NI Essentials - only upgrade path is Komplete?

I bought the NI Essentials box (containing Battery 2, Absynth 3, Pro-53, and Kompakt). Over the past year I had upgraded to Battery 3, Absynth 4 and Kontakt 2 through various online resellers and private sales (license transfers). On my old DAW, I was able to install and activate all of the products.

Then NI changed the activation system.

The result was that despite reinstalling everything on my new DAW, including Essentials, the incremental updates, and the upgrades etc, Battery 3 and Absynth 4 would not activate. It took 1 1/2 weeks for NI to solve the issue.

In an email to me, NI stated that the only upgrade path from Essentials was to Komplete 3. In other words, according to how they've programmed their activation system, I am not allowed to individually upgrade products despite having legitimate licenses.

It seems absurd to me. While they may have only allowed that upgrade path via their own online store, other retailers were not restricting product upgrade purchases based on whether the original product was bundled or not. The concern is, of course, the nightmare of having to reinstall again at a later date on another new machine or after a major hard drive crash.

I'd like NI's comments on this subject.

Furthermore, I'd like to know how one who now owns Essentials, Battery 3, Absynth 4, Kontakt 3, and Vokator moves up to Komplete 5. The upgrade path is not at all clear.

Thank you, and I apologize for the length of this post.

Kevin Burke

 

You are probably screwed. Your best solution would be to call NI Sales and talk to someone.

I don't think NI currently has any upgrade to Komplete 5 for which you qualify.

 

Thanks Martin. I've submitted a web form request to Sales for upgrade options. As I said, it would be hard to believe that after purchasing as many products/updates as I have that I'd have to re-purchase (in effect) the same items again.

Hopefully they have some sort of pro-rated purchase option. They will either get some of my money now, and annualy ad-infinitum, or none now and never again. That's how I see it.

KEv

 

Just a small update - NI can provide no upgrade path for me according to an email I received from them yesterday.

KEv

 

I have the same problem. Since NI changed the activation system nothing works here anymore. If it is true that my Absynth 4 update is no longer "legitimate" because they decided to change their update policy I want my money back. I hope that everything is fixed next weekend because I have some gigs to perform.

 

I would still suggest calling someone at NI Sales and ask if anything can be done. It does seem unfair that all of your licenses and upgrades get you nothing toward Komplete 5.

Given their authorization process will never work with your setup, NI would have to sell you a Komplete 5 Full Retail product, hopefully for a reduced price.