Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

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DigitalArtGuru

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Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostFri Sep 06, 2019 8:22 pm

I am thinking about purchasing the Studio version of DaVinci Resolve 16.

Why are there two versions? Dongle OR Card?
What's the difference?

1. DaVinci Resolve 16 Studio (Dongle)
2. DaVinci Resolve 16 Studio (Activation Card)

3. There is also DaVinci Resolve 16 Studio to purchase from the Apple store.

Which one is the best to maintain and update?

Thanks!
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Gary Hango

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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostFri Sep 06, 2019 9:49 pm

Dongles can break or get lost, but they’re easy to move from system to system. Activation code cards can be lost and you need internet access to activate, but you get 2 concurrent activations. Every comment I’ve seen in these forums say to stay away from the App Store version unless you can live with the restrictions. I think I read here somewhere that BMD will be phasing out dongles. I’d go with the activation code.
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Jim Simon

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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostFri Sep 06, 2019 10:22 pm

To my thinking, this job really needs a proper desktop. Trying to do this work on a Laptop is out of the question.

So I like the dongle. Just plug it in, and you're good.

I have seen BMD staff comment about missing features in the App Store version, which can only be 'solved' by spending another $300.
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Brad Hurley

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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostFri Sep 06, 2019 11:08 pm

One of the restrictions in the App Store version (inability to install some OFX plugins) can be bypassed, apparently: viewtopic.php?f=21&t=68910

But another restriction, if I remember correctly, is that you can't export stills from the color page, at least not in JPEG format.

The App Store allows you to choose either automatic updates or manual updates; if you buy the App Store version you'd definitely want to choose manual updates, especially since some updates to Resolve require a database upgrade and you should back up your database(s) first.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostSat Sep 07, 2019 6:44 am

DigitalArtGuru wrote: Why are there two versions? Dongle OR Card?
What's the difference?


Hi.

Suggest you read what Dwaine Maggart from Blackmagic Design wrote about Fusion in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=97375

First:

Fusion 9 dongles work with Resolve Studio 15 and 16.

Fusion 16 works with a Resolve dongle or a Fusion 9 dongle.

No stand alone Fusion version currently works with Resolve activation codes.

At the moment, we are still selling Fusion 9 dongle packages.

And later:

To be clear, you can use a Resolve dongle with Fusion 16.

But not with Fusion 9.

So if you today or later want to use the standalone Fusion program, then selcet a Dongle.
And if you ever want to use a pre Fusion 16 version, then consider a Fusion Dongle. It will also run Resolve Studio 15 and 16 according to above.

And as I remember, do it cost the same as a Resolve STUDIO dongle.

Regards Carsten.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostSun Sep 08, 2019 4:11 pm

Gary Hango wrote:Dongles can break or get lost, but they’re easy to move from system to system. Activation code cards can be lost and you need internet access to activate, but you get 2 concurrent activations. Every comment I’ve seen in these forums say to stay away from the App Store version unless you can live with the restrictions. I think I read here somewhere that BMD will be phasing out dongles. I’d go with the activation code.

What happens if the dongle breaks? Can we get another one thru black magic to replace it?
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostMon Sep 09, 2019 2:11 pm

Thanks for all the replies!


So, if I purchase Davinci Resolve STUDIO with the dongle, I also get Fusion 16 Studio at no extra cost. Is this correct?

I wonder what happens if I lose the dongle or if it stops working?
If I am in the middle of a very important rush job, and the dongle stops working, what would I do if works need to get finished on time?

One of the reasons I want to purchase the studio version is to support Blackmagic. They are doing an excellent job.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostMon Sep 09, 2019 6:45 pm

Down with the Dongle!!!
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostMon Sep 09, 2019 7:04 pm

DigitalArtGuru wrote:Thanks for all the replies!


So, if I purchase Davinci Resolve STUDIO with the dongle, I also get Fusion 16 Studio at no extra cost. Is this correct?

.


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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostMon Sep 09, 2019 8:53 pm

waltervolpatto wrote:
DigitalArtGuru wrote:Thanks for all the replies!


So, if I purchase Davinci Resolve STUDIO with the dongle, I also get Fusion 16 Studio at no extra cost. Is this correct?

