Anyone else feel that the X1 Upgrade is too expensive?

Hi Everyone,

I'm just interested in hearing some noise about this issue.

Here's my two cents:

I first came on as a user with Studio 8 and then upgraded to Producer 8.5, largely for matrix view. Now, not even a year later, I feel like $99 is a bit steep to upgrade once again. I could be wrong, but my take on X1 is that is largely a cosmetic redux. Although, a nice one and a desirable one. Even the Pro Channel, while really enticing, is basically just a repackaging of functions that were already available.

Also... 10% is not a "sale". Going from $99 to $89? Let me put it this way. If it was $59, I'd buy it today. No questions asked.



Thoughts?

How about an installment plan?   Every time they fix something, We send them $10.00. 

Fog,

I guess what I meant by cosmetic is that the included effects, etc. Pretty much directly match 8.5 (i.e True Amber, T-series, etc.)

And the pro-channel  (although I'm sure you're right in that the algorithms have been improved and expanded) is basically the same attributes of the vocal strip and percussion strip modules, combined into a new interface.

Cakewalk's upgrade price is very fair if you ask me. Although I would've liked a product with a bit more refinement. Either way, I think it's fair. I'd rather they charge more actually and have more things fixed, implemented etc.

By that reckoning MOD I might be out as much as $250 semolians!!

My dog ate my box... I guess he was on to something.

I think it's a fair price.
Sonar 8.5 could have almost been called Sonar 9.0 IMHO.
There was enough different.

When you put it into the scheme of things it's really no win for Cakewalk.
If they release frequently, they get yelled at for extortion.
If they follow the yearly release like they used to, people get antsy and want a new version quick.

Presonus seems to be doing real well with the free upgrades which add major features. They are looking to gain market share though so that's probably the reason.

Cubase 6 doesn't really seem to have much different from Cubase 5.x except for the drum thing and probably a zillion bug fixes, especially the x64 version.
I haven't studied it, but I don't see too much excitement over it on the boards.

Most of the real excitement in the community seems to be around Protools 9.

--um, well no price is fair when the product doesn't work as advertised.  And you're only talking about the relatively inexpensive upgrade prices.  New customers are paying--what, $400?- for something that doesn't work. 

wormser


Cubase 6 doesn't really seem to have much different from Cubase 5.x except for the drum thing and probably a zillion bug fixes, especially the x64 version.
I haven't studied it, but I don't see too much excitement over it on the boards.  Most of the real excitement in the community seems to be around Protools 9.

Sorry, wrong, wrong.. and wrong. You are either just not informed or trying to misinform here, there is a TON of new features in Cubase 6, even revolutionary ones like Note expression (absolutely marvelous),
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLrHI8iVImQ
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZm8c0kr1Io&feature=related 
 
and here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACXh-HpY1U4&feature=related
 
oh, and try this with X1....  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7qAZXb-u5Q&feature=related
 
So, there is a super clever new take managing, advanced elastic audio features, lane concept, new multi track editing and grouping, VST Expression 2, VST 3.5 protocol update (Sonar -> VST2.4 ?) and a ton of small workflow enhancements, new VSTi, an "own" inhouse produced VST3 Amp, all that combined blew me and THE MAJORITY of users away. Also talking about "bugs", --- like 5 years ago, x64 since 4.1 running perfectly stable, also 5.0 up to today without ANY issues, and I am talking about actual paid productions for media,  with clients in house and stress to workstations and engineers, so try to compare this to Sonar. I just say "stability" and "gapless audio engine"... ha ha. I mean, by looking at Sonar it is REALLY hard NOT to find a bug, erratic behaviour or just make it crash by some everyday minimal tasks. Most unfinished product on the market. Goes in last after all major contenders at the moment, even Reaper. Sorry but I needed to clarify that. 
Sorry fanbois.
 
