Hi,

I have been using some of the programs on audioz.info, and was just curious, do the versions that are cracked or have some workaround or shared serial number run any differently than the versions you buy legally? For example do you get the same quality out of them? And do they affect your computer/hardware the same? My main concerns are if using these "free versions" have any negative effect on one's computer/hardware or you are getting a lower performance/quality out of them. Thanks.

 

Well it all depends on the type and quality of circumvent method used.
Most of the time there is no difference to the original unless Exe's and dlls have been stripped of code to remove protection but if the cracker knows his shit the cracked copy and original work just the same.

However there are those times when cracks aren't done properly and some feature in the program aren't working as expected or causing issues.. most probably due to something being missed or overlooked by the cracker due to code obfuscation, encryption, and self-modifying code.
But fear not, as a PROPER usually follows up that release remedying the problem.

So to summarize, you get the same quality out of them if they are cracked properly, which they usually are.

Fun fact: Sometimes you get even better performance out of the cracked copies. Scene group "AiR" (highly regarded and respected scene group, guys are fucken pros) has been known to include fixes to general issues experienced by users that the program developers ignore or take too long to fix included with pre-cracked updates :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_cracking
^Broadly explains different ways and methods crackers & software reverse engineers go about it.

 

In the most cases there are not big differences. But sometimes there are some cracks that cause strange issues!
Months ago i installed "Reaktor 5" on my Mac. All was working fine for a couple of weeks and then suddenly my
DAW said: "Reaktor 5" not available... i checked the Plug-In component and it showed 0kb - vanished!
After re-installing the whole thing it worked again.

Sometimes it's better when you use legal (bought) stuff because you get technical support and updates.
But even here some developers are lacking or want to make big profit out of it.

Regarding the quality of the performance it's sometimes up to you how you use the software.
Note also that "cracks" sometimes require to install additional things on your computer,
that in "normal" cases wouldn't be there. A shared serial number is just the easiest way to authorize the stuff.
But the developers aren't sleeping, so it soon may get blacklisted. Some software are "calling home" when you use
them - so the best is to disconnect from the Internet when you're working with your DAW.

 

txt from Tone2.Gladiator.VSTi.v2.2.READ.NFO-AiR

It's not everyday AiR feels the need to comment on a
release but we believe some issues about Markus Feil
need to be addressed for both legitimate users and
the warez community.

In our opinion Markus Feil's plugins are the
equivilent to MALWARE, it is with disgust we find the
elaborate (and futile!) measures he has taken within
his code.

When a developer starts dropping files and creating
empty BOGUS registry keys, writing to a users host
file etc. then they have crossed a line of ethics
that is inexcusable.

One could argue that warez users get what they
deserve, however... warez uses ALWAYS choose to take
a risk when they use warez. The legitimate user
however gets exactly the SAME codebase and IF things
go wrong they are subjected to the same MALWARE crap
undeservedly.

Furthermore, our release is BETTER than what legit
users are getting because we have disposed of the
MALWARE traps and HAVE ENABLED TWO EXTRA NEW HIDDEN
expansions that legit users DON'T have and probably
DON'T know about.

NOTE TO Markus: you are tool, ppl may debate our
ethics but WE DON'T infect and manipulate filesystems
or registries, you're no better than a virus
developer in our opinion.

Stick to what you know cause your protection schemes
are no match for us <middle finger>

Some warez users like to go legit, it's hard to see
them going legit with your plugins when the
experience you give them results in piss poor MALWARE
techniques. FUCK YOU!

Here are some of the techniques Markus infects your
machine with:

- Registry scanning

- Filesystem scanning

- Creating bogus registry keys

- File dropping

- Multiple \system32\drivers\etc\host file updates

- Deletion of files

- Phone home notification

- ExitWindowsEx calls (causes machine to shutdown)

- DLL unpacked checks


# Registry scanning...

Markus has coded his plugins to look for other Tone2
and reFX registry entries, if blacklisted serials are
found then his MALWARE is invoked. These include
Firebird, FilterBank, Warmverb, Gladiator, Vanguard

# Filesystem scanning...

Markus has coded his plugins to look for other
products keyfiles, if blacklisted keyfiles are found
then his MALWARE is invoked. This includes FireBird,
FilterBank, Warmverb, Gladiator

# Bogus registry entries...

Markus creates keys in HKEY_CURRENT_USER

at least two NEW keys with no data (not disclosing to
protect privacy). if you have been subjected to the
MALWARE traps check your registry, the keys will be
obvious as the names are crap, make no sense and they
have no data under them.

# File dropping...

Markus creates:

twdef.sys

wvdriver.sys

r2._9X1.r

gldriver.sys

gsndrun.sys


+ about 4 other random file names (not disclosing to
protect privacy)

If your going to look for these files make sure you
have turned off 'Hide protected operating system
files' in explorer. Typically they are dropped in the
same location as the Gladiator2 dll.

# Update of hosts file...

Markus updates the users host file with a massive
list of warez, torrent and other site urls

# Deletion of files...

Markus deletes any blacklisted keyfiles from the
users machine

 

@ avva: Confirmed, it's true: Tone2 Gladiator is very weird. I've got the keyfile deleted many times!
Best of it is to make many copies of it and store them on a Backup!

So how about ElectraX?? It has not been cracked yet...
In my ears it sounds much better than Gladiator.

 

There IS a HUGE difference !!!
I can't explain why, and some will say I'm victim of placebo effect, but my EARS tell me that legit apps sounds definitely much more better than cracked ones.


Maybe it's because legit apps are more expensive...

 

LoL

 

Indeed, they sound much warmer and more analogue!

 

geist is an example of a bad crack by assign i purchased the retail and boom all glitches and disappearing pads went away

 

if all this is true, sometimes warez is actually better than the real thing...in the case of kontakt you can load protected libraries...which is pretty neat! *yes*

 

Since it's not a provided free version, there's generally no difference between the cracked warez vs. the licensed bought plugin. The only differences would be those mentioned by Bseos

ESPECIALLY if you're dealing with a crack by one the super-cracker teams: AiR, ASSiGN, REBELS, etc

Gad, i was thinkin, it'd be so sick if there was a searchable database of all of Air Assign and Rebel's cracks

 

All in all, you can't go wrong with LEGIT CRACKS(cracks by renowned teams)

They're free, and in most cases the code-work of the teams removes any and all insecurities (as pointed out in the Markus Feil problem)

 

but what about this horrible crack by assign on geist if their so elite

 

well when you crack THAT many... shit happens!

 

In wich case LEGIT IS BETTER>...

Do not forget to support the people who made the audio home musicmaking happening. It are hard working people who code sequencers, VST plugins and all sorts of stuff. Those people are in need of cash. Cold hard cash. Wich we can provide in order for them to feed their families.

I do buy the stuff I use alot. But I allso TRY BEFORE BUY.