Licensing & Activation

How to Activate

To activate your license key:

1. Launch Onset Engine.
2. Click the tier badge button (e.g., Demo) in the upper-right corner of the GUI, located next to the settings gear and theme toggle icons.
3. This will open the License & Activation dialog.
4. Paste your license key into the input field and click Activate.

Onset Engine will make a single HTTPS request to the Lemon Squeezy API to validate your key. Once activated, the software operates offline. There is a 7-day offline grace period for automatic background validation.

License Tiers

Onset Engine offers three tiers. The exact limits applied at runtime are defined in license.py (TIER_LIMITS):

• Demo (Free):
  • Maximum resolution: 720p (1280x720)
  • Maximum FPS: 30
  • DJ session limit: 60 seconds
  • Forced watermark (“Created with Onset Engine”)
  • Max activations: 1 machine
• Core:
  • Maximum resolution: 1080p (1920x1080)
  • Maximum FPS: 60
  • DJ session limit: Unlimited
  • No watermark
  • Max activations: 2 machines
  • Additional features: All VFX (Cutout Pop, Subliminal, Beauty, RIFE, Depth), Curator (swap, lock, re-roll), Skip Clip Export, Source Collections
• Studio:
  • Maximum resolution: 4K (3840x2160)
  • Maximum FPS: 60
  • DJ session limit: Unlimited
  • No watermark
  • Max activations: 2 machines
  • Additional features: OTIO export, Triptych, Highlights

How to Transfer a License

If you need to move Onset Engine to a new machine:

1. Open the License & Activation dialog on your old machine by clicking the tier badge.
2. Click the red 🛑 Deactivate for Transfer button. This will revert the old machine to Demo mode and free up your activation slot.
3. Install Onset Engine on your new machine and activate your license key as normal.

(Note: If your hardware changes unexpectedly, you can manage your activations online via your account.)