The ultimate No-Go list of Cracked Software and Plugins

Whats the issue?

Many musicians use cracked software and plugins on their computers.

• What are the risks and issues of pirated software on my computer?
• How can you check if you have cracked software on my computer?
• Our recommendation

Risks

When using pirated software on your computer, you risk the following:

• You risk of damaging your computer: Many cracks include viruses and backdoors which will harm your system. And yes, nowadays even on Mac.
• When screen recording, you risk of being accused of using pirated software. In fact, many artists have been blamed publicly by exposing software in videos which they did not buy. Don’t believe it? Look: https://edm.com/features/all-your-favorite-artists-are-thieves
• Updating pirated software comes with a cost – your manpower. You will have to invest an increasing amount of time to keep your software updated, whereas it is a one-click process with most software and plugin manufacturers. Why does this amount of time increase? Because manufacturers invest their time to prevent their software to be pirated – they work against you in that matter.
• Some software do show their licence codes in the GUI. Others rely on challenge-response mechanisms which cracks try to circumvent. Running such software on your computer and even giving admin rights to do the crack is a highly riskful thing which you should think of twice. Mac Gatekeeper for example is worthless if you open the door of your Mac yourself.

The picture shows a pirated version of Sylenth 1

How can i check?

The following is a list of Plugins which list the name of the buyer in the GUI.
This list serves as an information and might be incomplete and it helps you not to fall into any publication trap like creating Videos online.
Use it to scan your computer for any missed or forgotten software that you want to update to a paid licence.
Given the fact that there are hundreds of VST plugins out there, the number of listed items can be considered quite small and surveyable.

• Sonic Academy Ana 2 – https://cl.ly/0l0B0h3x3D3Y
• Sonic Academy Kick 2 – https://cl.ly/0w2l2T3Q420l
• Ohmforce Ohmicide – https://cl.ly/1n1T3o1O3E3X
• Ohmforce Ohmboyz – https://cl.ly/163W2n0D2h3P
• KV331 Synthmaster 1 (not 2) – https://cl.ly/443f363P3q1l
• Lennar Digital Sylenth1 – https://cl.ly/2k011K3Y0u3c
• Camel Audio Alchemy – https://cl.ly/2i051D1x3C2O (discontinued)
• Madrona Labs Aalto – https://cl.ly/0X1S0W2a2b03
• SonicCharge Implant – https://cl.ly/2C0c2I1V3F0F
• Tal U-NO LX – https://cl.ly/133j0Q2X092C
• U-He Zebra – https://cl.ly/030z2f2T120W
• U-He Bazille – https://cl.ly/2Q3h0q1e1027 (Startup only)
• U-He Diva – https://cl.ly/131u3F2N2J0J (Startup only)
• VPS Avenger – https://cl.ly/3y0R3o2f3k08
• Xfer Serum – https://cl.ly/2p0l0A0Z3F16

The above enumeration is based on manual checks of all items on the following two lists:
https://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/the-30-best-vst-plug-in-effects-in-the-world-today-534241
https://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/the-50-best-vst-au-plugin-synths-in-the-world-today-621799

The pictures shows a licenced version of U-HE Diva

Our recommendation

Please use legal copies of software!

Why?

• Hoarding loads of VST’s and software is a common mistake of newcomers to producing. You risk of getting into the plugin trap and be kept in the sound collection spiral of no return. Don’t fall into this! You better create music every single day and learn how to master your few plugins and program your hardware synths / effects instead – You can create a top hit with only Ableton installed – If you know how to master your existing stuff.
• Peace of mind comes from living and breathing good karma – Buy it if you can afford it, the developer will thank you for that.
• Its not as expensive as it was – Plugins, software and especially Sample Packs once cost many times more, its much more affordable today.
• You earn money with it? Buy it! – You don’t have any cash and cannot afford anything? Well that’s one thing. But its certainly another thing if you just toured the world as an artist and show your youtube viewers your ignorance by using pirated software with which you just earned a lot of money.
• There is an analogy with the music that you produce and try to sell: Do you like that everybody just downloads your piece of art for free? If not, you should buy software and Plugins, its the same principle.

Learn now how to produce your own music – on www.schoolofsound.ch/kurse/