***UPDATE*** See the end of the main blog for a positive response from Waves Audio.

Last month I bought a couple of Waves Audios plug-ins. To use the stupid things, the buyer must also purchase and use a USB security device called an iLok ($50).

http://www.pssl.com/images/ProdImage01/500/ILOK-2.jpg

The iLok plugs into your computer's USB port, and through a series of setup steps, the licenses for the software are stored on the iLok device. 

The software (in this case the waves plugins) will not work without the iLok device loaded with the license and plugged into your USB port.

So, everything seemed OK, the plugins are cool (if not a bit expensive), but tonight I opened a project that uses the plugins and I get a message stating that the plugins are not active because the license is not authorized. After some troubleshooting, I learn that the $50 iLok device has failed within  40 days of purcahse.

OK, bad hardware, it sucks but it happens.

Waves doesn't give a Sh**. They refer you to the iLok page so you can request authorization to return the device to iLok. OK fine. Caring about customers is a thing of the past anyway. Right? 

I follow the steps to request the authorization to return the iLok, but now, I need to pay them another $49 to "transfer the software licenses" to the new replacement device (which will also take up to two weeks JUST TO GET APPROVAL TO RETURN IT, not including the time to receive it, test it and send a new device.

So, here I am about $169 bucks into Waves for two plugins, and $50 into iLok; and I can't use either product without paying extortion of another $49 (without any guarentee that I won't have to do it all again in another month.)

Lessons Learned:

1) Waves Audio must be owned by the same pirates that own iLok.

2) Don't spend any more money with Waves Audio or any other company that uses iLok.

_________________

***UPDATE***

I received this message from Waves in response to my complaints and this blog.

"This type of situation (among other reasons) is why we moved away from iLok support in our current Version 9 release.

Since V9 is not iLok based you can update to it  without replacing the iLok etc.   You would only need to be under the

Waves Update Plan to get V9.


Complete details on Waves V9 can be found at http://www.waves.com/content.aspx?id=11997

Hopefully you will update your blog with the current and correct information.

Best regards,

Tim Holbert
Waves Audio LTD.
Internal Sales/Customer Support Manager
865-909-9221
fax: 865-909-9245
http://www.waves.com/
http://www.acoustics.net/
http://www.maxx.com/
http://www.sound.org/"

--------------------

This update to V9 resolves any issues I had with Waves Audio. If anyone uses products from Waves, I recommend that you look into the V9 upgrade!!