Finally figuring out the UAD Spark thing

[James Steele]

They want to know your iLok password, so they can deposit your license for your 224 and any other applicable UAD spark versions you may be eligible for.

[bayswater]

They want to know your iLok password, so they can deposit your license for your 224 and any other applicable UAD spark versions you may be eligible for.

Others manage to do this without your password. They only need your ilok ID.

[James Steele]

They want to know your iLok password, so they can deposit your license for your 224 and any other applicable UAD spark versions you may be eligible for.

Others manage to do this without your password. They only need your ilok ID.

I don’t know what to tell you. I have no dog in this fight. Do a support ticket with UAudio and ask them why.

[bayswater]

I don’t even have a dog, let alone one that fights. I’m just suggesting that access to your password is not necessary to give you a licence. PSP for example, just gives you a code to enter into the iLok software. Many others just ask for your ID, and when you bring up the iLok software its there to be activated. As I recall it, Waves didn’t need your password either when they used iLok.

I first noticed the password request with Avid. It’s an odd thing to ask for when we are constantly warned to never give anyone any of our passwords. I came across the claim they need it so they can revoke a licence, but that makes no sense either. If iLok was willing to let a vendor revoke a licence, again all they’d need is the ID.

[Killahurts]

A friend who also uses DP and UAD2, was visiting me yesterday and explained that UAD probably needs to have access to the iLok in case you were to sell your hardware. I don't know how they do those things over at UA, but I assume you can transfer ownership of the plugins when you sell a card, or other hardware. If that's true, it makes sense that they would need access to the iLok, so if you sold your hardware they could remove your license and presumably give it to the new owner.

I'm satisfied enough with that answer to go ahead with it.

[bayswater]

That could be the case. But they could simply require that you remove the licence before they transfer it.

[Killahurts]

I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.. I wrote the company to clear up an issue where I couldn't create a support ticket with my account on the website. I told them the reason I needed to get a support ticket is so I could ask them why they needed my iLok account password for me to access the native plugins. They wrote back that the support ticket issue was addressed and fixed, and ignored the iLok question.

The UA Connect app automatically would launch itself on every startup, so I went to Login Items and stopped it. Some reading on their forum led me to understand that, in addition to your iLok password, you have to have the UA Connect app on and communicating with your (hacked) iLok to use the plugins. That may be incorrect, but the point is I couldn't seem to get a straight answer to confirm anything, either way.. lots of obfuscation here.

I'm heavily invested in UAD, and after 12 years I don't know if I trust where the company is going anymore. I'm going to begin now, to look for alternatives.