There was one before I start at NI Reaktor (R3). All ens saved at this time can only be opened with R3-dongle in Reaktor 4 - 6.
I've just hit this when transitioning from a laptop I did everything on, to a new PC. It is unconscionable that NI can just outright kill software, without providing legacy users a way to continue using what they paid for. I'm not talking about support (eg. compatibility with future OS'). I use Pro53 in important mixes, and a live show - now it's effectively dead, with zero warning and (so far) zero compensation! If you're not aware of the situation, NI have retired the old way of activating their older software, 'Service Centre', in May 2020. So you can no longer activate any software that has not been updated for their newer 'Native Access' software. That includes a whole list of software which can now, effectively, not be activated any longer at all, on any OS! Full list: https://support.native-instruments....ervice-Center-and-Legacy-Products-End-of-Life So, if you're currently activated but need to re-activate for any reason in the future (transitioning to a new PC, reinstalling the OS, changing hardware etc) you are screwed - the software is now _unusable_! You can't even go back to the last supported OS version, as NI no longer allows activation for those products period! The obvious solution would be to offer products like Pro53 as abandonware - either without requiring activation, or (if the additional software work for that is not desirable), then releasing a generic license key that activates in offline mode for all existing users. Failing that, specifically for Pro53, the only other fair compensation would be to offer a free U-He's Repro license, as that also emulates the Prophet 5, and NI are currently offering discounts on U-He software (runs out Jan 7) so they have a deal with them: Native Instruments - Software And Hardware For Music Production And Djing (native-instruments.com) That would still mean having to port Pro53 patches, but it would be an acceptable workaround. Expecting users to swallow having their software (that many like me are still actively using or may need to re-render or remix older projects) is now killed is just absurd, nobody should stand for it.
I have boycotted buying any further N.I. Software until this is fixed and will continue to until further notice.
We wouldn't be able to offer products from another manufacturer to our users for obvious reasons. However, just like it was detailed when we first discussed the end of life of some of our very old software, we do accommodate anyone reaching out to us with an issue re-activating Pro-53. For example, I can see that LX World received a license for Super 8.
Super 8 is not what I paid for though is it? And you refused to refund me on request. Not good to be treated in this way. You should be ashamed! The entire software industry has been getting away with too much for too long in my book. Just look a he controversy around the video game Cyberpunk2077
I blame the pirates. I bet people using pirate software have an easier, less stressful ride. Unlike the rest of us legit schmucks,... The frustrating part is the software still works - in demo mode (meaning you can't save any patches) Native Instruments made the business decision to deactivate the activation server (they had our money long ago and chose to end development. I would have been more than happy to continue to support it - the first Massive hasn't been updated in years and yet it continues to be available on Native Access). Anything that requires an external activation server means you are at the hands of the developer. When they pull the plug your purchase is worthless. It will happen with Native Access at some point in the future. Hardware goes wrong but can be repaired or replaced. Software may be cheaper but what is it worth in the long run with this sort of activation process?
Stuff like that doesn't even exist in my thinking. Why would I care what people illegally acquiring their software do? You should really consider using more current software though. Software isn't supported forever. It just doesn't make sense to further support 32-bit software in 2021. It didn't even make sense anymore 7 or 8 years ago. Apart from that, Super 8 is a hundred times better anyway. I don't see why NI should refund you either. That's just bollocks, unless you expect Samsung to refund you as well, when your 10 year old TV is kaputt. Lol. You're funny.
You seem to be missing the point about the piracy thing! I don't support pirate software either but in cases like this I wonder whether they have an easier ride! You really shouldn't make assumptions of things you don't know! I use plenty of up to date software thank you. Including Native Instruments. I wasn't really interested in a refund. I just want the software to work The TV is a poor analogy as they are designed to be obsolete. N.I. effectively made this obsolete by taking away the activation process and not providing a Native Access compatible fix. They did it for FM8 and Massive after all, Maybe in future keep your thoughts to yourself unless you know the facts and stop trolling?
Massive and FM8 do not use the same activation process and we didn't have to touch anything. We didn't deliberately decided to make a few products obsolete while saving some others. Again, we really did our best to accommodate whoever was affected and you were one of these users. Despite our efforts, you're still advocating for boycott for a product released over 20 years ago. As far as I know and at the risk of being to direct, re-activating Pro-53 will never be a possible option.
NI should make activation of all legacy SW possible. Or remove the need of activation from the SW. It is not uncommon that people need to use 20-30 years old SW. Why should it be different for plugins? It is even more so with plugins. And the problem and the need for beeing able to run "obsolete" musical SW will grow up. In one, two decades one would need to run 40-50 year old stuff. Plugin developers who use some kind of protection should keep in mind that some of them might be used for very, very long time. And prepare for situation the authorisation servers become obsolete, etc. If they decide stop the servers, they sould have in hand either plugin without protection or universal licence code, so that users may go on using plugins. It is unacceptable to kill the plugin. (I do not have any NI legacy plugins. So, my opinion does not come from the fact I am 'affected'.) And I guess, one would have the right to ask NI to give him information how to unblock plugin, or how copyprotection works. One would have to go to court, I guess. And all this also raises the question. What happens with some of my NI plugins (or any others) once they become legacy. And manufacturer will no longer support activation.... :-( Super 8 might be better and more valuable than Pro-53. But what if one needs remake his old stuff using Pro-53 plugin? Or just likes Pro-53.
Once again the tech companies are inadvertently controlling what people do and how they do or don’t use their products
I reached out to support (Andreas, request #2441973) before posting here. He linked the FAQ on the subject and offered nothing else. And NI, killing software is not an option. Yes you can stop supporting it, that's not our complaint. But companies that no longer support their licensing scheme will almost always release an abandonware version of the software. There is no reason you can't do that. Anything else is an insult. Speaking of 'up-to-date', I have Komplete 13, but Pro53 is a key sound in one of my singles, and I use it live. You can't just kill it outright! I've always thought highly of NI and your work, this is so out of character. You guys are smarter than this.
You're missing the point. It's not about support, but that the software can't be activated anymore - it's now completely unusable. Do you have ANY software that simply doesn't run anymore, not even on an older OS? Exactly. It doesn't happen. So how do we re-render / remix old projects using it? It's like saying 'sorry we can't remix a famous Beatles track, because Paul's Höfner bass can no longer be activated'. It's insane.