Audition 3 License Key Not Working

[Guest]

After buying and upgrading from Cool Edit 95 through Audition 1.5, I bought the upgrade to Audition 3.0 (Feb 2008).  I went back to v1.5, because I got caught a couple of times recording out in the field when the software suddenly required Internet connectivity to reactivate.

Fast forward to this weekend when I ran across a friend who has been using v3.0 and told me that the online license servers had been taken off line.  All I needed was to get the new installer... I finally found it in another thread and to my surprise... my license key is NOT valid.  I tried my old installer which likes it, but cannot activate.

Audition v1.5 is doing fine on Windows 10 Professional x64, but I thought that maybe I could finally realize my investment.

So, is there a resolution to my dilemma? 

Jim Lloyd

AudioMaverick.com

[SteveG_AudioMasters_ · Accepted solution]

I don't know what thread you were referred to, but there's only one relevant one, and that's in the Audition FAQs - here:

Audition 3 and the activation service

It's important to note carefully what it says - you can only use the version you download from the site with the software key provided on the site; nothing else will work, and your old key is completely useless.

[Guest]

Thank you both Steve & Bob... I am glad that Adobe has sent the Audition v3 install into 'open use.

After that odd toe tap around to get to the license key and download URLs (and registry edits), I found it odd that trying to copy the license key just closes the panel.  Easy to retype, so I have what I need to give it a shot

Thank you, both!

[radio_john_1949]

I have the disc version of Audition 3.0 purchased from Buy.com MANY years ago.  I am still happily using it on my old computer after all these years.  Now it is time for a NEW computer.  Needless to say activation of this program via internet or phone is not working.  Nor is the Audion 3 and the activation service link noted above.  Does this mean I am SOL?  I have the serial numbers and activation numbers but no way to get the authorization code.  Hopefully there is an answer for us dinosaurs who love our AA3.0.  Does anyone even monitor this thread anymore??  Looks like the last post was back in 2017 😞

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Yes, all threads get monitored. Your only hope is to find the appropriate files somewhere - the Wayback machine has been helpful in this regard in the past, but I have no links, never having the need for it myself. And even if I did have a link, I'd probably get a slap on the wrist from Adobe for providing it! Just remember that you need all of the alternative files; nothing about your original version is any use at all.

[radio_john_1949]

Hi Steve and thanks for the quick response.  This thread has been dormant for so long!

I need clarification on what you mean by "alternative files" and "appropriate files".  I have the original discs which should have all of the needed files to operate and I have a working AA3.0 on my current production computer now as well as a backup thats rarely used in our 2nd production studio.  Would any of those include any operational, license, or registry files needed to make the installation I made on our new computer come to life?  I dont understand what you mean by "nothing about your original version is any use at all".  My original version is still working just fine and it did install on my new box, but after 30 days I got the you've exceeded the grace period message and need to register but we now know thats not going to work!  I think that Adobe needs to stand behind its legacy product.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

No, your original files really are useless. What Adobe released to get around the broken authentication server problem was an 'unlocked' version of AA3 with its own universal serial number, and this doesn't require any authentication at all. But you need that file, and the serial number, Without this, you'll get nowhere. Incidentally, Adobe stood by it's product pretty well for well over a decade, and it would still be there now if it wasn't for the corporate lawyers who told them to take it down. We are not allowed even now to discuss the reasons for this, I'm afraid, although I think it involved some actual legal action... but that's as far as I'm going.

If you read all of the small print, incidentally, you'll find that Adobe doesn't need to stand by AA3 at all. It's their product, not yours - they only leased it to you. The lease may have been in perpetuity but there is absolutely no obligation on their part to maintain it; you have no contract with them in that regard.

[Bob Howes]

Your friend is right about the activation server being taken off line but wrong about all you need being a new installer.

AA3.0 (actually 3.01 with a bug fix that came out a few months later) is obsolete and no longer sold by Adobe.  However, Adobe have made provision with licenced owners.  There's a special "generic version and serial number" you can download.  Details of how to do it are in this FAQ:  Audition 3 and the activation service   I suggest you scroll to the bottom and a couple of posts there have the most recent details.

On another topic, although CC2017 is my main version of Audition, I still have AA3.01 installed on my Windows 10 machine and, at least here, it works fine.  FYI, Audition 3 is widely considered one of the best releases ever--most people find it rock solid and reliable but the user interface won't scare you off if you're used to 1.5.