.


Yes.


Thanks for clarifying. It was a little confusing with so many different options and configurations.

Do you know what happens if anyone here loses the dongle or if it stops working?
If we are in the middle of a very important rush job, and the dongle stops working, what would we do if works need to get finished on time?

Cheers
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Dwaine Maggart

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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostMon Sep 09, 2019 10:21 pm

If uptime is truly that critically important to you, buy more than one dongle. If you want to use dongles.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostMon Sep 09, 2019 11:47 pm

Dwaine Maggart wrote:If uptime is truly that critically important to you, buy more than one dongle. If you want to use dongles.


I would rather know what happens in this situation.
Does it mean I have to buy it all over again if something happens to the dongle or it stops working?

Where can I read about this on the Blackmagic website? I can’t find anything.

.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 1:46 am

Thanks to everyone that has posted.

How many of you use the dongle version of DRS?
What’s your experience with it? Any issues since you got it?

Cheers
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Shrinivas Ramani

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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 2:34 am

Please do check the FAQ section on licensing, activation key and dongles (viewtopic.php?f=21&t=90190#2) - even if most points have been covered in this post.

You can find authorised resellers here - https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/resellers/ to ask about dongle availability and shipping.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 5:21 am

Do you have to pay for extra Dongles? It was stated previously that if you lose the Activation Key you have to pay $299 for another Key. Black Magic or the retailer who sells the Activation Keys should keep a record of the Keys. Adobe always kept the Serial Number for users to access before they went to the Cloud.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 7:35 am

BMD doesn’t maintain ownership records so if you sell or loose or give away the dongle BMD has no knowledge of that, nor seeks that info.

If the dongle fails contact the local BMD office.
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Jim Simon

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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 2:22 pm

FusionBill wrote:What’s your experience with [the dongle]? Any issues since you got it?


It's been flawless. I stick it in one of the rear USB ports, and it just works.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 2:50 pm

What happens if the Dongle no longer works? How long is it going to take to get it replaced? Will you have to pay for a replacement?
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 2:55 pm

It's never not worked. To be honest, that's just not something I ever worry about.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 3:11 pm

What are you going to do if at some point it does not work? There is no guarantee that it will last forever.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 3:14 pm

Like I said, it's just not something that worries me. I also don't worry about my USB keyboard or mouse not working. Or the USB scale I have for my Admin computer.

I've never had a USB device fail on me, so that probably informs my view. The internal hardware doesn't last as long as my USB externals.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 3:23 pm

Long live your Dongle!!!
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 3:35 pm

Another factor that might be important for some users is that the dongle doesn't require an internet connection for activation; the activation key does.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 3:37 pm

Jim Simon wrote:...I've never had a USB device fail on me, ...

+1
Same here but I never remove a dongle when the PC is ON (even is a USB)
Anyway, there was only the Dongle when I went to the Studio version :D
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 3:53 pm

Frank Engel wrote:Another factor that might be important for some users is that the dongle doesn't require an internet connection for activation; the activation key does.


That’s a good point
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 3:58 pm

Jean Claude wrote:
Jim Simon wrote:...I've never had a USB device fail on me, ...

+1
Same here but I never remove a dongle when the PC is ON (even is a USB)
Anyway, there was only the Dongle when I went to the Studio version :D


So, leaving the dongle plugged, doesn’t wear it out? I guess it’s like leaving the keyboard plugged in at all times. That would make sense.

Unfortunately, it takes a USB port on the computer which you can’t use for anything else. But I get it. It has to be plugged in.

The only issue I see, if I am on the road with my MacBook Pro, I run the risk of losing it. We have to be extra careful. Things do happen. Not often, but it can.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 4:15 pm

FusionBill wrote:
Jean Claude wrote:
Jim Simon wrote:...I've never had a USB device fail on me, ...

+1
Same here but I never remove a dongle when the PC is ON (even is a USB)
Anyway, there was only the Dongle when I went to the Studio version :D


So, leaving the dongle plugged, doesn’t wear it out? I guess it’s like leaving the keyboard plugged in at all times. That would make sense.

Unfortunately, it takes a USB port on the computer which you can’t use for anything else. But I get it. It has to be plugged in.

