Cubase 12 licensing

[kearton]

Previously I've used internal USB headers to keep the Cubase eLicenser dongles secured INSIDE the PCs, but the models of PCs we now get (which I have no say in) are smaller and don't have internal USB headers, so I need to find a new solution before I can replace the PCs we currently run Cubase on. The potentially good news is that apparently Cubase 12 has a new licensing system which no longer needs the dongles. I've had no luck trying to find any detailed info on Steinberg's website though. Has anyone else had any experience of this new system that would be able to pass on more info please?

[stumot]

My experience with Cubase 12 is that its clearly not ready for use in an education setting with multiple user profiles at this time, as we have been testing it and essentially every user that logs in needs to log into the the licensed mysteinberg account and activate the software once per profile, I have also checked for any reg keys/appdata folders that might save this step but no luck so far, when speaking to steinberg support about this they just advise using the older versions of cubase as they are supported in an education environment and currently the latest one isn't. So in summary if your on the older version and using dongles for licensing you might wanna stick with those until the company that makes the software officially says that cubase 12 can be used in an educational environment

 

Hope this helps

[kidpressingbuttons]

we have managed to secure the usbs to the insides of the pc then run a small usb extension cable into the machine via a blank plate space. If they pull the usb cable the stick stays in place. Had no issues in 3 years ours have been in place...

[MCrawford]

I have a workaround solution for Cubase 12 until Steinberg fix the problem properly.

The activation details are stored in the Appdata\Roaming folder of the logged on user account used when activating the software (C:\Users\USERNAME\Appdata\Roaming\Steinberg\Activation Manager\Data)

I copied the "Data" folder and all of its contents to the "Default" profile's Appdata folder. (C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming\Steinberg\Activation Manager\Data) You'll have to create some of the folder path.

This way the activation details get copied to the Appdata folder for any user who logs on to the computer.

 

There are a few caveats to this workaround.

I've only just started using Cubase 12 so I don't know if this is going to work long term. I don't know if Cubase re-checks the license after a period of time, or what would happen if it tried.

This has to be done on a per machine basis. AFAIK you get two activations per key, so you can't just copy the "Data" folder from one machine onto all of your others.

I use local profiles. You may come up against other issues if you use roaming or mandatory profiles.

 

Hope this helps.

Mark

Edited August 2, 2022 by MCrawford
typos

[tmoon-mint]

I have a workaround solution for Cubase 12 until Steinberg fix the problem properly.

The activation details are stored in the Appdata\Roaming folder of the logged on user account used when activating the software (C:\Users\USERNAME\Appdata\Roaming\Steinberg\Activation Manager\Data)

I copied the "Data" folder and all of its contents to the "Default" profile's Appdata folder. (C:\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming\Steinberg\Activation Manager\Data) You'll have to create some of the folder path.

This way the activation details get copied to the Appdata folder for any user who logs on to the computer.

 

There are a few caveats to this workaround.

I've only just started using Cubase 12 so I don't know if this is going to work long term. I don't know if Cubase re-checks the license after a period of time, or what would happen if it tried.

This has to be done on a per machine basis. AFAIK you get two activations per key, so you can't just copy the "Data" folder from one machine onto all of your others.

I use local profiles. You may come up against other issues if you use roaming or mandatory profiles.

 

Hope this helps.

Mark

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but your solution did the trick for me! Thank you.

[kearton]

I have a workaround solution for Cubase 12 until Steinberg fix the problem properly.

 

Would this work if you copied the same data to a large number (up to the number of eLicenses we have) of PCs?

Or would you have to licence one PC, and then copy that Data to it's own Default profile appdata, and then repeat on each individual PC (or the same data on no more than 3 PCs)?

(As https://www.steinberg.net/licensing/ mentions "you can only activate a product on three computers at any one time")

 

The other potentially good news on the horizon (from that link) is:

 

"In 2023, multi-user licenses for educational institutions and enterprise customers will be available, allowing you to choose the number of computers on which the software can be used simultaneously."

and

"For multiple-user licenses, planned to be available in 2023, further options will be available, including the option to assign a license to a specific computer, such that any user account on that computer will be able to use the software."

Edited January 19, 2023 by kearton

[petben]

Hello, if anyone still monitors this thread...

 

I have a license with Cubase 13 license with 'Multi' listed after it, I open Cubase signed in as IT and it licenses (I use this IT account for Steinberg activation manger, downloads etc) but then I sign in as a student and it asks to create an account. Anyone got this working?

 

 

 

[ITGURU]

we had tremendous problems with the software when bought it a while back especially the licensing, back and forth with their slow support! it was installed on a networked machine and had to create a special account for them to use which had the license activated on as anyone else logging on couldn't use the software as saying unlicensed!

[stumot]

Just to update but after over a year of trial and error with this eventually we decided to Virtualise this software using a VirtualBox VM with local restrictions on it, its not ideal but works much more smoothly as it seems the software doesn't play nice with UAC and requires access to local folders ( it does still ask regularly for activation but this only takes a minute per session so its a sacrifice the department are willing to make) its also worth noting that this is deployed on a relatively small number of machine so its likely not the best solution for IT suites of 30+ computers but if anyone wants some advice on setting it up this way please let me know

[MrBrow]

This is so annoying. Just deployed Cubase 13 and noticed the 'all user' issue in a classroom setting - fine for the user registering but then the next user sees the unlicenced message

 

Run the 'enable_current_licenses_for_all_users.ps1' which I thought would resolve my issue but that's not fixed it and even though I can see the activation files moving to ProgramData, i still see the not licensed message.

 

Also tried the fix from @MCrawford above and thought 'aha, that's an obvious solution, good work' but it also fails. I see the files copy but then nothing

 

 

Anyone else got this working recently? Not sure if something else changed in Cubase 13. I hate this software - bring back the USB licensing (such an odd thing to say but it worked!)

[kearton]

I've got Cubase 13 licensing and working fine now using their Automated deployment

https://steinberg.help/multiuser-guide/deployment-automated/

 

As part of that script you can install the license for all users: