As a former user of Adobe Audition 2 and 3

[robn4008193]

I started out with Audition 2 over 10 years ago -- produced a couple of albums with it -- and somehow got a free upgrade to Audition 3.

I had to rebuild a workstation from Windows 7 to Windows 10 recently and needed to re-install the old software -

Big whoops there! Validation servers no longer work -- and I can no longer launch any of these earlier versions of Audition -
Another kicker is that these older versions of Audition projects are not supported by more recent versons of Audition -
(I have since switched to REAPER software - and use Focusrite interfaces...)

But - I am occasionally called on for a tweak or a re-mix on some of the stuff that I did with Audition 2 or 3.

I had a chat session with Adobe recently and was told - "Sorry, the software is old - nothing we can do for you..."

Is that entirely true? There used to be some forum posts about a work-around on the serial validation process.
I bought valid software with the understanding that it would work, within reason, for the life of my systems and/or me.

Is there something I am missing? As an Audition 2 and 3 user, am I completely out of luck?

Many thanks for any advice. 

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

It wasn't a forum post, it was one of the old FAQs. Fortunately we still have access to them, but the one in question isn't going to help you any more unless you still have the download and serial number, because Adobe have withdrawn these completely for legal reasons that we're not allowed to go into. All this is now in the FAQ (I updated it) and you can read it here: Audition 3 and the activation service

But I should mention in the same breath that if you can find somebody with a copy of the download and serial number, they'll still work fine. It's just the availability from Adobe that's stopped.

[robn4008193]

I can do one better! I have the Audition 1.5 OEM DVD set - with the original serial number.

Hey - I get that the software is "old" and all - but I know that it was running really well on Windows 7.

I could, hypothetically, put my original Windows 7 drive back into the machine - but that would be silly.

So - all that aside: At what point was the early versions of Adobe Audtion project files abandoned for the more modern approach to project management? Or in other words: When did the shift from Audition 1.5/3 project management happen?

I was in the process of updating to a brand new Audition console but when I discovered that my early projects
were not easily importable, I jumped to REAPER.

I still love working on my old Audition sessions! It is a great product. 

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Your original serial number won't work any more - that was the issue with the validation server. You'll have just the trial period to run it. If that's sufficient, then you're okay.

[robn4008193]

Trial period died a long time ago -- that said, I have work arounds.

Maybe it is best that I get on with my life! 🙂

I am building an entirely new studio and I won't be resistant to giving the new Audition a whirl -
I loved the workflow and the GUI.

Thank you for the quick answers. 

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

As for when the session format changed - that was with the introduction of the rewritten CC code that was dual-platform. If you want to run old projects on up-to-date Audition it's perfectly possible to do a good translation of most of the session file contents using the ses2sesx utility - ses2sesx

[robn4008193]

The confusing part is that I have the OEM Audition DVD (that I bought and I own...)

and I have a serial number...

And it works GREAT in Windows 10...

But I cannot activate it - because the Activation service no longer works.

So - I can no longer work on sessions that I recorded with the software that I bought...

So - how is that fair exactly?

In a chat session with Adobe I was told, "Sorry, it is old software..."
Sure - it's old, but it works - and I would like access to it -- as I bought it.

And I will keep replying about it because ADOBE keeps e-mailing me asking
if my problem is solved.
No - it is not solved because I cannot use the software that I bought.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Then you should just say no. There is no point in posting any more here about it, as we're a U2U forum and can't do anything about it anyway. If you feel that Adobe has mistreated you, then you will have to communicate with the company directly.