Licensing

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Due to be updated ASAP (note added 04/07/2026)

Orbit uses a simple license system with a free trial to let you evaluate the software before purchase.

Signing in

Orbit opens on a sign-in screen and finds your licence for you — no key to copy and paste.

1. Sign in with Sign in with Apple, Continue with Google, or your email address and password. With email, Orbit sends a 6-digit code to finish signing in.
2. Orbit shows the licence on your account — Orbit Pro or Orbit Standard — and how many of its devices are in use.
3. Click Activate this Mac. This uses one of your seats; you can free it again from Preferences.

New to Orbit? Create an account from the sign-in screen. Have a key from before accounts? Choose Enter a licence key.

New in 1.6.0 (beta)

You can start a 14-day Orbit Pro trial from inside the app.

Trying Orbit Pro. If you don't have a licence yet, Try Orbit Pro offers a 14-day trial with everything in Pro — no card. Click Start trial on this Mac; the days left are shown as Trial · N of 14 days left. When the trial ends, Orbit needs a licence — Standard or Pro — to carry on, and nothing you made is lost. A licence bought on orbitspatial.io lands on your account and activates on its own.

The key-based steps below remain available.

Free Trial

Try Orbit free for 14 days with full access to all features.

To start your trial:

1. Create a free account at orbitspatial.io
2. Add the free trial license to your account
3. Download and install Orbit
4. Open Orbit and go to Orbit → Manage License...
5. Enter your trial license key and click Activate

Your 14-day trial begins when you activate the license. Trial days remaining are shown in the app.

Internet required for trial

Trial licenses have a 24-hour offline grace period. You'll need to reconnect at least once a day for Orbit to validate your trial. For longer offline use, you'll need a Standard, Educational, or Organizational license (which offer 30-day offline grace).

What's Included

All Orbit licenses — including the trial — give you the full QC workflow for ADM BWF files:

• ADM file loading and playback
• 7.1.4, binaural, and stereo monitoring
• 3D visualizer with level-reactive objects
• Spatial and multichannel waveform views
• Solos & Mutes panel with per-object controls
• Head tracking (AirPods and camera)
• PDF export (Standard and Advanced reports)
• Full metering and loudness measurement
• Virtual studio configuration, and physical room speaker calibration
• Speaker test — pink noise, one speaker at a time
• Your own imported SOFA HRTF profiles

License Types

Standard License

For individual professionals and freelancers.

• Full features with 2 activations (e.g., studio workstation + laptop)
• 30-day offline grace period — work off the grid without losing access
• Automatic license refresh when online

Educational License

Discounted pricing for students and educators.

• Full features with 2 activations
• 30-day offline grace period
• Proof of educational status required

Organizational License

For teams and studios.

• Full features with custom activation count based on your needs
• 30-day offline grace period per device
• Admin dashboard for license management
• Admins can revoke licenses remotely when team members leave or devices change

Contact us at support@southloopstudios.com for organizational licensing options.

Purchasing a License

Visit orbitspatial.io to purchase a license. After purchase, your license key will be available in your account dashboard and sent via email.

Activating Your License

1. Open Orbit
2. Go to Orbit → Manage License...
3. Enter your license key
4. Click Activate

Your license will be validated and stored securely on your device.

Deactivating a License

If you need to move your license to a different machine:

1. Go to Orbit → Manage License...
2. Click Deactivate
3. Activate on your new machine

Deactivation frees up the activation slot so you can use it elsewhere.

Offline Use

Trial licenses have a 24-hour offline grace period — you'll need to reconnect daily for license validation.

Standard, Educational, and Organizational licenses include a 30-day offline grace period:

• Your license remains valid for 30 days without internet
• When online, Orbit refreshes your license automatically
• If the offline period expires, connect to the internet to revalidate

This is ideal for engineers who work in studios without reliable internet or travel frequently.

FAQ

Can I transfer my license to a new computer?

Yes. Deactivate on your old machine, then activate on the new one.

What happens if I reinstall macOS?

Your activation may be preserved if your device ID remains the same. If not, deactivate first or contact support.

Do I need internet to use Orbit?

For trial licenses: You need to connect at least once every 24 hours for license validation.

For paid licenses: Only for initial activation. After that, you can work offline for up to 30 days before needing to reconnect for license refresh.

Can my organization revoke a license remotely?

Yes. Organizational license admins can revoke licenses through the admin dashboard. This is useful when team members leave or devices need to be reassigned.

How do I get an organizational license?

Contact us at support@southloopstudios.com for organizational licensing options and pricing.