dubdisciple
For what it's worth, there is no X3 version of AD. It is simply the retail version AD is on par with BFD so you are essentially upgrading your drums and then some for the price of Sonar upgrade.
Hiya, dub. Yeah I figured it was the full version from what I've read but wasn't quite sure. Kind of surprised the slot spaces are limited to 12. AD is a nice program as far as I could tell when I demoed it and I was going to buy it before learning about BFD here. I took a look at EZ/Superior Drummer's too but there was something that put me off those (I forget what now). The thing is although AD would be a great addition if I didn't already have a high end drum program it doesn't seem like it is going to be a suitable replacement for BFD full or even Eco for my needs.
I've been trying not to mention it too much so as not to cause trouble but essentially what I'm doing is a cost/benefit analysis of upgrading versus buying the base version of a competing DAW (who shall remain nameless) so I can access some more reliable editing tools. If I was starting out fresh without a drum sampler and various other components it would be a good deal but I've made a few calculated purchases that can be transferred over to another platform. I'd still use X2 for mixing but the editing is just too infuriating. It sounds like things are a little better in X3 but I am starting to see reports of the same old issues trickling in so I am very hesitant and looking for things that will replace other purchases I need to make (in this case a drum program to replace my BFD purchase considerations). If I could get away with some of the things I mentioned in my OP then X3 would become immediately more worth the money but it doesn't look like that is the case.
Currently the only real improvement that will benefit me directly is perhaps the Melodyne ARA integration but unfortunately to get EXACTLY what I want out of that feature (namely the audio stretching capabilities I believe I was talking to you about the other day) that would require yet another upgrade. The new Quad Curve would be nice but is unnecessary as is the Tape Sim.
The only thing that is left is to see what happens with the editing/general stability and I think it is too early to tell. The X3 Pro upgrade is $50 more than buying the base package of the other DAW so it's a real pickle for me to decide.
With X2 it had so many extra bells and whistle that were immediately useful to me I pretty much had to get it. With X3... not so much and now it comes down to stability and proper maintenance so only time will reveal the answers to those questions.
I really wish they had just released a patch or gave a stripped out version of X3 for $50 in lieu of a patch. Then I would not be so conflicted.
The other thing is I've kind of had a plan to purchase the other DAW for quite some time as I used to use a different version from the same company and it's a little more mainstream than Sonar but Sonar had the better base package for a raw starter kit and the other DAW had seemed to drop the ball as far as performance/maintenance (which has now supposedly been corrected by all reports). If I do make this decision then all of a sudden I have an upgrade path and can begin tackling the learning curve in case Cakewalk gets destroyed by Gibson (which hopefully with Mr. Anderton at the helm will not be the case).
Strange days indeed, my friend. Very hard to make a decision as things are. Need more data. ;-)