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Every time I launch Pro Tools, I get "This version of (plug-in name) requires ...
 
Every time I launch Pro Tools, I get "This version of (plug-in name) requires authorization for you to use it. Please press the Authorize button to begin the authorization process." The only options are to Authorize/Buy or Quit. How do I remove expired (trial) plug-ins?


Pop-up Authorization Messages



All Digidesign plug-ins and software that require an additional purchase (and many from third-party developers) require an iLok license for authorization.*

When the Pro Tools application is launched, a message will appear for each plug-in or software option that requires iLok authorization if the license for that sofware is not found on an iLok connected to your computer.

Pro Tools installers and installation disks include various installers for optional plug-ins and software in order to allow existing owners of these options to install or update software for which they have licenses.

If you have installed optional plug-ins or software that you did not purchase, and you do not have an iLok license to use these items, you can remove the software using the instructions below. Once you do, the pop-up authorization message will no longer appear during Pro Tools startup. The procedure for removing the expired (demo) software is different depending on the software type and platform. Information on trial licenses is at the bottom of this page.

*With the exception of MP3 Option:

What Plug-Ins Are Included With My System?
  • To find out what plug-ins are included with your Pro Tools system purchase*, see the Products Section of the website.
  • Choose your Pro Tools system, then click on the "Bundled Plug-Ins" tab.

*While the DigiRack plug-ins are included with all Pro Tools software upgrades, promotional bundles such as the Ignition Pack software are included with the purchase of new Pro Tools HD and LE hardware systems only. The Ignition Pack bundle is not included with Pro Tools software upgrades. DigiRack Plug-ins, original Ignition Pack, and Ignition Pack 2 software do not use iLok authorization (only the Ignition Pack 2 Pro includes extra softare that is iLok-authorized). DigiRack plug-ins require no authorization for use in Pro Tools, while the Ignition Pack software includes instructions for authorization on the printed cards for each Ignition Pack 3rd party product.

See also:

Removing Plug-Ins



Windows
Use Add/Remove programs to remove any plug-ins that you do not want on your system.
To manually remove:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Digidesign\DAE|Plug-Ins

Mac OS X:
Go to Mac HD/Library/Application Support/Digidesign/Plug-ins and delete the relevant plug-in(s), then empty the Trash.

In some cases, there may be multiple plug-in files for one plug-in installation. For instance, D-Fi consists of these 4 plug-ins, which you would remove from your plug-ins folder:
  • LoFi
  • RectiFi
  • SciFi
  • VariFi

Optional Software & Bundles


DigiTranslator, DV Toolkit, DV Toolkit 2, and the Music Production Toolkit are optional software purchases that are not included with the regular purchase of Pro Tools software or hardware systems. Some of these software components are installed in the Pro Tools folder instead of the [More]
 
iLok Authorization and iLok.com Information
 
iLok Authorization and iLok.com Information

Information about the iLok authorization system and video tutorials about how to use iLok.com for electronic license deposits and transfer to an iLok.

Additional iLok Information, Links, Related Documents



What Is An iLok & Why Would I Need One?


   


Digidesign has transitioned all of our plug-in software copy protection from floppy drive based key disks to copy protection authorizations that reside on the iLok technology provide by PACE. The following is some information about iLok technology.

The iLok USB Hardware Key (pictured here) is a device that holds authorization keys and connects via the USB port to your computer.

The iLok USB Hardware Key enables you to carry all of your authorizations with you wherever you go using a single key:
  • It's Portable: iLok enables you to easily move authorizations from one computer to another. Use your software at home, at the office, at a studio, or at a friend's house. iLok makes it portable.
  • It's Safe: Authorizations are stored in the secure iLok USB Hardware Key — not on the computer or hard drive. iLok is immune to problems caused by machine upgrades, disk maintenance, hardware failures, and software updates.
  • It's Convenient: Store all of your iLok-enabled software authorizations on a single iLok USB Hardware Key, regardless of developer

Using iLok.com & Electronic iLok License Transfers



Many products that are sold online can be purchased as web-only electronic licenses to activate optional plug-ins and software installed from web downloads or your Pro Tools CD. These include many plug-ins and optional software products sold as "Full License" or time-limited "Rental" licenses available on the DigiStore. For these electronic licenses, no iLok License Card is included or required. Licenses are purchased online, deposited to your iLok.com account, and then transferred to your iLok. This is a quick and easy process that allows you to purchase products online and use them immediately.

