If you like using Dorico, and want to keep working with it, you’ll find literally thousands of improvements and new features between version 3.5 and 6.2, including additional fonts and music sample instruments.
The upgrade is $245 or €245 or £207. That’s a slight discount, compared to paying for 3 separate upgrades over the years (at $/€ 99).
Of course, you don’t have to buy every update, but sometimes you will need to, to get a version that works on the latest OS. Or, in this rare instance, because Steinberg changed over their licence management.
Or, if you happen to own Finale, use the crossgrade offer – it’s cheaper. (Finale also offers a free upgrade to v27 for licensed users until July 23rd, I think, after that you won’t be able to have the latest Finale and the crossgrade must be purchased through Steinberg.)
I would also sincerely recommend you to update your software. Not only you will get lots of new functions and improvements, but you will be able to keep in touch with other users, avoiding problems of incompatibility between versions, or other ugly surprises as has been the end of eLicenser.
So, Alberto_Maria, that’s why it seems ridiculous to me that Steinberg prevents the user from continuing to use software that is compatible with the operating system. The issue isn’t system incompatibility, but simply license authentication (for a license that was actually purchased).
As for updating, that brings other problems. I created some graphic scores in Dorico 3.5 Pro; these scores end up with messed-up formatting and become unrecognizable when opened in newer versions (which is already a major compatibility issue with the updates). That is also why it is very important for me to keep Dorico 3.5 functional on my computer.
I don’t know if D3.5 can run on your Mac, Eric. But if you had moved your (software?) license to an USB or if you have an USB with the 3.5 license, you can certainly run it. Steinberg advised all its customers before the last date (May 2025?)…
Can you explain this formatting issue? Most scores in Dorico should stay the same; but if you were using a “workaround” for missing functionality (which may now be improved), then perhaps restricting yourself to old, un-supported software may not be the best, or only, answer. Maybe there are now easier ways of achieving the end result, which require less work – even if you would have to re-do it?
The licence change-over was a rare event – there certainly won’t be another one any time soon. But there are many advantages to the new setup, such as 3 authorized devices at any time, and easier licence transfer.
Software doesn’t last forever: it has to be maintained, like a garden.
What I disagree with is the fact that the software does work on the new operating system; the problem lies in the license authentication method. Since I purchased a perpetual license, I should be able to use it indefinitely.
If the software were incompatible with the operating system, I wouldn’t find that unreasonable.
Eric Barreto,
what did you do with the emails from Steinberg telling you about the change of licensing service back in 2021 and 2022?
Over months, every registered user received quite a few of these informative emails, some of them suggesting, some of them requiring action.