Does Sonar X-1 Essential

mean that MC is a thing of the past? Or is it more like this:  X-1 Producer = Sonar Producer, X-1 Studio = Sonar Studio, and X-1 essential = Sonar Home studio.
 
Will there be a MC-6? Hmmm i wonder?!?
 
 
 

Great minds!!!  I figure that the top three are producer, studio and Home studio, but i wonder as you did, does that signal an end to MC?

I wouldn't be surprised.  I'll bet they didn't make enough money for Roland on the MC line with MC5 and decided to axe it.

I feel they still need a cost effective entry level piece of software. I think MC will be fine, it's guitar tracks that maybe in the crosshairs. I stayed with MC for a few versions, MC2, MCpro, MC3, and MC4.
So I truly believe in the product. I thinks MC will get some additional love from Cake.

I would like to think MC has a place in the future Cakewalk lineup.
If MC does not make money, hopefully Roland will see it as a loss leader. It's inexpensive, and generates product awareness for the more advanced products.
From what I've seen, most people that advance from MC do so because they have had a satisfying experience, but want to do more.
I am also inclined to believe that a significant percentage of new Sonar users would have been better served if they had spent some time with MC.
I don't like Sonar LE. Actually, not the program itself, but the way it is packaged. Its biggest drawback..no GM soft synth.
The first thing the tutorials tell you to do is insert TTS-1... but there is no TTS-1.
So, right out the gate, you have frustrated users. They may upgrade out of frustration, or they might just say the heck with it, and get a competing product. Thing is, Sonar LE is a stong product, but it is crippled by not being able to show its stuff.
I'm inclined to agree with Thatsastrat. I think GT, in its current state, is a cut down version of SHS, but shares the same price point. The appeal of previous versions of GT was that it was purely audio. Many people liked that idea.
Now that it supports VSTi's, it is sort of an expensive version of MC. It sits in a precarious grey area between MC and SHS, and it doesn't really make sense at this point in time.
The way I see it:
Music Creator at $39, a true entry level program. Relatively easy to comprehend, and affordably by just about anybody.
Sonar Home Studio/Sonar X1 Essentials, at $99, a bit more challenging, but a good place to start. Potentially overwhelming for a new user, but once you get the hang of it, very powerful, and reasonably priced.
Sonar X1 Studio/Producer. More expensive, more capable. For the power user, Producer offers stuff you will probably use.
Studio should be good for users that already have a stable of favorite plug-ins.
For myself, SHS6XL is pretty optimal for my current machine, and I will continue to use it until obsolescence rears its ugly head.

Stalker tendancies!

RobertB


HaHa.
Actually we live just a few blocks away from each other.

Reece, that's a valid point. After all, we started with SHS4, and survived, but I have to wonder how many people would not be here if the $40 bracket were not available.

yeah, and we should get together more often than we do!
 
yes, I agree it will have an affect on how people get going if that is the case.  it will affect how we help people.

Thanks for stopping in, Brandon. That's good to know.
MC has been a springboard for some real talent that may not have taken the chance on more expensive software.
Many of them have moved up, as their skills and/or needs expanded, which has to be good for Cakewalk in the big picture.
I'm glad to see this avenue will stay open.

thanks for clarifying, Brandon!  I appreciate it!