Hello. I want to buy UAD Signature 2. Native version… But so many negative thoughts about UAD Native and UA Connect… or better to go with Softube fxs? What’s your thoughts?
You don’t need to use ilok cloud with UA connect. It is possible to use a license attached to your ilok USB key. I have some native plugins from UA, always running from my ilok key.
But Softube is also very nice (I have and use a lot of plugins from them).
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Yeah… Need to think and maybe more comments. Thanks 
I have UAD Signature (1). Personally, I have never had any problems with UA Connect and this bundle is worth the price; Signature 2 is really interesting, I would like to see an upgrade for it. I also have some Softube plugins. Excellent plugins as well.
Both require an iLok account. The only downside with Softube is that I have often encountered problems with their plugins when opening Cubase where iLok would ask to activate the plugins used in certain files. A situation that I found unpleasant and which resulted in a failure to open a file. I have also sent Softube a few emails about this.
I don’t know whether it was iLok or Softube that caused this problem…
Personally, I would not hesitate two seconds to buy UAD Signature 2. I have never regretted buying Signature.
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Thank you very much! And UAD is better than waves?
Great plugins from both companies. For some plugins, I would say there is some difference in sound, but nothing unpleasant. I consider it as another alternative. For example, Fairchild compressors sound very different. Depending on the needs, I sometimes prefer the Waves version over the UAD one. Same thing for API plugins. It’s really a matter of taste and depending on specific needs.
Thanks!
I have to clarify what I wrote earlier. Softube and UAD plugins are great, but the PACE or iLok Licenses Manager protection system is crap.
I recently updated to Windows 11 and installed the latest version of iLok Licenses Manager. Since then, I have a duplicate location in the Local tab of iLM. A location represents a location where licenses are activated, including my current computer, another computer, a USB stick or an offline USB. This has doubled my possible license usage, 2 out of 3 for Softube products and 2 out of 2 for UAD and this for a single VST3 per installed plugin. This duplication has stolen a license from each and I don’t know why…
It’s hell to fix this problem, I’ve been trying to send emails to each of them, iLok, Softube and UAD for two days. I managed to send these emails, but not without difficulty.
It will be 3 days soon where opening a Cubase file can take up to 10 minutes if these plugins are used. Cubase is not the cause. I thought my problem was solved by uninstalling and reinstalling these products, but the pleasure was short-lived.
A word of advice, despite the very high quality of the plugins, avoid iLok Licenses Manager, this system seems to come from another era…
I think you would need to just deauthorize them, no? Remove them from the location they’re install and they should then become “available” again.
I would fully expect that just reinstalling would not solve the problem.
iLok (USB) has been pretty much rock solid for me. Works great.
Understand you.
Honestly at this time I have not so much Ilok plugins: Soundtoys, Soothe 2, two plugins from Softube and Air fro Slate… most of them activated to my machine. But I was purchased dongle. Don’t know now… do I need them… And at this moment I am thinking… Seems that most of All companies use their software app… waves, ni, Arturia (I was sold all my Arturia stuff BTW) etc… So I am seriously think about using plugins which don’t need Ilok, like Fabfilter, Valhalla, U-HE and the stock plugins of my Cubase… but honestly - Love Soundtoys and Soothe…
And what “analogue” Fxs you can recommend which don’t use Ilok? Many of amazing third-party plugins working on Ilok system…
I have done this more than once and it does not work. Currently all UAD and Softube plugins are disabled and uninstalled. I have even uninstalled UA Connect and Softube Central.
I have uninstalled PACE Software (iLok License Manager) and reinstalled it, updated it. No more plugins are visible in the original location (my current computer), however, the duplicate of the original location (which is associated with my current computer) is still there with a license used for each Softube plugin that I previously disabled and uninstalled and the same for Luna and a few UAD plugins, but not all.
What I have just explained to you, I have done it more than once to try to fix the problem, but it persists.
Currently, Cubase opens quickly, as well as the file that took 10 minutes to open yesterday, opens this morning in no time. Obviously all UAD and Softube plugins are inaccessible since they are deactivated and uninstalled, but some still have an active license in the location duplicated by iLok Manager.
I don’t know. I have a few plugins from Plugin Alliance and I’ve never had any problems with PA Installation Manager, not iLok. They have great plugins.
OK, thanks
Plugin Alliance, Halloween Sale Any plugin 24.99$ and Custom Bundles, Pick any 2-3-4 plugins for $49.99 / $59.99 / $69.99.
So just so I fully understand: If you select your computer to the left where it says “Local”, and you see the plugins in the list in the big area to the right, you can’t right-click and choose “deactivate”? Or you did that and it had no effect?
My understanding is that any license that you deactivate there should “reappear” in the section for “Available” licenses once you do that and then you can reactivate it on any other asset you have available.
Alternatively if you have an iLok key (USB) that does not yet have the plugin you should be able to drag the authorization from that local computer selection to the key and that should remove it from the computer.
I don’t have an iLok USB Key. Everything is managed by the iLok License Manager software. Indeed, a license that is deactivated becomes available again for a future activation, but that had no effect. I requested a reset of these licenses from Softube and UAD.
I just received, an hour ago, an email from the iLok License Manager support telling me that Softube had accepted my Reset request for the licenses of their plugins that I was unable to deactivate. So, for the Softube plugins, everything is now functional.
For the UAD licenses of Luna and LA-2A Tube Compressor that are problematic, they are still active and I am unable to deactivate them. I was told that the Reset request could take up to two weeks before being accepted. Luckily, it is only these two, all the others are now functional.
The consequence regarding Luna is that it starts and closes almost instantly, no possibility of using it. Luckily, I have Cubase.
Strange.
I mean I’ve said this before, but I really do think a USB key is ultimately better in a lot of scenarios. Being able to decouple authorizations from the computer makes exactly what you did much easier.
Maybe worth considering for the future?
Hello… Just interesting… is it possible to move my Ilok licenses to the dongle and then for example from dongle again to machine?
I guess you would have to check. I almost only use iLok USB licenses and I’ve certainly drag-dropped them between keys in the past, so my thinking was that IF a plugin can be authorized both on a computer and the key and it does not allow for a deauthorization then perhaps dragging from one to the other (in that left section) could work.
Thanks