Have your friend monitor traffic when they load the plugins, block whatever sites pop up in the host file? Lots of tools can monitor. Wireshark, CloudSniff and NetworkMiner are free consumer os network analyzers.

Did your friend actually spend $400 on that Unison junk? Download midi files and load the free generators for Ableton. Same thing. There is no tech wizardry happening inside those unison sales pitchs.

 

Sordum - Net Disabler 1.1 [FREE]
(App to enable/disable internet access)

https://www.sordum.org/9660/net-disabler-v1-1/

 

That looks like a perfect solution, easy as can be, very lightweight and supports all Windows OS!

 

Thanks - I'd never heard of RadioSilence perviously. Blocking entire apps doesn't sound very music production friendly though, does it?

How do you run your DAW if you must block the whole enchilada (be it Cubase, DP, Live, Logic, PT, or Reaper)?

How do you get updates for your loops or samples, or use those plugins you didn't "look around" for and that you do own?

 

@bluerover I just tested Net Disabler and it works great!

 

disconnect wifi antenna, diconnect wifi card, remove cat5/6 cable. no problems..

 

I have a question, I've downloaded Lulu for mac but it is supposed to block applications, not plugins, right ? So if I want to prevent a logic plugin to call home, do I have to block logic app ? (which I don't want, only specific plugins) thanks for help

 

LuLu can block individual plugins, no problem. Also, it can block the content of entire folders. You block Logic entirely. If you ever really need Logic to download anything from the mothership, you open a new project, so without any plugins loaded into the session. Right click (or control+click) the LuLU shield icon in the top menu bar and hit Disable. Let Logic out and do it's thing, then re-enable LuLu.

 

Thanks for your help ! great tip. But how do I block an AU plugin file ? Sorry I'm totaly new at firewalls, I use Gas Mask to edit hosts, but it doesn't work with https protocols. For ex, I need to block audiopunks.com but adress is https. That's why I need Lulu.

 

Radio Silence is perfect for individual plugins. If something is legit, why would you block it? iLok, and other software managers are no problem with your DAW blocked entirely. You let your iLok manager application to either have access out, or you block it until you permit it to go out and connect temporarily long enough for it to sync with the external server. The plugins will look to your iLok manager app for their authorizations, not the iLok servers.

I never let my DAW out to go "get new samples", and move all that stuff to an external drive anyway. If I wanted a DAW bloated with "factory-shipped" preset content and samples; I'd use Cubase.

Little Snitch is by far the most configurable and robust firewall. It is like the REAPER of Mac firewalls, by which I mean that it requires more user interaction to get it setup; precisely how you want it.

Right click (or ctrl+click) the LuLU shield Icon in menu bar. Hit Rules. Click the + bottom right, add rule. Make sure it is checked off as Block. For Process Path, hit browse. Browse to ‎⁨Macintosh SSD⁩ ▸ ⁨Library⁩ ▸ ⁨Audio⁩ ▸ ⁨Plug-Ins⁩, Or you could just enter that manually. Select the .component you want to block, and that's it. Or you can block that entire folder ‎⁨Macintosh SSD⁩ ▸ ⁨Library⁩ ▸ ⁨Audio⁩ ▸ ⁨Plug-Ins⁩.
It's very helpful to go to that folder-> ‎⁨Macintosh SSD⁩ ▸ ⁨Library⁩ ▸ ⁨Audio⁩ ▸ ⁨Plug-Ins⁩ and drag it to your Finder Sidebar to add a shortcut. It's very helpful for all this Sister Site stuff for some other reasons too.

 

Last edited: May 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM

"Free" tools are fine if you want what amounts to introductory functionality. Generally "free" tools are just a wetting-of-your-beak so to speak to induce you to buy the "pro" version of whatever it is - the one that actually does something useful. Which is why I will always grab the scene version of the tool and avoid all the roundabout b.s. that comes with going all in on any one thing. This way you can get the tools you need and discard the junk without deflating your wallet needlessly.

The best way to keep plugins on a production machine from being "chatty" is to simply use the cracked version (sometimes even with the cracked ones they may still "chat") - if there is no cracked version then UNPLUG the machine from the internet. Production machines do not belong on the internet in the first place.

 

Last edited: May 11, 2025 at 10:14 PM

Yay, that's great!!! :-D

 

More questions (sorry guys, I did warn you though)

About the ILOK plugins, even though they said I only need to activate online once, I am scared about what it might do to my PC, install all kinds of files all around different folders, and especially when I am online even if not using it at the time. Is it something to worry about or a nonissue?

I was reading about TinyWall and saw this - Do not install TinyWall over a remote connection, or you will risk locking yourself out until TinyWall gets properly configured.

Also this - NOTE: After installation TinyWall blocks most communication. To use the internet or network-enabled applications, select one of the "Whitelist by ..." options in the tray menu to unblock specific programs.

So does this mean I will need to configure it to allow use of a VPN? I almost always use a VPN so that is a concern.

About the host file, are there specific host IP addresses to block for ILOK and the plugins in it? If there is a list can someone please post it or DM me? Or is this unnecessary if I use Tiny Wall?