Many new boxed versions of iLok-enabled software products from Digidesign include an activation card with instructions on how to authorize your iLok using the Digidesign website. With these products, an Activation Code is used to deposit the licenses to your account on iLok.com.

What is my iLok User ID?
If you have not already done so, you would create a free iLok.com account yourself at iLok.com. Once you create an account there, your iLok User ID is what you use to login to your account on iLok.com (not your login password, which you also choose). Your iLok.com User ID is sometimes referred to as your "iLok ID", "iLok User ID", or "iLok Account". All of these are the same thing, your login name [More]
Downloads    
iLok Usage Guide - Japanese
0.92 MB
 Download
iLok Usage Guide v8.0 (PDF)
1.77 MB
 Download
 
Why don't Windows versions of Pro Tools TDM and LE support the SDII file ...
 
Why don't Windows versions of Pro Tools TDM and LE support the SDII file format?
SDII stores information in both forks (data and resource) of the Mac file system. You just can't copy an SD2 file to a PC-formatted disk without losing important information. Instead, we recommend WAV and AIFF files (on both PC and Mac) for cross-platform interchange. [Page View]
 
Pro Tools M-Powered suddenly quits during launch with no error displayed ...
 
Pro Tools M-Powered suddenly quits during launch with no error displayed in Windows XP.
In one case, Data Execution Prevention was set to OptOut. Changing this to AlwaysOff resolved the issue. To correct this, follow these steps:
    1) Right-click on My Computer and select Properties.

    2) Click on the Advanced tab and select ‘Settings’ under Startup and Recovery.

    3) In the Startup and Recovery window, click on the ‘Edit’ button. This will display a text document with system execution parameters.

    4) Locate the part of the text that reads: “ /NoExecute=OptOut “ and change the “OptOut” to reflect "/NoExecute=AlwaysOff “ - note that the ‘A’ and ‘O’ are capitalized and there are no spaces.

    5) Go to the file menu and Save the document. Close the document and click ‘Okay’ in Startup and Recovery.

    6) Reboot the computer. Data execution prevention will now be disabled.

    7) Try and launch Pro Tools M-Powered again once the reboot is complete.



[Page View]
 
Can different versions of Pro Tools be installed on the same computer?
 
Can different versions of Pro Tools be installed on the same computer?


Q. Can I install both Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered on the same computer?
A. Beginning with Pro Tools 7.1, both Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered can be installed on the same Mac OS X or Windows XP startup system, as long as they are both the exact same version number, such as:
  • Pro Tools LE 7.1 and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.1 for PowerPC-based Mac OS X or Windows XP
  • Pro Tools LE 7.1.1 and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.1.1 for Intel-based Mac OS X
  • Pro Tools LE 7.3 and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.3 for Mac OS X or Windows XP
  • Pro Tools LE 7.3.1 and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.3.1 for Mac OS X or Windows XP (note: for this combination, you should install LE 7.3 then MP 7.3, then run the 7.3.1 updaters for LE and MP - you will not be able to install 7.3 of one if 7.3.1 of the other is already installed)
  • Pro Tools LE 7.4 and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.4 for Mac OS X, Windows XP, or Windows Vista
You can install either Pro Tools LE or M-Powered first, then install the other, as long as they are both the same version number.

If you do not own the same version number of both LE and M-Powered, you will need to install each on separate drives or separate partitions with Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered installed on separate startup systems.

Q. What about Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools HD? Can they both be installed on the same computer?
A. Digidesign only supports co-installation of Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools HD software when they are installed on separate drives or separate partions with HD and LE installed on separate startup systems.

