Back in Dec 2017 I bought a second license for Cubase 9.5 (as it was then) in anticipation of setting up a second rig for an assistant. I received the email with the Activation code but then didn’t end up using it. At that point I was safe in the knowledge I could activate it later and get the current version of Cubase when I did.
Fast forward almost 7 years and I might need to finally use that license I planned for, however , in the meantime, the whole licensing system has changed. Can I still use the Download code I received on the email in 2017 (presumably meant for e-licensor) or do I need to contact support to get a new code for Steinberg licensing? I can obviously provide the emails, receipts etc.
You always get the current version at the moment of the very 1st license activation. So if you didn’t activate the license yet, you would get Cubase 14 (now).
Please, activate your license to the end of 2024, when the eLCC server is still running.
I haven’t got a physical elicensor any more as everything I used was upgraded to Steinberg licensing or iLok (Vienna) in the last few years. So, although I can open the elicensor software and enter the activation code it fails as there isn’t a physical dongle to download it to.
I would need to go hunting for a physical dongle but the one I used to use corrupted (I had to register a support ticket with Steinberg about upgrading The Grand 3 as I couldn’t access the elicensor dongle).
The other thing is that I don’t necessarily want to activate it now - I just don’t want to lose it.
I found an old elicensor dongle and went through the redeem process - it identified the original code as for Cubase 9.5, then during the activation process it said I was eligible for a Cubase 11 upgrade (i.e. the last elicensor version of Cubase) and so upgraded me to that on the elicensor dongle!
Now I have a Cubase 11 license on a physical dongle I never use. This feels like a mis-step. - how do I get to the current version of Cubase from here?
Is the license named Cubase Pro 11, or is there a Cubase Pro 11 (Upgraded to new licensing system) license? If the 2nd is the case, start Steinberg Activation Manager, sign in and trigger the Check Grace Period command.
In the eLicenser app it says Cubase 11 Pro (Grade Period Eligible).
In Steinberg Activation there’s only one Cubase 14 listed. Presumably my original one that I’ve been using. The new one should have been a second version of that).
Ah - is the problem that I went to the elicenser app to to do the redeeming? When you reminded me about the eLCC server closing I assumed I had to use the elicenser app to get the activation through but now I’m thinking it should have gone through the Steinberg download manager instead.
Thanks Martin - very helpful and that worked! It recognised the Cubase 11 license and then offered to upgrade as it was in the eligible period.
Steinberg have now sent me an email entitled “Your Cubase 12 Grace Period Activation” with a new download code. I assume the email title saying Cubase 12 isn’t a problem!
Am I right in thinking now I have a new Steinberg Licensing download code, I don’t need to use it now, but can use it in the future in the same way as a normal download code for Steinberg Licensing? So, if I keep the code and then decide to use it when Cubase 15 or 16 are released it will still work as expected for that version? As I mentioned, the only reason I went through the process now was not to be caught out by the elicenser server closing.
I’m not 100% sure anout this. But my expectation is, you got the license already, now. So my expectation is, you are on Cubase 14 (which is the version of today).
Hmm. I don’t have a new Cubase license in either the Steinberg activation manager or the list of products in my account.
What I do have is a an email from Steinberg issuing me a new download code to use for Cubase 12 (that’s what the email says even though it’s not the current version). I would assume that I’m only issued a new Cubase license when I enter that code in Steinberg Download Manager…