BandLabb on the internet. You have to activate it every 6 months (you can Offline) but … it’s completely free !! I downloaded it and installed it on my PC. It’s the same great Cakewalk as it used to be, I opened old projects on it. I’ve also read a lot about Ableton, Presonus etc …
Steinberg is not the only alternative for us, and we still have a choice. There are quite a few of your users out there who love the little bit of freedom they’ve had in using your programs up until now, so it makes sense for all who think alike to protest against the new era of miraculous control. If not, we would consider leaving your um … “family”. I personally will not spend a single euro more on your software with the new licensing method. Those who don’t respect my opinion won’t get any money from me.
Maybe something worth changing in Steinberg’s plans? Remember that the desire for super control and power, instead of going forward, breeds backward march and in the end … collapse.