OK, Finally I have the PRO version. After an afternoon of annoying even agitation of not being able to get in contact with Steinberg via support I found this community.
It is totally unclear to me why there is now a third method to activate. It was already difficult, but this does not help at all.
Well I am glad that their programs are so good or otherwise I would have quit a long time ago.
i must admit; that it was for me never difficult…
but i can imagine, that it can be difficult.
the new license method isn’t that clear, indeed. but it went flawless.
for Wavelab Pro 11.1, it seems not. i will go there, the forum, to ask, if it is a big problem, or only some users.
there is now a third method, becuase of the new licensing system, no eLicenser necessary for Pro 9… or Cubase 12 Pro. or Wavelab Pro 11 (if it works…).
but you have still the dongle when you update, that can be confusing.
Steinberg, perhaps the page exists; needs to make the process better; or better guide…
Well finally I managed. Wavelab 11.1 I had comparable problems. I have no dongle unless the USB eLicenser is a dongle?
The problem is that once you succeed you don’t remember exactly what you did as it becomes try and error. Compared to competitors this is really a complicated way of activation… To me it looks like a way that is for IT guys not for plain users.
Well I have vented my heart, back to normal untill the next update 
the USB eLicenser is the dongle, both names are used, the first is the official one… or was it because, o well…
Wavelab 11.1 has still problems, it seems. was confirmed in the Wavelab forum. steinberg is working on it.
in that sense/way, SpectraLayers went smooth…
when Cubase 12 came, well it was quite problematic, if i remember correctly.
the problem is of course the new licensing system. the transition, that is always difficult.
could it be handled better? i think so, but perhaps, well…
i am not an IT guy, but have some programming skills, that i don’t use anymore…
well some developers have much stranger activation procedures…
o well, i can fully understand you need to vent it… i would too, or i do sometimes… when i run into bugs… that are… well… or sometimes strange procedures.
at some point, it will be easier…
back to; the great world of spectral editing! (and i wish Wavelab had also previews… for processes… but in a way it is handled in another, i think, or i do…)
Grace Period updates when the product is moving from eLicenser to Steinberg Licensing are a bit of a mess. Fortunately, this situation will soon be behind us once everything is on Steinberg Licensing.
The official route to trigger a Grace Period check is:
- Open Steinberg Activation Manager
- Click the ‘person’ icon in the top right of the window
- Choose “Grace Period Check…” from the menu and follow the prompts
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