If you buy a boxed copy of the Pro Tools 9 software, it comes with a pre‑authorised iLok, while Pro Tools HD and HD Native systems come with an empty iLok and activation code for authorising a Pro Tools licence onto the iLok. Take the iLok away and the software is no longer authorised and won't function. The software checks for its presence before it will run on that system. If you haven't seen one before, an iLok is a small device that you plug into any USB port on your computer. This was not the case with Pro Tools 8, and a good number of Pro Tools LE users who upgrade to Pro Tools 9 will need to get to grips with using an iLok for the first time. For the first time, all current versions of Pro Tools also now require an iLok for authorisation. So perhaps it's no surprise that PACE have come up with a new and improved version of the iLok.

Together in perfect harmony: original (blue) and second-generation (black) iLoks.Īmazingly, the humble iLok dongle has been helping us to manage licences so we can legitimately use our chosen creative tools for 10 years now.

So should existing users make the move to the new version, and how do new users get started? The iLok dongle is more important to Pro Tools users than ever.

Free ilok download for pro tools ten