I think it would be beneficial to most if irrelevant posts within a thread be deleted completely as well as those that start the kind of opinion wars we often see.
 
I would also like to the ability to link to a new thread within a thread where specifics related to the OP's subject can be made for a reader's further research.  Kinda like a sub-thread if you will.  That way the general theme of the OP can be discussed as well as related specifics "off to the side".
 
Regular ("expert") contributors as moderators is an excellent idea.  I have a lot of respect for many of the regular contributors here and I believe others share the same.  I would like to nominate bitflipper, robert_e_bone, FastBikerBoy, scook, b rock, Mod Bod, CakeAlexS and the ever social nice guy, bapu just to name a few.
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker

I think in general the extra mods idea is great. Look forward to it being put into operation.

I tried really hard but I didn't understand that at all.

Firstly as somebody who has been in the 'music industry' on a professional basis, who still plays a small part in it, who still knows a few people who used to sell thousands or even millions of records (some I got involved in), I can tell you that it barely exists any more.

Secondly nobody knows who the moderators will be yet, not even Cakewalk I suspect.

Thirdly nobody knows what X4 will be (if indeed it still will be called X4) other than Cakewalk so in that case nobody knows whether it is worth upgrading or not.

Forthly Cakewalk has been listening over the last year and has been active about it and it has helped tremendously.

Fifthly the idea that only recording pros should be able to moderate forums is ridiculous. Most people who use this software are amateurs and I couldn't care less if they were airline pilots or unemployed (which incidently a lot of musicians are) as long as they did a good job.

CakeAlexS
I tried really hard but I didn't understand that at all.

Firstly as somebody who has been in the 'music industry' on a professional basis, who still plays a small part in it, who still knows a few people who used to sell thousands or even millions of records (some I got involved in), I can tell you that it barely exists any more.

Secondly nobody knows who the moderators will be yet, not even Cakewalk I suspect.

Thirdly nobody knows what X4 will be (if indeed it still will be called X4) other than Cakewalk so in that case nobody knows whether it is worth upgrading or not.

Forthly Cakewalk has been listening over the last year and has been active about it and it has helped tremendously.

Fifthly the idea that only recording pros should be able to moderate forums is ridiculous. Most people who use this software are amateurs and I couldn't care less if they were airline pilots or unemployed (which incidently a lot of musicians are) as long as they did a good job.

 
Maybe he doesn't understand what a moderator does in a forum?  If a topic is about how to get a side-chain to the master bus correctly, and some dipstick comes in and declares that Eddie Van Halen is the bestest guitarist ever, then a moderator would quietly split that reply out and probably send it to the Coffee House where it can be properly ridiculed.  
 
If someone makes and opinion about how they mix a track, and someone else attacks the person and not the opinion (e.g., calls him names, etc.), then moderation should remove the attack and warn the person who made it.
 
If we're in a topic about new features we'd like included in a future upgrade, and someone comes in to promote their DVD burning software, then a moderator would remove that post and send information about the poster to Cakewalk for banning (or perform the three-flags and you're out technique).
 
I actually doubt ANY "recording pro" would want to be a moderator because it means spending a LOT of time in the forums and not just in the areas they have an interest in.  Basically, they simply don't have time to handle the task (and it DOES take time!).

StarTekh
Moderation changes : This is perfect way to take out whats left of your users/clients !

 
Good point. It does seem likely that all the people in forums with little traffic will think "Hey, there's someone paying attention to my questions and providing answers. That sucks! I'm outta here!!"
 

A small group of handpicked by Cakewalk community members will be invited on a trial-basis to moderate specific parts of the forum.
 
A small group of people with little or no track record in the recording Industry !

 
Before anyone sets up mics in the forums they will receive proper training. Personally, I prefer the three mic technique on drums but if a moderator wants to use separate mics on the toms, they will not be penalized.
 

A private forum will be setup just for this group so that they:
a) can bring major issues to the attention of Cakewalk staff

 
I don't know of any forum with decent traffic that doesn't have a private forum for moderators. A lot of times that's where issues get resolved around boring things like restoring passwords, bugs in the forums, debates about the pros and cons of adding new features, etc. Besides, there's a proposed forum for people who have suggestions about the forum so those voices will be heard on forum-related topics.
 

The list goes on : But the user level on this form has droped to record low's with many Pro Users= has record in the music industry
moved on the be nice about it.

 
Actually I was copied on traffic stats. They've been going up. What matters is how many people visit, how low the bounce rate is, and how long visitors stay engaged. Things like the Cakewalk blog divert some traffic from the forums but they are part of why there's more traffic. And as several people have pointed out, with X3 there hasn't been that much to complain about.
 

As for x4 there would be little or no reason to update

 
Aha! Now I see what's going on. Since you know what's in X4, you must be a Cakewalk employee...so you've come in here to make some off the wall comments to stir up controversy and increase post count. Very clever!
 