As a possible workaround (unsupported due to limited testing) for Pro Tools 7.x:

1. Install either Pro Tools HD 7.3 or Pro Tools LE 7.3
2. Run the update from to Pro Tools HD 7.3.1 or LE 7.3.1 (available from Featured Downloads in the Support section of the website)
3. Move the Pro Tools HD or LE application from the Pro Tools folder to your desktop.
4. Install the second application (Pro Tools HD 7.3 or LE 7.3)
5. Update the second Pro Tools HD or LE 7.3 application to version 7.3.1
6. Place the previously moved Pro Tools HD or LE (v7.3.1) application from your desktop to your Pro Tools folder.

Both Pro Tools HD (v7.3.1) and Pro Tools LE (v7.3.1) should then both be in your Pro Tools folder, and share the same Pro Tools system files.

Please Note: In order to install Pro Tools HD software, your HD Core card must be installed.

Opening Sessions on Pro Tools HD or Pro Tools LE
To force a session to open in the desired version of Pro Tools, instead of double clicking on the session icon, do one of the following:
  • Drag the session file to either the Pro Tools HD or Pro Tools LE icon in your Pro Tools folder (or an alias of the icon, such as an alias on the desktop or the Mac OS X dock).
  • Launch Pro Tools HD or Pro Tools LE, then open or create a session from Pro Tools' File menu.
[Page View]
 
MIDI Track Meters 'peg' while recording in M-Powered. Transport controls ...
 
MIDI Track Meters 'peg' while recording in M-Powered. Transport controls stop responding and the computer eventually freezes.
This can occur when using a ProjectMix I/O with a MIDI Keyboard Controller. You must configure M-Powered to separate MIDI Control messages (sent mainly via Firewire bus) from other MIDI messages (such as those coming from a MIDI Keyboard).

In Pro Tools M-Powered:
1) Go to Setup> MIDI Setup > Input Devices
2) Disable "ProjectMix, Control" so that the application is instructed to ignore the control messages and only record the MIDI messages coming in from external controllers. [Page View]
 
Bomb Factory Upgrades from Legacy Versions to Current Versions
 
Bomb Factory Upgrades from Legacy Versions to Current Versions


Bomb Factory Version 1, 2, and 3HD Plug-Ins

Original registered owners of the legacy Bomb Factory version 1, 2, and 3HD versions of Bomb Factory plug-ins that are ALSO registered for Pro Tools 6.0 and higher are eligible for free upgrades to version 4.x/7.x of their plug-ins. Digidesign/Bomb Factory plug-ins require the iLok license for v4.x/7.x (iLok licenses for version 4.x for Pro Tools 6 also work with version 7.x for Pro Tools 7).

Registered owners of Bomb Factory plug-ins can upgrade in the following way:
  • 1. If you have not already done so, create a free iLok account on iLok.com (if you are new to iLok.com, please see the tutorial videos on iLok.com use here: Digidesign iLok Information
  • 2. Register your iLok USB hardware key (sold separately) on your iLok account
  • 3. Contact Digidesign Customer Service Administration by phone or email with your iLok.com User ID and information on which registered Bomb Factory plug-ins you own
  • 4. If you are registered for Pro Tools 6 or 7, please provide that information as well as your name, address, and phone number
Only the original registered owners of these Bomb Factory legacy plug-ins from the Digidesign or Bomb Factory registration records are eligible for upgrades to the Digidesign/Bomb Factory version 4 licenses. Unregistered owners or purchasers of used versions of these plug-ins are not eligible for upgrades.

