ORIGINAL: kine321

CW, doesn't make mention of current users of Sonar8. I surmise they know current users would raise hell about being excluded for a free update. I think you guys are spinning your wheels for nothing trying to figure it out. Why would somebody that buys S8 now get something current customers won't get when the update is released? They're simply trying to entice users to S8 with a cheap smoke screen.

Good point - it raises two questions though:

* Exacltly who is going to pay if this is an update to SONAR 8

* As I said in my post above (116), the rubric states the next PAID update, not the NEXT update - in other words, does this mean that those who upgrade to S8 now will be exempt from paying for an update in SONAR 9 (or a later version) while the rest of us will have to?


BTW Kine, I do hope you're not right about the HS7/MC5/GT4 interface theory


Steve

maybe i'll pay if its 8.9

If you go to the Cakewalk Store site, under Sonar Studio and Producer packages, they mention the word "Upgrade". So having the word "Update" in the promotion really is confusing like someone else mentioned. Its also mentioned in the July 1st Press Release. It is possible that they have just decided to make this a pay for Update and are holding off on releasing a new version which would be labeled an Upgrade. So pay a little now then pay a lot more later for the new version when its released over a year from now.
but of course whoever buys it now will get the best deal. So no upgrade to Sonar 9, just an update to Sonar 8. which is still nice, but it would also be nice if it were also a free update for the rest of us.

ORIGINAL: musec07

I expect to pay for the next version of software...

I guess I'm missing a point though

I upgraded from S7 PE to S8 PE at first notice...
I don't expect to get S9 Free...

Nobody expects to get S9 for free (though that would be nice). It's just that bug fixes and making work what's in the product, which usually come under the guise of point releases, have historically been free. I don't think anyone expects instrument additions like Rapture or effects additions in a point release but a new version release where the number to the left of the decimal point changes. And right now the conflicting wording in Cake's releases on this new deal is making everyone wonder.

Of course, there could be a whole shift in the way Ro/Cake will be doing business as regards updates and upgrades. Isn't it Waves that charges a yearly fee (subscription?) for this kind of stuff?
Or Ro/Cake may be trying to drum up capital for software development.

Like I said in the other post, it's gonna be called SONAR 2010 like bitflipper said, or a whole new name like AUDIOPHONY, SONAR CS (like Adobe), or some other nomenclature. As someone else pointed out, they are nearing the end of the version numbering system like where they dumped the PRO AUDIO name and went to SONAR. The real thing is, can you think of a new, cool name that can equal SONAR?

Any suggestions?
SONACITY
PRO SONAR AUDIO
CAKESOUND
SONAR VS
SON OF SONAR
SONAR 2010
ROLAR
SOLAND
CAKEROL
ROLCAKE
PRO SONAR
SONAR PRO

Any thoughts?

ORIGINAL: digimidi

Like I said in the other post, it's gonna be called SONAR 2010 like bitflipper said, or a whole new name like AUDIOPHONY, SONAR CS (like Adobe), or some other nomenclature. As someone else pointed out, they are nearing the end of the version numbering system like where they dumped the PRO AUDIO name and went to SONAR. The real thing is, can you think of a new, cool name that can equal SONAR?

Any suggestions?
SONACITY
PRO SONAR AUDIO
CAKESOUND
SONAR VS
SON OF SONAR
SONAR 2010
ROLAR
SOLAND
CAKEROL
ROLCAKE
PRO SONAR
SONAR PRO

they should call it ............ B.T.P.T short for "Beat Time Professiol Technolgy"..... but then people who actually registered their new software would be held in secreatcy under contract that B.T.P.T really means "Better Than Pro-Tools"

ehhh ok ...... that was a log ride for kind of a lame joke ... but I try

Who knows what cw long terms plans are... I am sure they have a plan though..... it the end you know its always been whats best for customers as well as themselves as a company


and if there is a payable 8.5 download -- who is to say that there still wont be a whole new 9.0 at some point ?


and if there isnt a 9.0...... I would suspect that the economy has hurt them as it has most in some form .... and they had try something differet -- just like the rest of us adjusting to the economy ..

as i stated in an earlier post -- it cost money to deveolpe software... perhaps at this time it made more sense to go with a payable update ......

also as i stated earlier -- we are not the ones who sit in their buisness meetings cruching their numbers and going over buisness plans on what direction they go to next.......

thus far they have always been a great company -- until they show us or prove us other wise -- hang tight.... the sky isn't falling and the sun will rise everyday like it always does

cake will come through ... they always do...... and we'll still love them .....

if not ... you still have your previous sonar software or current ......and those work well .... and there are other companies that make daw software like ..... .. .like cubase ... digital performer.... pro-tools..... fl...ableton..... and so on......

I have the abilty ( and you all do to) to make pro recordings out of my own home without renting studio time..... -- something I only dreamt about in the 80's and 90's.....

life is good and cakewalk makes it better ... don't worry ... be happy .... look at me .. i am happy ... whoooooooooo ooooooo ooooooo ooooo (however that song goes)

ORIGINAL: Mooch4056

Who knows what cw long terms plans are... I am sure they have a plan though..... it the end you know its always been whats best for customers as well as themselves as a company

Well not quite. Customer satisfaction comes into it because they want you to buy the product. What's best for them is the number one priority, as with any business. Best for me is a perfect system, full of plug-ins and totally free.

