Purchase PT9 upgrade from 7.4... but sold the 002...

One of the steps of the crossgrade from LE requires serial number of your current hardware before you can purchase it.

Can people please realize that AVID is still a hardware company even though they have released PT9. Efforts to circumvent AVID's policies are probably more trouble than it's worth. a) If you legitimately own AVID hardware, there is a crossgrade available for you, at a discount. b) If you want to use PT9 with someone else's hardware, or no hardware, you don't qualify for the upgrade. Pony up for the full version. c) Buying used equipment has it's own set of issues, and you'll want to perform a proper transfer of ownership- you don't want to buy some used MBox and find out someone already used that serial number to score a copy of PT9 at the upgrade price. Word to the wise...

The owner of a studio I've been working at is selling an MBox, I've had no interest in it... till now. Still don't actually want to buy anymore Avid hardware that I won't be using but there is a $350 difference in price from crossgrade to full version and that would keep Avid from getting any money from me right now. The Avid sight needs to be clearer about what interfaces from what era etc... work for the upgrade price. I don't see ANYTHING anywhere on Avid that suggests there is something wrong if a person purchases a used piece of Avid hardware to get the upgrade price. Hell, if my grandmother transferred ownership to me for free I would think that still qualifies until I read otherwise from an Avid employee. I have already purchased an 002 Rack, that should be worth something (used it for years) and purchased many software upgrades from them (which they have a record of). This policy is quite a turnoff to me (even though it doesn't even seem to be clearly written anywhere on the site) and it will probably keep them from getting my money... AGAIN. Almost had my money. I want to give it to you... why make it so hard??? Max, you still there??? On hold waiting for someone to pick up the phone over at Avid.

Ok, spoke to someone at Avid. No problem buying a cheap MBox 2 from my friend to get the crossgrade price. I do find it ridiculous that I even have to do that having purchased and owned the 002 hardware for years. I do not like the policy in general. If I can get the MBox cheap enough then I might still do the crossgrade and voila, Avid gets my money again. We'll see.

I think I made it pretty clear that you MUST have the serial number of the MAudio or Digidesign hardware to get the crossgrade price. If you can get the hardware from someone (grandmother's included) AND the registered serial number has not been used to upgrade already, you are qualified for the crossgrade price. Go for it. The point is that current owners of Protools M-Powered or Protools LE hardware are eligible for the corssgrade. Since you sold your 002R, you are not a CURRENT owner of the qualifying hardware anymore according to the definition. I see nothing wrong with trying to get the best price for hardware or software. It sounds like you have not been too happy with AVID in the past and therefore don't want to give them your money (or any more of your money). I suppose if you buy a used interface, AVID does not get your money directly. When you sold the 002R you got back some money and also benefited from the time that you did own and use Protools with it. If you once again want to use Protools, it is only fair to pay AVID for the license to use their software products. In case you are not aware, you also MUST purchase an iLok to use PT9. I just didn't want you to get upset when you find out. iLok is not owned by AVID (at least I don't know that it is).