Frequently Answered Questions (FAQ)

Here you find answers to frequently asked questions. Click on the questions in the table of contents to jump to the respective answers.

Music Prototyping™

What's so new about it?

Projects are entirely dynamic. Shape and pitch of musical phrases automatically follow the changes you apply to abstract parameters like harmony, interpretation and rhythm. You can make even fundamental changes at any time - e.g. move parts around, or add stuff from other projects - and listen to the results within seconds. As opposed to most DAWs, Cognitone tools allow multiple projects to be open and active at the same time. This way you are able to copy content between projects and have previous ideas interpreted anew in a different compositions. (Back to Top)

Isn't that just cheating?

Not at all. Although the feedback you're getting from our tools is inspiring, it is still you who makes the creative decisions. Music is not about how difficult something is to play. It's all about the listener experience. If you can tell the magic moments from the generic routine, you are a good musician! No machine will ever be able to make that decision for you. (Back to Top)

Shouldn't I better learn to play an instrument?

You should do both. Cognitone's tools can help you understand the ideas behind the theory of music and harmony more easily and intuitively. By getting into chords, keys and scales, you are not learning some artificial computer stuff. Our tools are based on solid music theory and proven terms and concepts of functional harmony that exist since centuries. Everything you learn to understand now will be valid for the rest of your life. (Back to Top)

Don't I end up with always the same music?

No. Cognitone's tools do not generate music after an algorithmic scheme. Unless you limit yourself only to the example phrases that ship with the software, it is completely up to you what music you will get. Any musical style is supported. (Back to Top)

Isn't all this actually someone else's music?

Not if you build your own phrases from the ground up. Even if you import a lot of MIDI files, it depends on how much you modify them. Whether you just import and throw together existing arrangements, or take them as a source of inspiration and build something new based on selected elements only. Composers of all eras have picked up on previous work and developed their personal musical language in contrast to that. (Back to Top)

Will I infringe copyright when importing MIDI files?

Depends on the final result, rather than the tools you use. Nobody cares how you composed your music. However, if an arbitrary listener instantly recognizes your work as that of someone else, you're in trouble. As there is no copyright on chord changes and harmony, you are free to reuse these. Melodies however are critical. Respect other people's creative work. If you work with imported melodic phrases, make sure you modify their form, rhythm and harmonic context to a sufficient extent that will result in something new. (Back to Top)

Does Cognitone claim any rights on the music I make with their tools?

No. The music you make is completely yours. (Back to Top)

Use of The Software

Which musical skills are required to use Harmony Navigator?

Provided you already have a vague Idea of what chords and scales are, you should just go ahead and try. Traditional notation skills are not required. You will learn about many aspects of harmony simply by doing. (Back to Top)

Is Synfire Pro available as a downloadable product?

Not at this time. Synfire Pro and its bundled tools and drivers require a physical DVD to install. The printed user manual is very useful for learning about Synfire's new paradigms more comfortably. You will probably not want to miss it. (Back to Top)

What do HN and Synfire sound like?

Harmony Navigator and Synfire generate MIDI-Data, not Sound. Depending on which MIDI equipment you are using, your sound may vary. You may connect external Samplers, Synthesizers, Expanders or E-Pianos, as well as Software Instruments. (Back to Top)

What extra equipment do I need?

If you want to use the built-in software synthesizer of your operating system, you don't need additional components. In order to achieve a better sound quality however, you might want to host virtual software instruments on a DAW and have HN or Synfire Pro send its MIDI output there via a MIDI Loopback driver (HN2 Advanced Edition and Synfire Pro include such a driver). For recording and "live" input, you need a MIDI keyboard and external MIDI interface. (Back to Top)

Can I play virtual software instruments?

Yes. In the "Support" section of this website, you will find various articles on this topic. For the time being, you will need either an instrument running in "standalone" mode, or a VST/AU hosting program (Logic, Cubase, Bidule, vsthost, etc). (Back to Top)

Product Authorization And License Management

Why Authorization?

Authorization (also known as activation) is a simple means of copy protection. Without an appropriate measure against piracy, most software developers would no longer be able to survive in the age of broadband Internet. Alternative business models based on voluntary payment just don't work in a small market niche with products that are very expensive to make and maintain. We definitely need the support of everyone who uses our products.

Your advantages:

Security: You can be absolutely sure your copy is the original product that was not tampered with by third parties, possibly infected by malicious code.
Convenience: You may create backup copies of your installation files and keep them in a safe place. As these files are personalized already, you can install them immediately without the need to enter a lengthy serial number.
Reasonable Pricing: Sales dropping significantly due to piracy would require us to sell the products at a much higher price in order to compensate for the losses. We don't think that's fair. We believe that everyone using the software beyond the trial period should contribute to the project in order to keep it healthy and alive.
Reliability: Ongoing research, development and support is time consuming and expensive. This is a full-time day job and we need to make a living off it. Only a working business model ensures we are able to continously deliver the quality you deserve and protect your investment in this project.

(Back to Top)

How do I authorize my installation?