Look ...... the facts remain:-

- TT Systems have never charged for a non-whole-point update / upgrade / version .. whatever you want to call it
- They want [ most of us ie: pre-July buyers ] to pay for 8.X
- The next version [ after the yet to be released 8.X ] be it 8.Y or 9.0 or some totally new package will also [ as usual ] cost us
- GFC or not, this is of concern - " milking " existing loyal customers is always a very questionable and very high risk proposition

Despite the above, I will be paying for this 8.X or whatever its packaged as because I am willing to [ still ] gove Rol/CW the benefit of the doubt in terms of how it is going to run as a company in the longer-term ...... however, I would be being less than honest if I didnt add that the whole direction of CW since it became Rol/CW has me concerned for the future.

The whole " VS " she-bang was/is a massive gamble - and yes, Roland has deep pockets but they are notorious for "orphaning" products - I honestly think - imo and based on many people in the industy I deal with - that the VS 700 flagship stuff is already a failure - the controller *may* survive but it has no hope at $2500.

Niche products like these need to have several basic things going for them to have any chance of surviving .... from a marketing and survival perspective, they need to have impact, awareness, "must-have-wow-factors", " objectively indisputable must have features" and the " I dont really care how much it is, I need it because its just so good " aura ............. none of this is rocket science - its basic business marketing for niche products - on most of these counts, the VS " stuff " just doesnt cut it - the lower end stuff *may* work / survive, but imo, the flagship stuff is just not going to "float" as they say ....... seriously, %99.9 of people here (a) have not yet bought (b) have made it very clear they arent going to buy (c) are giving very mixed / reserved / conditional comments about value, hardware choices, longevity etc........ and (d) are not going to pony-up $2500US for a controller for $250 software

The " VS " stuff should have " blown the people on these forums out of the water " [ in a good way ] and driven most of us to the bank to buy one of these ... instead its been like dropping a feather in the ocean on a windy day

Still .... I digress ...... bring on 8.X so I can buy it and use it and I'll worry about the other stuff later.

Tim

I really don't see it as a fact that there will be a "paid update" (meaning a 8.x.x update SONAR 8 users will have to pay for).

With the posting of emails some users have gotton, it looks more and more like the "paid update" words mentioned repeatedly in one ad is just a typo or wrong diction print. I'm thinking the deal offered to people to buy SONAR 8 after July 1st 2009 is just the normal deal that is offered yearly before the release of a new SONAR version (which deal is if you buy SONAR 8 after July 1st 2009, you get a free upgrade to the next version of SONAR, SONAR 9 for example).

And since a Cakewalk rep wont clarify, some of the comments/reactions here to the mention of "paid update," might cause Cakewalk to rethink their usual business practice. For example, since some user say they don't mind paying for a point update, they may start charging for some point updates.

I know I talked to a Cakewalk tech support rep after the 8.3.1 update was released, and at that time, he said another SONAR 8 update was planned. It wasn't mentioned that there would be a charge for it, though, and now after the reactions and comments made since the "paid update' words of one ad, I'm not clear about what will happen.

Dear Cakewalk Customers,

I’d like to apologize for the confusion that we caused with the upgrade offer that we sent last week before the long holiday weekend. While it’s upsetting to me to see the confusion we caused with our wording, it is nice to know that you do in fact actually read the emails that we send out. :) I’d like to clear some of this up.

The next update to SONAR is an upgrade and its coming later this year. This will be a major update to the application with significant new features added to it. This will be a paid upgrade for existing customers. If you already have SONAR 8 or 8.3 Producer, rather than the usual $179 that you are accustomed to paying, the cost for these new features will be $99.

As a convenience to existing 8.0 or 8.3 customers we will be making this upgrade available as a download. That way you will not have to wait for your order to ship and you will be able to start using these new features almost immediately. This is a convenience that has been requested by our customers and we have upgraded our systems to accommodate the high volumes of large downloads that will result when we issue this upgrade to SONAR. If you prefer to get your upgrade on DVD, it will be made available for you at an additional cost.

The current promotions that we are running are as follows:

• If you upgrade to SONAR 8 starting July 1st you will get a download of this next paid upgrade to SONAR for free.
  
  
• If you are a new customer who buys SONAR 8 at retail starting July 1st, you are entitled to a $100 rebate, plus you will get a download of this next paid upgrade to SONAR for free. [EDIT: the $100 rebate is US retail stores only, there are many offers on SONAR 8 going on outside the US but you will need to check with your local retailers for specific details. The free upgrade however, is being honored worldwide.]
  
  
• In addition, anyone who has purchased the complete SONAR V-Studio 700, starting with the product’s release in January, will be eligible for the free download.
  
  
• All of these customers can also get the upgrade on DVD for an additional charge.
  

As far as what the upgrade will be called, exactly when it will be available, and what features it will include, the only thing I can definitively tell you today is that full version of Rapture will not be included as part of this upgrade. For the rest, you can speculate all you want, but you’ll need to wait for our official announcement to get the full scoop.

Hope this clears some of the confusion up.

Best regards,

Carl Jacobson
Vice President, Marketing

At least it sounds different from a new version.

It's released late in the year and we pay for it.
Which is totally different from a new version.

Thank you for the clarification Carl,now we can concentrate our efforts
on the content.

I hope in following the request for a downloadable update,you will also make
available various forms of payment,ie Paypal for us in UK who don't have a credit
card,like me?

Thanks again,now on with the content speculation.

Alan

Hi Steve

Yes,I purchase from Edirol/Roland using my Debit card but,
if the update is downloadable,there would be little point in Edirol Europe
getting involved,the download would come direct from Cakewalks servers?

I haven't heard of a Prime Card but thans for the info.
I will look into it.

Alan