Liscense Validation is required for TMPGEnc Plug-in AC-3.

[gastorgrab]

Was everyone aware of this?

"LICENSE VALIDATION is required for TMPGEnc Plug-in AC-3 and TMPGEnc 3.0 XPress.
Therefore an Internet connection will be needed to validate your license from time to time.
*But you don't need to be constantly connected (In fact, the connections just take a very short time)."

"After the first License validation, there will be simply a verification of
the license file stored in the HDD of your PC, until the expiration."

Expiration? I guess you only rent this software.

http://www.pegasys-inc.com/en/info_lic_val.html

[MOVIEGEEK]

I can understand their concerns about piracy but for the plugin to "expire" is rediculous.

[shoozleboy]

Yes, the AC3 plugin has used this method all along

The TMPGenc Xpress 3.0 just came out and this was added to it....

There are numerous posts on this already. For those that do not use the internet on their work rig, most if not all, will not use any software that requires a periodic activation check.

Others whose machines are connected to the internet, don't really care.

It all depends on how you see it. Opinions are like ***holes, everyone has one.

Myself, I'll stick to version 2.5 and I use DVDLab for DVD Authoring. Paid for it after giving both DVD Author and DVD Lab the 30 day try out. DVDLab does AC3 just fine and DVD Author seemed to not like it....

[gastorgrab]

That explains why i couldn't get TMPGenc Xpress 3.0 trial to work.....I have a firewall!

[BobK]

> DVDLab does AC3 just fine and DVD Author seemed to not like it....

I use DVD Author (1.5) without the AC3 plugin, and it likes it fine. You just can't hear the audio while you're editing/authoring the disk, but it's there.

[shoozleboy]

I know the AC3 encoder works with TDA, but when I back up a DVD of mine, I grab the 5.1 audio track. For whatever reason, TDA would not like the track after creating the DVD+R.

My A/V receiver has a "mutli-channel decoding" detection setup and it would detect any DVD that I created with TDA as a "Pro-Logic" surround.

When using DVD-Lab, it detects the track as "5.1 Dolby Digital", and the sound is definately better in my media room.

I don't dislike TDA, it's a wonderful piece of software for the price. It's just that I'm not made of money and I decided to go with the DVD Lab after the 30 day trial dates were up on TDA and DVDLab's trials. That ease of use for burning the 5.1 track is important to me.

Like I said, each person has their own preference - but as far as the activation thing with TMPGEnc - I'll stick with version 2.5 - it works for me for re-encoding my VHS captures.

[yautja666]

The periodic 'validation' aspect of the TMPG DVD Author AC3 plugin is a joke. I do all my video work on a dedicated machine that is far away from my internet connection, so you can imagine how much teeth grinding it causes when the plugin needs to go online to validate my license. Basically, it requires shuttling my whole computer back home to get it online.

While I can appreciate their desire to protect their product, Pegasys has gone way beyond the standard measures they use in their other software, to a point that seems rather paranoid. I wasn't aware of the 'expiring' licenses in their most recent releases, so thanks for the notice. I'll definitely be taking my business elsewhere from now on.