Simply start the installed software. If your installation is not yet authorized, a dialog will show up offering you the option to authorize. Select "Authorize Now" and follow the instructions. Alternatively, you can run the original installation program (SETUP) you have downloaded and authorize from there. Under Windows XP/Vista/7 you can launch the SETUP program from the START menu in the task bar. (Back to Top)

I don’t have a direct Internet connection on my computer. What now?

The SETUP program offers several alternative methods for authorization. You may submit your authorization data on another computer (using a standard web browser), send an email to us or print out and fax or snail mail a registration form. The online authorization however, is the quickest and most conveient of all (recommended). (Back to Top)

Can I use my product installation without authorizing?

You may use your installation for a period for 30 days without authorization. During these 30 days the program will run almost without limitations (only a few bonus features disabled). Within the grace period, you may chose to authorize the installation at any time that's convenient for you. (Back to Top)

Do I need to authorize an installation again, if I change my computer’s components?

A re-authorization is only required when main components of the hardware configuration change significantly. This is the case when replacing, for example, the mainboard, the system hard disk or the operating system. When your computer is online, re-authorization is as easy as entering your login and password. (Back to Top)

Am I allowed to use a second installation on my laptop?

According to the license agreement, only one installation is granted on a single computer at a time. However, if you want to use your product on your desktop computer and laptop alternately, Cognitone allows you to authorize a second installation for this purpose.Hence, you may authorize a total of two installations for each license. (Back to Top)

Both of my allowed installations are exhaused. What now?

In the event that your hardware happened to crash or you needed to install a new operating system from scratch, it was probably impossible to properly deactivate your old installation. You may visit your account under "Installations" and permanently discard the installation as "lost" to make room for a new authorization. This, however, can not be undone. Please carefully read the instructions on the website before submitting such a deletion. (Back to Top)

What if I need to replace hardware components when I can't go online?

Any significant change of the hardware configuration will start a new 30 day grace period during which you may run the program almost without limitations. You merely need to authorize your installation for the new hardware at any time within that period. (Back to Top)

What is deactivation good for?

Cognitone offers its customers the unique possibility to "park" a currently unused installation by deactivating it. You may deactivate an installation before installing a new operating system, for example. You may also use the same installation alternately on two computers by deactivating the currently unused installation respectively. (Back to Top)

Do I need an email address for the authorization?

Yes. A Cognitone user account is required to store your licenses and installations, which means that you also need an email address. (Back to Top)

Why does Cognitone need my address?

When you purchase a software product in the online shop, a billing and shipping address is required to fulfill your order. The same holds true for product downloads (except demos and free downloads, of course). Email addresses are anonymous and do change frequently. Cognitone occasionally sends confidential information by postal mail (e.g. vouchers for upgrades). Please be sure the information you entered is correct. This way we are able to reach you for important notifications even if your email address has changed. (Back to Top)

What kind of information is transfered during authorization?

Your product's serial number and a hardware key. The hardware key is kind of a random number computed depending on the presence of hardware components in your computer. This number doesn't contain any particular information about the hardware or software installed on your computer, nor any personal information. It's sole purpose is to distinguish your computer from other computers. (Back to Top)

What does Cognitone do with my authorization data?

Cognitone uses your hardware key and serial number solely to keep track of how many installations are active for each software license. The information is useless for other purposes. (Back to Top)

How secure is online authorization?

Authorization data transfered over the wire is useless for third parties. It makes sense only in the context of your particular hardware and can not be abused. As it doesn't contain any sensible information anyway, there is nothing to worry about. (Back to Top)

What happens to a license that is being upgraded?

The license you upgrade from (e.g. Harmony Navigator) is retired and replaced by the new license you upgrade to (e.g. Synfire Pro). After the upgrade, the previous license is no longer available. You can not sell, transfer, or use a license that was upgraded already. This is very much like returning your old car in order to get a new one at a discounted price. (Back to Top)

What if I want to continue to use the previous product?

In this case you would need to purchase the new license separately, rather than upgrading it. However, with a few marginal exceptions, the product you upgrade to includes all the features of the smaller product anyway. Under normal circumstances there should be no reason to keep the old product around after you upgraded. (Back to Top)

What happens to my license in the event that Cognitone no longer exists?

Cognitone would publish a patch or generic serial number free of charge and available to everybody that will unlock all installations forever. We warrant that to all our customers. (Back to Top)

What do I have to do if I want to sell my license?

The license you originally purchased is personal. Therefore, you can't just hand it over to someone else. If you want to sell it or give it away, please let us know once you found a buyer and we will terminate your license and the buyer will obtain a new license from Cognitone. This service is free of charge for downloadable products. For products that require the shipment of a new DVD to the buyer (Synfire Pro), we might eventually ask for a small fee that covers the costs involved (at this time we don't).

Note that the same license can not be resold more than two times. A second hand owner may resell it once, after the second resale, the license receives NFR status (not for resale). Please if you have sold your license or have any further questions. (Back to Top)

General Questions

What does the animal logo stand for?

It's a prehistorical gecko under hard X-ray penetration. That's really not healthy. You should never try this at home. We guarantee, however, that no live animal was hurt during the production of this picture. (Back to Top)