Hi
This question is still a mystery to me. I called Steinberg support several times now, and even they are unsure.
If I use this link to buy an upgrade from my Wavelab 7 Elements to Wavelab 12 Pro, will my Wavelab 7 Elements license turn into a Wavelab 7 Pro license?
https://checkout.steinberg.net/session/Al49vu6rSrGjNdrvOAMLHA
Thanks for reading
I don’t think you can.
In general, buying a newer license of a Steinberg software entitles you to also use an earlier version of that software. Since WaveLab 11 the new Steinberg Licensing is used. Older Pro versions of a software need an eLicenser to work (a physical dongle that contains your license).
As far as I know you cannot add a new Steinberg Licensing license to the old eLicenser, or officially buy an older version that still used the eLicenser, and support for the eLicenser will officially end in 2025 anyway.
So, provided that WaveLab 7 Pro already used this eLicenser (I’m not sure), you could only use WaveLab 11 Pro and WaveLab 12 Pro with the new bought license.
He has elements and not pro.
I’m aware, but as the Elements version can EITHER be used with just a software or a pyhsical hardware eLicenser (at least that is how I remember it), and a hardware eLicenser is NEEDED for the Pro version, Aleque would have to upgrade the Elements license to a Pro license on a hardware eLicenser - again, provided WaveLab 7 Pro already used this system (which I don’t know for sure).
I have an eLicenser (AKA, a USB dongle). And when the sale started, I upgraded my Cubase 8 Artist license to Cubase 13 Pro, using a 50% discount.
Yes, I had to upgrade my Cubase 8 Artist license using eLicenser Control Center program. Now, when I log into my Steinberg account > Products > Show eLicenser-based products, under the Software tab it says: Cubase Pro 11 (Upgraded to Cubase 12 with Steinberg Licensing).
This means, that not only have I gotten the access to the newest version of Cubase 13 Pro, but it also upgraded all of my old eLicenser based versions of Cubase, retroactively, into PRO versions.
Now I can install the new Cubase Pro 13 and 12 (new Steinberg Licensing system WITHOUT the dongle).
And I can also install the older Cubase Pro 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, etc (old eLicenser system WITH dongle). And I repeat - my old versions of Cubase got transformed into PRO versions, which is awesome.
So, I assumed that similar rules would apply, when upgrading an old Wavelab 7 Elements version into the newest Wavelab 12 Pro. That my Wavelab 7 Elements would become Wavelab 7 Pro. And that I would get access to Wavelab 8, 9 and 10 as PRO versions, too.
But you say, this is not the case when it comes to Wavelab upgrade system / rules?
EDIT: I don’t mind using my eLicenser / USB dongle. I know that the support ends soon (2025), and after that I will not be able to transfer any old license to another USB dongle using eLicenser, because the servers are shutting down. Nor will I be able to upgrade an old license to a new one. In other words, old licenses stuck on USB dongles will be “frozen in time”. If you lose or break your USB dongle, then bye bye old license, because Steinberg will not support it.
But I still want an old Pro license of Wavelab and I am willing to pay more for it than for a regular, stand-alone Wavelab 12 Pro purchase. I would save 70% by going for the latter, but I’d rather take the Wavelab-7-Elements-TO-Wavelab-12-Pro upgrade. But only if I get access to all the previous version of Wavelab, as well, and they all become PRO versions.
I know that Steinberg is pulling the plug on the old licensing system. But I’m still interested in getting old Wavelab version af PRO, as this is my last chance to do so.
I had to repeat my situation both here on the forum and to Steinberg support over the phone. It’s kinda annoying not to get a clear answer on this subject.
Hmm, good point, there is this special definition within the eLCC.
I guess I didn’t think about this, as I always updated from version to version (I started with WaveLab 9.5 Pro).
Still, an USB-eLicenser would be required.