![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
...what's this "oh now I have to buy VSTs" all about !?!?
![PUF Wink :puf_wink:](./images/smilies/Wink.gif)
Anyway, speaking of installers+updaters, to me from best to worst:
1) Arturia's ASC: Think RE's "Sync All" but for Arturia Apps+Plugins but you can easily customize the install path of both the VSTs and Libraries (like Spark); ...no additional process is installed. Runs when you call it, and that's it. Clean, simple, no weird hidden needless specific one-purpose disk drivers (like NI) or DRM drivers.
2) PH's RE system: "Sync All"
![Thumbs up :thumbs_up:](./images/smilies/Thumbs%20up.gif)
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif)
3) NI's system: almost like ASC but no easy custom install paths for libraries/patches and... not sure about the license transfer process (is it free?). Installer needs an ISO mount driver (at least on Windows) unnecessarily kept active as (YET ANOTHER) running process.
4) Line 6: errr... when it works, it's almost like NI, kinda. Not sure about license transfers.
5) IK: like... Line 6.
6) all the simpler one-installer-per-VST with no weird terminate-and-stay-resident DRM processes. Here, from the top of my head: AAS, u-he, GForce, Synapse, Korg, etc... with simple install, simple license activation but no auto-update system nor clear easy deactivation for re-activation on a new computer.
7) all the rest with single installers but also installing "standard" DRM processes (iLok/eLicenser): UVI, AIR, SONiVOX, etc...
License managers:
1) Arturia's ASC (Cloud+Computer): easy license activate/deactivate and up to 5 simultaneous computers activated per license; license transfers are free (though by request); No DRM running process
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
2) PH's RE system (Cloud/Computer/Dongle/Device): automatically activated after Shop buy; Easy deactivation/reactivation or temporary session activation online; No licence transfer allowed; No DRM running process unless you install CodeMeter for PH Sticks/Balance.
3) iLok (Cloud+Computer/Dongle): at least licenses are kept online so it's easy to deactivate and reactivate on another computer; DRM process always running in the background. License transfers possible (if vender allows) but there's a $25/25€ fee
![PUF Unhappy :puf_unhappy:](./images/smilies/Unhappy.gif)
4) NI's system (Cloud+Computer): Easy 1 step activation. Not sure about deactivation nor licence transfer process (never tried).
5) Line 6 (Cloud+Computer/Device): is convoluted sometimes. No DRM running process that I know of.
6) eLicenser (Computer/Dongle): installs a DRM running process and the only way to transport a license is through a USB dongle with no cloud support for it (like iLok, PH and Arturia do). I think license transfers a local (so, free) but always require USB dongles in the process. Also, not sure why eLicenser has a site to register the dongles... what use to me is that? If only I could do license transport/transfer through the Cloud.
7) all the others (Computer): one time activation, hard to deactivate for license transport to another computer.
Any other cloud/dongle licensing system you know not listed here?