The only issue I see, if I am on the road with my MacBook Pro, I run the risk of losing it. We have to be extra careful. Things do happen. Not often, but it can.


Others :
I know someone (Hello Marc) who says to use a wired USB extension between the USB port and Dongle. No risk of stopping in case of sudden action or fall of PC or MAC. At most, the dongle falls but except falling from the roof of a building, nothing serious.

Personally, I have 2 dongle Davinci Resolve and Fusion and it never move from the office. :)
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 4:16 pm

FusionBill wrote:if I am on the road with my MacBook Pro


You edit on a Laptop???

man-pulling-hair-out-21.jpeg
man-pulling-hair-out-21.jpeg (40.21 KiB) Viewed 8037 times
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostTue Sep 10, 2019 5:10 pm

Jim Simon wrote:
FusionBill wrote:if I am on the road with my MacBook Pro


You edit on a Laptop???

man-pulling-hair-out-21.jpeg


LOL, only occasionally on the road. It has plenty of memory, and with potable SSD drives, it does the trick. It also depends on the job.
But most of the time on my main desktop computer.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostWed Sep 11, 2019 5:19 pm

Thanks to everyone that posted here.

This is very useful information. I do want to support BlackMagic by buying the studio version.
The software is amazing. I just needed to get clear on what's the best way to do it.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostWed Sep 11, 2019 11:53 pm

i have two activations, and two dongles

one dongle is in the studio for emergencies.. like the day that BMD's server went down and i could not start the software with a killer deadline for the next morning

the other dongle goes to clients who need/want to use it temproaraly

all the machines in the studio, and my machine at home are on activation normaly
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostWed Sep 11, 2019 11:59 pm

If your dongle fails you can always switch to the non-studio version as a stop-gap until it is replaced. Sure, some elements of the software won't work but you'll still be able to do the basics and then, once your dongle is replaced, the watermarks will (should) disappear and you'll be back to normal.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostThu Sep 12, 2019 12:18 am

I got the Dongle version by mistake a couple of weeks ago, and the seller offered to swap it, but after some investigation I have decided to keep it as it seems a more versatile option. I am no fan of Dongles either by the way.

Steve
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostThu Sep 12, 2019 3:05 am

Please make sure you buy from an authorised Blackmagic reseller and not on eBay etc.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostThu Sep 12, 2019 3:20 am

Rohit Gupta wrote:Please make sure you buy from an authorised Blackmagic reseller and not on eBay etc.

I did. Thanks!
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostThu Sep 12, 2019 6:18 am

And so did I.

Steve.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostMon Sep 16, 2019 12:42 pm

Steve Golding wrote:I got the Dongle version by mistake a couple of weeks ago, and the seller offered to swap it, but after some investigation I have decided to keep it as it seems a more versatile option. I am no fan of Dongles either by the way.

Steve


I don’t like Dongles either. You never know if you are going to lose it, step on it, break it, etc. It also takes one your valuable computer USB ports.

I am going to give it a try to also have access to Fusion Studio. That’s the only reason I am going this route for now. Hopefully, nothing will happen to the dongle.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostMon Sep 16, 2019 3:22 pm

FusionBill wrote:LOL, only occasionally on the road. It has plenty of memory, and with potable SSD drives, it does the trick. It also depends on the job.
But most of the time on my main desktop computer.


I would suggest continuing to use the free version on the laptop and keep the dongle attached to the desktop where you do most of your work.
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Re: Dongle vs Card vs AppleStore?

PostMon Sep 16, 2019 4:19 pm

I would get the Activation Card. It has two activations and you can move them around from machine to machine however you'd like. Running the Free version on a Laptop is like masochism. You'll be running the SKU that performs worse on the machine that performs worse. Additionally, some of the restrictions can be problematic.

Even then, I find Resolve to be one of the worst NLEs for people who jump between Desktop and Laptop, due to the way it manages projects. If that is important, than I think other options should be on the table (unless you only use it for color, in which case you probably don't need it on the laptop at all).

I would absolutely not get the Mac App Store version. That's basically gambling away $300 on the assumption that you will never use anything but a Mac to run this software.

Not a "huge" amount of money, but until that starts growing on trees...

I'd rather not.

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