Oh yes, the real excitement about Pro Tools 9..ASIO ( Another "uninnovative" Steinberg standard) adopted, what a revolution. Well I´ll be excited about Pro Tools again, like I was back in 2003, as soon as I get a 64 bit version, plugin Freeze, OFFLINE EXPORT, VST plugin support instead of that CPU hog RTAS, removal of the silly track limitations + getting decent MIDI editing. And Avid should lower the price which is currently at 3000 $, which you need to pay if you want the HD upgrade and Toolkit 2, otherwise the precious PT9 599.-  "basic" package, the "excitement" is all about is basically on par with Cubase LE from 2008.
I´ve invested enough money in Avid the last years, so I tell everyone, if you dont´have the $ in your pocket to go for HD+Toolkits and an ICON or at least Control24, forget thinking about Pro Tools.

"How about an installment plan?   Every time they fix something, We send them $10.00."

Great idea. Though it looks like my upgrade would be free since I cant get past the first few minutes into writing a song.

$99 is much better than $400. and after X1b hits and if it does what X1 was intended,   I'd bump it up to 500.   Sonar is the best midi editing and instrument DAW on the market. and the audio is a hair away from passing PT.   Sonar also has better plugin capacity. i'm a avid user ( no pun intended)  of Sonar since the early 90's and shelled out for several upgrades. Even though X1 kicked us all in the nuts, we know what it's capable of and 1b will probbly be worth $99 by its self.   It sucks we were kinda cought by suprize with the majorly drastic change we had to endure with notice, but  looking back, I really don't see how they could have told us what was coming without blowing the bag to the rest of the field.   i'm sure if PT or studio1 knew what CW was up to 6 months in advance they would have tried to counter it somehow.  
I honestly don't think they knew X1 would be so much trouble.  showbiz 101 will even say its better to start out late and hit hard, than push it out before xmas knowing its faulty and make a bad first impression.

We all know how critical  it is  and how easy it is to go from smokin hot to veneller ice in this biz.   
note intel and its chipset.  thier brain fart cost over 700 million this year. 

I try to use this formula for my studio.. 

smart employee + Dumb boss = overtime
Dumb employee + smart boss = production 
smart employee + smart boss = profit

kubalibre

wormser


Cubase 6 doesn't really seem to have much different from Cubase 5.x except for the drum thing and probably a zillion bug fixes, especially the x64 version.
I haven't studied it, but I don't see too much excitement over it on the boards.  Most of the real excitement in the community seems to be around Protools 9.

Sorry, wrong, wrong.. and wrong. You are either just not informed or trying to misinform here, there is a TON of new features in Cubase 6, even revolutionary ones like Note expression (absolutely marvelous),
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLrHI8iVImQ
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZm8c0kr1Io&feature=related 
 
and here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACXh-HpY1U4&feature=related
 
oh, and try this with X1....  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7qAZXb-u5Q&feature=related
 

Took a look at the vids, and ok, I'm a little behind the curve with Cubase 6.
I just don't see the excitement on the groups regarding the new version.
Maybe it's because it's not all over the world yet and only a few have it in their hands (Euro mostly).

As for the new features, I dunno.
I record musicians who know how to play so most of that stuff is fluff to me.
The same could be said of other DAW software that caters to loopers, cut and pasters and so forth.

As for trying to misinform, no such thing.
I dumped X1 for Presonus Studio One and after doing 4 projects in it, I ain't looking back.
Sonar may claim to do more, but how much of that more does it do without bugs?

Prior to that I've been a long time Nuendo user.

As for PT9, you can't deny the buzz is about PT9 and few other pieces of software.
I sold my HD system a few years ago, gladly, but others love the software.


So, overall, point taken on Cubase 6, I'm a little out of the loop so to speak.

No it is not too expensive.

Bub

rbowser


--um, well no price is fair when the product doesn't work as advertised.  And you're only talking about the relatively inexpensive upgrade prices.  New customers are paying--what, $400?- for something that doesn't work. 

+1

...or, if it does...does so in a kludgy fashion....  ...so you have to duke it out with the computer... 

Sorry, but I just have to say this about the thread: 

I spent quite some time in the USA a few years ago, and the thing that boggled my mind time and again was how someone would start up a conversation about how he saved two or three bucks, or went "elsewhere" cause he could save five bucks. 
Are the richest countries in the world really so tight on cash? Here I am paying 7 to 10 times more PLUS shipping for anything that is imported (which is all electronics and software), I don't spend time complaining. I either buy it or I dont. But to take the time out to start a THREAD about it....

Just my 16 RSA cents worth :O)