Problem activating Sound Forge 9 using new method

rick-a wrote on 9/17/2025, 2:21 AM

I've been trying to activate Sound Forge Pro 9 on a new computer. I've been using this version for many years and while I've also bought Sound Forge Pro 16 and 18 I prefer version 9 for some things. It's quicker to select sections of audio between markers in version 9 than in version 16 or 18 for example. In version 9 you select by simply double clicking between the markers - this method usually doesn't work for 18.

I've seen a number of posts here re this activation problem for Sony era software and people often point to the following link: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/activation-of-sony-creative-software-era-applications--149297/

This link and the Magix AI support agent both give the following procedure:

"Log into the service center on vegascreativesoftware.com, and select "create activation code." Enter your Sound Forge 9 serial number and the computer ID provided by the software. After you receive the activation code, copy and paste it into the field in the Sound Forge application to complete the activation process."

However, I've tried this process and it's not working.

1. I enter my serial number.

2. I get a screen saying that no registration could be located for this serial number and which sends me to a registration page.

3. On the registration page I enter the data for product registration name, address, serial number.

4. I then get a screen saying "The serial number you entered has already used - you may have already registered." However, the serial number is from the card I have from when I bought the version 9 software originally. It will have only been used by me in the past.

So I'm in a loop! I put in a support request to Magix re this issue on 30th August 2025 but there's been no response to this request so far - it's now September 17th.

If anyone has any suggestions I would be grateful. Also if Magix do read this I would be grateful if you could let me know the expected time to respond to support requests at the moment . When I submitted the request the system said 2 to 4 days.

Thanks in advance!

Comments

SP. wrote on 9/17/2025, 3:07 AM

@rick-a My guess is that your serial number is registered under your Sony customer account. Try entering the e-mail address and password you used when Sound Forge was still with Sony. They transferred all customer accounts and licenses to Magix after the software switched hands.

rick-a wrote on 9/17/2025, 3:45 AM

@rick-a My guess is that your serial number is registered under your Sony customer account. Try entering the e-mail address and password you used when Sound Forge was still with Sony. They transferred all customer accounts and licenses to Magix after the software switched hands.

Thanks for the suggestion SP. Unfortunately I tried logging in to the service centre with the old email address I used for Sony but got a log in error. Possibly the password I have isn't correct. I can't do "forgot password" though because that email address doesn't exist any longer. So I think I'm still stuck.

However, I do think you're on to something. I next tried entering my old email address at the registration stage after logging in with my new email address and got a message "new email address already exists". (They referred to my old email address as my "new email address".) So my conclusion is that they do have the old email address I used with Sony in the system as you suggest.

It seems to me that this issue might need to be fixed by support.

SP. wrote on 9/17/2025, 7:43 AM

@rick-a You definitely need support to merge both accounts into one. I recommend you open a new ticket and ask them that you want to merge your old Sony login with your current Magix login. Hopefully the AI bot will then inform some human support staff.

rick-a wrote on 9/17/2025, 7:51 AM

@rick-a You definitely need support to merge both accounts into one. I recommend you open a new ticket and ask them that you want to merge your old Sony login with your current Magix login. Hopefully the AI bot will then inform some human support staff.

Thanks for this suggestion SP. After your answer earlier today I updated my previous ticket with info about my old Sony login. But I could open a more specific one with this request to merge the two accounts into one. Thank you for your help.