On a final note: Im glad gibson picked up cakewalk...someone had to. on the other hand now we have a payed moderator ..blowing his own horn...but I guess that his job !

 
I am NOT PAID BY CAKEWALK. I am NOT A CAKEWALK EMPLOYEE. I spent a lot of time on these forums before Gibson acquired Cakewalk, and have supported Sonar ever since it was introduced because it filled my needs better than any other software. Most of the time I spend on these forums is outside of work hours. OTOH being involved with Gibson has provided benefits, like getting loaner instruments to make expansion packs.
 
The extent of my moderation has been removing spam, and even that has slowed to a trickle. I haven't banned or warned anyone. I start topics and reply to topics. I'm pretty sure you don't have to be a moderator to do that. 
 
As to blowing my own horn, actually I'm not a horn player, I double on guitar and keyboards.
 
 

ampfixer
WHen the bakers make the changes, I would like to see all direct marketing banned. This is of course aimed at the software forum. It's too valuable to eliminate but there's no need to allow marketing. I don't pedal my wares in the hardware forum and Spacey doesn't try and sell his fab guitars on the forums. Why should people like IKM get to do so. If they get to make money off the forums, why not all of us?
 
If there were a buy/sell forum than that's where this stuff belongs. We don't have a forum like that today and I don't see Cakewalk creating one.

Since we've been called out here, I feel it fair to ask when you last saw an IK rep start a thread about our products?  I'll answer that for you to save some time - April (both myself and IK_Obi).  I think that shows a marked improvement in behavior that the community did not like, yet I feel it a bit unfair to be called out for it in this thread as if we are still exhibiting such behavior.
 
We participate in threads about our products, naturally, as well as some that are not about our products.  The latter requires care, of course, because I would not want to give the impression that I was criticizing another company's products but I also do not feel I should be 100% fanboy so personally I only participate where I know I can add value to the conversation about another product/tool without bias in any form or direction.

StarTekh
Moderation changes : This is perfect way to take out whats left of your users/clients !

I think someone needs to point out that what Cakewalk presented in post #1 was not a fait accompli, but a request for comments from the community prior to making any changes.
 
That just further underscores how Cakewalk has become even more involved with the community over the past year.
 
Also, forums are very flexible. If something doesn't work, you change it. If something works, you keep it.
 
It's really not rocket science nor does it require a dose of drama.
 
 

IK_Multimedia

ampfixer
WHen the bakers make the changes, I would like to see all direct marketing banned. This is of course aimed at the software forum. It's too valuable to eliminate but there's no need to allow marketing. I don't pedal my wares in the hardware forum and Spacey doesn't try and sell his fab guitars on the forums. Why should people like IKM get to do so. If they get to make money off the forums, why not all of us?
 
If there were a buy/sell forum than that's where this stuff belongs. We don't have a forum like that today and I don't see Cakewalk creating one.

Since we've been called out here, I feel it fair to ask when you last saw an IK rep start a thread about our products?  I'll answer that for you to save some time - April (both myself and IK_Obi).  I think that shows a marked improvement in behavior that the community did not like, yet I feel it a bit unfair to be called out for it in this thread as if we are still exhibiting such behavior.
 
We participate in threads about our products, naturally, as well as some that are not about our products.  The latter requires care, of course, because I would not want to give the impression that I was criticizing another company's products but I also do not feel I should be 100% fanboy so personally I only participate where I know I can add value to the conversation about another product/tool without bias in any form or direction.

You think this post is calling you out? What a load. It was just an example but you've made my point very well. Talk about insecure. It wasn't directed at IKM only, it was directed at all the people that have a financial interest in using the forums.
 
You claim above, that you only participate where you know you can add value to the conversation. What value did you add to this conversation? None, nada. You are simply trying to save your corporate butt. Until you start acting like a forum member you are not a forum member, just a shill for IKM.

Maybe he meant a different IKM? 
 
(Ok, ok, just kidding!   I did suggest having a completely separate forum just for vendors to pimp their wares.  That way, if a member doesn't want to see it, he just doesn't go into that forum!)

I will not discuss polls
I will not discuss polls
I will not discuss polls
...

I too, like my daily visits to the software forum. I think Larry does a great job of keeping everyone informed of current events. It's his thing, in the same way CakeAlexS does his thing, when it comes to bug reports. I like all the forums.
 
My statements regarding vendors may be applied to all forums. If an outsider can advertise in the hopes of making money, why can't an insider? Is it okay for big companies to flog stuff but not okay for the average guy? IKM was simply something that came to mind. Probably because the threads they participate in are always memorable.

Lets us know what you decide and when you will decide it. Thank you for allowing the forum to discuss this.