Licensing

Licensing, explained.

How buying, activating and moving GAGE works, what the free trial includes, and what to do if something goes wrong.

GAGE Sampler for macOS and Windows · licenses go on sale at launch

Getting your license

After you buy, your license key is emailed to you. It looks like GAGE-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. Keep that email; it is your proof of purchase. Core and Pro are the same download: your key decides which one you have, so moving from Core to Pro later only needs a new key, not a reinstall.

Activating

Open GAGE (the Standalone app, or the plugin in your DAW).
Click the GAGE logo at the top left and choose License….
Type or paste your key. Capital letters and dashes don’t matter.
Click Activate. You will see “License activated.” This step needs an internet connection, once.

Using GAGE offline

After activating, GAGE works completely offline, in the studio or on stage. When a computer happens to be online, GAGE quietly checks about every two weeks that the license is still valid (a license that has been refunded or deactivated stops working at that check). GAGE never needs the internet to play.

A computer that never goes online? Open License…, click Copy next to “This computer’s ID”, and email it to support@gagesampler.com with your purchase email. We will send you a license file for that computer. Open License… on it and use Load License File… (or paste the file’s contents). A license file works on that one computer only.

Your computers

One license works on up to two computers. To move GAGE to a new machine, open License… on the old one and click Remove License…. That frees the spot, and you can activate on the new computer straight away. If the old computer is lost, broken or gone, email us and we will free a spot for you.

If you try to activate a third computer, GAGE tells you the license is already in use on two, and how to free one.

The 7-day trial

When GAGE launches, every download will include a free trial. It starts the first time GAGE runs on a computer and lasts 7 days.

What works: everything you need to try it. Play instruments, run the Generative Engine, edit parts, use effects, Look Ahead and drums.
What is held back: saving templates, saving instruments, Auto-Map, recording, and exporting to GAGE Player. Those are the parts that produce lasting work.
Noise bursts: during the trial GAGE adds short bursts of noise to the sound (and constant noise while your DAW is recording or bouncing), so a trial can’t be used to record finished music. A red “Demo mode” message appears while one plays.
After 7 days: GAGE stays open but produces no sound until you enter a license. Nothing you made is deleted.

A trial belongs to the computer, not to a person. Deleting GAGE’s files or reinstalling does not start a new one.

If something goes wrong

“That license key wasn’t recognised.” Check it for typos (the letters O and I and the digits 0 and 1 are never used in keys). Copying it straight from your email helps.
“Couldn’t reach the license server.” Check your internet connection, then try again. If your network blocks it, use a license file (above).
“Already active on 2 computers.” Remove the license from one of them, or email us.
Lost your key? Email support@gagesampler.com from the address you bought with and we will send it again.

What GAGE sends

Only what licensing needs: your key when you activate, a scrambled ID for your computer, your operating system and the GAGE version. Never your name, files, music or templates. The full details are on the Privacy page.

Still stuck?

Write to support@gagesampler.com. Tell us what the License window says, and we will sort it out.