AndertonHowever maybe as Kamikaze is proposing, you actually mean the add-ons to SONAR like Nomad, Soft Tubes, XLN and AAS.
 

 
I forgot Overloud too.
 
For the record I'm not interested in the loops and much of the work that Craig has put into expanding options over the last year. This isn't intended as a dig at Craig's efforts, because it doesn't matter whether I like or use it. Sonar development shouldn't be about just pleasing me. Stacks of people enjoy the content and FX chains, it expands the program and rounds it out. Now that is what I think should be expected from Cakewalk, a well rounded and highly functional program, that is robust too.  
 
The relationships with the 3rd parties have helped made it a well rounded program.
Nomad - These have given a wealth of good quality plugs, that help make the program be 'complete' out of the box.
AAS expanded the range of synth options, these fit a range of Genres. The influence of the rhodes, means it fits so many genres, included dance music. I happened to have the complete set direct from AAS so none of this content added anything to me at all. But it's good content I had already purchased it, so I this just happened to not apply to me
XLN - gives the users the option of pursuing a range of higher quality drums beyond session drummer, and also expands on the drums available with session drummer out of the box.
TH2 (Overloud) gave  a good quality guitar amp, which a modern DAW should have really. I'd prefer this to cake developing their own version.
 
I don't think these have added anything additional since the new payment option.
 
Soft Tubes and Overloud are a bit different, as they work with cakewalk with things like the pro Channels. I love the Pro Channel concept, and bringing in specialists to develop good quality functions has helped these options be valid options. When I see a new processor in the 'Deals' section, I have to ask myself, do I really not have something that can do this really well already.  This is what I want from development in Sonar, the options to be good enough that I don't think I need to add anything unless it really makes a difference.  These 3rd partly development relationships seem to only bring good things to the table and means the Sonar teams can specialise on their specialty, Sonar.  The BOX option I like,  too, not that +10db comes free, but it's good to see them working with other companies to expand pro channels. (On a side to this, I wished yesterday that I could have the PX64 shapers functions as prochannel option, but then gave FX Chains a go and that was so simple to make and modify)
 
Then we have ARA with Melodyne. And with the new version 4, I expect to see some further developments with integrating this, especially with Studio One showing that some things like importing timing maps can be made better
 
So I'm full of praise for the third party relationships, and they help the staff concentrate on the core development and fixes. 
 
The idea that the majority opinion should rule on what happens will only help loose a customer base, no maintain it. If you don't use MIDI that much, and they update, fix and develop this aspect, well you still benefit. It makes the program more robust, flexible and helps keep existing customers, and a reputation brings in new customers. And this does help you. Because that enables them to focus on the things that do interest you, by being a more financially stable product.
 
What I would like to see Staff improvements (no surprise to some of you I mention this first, and this part is archaic compared to the rest of the platform ). chord tool to help improve composition stages. Midi improvements. I don't know other DAWS, but other users seem to be aware that other DAWs have some great functionality we are missing out on. On the Audio Editing and Mixing front we have had lots of improvements that I wouldn't have thought of. Some responses to these have been so positive, and surpirse at the unexpected functions these can be used for. I want to feel this surprise on the Midi front for a change.
 
Do I think that I have seen the areas that I think are weak developed enough in the past year. No, I don't. I haven't signed up to next years upgrades yet? No, but I'm going to. Not because of what I have seen lined up in the next 3 months. I don't know enough about the Mastering improvments, but I am glad to see they have finally listened to request for colour personalisation to return (It was nice in the past when people showed their set up and shared them with other users).
 
 
Do I think I got good value from the past 12 months? Yes. Seeing the cost for the next 12 months, especially on offer, then I good for it. Hopefully we'll see the timing import from melodyne happening soon as it was suggested (by Noel I think), it should be easy to implement. 
 
Do I think they should focus on bug fixes? No. There are too many small improvements that can be made that aren't bug fixes, many we have been asking for for a long time. I don't think that cakewalk have been involved in the features and ideas section and I would like to see a lot more involvement with the customer bass on this. Yeah sure surprise us with things like Vocal Align that no one has asked for, that then prooves to be a far more flexible tool beyond syncing voice to video, but gives us what we are asking for too. Make it not feel like a one way conversation. But then we are getting the 'Feedback Portal', so maybe things are going to be in that direction anyway (Not that I think this should be a selling point for the next three months, as they should really be providing that as good customer relations, and they haven't been doing so far with the forum option)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

sharke
I completely disagree. I think new users looking to get into making music do a LOT of research into feature sets and pros/cons. They're reading reviews, they're scouring the manufacturer's website with a fine tooth comb and they're going on Gearslutz and asking "which is the best DAW for making genre X?"
.......
I also disagree that Cakewalk should give up on softsynths, they have some great talent there. Z3TA+2 and Rapture are excellent. I also think it's a shame they don't produce more effect plugins because again they have a huge potential. Look at the CA-2A. The ProChannel needs a good quality delay module baked in (can't understand why it doesn't come with one) and the Quadcurve could use mid/side processing. Loads of room for improvement. 

100% correct.
 
After using SONAR I also keep visiting the websites of other DAWs. Though not using much but installed ProTools LE, Studio One Artist, Cubase AI.. Got all these along with some of the Hardwares - either MIDI Controller or Audio Interface or USB MIXER .....  Which are the hardware [apart from Roland A500/800 pro] club SONAR Artist ??
 
This is a point SONAR reaches less new comers I believe.  When a new comer buys a I piece of hardware they get a DAW copy and they start with that. Crossgrade are done by
I. the experienced who studies compares eventually they start using multiple DAWs
ii. impatient users coming with an idea that 5 clicks for a beat, 4 clicks for Bass, 3/4 clicks for pad, record voice, 3 clicks for vocal effects (dropdown-chose-OK]  - SONG MADE !! Not good : Try another DAW, this DAW sucks.
 
Sometimes experienced users try to find work around, as they know what effort will be required to master another DAW. They ask for feature inclusion or improvement.
 
To hold this users required the stability, bug fixing on a regular basis. But at the same time newer features should be incorporated so that these users need not to switch to other DAW for certain tasks.
 
For new comers - more and more tutorials are required - not in text in 2016 an YouTube Channel - contributors are already there in this forum [knowledgeable, helpful ...] SWA - GROOVE3 for the experienced users who will pay for as they are earning from music, but not for the new comers. Because other DAW starters are gets this and new users of SONAR will think SOANR doesn't have the feature.
 
RAPTURE / DIMENSION should come up with more patches periodically. Everyone are not Synth programmer.
 
MIDI to be explained more, explored more - New comers will be overwhelmed if put to them systematically.
 
All the above are my personal view for this great DAW - SONAR.
 
Regards
Snehankur

 
This thread has been more than interesting.  I was going to express appreciation for Michael's (mettelus) post, but then read James' (sharke) and Snehankur's rebuttals to what I'd imagined, and it hit me that it all makes so much sense, that we're each coming at Sonar from a different direction, and that they're all valid.  Imagine the load this puts on Cakewalk developers.  Realizing this, I'd say they're doing a pretty good job !