APx500 Audio Measurement Software Licensing FAQ


    • Q: Do I need to purchase APx500 audio measurement software?APx500 Measurement Software v7.0
    • A: Beginning with release 5.0, software license upgrades (i.e., authorizing an existing analyzer to run a newer version of APx500 software) must be purchased. As of November 7, 2022, version 8.0 is the current release of APx500 audio measurement software and will be shipping with all new APx audio analyzers moving forward.
    • Q: When I buy a new instrument, does that include a software license?
    • A: Yes, new instruments include a perpetual license for the current release with no change in base instrument price. Version 8.0 is the current release of APx500 audio measurement software and will ship with all new APx audio analyzers moving forward. New units also include one year of software maintenance and licensing perpetually for APx version 9.0 when it is released, as well as any minor releases that occur between versions 8.0 and 9.0. Release 8.0 is compatible with all analyzers in the APx500 Series, however an APx KeyBox is required to run v8.0 on Legacy APx analyzers.
    • Q: What is the difference between a software upgrade and a software maintenance contract?
    • A: A software upgrade purchases a perpetual license to upgrade a single APx analyzer to a specific version of software. Adding a software maintenance contract to the upgrade authorizes that same analyzer for the next major release at a discount (compared to upgrading at the time of the next major release). Maintenance contracts also bestow perpetual licenses.
    • Q: Then what is a software subscription?
    • A: In contrast to upgrades and maintenance, which provide perpetual licenses, a software subscription is a time-limited license that provides, for a single APx analyzer, access to all versions of any existing/future software and all measurement options, except PESQ and POLQA, for the duration of the subscription. The subscription can be renewed when its term expires, otherwise the analyzer will automatically revert to the perpetual license for which the hardware was previously licensed.
    • Q: Does this mean I have to pay for technical support too?
    • A: We continue to provide professional, highly capable technical support to our customers free-of-charge. Please see https://www.ap.com/contact-us/technical-support/ for additional information.