Blackmagic Forum

Hi all

It is my intention imminently to purchase Resolve Studio. I believe there are two options: Dongle or Activation Key?

Are these actually different things, and if so which is the best option?

Andrew

Hi
The key activates up to two machines at a time. The dongle can only be used on one machine at a time (but faster be moved to a different one).
The dongle activates Fusion 16beta
The dongle has to be plugged into the machine (which might be not the best option on a laptop)

The software is the same (just don't buy the software in the Apple store, that is not the same). It is a question of usability which version to choose.

Best regards

Harald

Bewegte Bilder wrote:Hi
The key activates up to two machines at a time. The dongle can only be used on one machine at a time (but faster be moved to a different one).
The dongle activates Fusion 16beta
The dongle has to be plugged into the machine (which might be not the best option on a laptop)

The software is the same (just don't buy the software in the Apple store, that is not the same). It is a question of usability which version to choose.

Best regards

Harald

Bewegte Bilder wrote:Hi
The key activates up to two machines at a time. The dongle can only be used on one machine at a time (but faster be moved to a different one).
The dongle activates Fusion 16beta
The dongle has to be plugged into the machine (which might be not the best option on a laptop)

The software is the same (just don't buy the software in the Apple store, that is not the same). It is a question of usability which version to choose.

Best regards

Harald

Great, thank you, Harald.

I only have one machine, so either seems fine for me.

I note in previous threads that some people have had problems with dongles. Is this an ongoing issue?

Can you buy direct from the BM website, or do I need to find an authorised supplier in my own county (Spain)

Andrew

There have been reports of fake dongles on Ebay/Amazon that won't work with the latest versions.

As far as an authorized vendor, check out the BM reseller page: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/resellers/

Activation key will give you resolve in two machines, the dongle will give you resolve and fusion studio on one machine.

I have the dongle and if I will finish the second one, I will buy another: it's a nice thank you BM.

Thanks,

It's sounding like the dongle is the way to go.

I have heard that fake dongles are out there, but I have found a couple of authorised dealers in Spain.

Andrew

An someone who once had a $20,000 license of Maya (before the price drop) which was a dongle, I can strongly recommend the activation key.

The reason is if you loose the dongle then youve lost your license period. Whereas an activation key I have a photo of it stored on my phone, on my one drive etc. It will never get lost.

Also if you were to use a laptop too then you will forget to bring the dongle sometimes leaving it stuck on the back of your PC.

Hello,

I have a dongle for Davinci resolve Studio and another for Fusion Studio (before we had to have a dongle for each software ).

I would not want to change.

Of course: buy from an official dealer .

Which ever way you go, make sure to buy it from an authorized dealer! What you might save from a third party, might only work in the current version and stop with next revision. The counterfeit market is full of clones that only work for the specific versions that they were cracked to provide. BMD wipes these out as fast as they can. Authorized sources are the only way to make sure you get what you pay for, and generally only $100usd more than second hand.

I voted dongle for me. I have a mix of software and dongle licensing at work, and when the chips are down, the dongles keep our classrooms functioning! It would be worth an extra $50 (for me) to buy the dongle version. The dongles themselves do cost money, I don't expect them to take a markdown on providing the hardware to unlock their product.

From what I am reading the main benefit with dongle is that you get Fusion 16. I am mainly editing for upload on to Youtube, don't really use Fusion much aside from basic banner. That said, the Resolve 16 comes with its own Fusion which is sufficient. Which is the better option? Activation Key or Dongle? Thanks.

'Better' is subjective.

I 'prefer' the dongle. Works on any capable machine, no Internet required.

Does the activation key that ships with Resolve Studio also activate Fusion Studio?
According so some reseller sites, it doesn't. However, according to this reddit, it does.



Thx

Yes it does, since Fusion Studio 17.

Looking to make a purchase. If I get activation for Resolve 17, instead of the dongle, I want to confirm that I can activate both Resolve and Fusion with the activation key.

ntbone wrote:Looking to make a purchase. If I get activation for Resolve 17, instead of the dongle, I want to confirm that I can activate both Resolve and Fusion with the activation key.

As of version 17 of both programs, yes.