Plugins on Pro Tools Install Disk

I just installed LE 7 (Mbox 2) on my laptop. I also installed the plugins that came with the PT install disk, not the extra plugins that come on the seperate install disks. When i launch PT i get alot of registration popups, for those plugins, asking for the iLok. My Mbox2 didn't come with an iLok. What do I do?

Well, I would panic, strip naked, plaster myself with honey, and then cover myself in feathers, and run down the street as fast as I can, screaming, "THE SKY IS FALLING DOWN!!! THE SKY IS FALLING DOWN!!!" But seriously... Simply goto c:\program files\common files\digidesign\dae\plug-ins and look for the names of the plugins you are being prompted for licenses (ilok) for. There are typically (say, 98% of the time) two files: one ending in .dpm, and one ending in dpm.rsr. Remove the plugins you do not have licenses for with each extension (ie, say you are removing "moogerfooger delay" then you will delete "moogerfooger delay.dpm" and "moogerfooger delay.dpm.rsr" files). But first: Launch PT. Write down the names of the plugins that you are asked for licenses for, but do not have licenses for. Goto "Add/Remove Programs" and look for each of those you wrote down. BF Essentials, or "Free BombFactory plugins" are cool- do not remove those! Also, "Digidesign Shared Plugins" are cool- do not remove those either. Both of those are groups of freebies that come with Pro Tools! Last but not least- for future help/chat/etc, the PT LE for Windows section (just a little ways down on the main forum page) is where you will get help...this is TDM/HD land, and is filled with horrible, wealthy snobs who do not give two bits about others...but not really...the other section is for PT LE and associated ahrdware, which is quite different than what users in this section...uhhh...use...

Simply goto c:\program files\common files\digidesign\dae\plug-ins and look for the names of the plugins you are being prompted for licenses (ilok) for. There are typically (say, 98% of the time) two files: one ending in .dpm, and one ending in dpm.rsr. Remove the plugins you do not have licenses for with each extension (ie, say you are removing "moogerfooger delay" then you will delete "moogerfooger delay.dpm" and "moogerfooger delay.dpm.rsr" files). hey thanks. will this just remove the authorization popup or delete the plugin alltogether? obviously, i would like to keep the plugins.

Hi! Plug-ins requiring a license require you to buy them. Once purchased, you would need an ilok (about $40, might be able to find a little lower price) for the license(s). Without a license, and once past the demo period, the plug-in(s) will cease to load/be available for use. Some plug-ins require an ilok for a temporary/demo authorization, and thus will require the purchase of an ilok as well. One ilok can hold (supposedly) 100 or so licenses. Yes, it sucks, but more and more vendors are using hardware license options. Ilok is not the only player on the block, but for those operating in the Pro Tools world, it is currently the only one. If you plan to work in the Pro Tools world for some time to come, my advice is to bite the bullet now and grab an ilok. Eventually, you will probably want more plugins...thus requiring one. Alternatively: FXpansion's VST2RTAS ver2 wrapper. Works very well, and opens you up to a world of (literally) over 1000 free VST plugins. Add to that the many, many, many purchaseable VST plugins, and you could have just what you need, or want. Without need for an ilok. (some VST plugins require a hardware protection device, such as ilok or another type. With the large number of freebies tho, the chances of absolutely have no choice but to go with a plugin requiring hardware protection are pretty slim. Then, as you save $$$, buy plugins with higher value- and thus requiring hardware protection- and move on.) Unless you are using plugins that require dedicated DSP (such as PT HD Accel, or Powercore, or UAD1, etc), you should be able to find free, or at least very low cost, VST alternatives, which could run with the wrapper. Not all VST plugins work; this is because not every coder follows the VST SDK well enough. The wrapper is not that strict, but still- ya gotta draw a line somewhere! Hope that helps.