Bomb Factory 3 Value Edition (48k) Plug-Ins
  • Original registered owners of the Bomb Factory 3 Value Edition (48k) versions of the Bomb Factory plug-ins are eligible to upgrade to version 4.
  • For registered owners of Bomb Factory 3 Value Edition plug-ins that are ALSO registered for Pro Tools 7, the upgrade to version 4 is free.
  • For registered owners of Bomb Factory 3 Value Edition plug-ins that are NOT registered for Pro Tools 7, the upgrade price is the difference between the original list price of the Value Edition and the original list price of the HD/192 version of the same plug-ins.
  • Only the original registered owners of these Bomb Factory legacy plug-ins from the Digidesign or Bomb Factory registration records are eligible for upgrades to the Digidesign/Bomb Factory version 4 licenses. Unregistered owners or purchasers of used versions of these plug-ins are not eligible for upgrades.
Registered owners of Bomb Factory plug-ins can upgrade in the following way:
  • 1. If you have not already done so, create a free iLok account on iLok.com (if you are new to iLok.com, please see the tutorial videos on iLok.com use here: Digidesign iLok Information
  • 2. Register your iLok USB hardware key (sold separately) on your iLok account
  • 3. Contact Digidesign Customer Service Administration by phone or email with your iLok.com User ID and information on which registered Bomb Factory plug-ins you own
  • 4. If you are registered for Pro Tools 6 or 7, please provide that information as well as your name, address, and phone number
Only the original registered owners of these Bomb Factory legacy plug-ins from the Digidesign or Bomb Factory registration records are eligible for upgrades to the Digidesign/Bomb Factory version 4 licenses. Unregistered owners or purchasers of used versions of these plug-ins are not eligible for upgrades.

Bomb Factory Legacy Plug-Ins - Downloads [More]
 
"DAE error -9128" or "losing connection with M-Audio interface" error ...
 
"DAE error -9128" or "losing connection with M-Audio interface" error with Pro Tools M-Powered.
This can be caused by using a combination of FireWire 400 and 800 devices on the same FireWire bus (M-Audio devices are FireWire 400).

Please see this M-Audio FAQ for more info. [Page View]
 
Intel 9xx Chipset Compatibility With Digidesign & M-Audio USB Devices
 
Intel 9xx Chipset Compatibility With Digidesign & M-Audio USB Devices

Digidesign's Mbox 2, Mbox 2 Mini, Mbox, and M-Audio USB audio devices are not compatible with desktop computers with the following chipsets:
  • Intel 915G
  • Intel 915P
  • Intel 925X
915GL, 915GV, 915PL, and 925XE are compatible, see supported chipsets at the bottom of this page

Intel has provided the following quoted information regarding this issue:

"The Intel 9xx family of Express Chipsets, including the Intel 925X chipset meets USB specifications. The Audio issues reported by Digidesign are not due to any direct USB issue, but appear to be a result of a documented errata (errata #7 (http://developer.intel.com/design/chipsets/specupdt/301474.htm) on the B-1 stepping of the ICH6, which is stepping of the I/O controller used with the 925X chipset. The B-1 stepping of the ICH6 controller is also used with the 915G and 915P Express chipsets. Errata #7 may impact devices connected to the ICH6, including PCI devices and External devices connected via the USB port, due to an internal arbitration issue that may result in up to 40 µsec delay.

Most USB devices are buffered adequately to withstand an additional 40 µsec delays, but some full speed USB 2.0 devices may experience underruns, depending on specific system configuration and instantaneous USB bandwidth consumption. In addition, USB devices that do not meet the USB specifications could also be impacted.

Details of the errata are given at the link above. The errata was fixed in subsequent steppings (B-2 and C-0) of the ICH6. The 925XE, 915GV, 915PL, 915GL and the 910GL do not utilize the B-1 stepping of the ICH6 and therefore are not impacted by this issue.

Suggested workaround:

For heavily loaded audio solutions, the best alternative is to utilize systems based on chipsets that utilize the B-2 or C-0 step of the ICH6 component, which has been better optimized for heavy audio traffic. Also, although Intel has not validated a high speed USB hub as a solution to this issue, we are aware of certain 3rd party system manufacturers that are using an external high speed USB hub to mitigate this issue on platforms with the B-1 step of the ICH6 component."


Chipset Requirements with Intel Pentium 4 processors & Digidesign/M-Audio USB Devices
The following chipsets have been approved with desktop computers with Intel P4 processors:
  • Intel 925XE
  • Intel 915PL
  • Intel 915GL/915GV
  • Intel 875P
  • Intel 865PE
  • Intel 850/850E
  • Intel 845/845E/845PE
Intel 945G/945P, 955X chipsets are qualified with Intel Pentium D processors, not tested with Intel Pentium 4 processors.

The following chipsets have been approved with laptop computers with Intel processors:
  • 915PM
  • 915GM
  • 855PM

More Information
[Page View]
 
Pro Tools Session Compatibility & Interchange
 
Pro Tools Session Compatibility & Interchange

Pro Tools 7.0 and higher uses a new session file format and extension (.ptf) to distinguish its sessions from sessions created with previous versions of Pro Tools 6 and earlier. The new .ptf file format supports many new options for session compatibility and transfer. In order to open a Pro Tools 7.x session with Pro Tools version 6.9 or lower, the Pro Tools 7 user must save the session in Pro Tools 5.1 format. Use the File > Save Copy In command to choose the destination session format (such as 5.1–6.x) and other options.

For more information on creating new sessions, opening previous sessions, and saving sessions, see Chapter 8, "Sessions" in the Pro Tools Reference Guide.

For more information on opening sessions created on different platforms, Pro Tools systems, or versions of Pro Tools software, see Chapter 15, "File and Session Management and Compatibility" in the Pro Tools Reference Guide.

Pro Tools Version Backward Compatibility



The following is a list of features that are not supported with lower versions of Pro Tools. Opening and saving a session in a lower version of Pro Tools may cause data related to these features to be lost. For instance, Pro Tools 7.2 added support for video region groups. These are not displayed in Pro Tools 7.1 and lower, and are lost when you save the session.

This list does not include versions prior to Pro Tools 7.0, may not be complete and is provided as a guide only.

Pro Tools 7.4
When opening a Pro Tools 7.4 session with an earlier version, the following occurs:
  • Elastic Audio tracks will play at 1x speed without TCE warping. The TCE warping must be coalesced in Pro Tools 7.4 before opening in earlier versions.
  • Unicode characters in any text fields such as track names, region names, etc. may not display correctly. To ensure compatibility with lower versions, the Pro Tools 7.4 user must perform a Save Session Copy In… and select the appropriate character set for use with the lower version.
  • Lost support for some resolutions of Avid video with Avid Mojo/Mojo SDI: Pro Tools 7.4 supports all standard definition Avid video resolutions with Avid Mojo and Avid Mojo SDI. Lower versions of Pro Tools only support a subset of these resolutions. Unsupported video clips will be labeled as such in the timeline. To ensure compatibility, the Pro Tools 7.4 user should export the video track as a QuickTime movie, then re-import into the session.
Pro Tools 7.2/7.3
In addition to the changes above, opening a Pro Tools HD 7.2 or 7.3 session with a lower version of Pro Tools will cause the following issues:

Pro Tools HD 7.2 Minimum Version Compatibility
To open Pro Tools HD 7.2 and higher sessions, you need Pro Tools HD version 7.1cs3 or later, including the following:
To open with a lower version of Pro Tools (including 7.0 thru 7.1cs2), you must first save the session in Pro Tools 5.1 ->6.9 format.

Tracks
  • VCA Master tracks are removed and any un-coalesced VCA automation is dropped. VCA automation must be coalesced in Pro Tools 7.2/7.3 before opening in a lower version.
  • Any un-coalesced Trim automation is dropped. Trim automation must be coalesced in Pro Tools 7.2/7.3 before opening in a [More]
Downloads    
What's New in Pro Tools HD 7.0 (PDF)
3.5 MB
 Download
What's New in Pro Tools LE 7.0 (PDF)
3.44 MB
 Download
What's New in Pro Tools M-Powered 7.0 (PDF)
3.4 MB
 Download
What's New in 7.3 (Pro Tools LE, M-Powered, and Academic)
4.07 MB
 Download
What's New in Pro Tools HD 7.3 (PDF)
1.7 MB
 Download
What's New in Pro Tools HD 7.2 (PDF)
3.89 MB
 Download
What's New in Pro Tools HD 7.4 (PDF)
2.7 MB
 Download
What's New in Pro Tools LE & M-Powered 7.4 (PDF)
2.71 MB
 Download
Pro Tools Reference Guide v7.4 (English)
29.49 MB
 Download
 

 
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