This is what I like to see. At least we have someone updating us/giving us a clue as to what's going on.
That I am very grateful for. thank you.

Another example of how psychopaths behave when they have too much power.

Jwaterstreet
I plan to continue to use splat as long as I can.  However, one very possible scenario worries me, that has not been talked about much.  While I think Gibson will "do the right thing" about keeping servers going and doing an offline registration once servers go dark, this can only happen if Gibson itself continues to stay in business.  It is not a viable company and may go out of business entirely mid 2018 as it is very likely they will default on their huge debt.  Once it goes into bankruptcy court, it may be liquidated, brand names and patents sold off to whomever, and everything else gets turned off, including any commitments made to keep Sonar customers whole.
 
For this reason, I think Gibson should get the offline registration stuff done now, and delivered to us by mid 2018.  We should all be very vocal about this so it gets done.

 
For all we know the code is already written to unlock the software. Remember they wrote the auth code to begin with bypassing it should be a simple matter for them.

It's hard for me to think that they will give us serial numbers/files to authorize locally. That would be like giving the software away to anyone that wants it - I'll believe it when I see it.

Customer Support [Cakewalk]
Hey all,
 
Let me help try to dispel some of the myths that seem to be making the rounds in this thread. I'm also being a bit candid here, and it probably won't be the stock response you'd expect at this point.
 
First, while we didn't specifically mention install/reinstall in the FAQ, we've mentioned there, and also now on our home page, that our servers and website will remain active, and there will be no changes to how you can access your products. I know the feeling you get when you read "at this time" or "as of now", etc, but that's the best way we can be open and honest with you. We have no control over what happens to us next, but we were told that moving forward, servers will remain up. There's currently no indicator that this will change, what day that could change, etc, so all we can say is what we know. As strange as this may sound, it's sort of business as usual for now. Uninstall, reinstall, and authorize as little or as often as you need. If it makes you more comfortable, get the downloadable installers and put them on a hard drive, another machine, etc. If one day someone decides to shut everything down, we'll have a plan in place for you to authorize without the server.
 
The less fun thing for me to bring up is all the mentions of bug fixes. Unfortunately, this is another "at this time" situation. Gibson has in fact ceased operation and development of Cakewalk products. Bug fixes are definitely part of what the development team works on, and without a development team... well... you know the rest. The few of us here have been working on plans A, B, and C for different scenarios. If we get sold, shut down entirely, or somehow repurposed, we're doing our best to ensure we have a plan in place for our users. Don't forget, we're still SONAR users too, and we still want it to exist as much as anybody else.
 
Though I may get some flack for this, I'll even mention Lifetime Updates. In short, it looks good on paper. If Gibson didn't shut down Cakewalk, it'd still be something we could honor. Of course, the term "Lifetime" should always be met with the question of "what lifetime?". During the promotion, we said "even if we change SONAR Platinum to SONAR ___, you'll still get updates" and believe it or not, we meant it. I personally would have looked with caution, but if the plan was for updates to be enhancements and bug fixes, and then charge for new content, instruments, and major features, the business plan now seems to make more sense. It's unfortunate that it comes off as a "too good to be true" situation, but considering annual updates were $249 on our site for just about all of 2017, I still think the price for the now dreaded LTU wasn't all that bad. I know of a certain industry standard that costs more for a single year anyway, and they definitely weren't handing out new features each month.
 
Now a question for you all: would it be helpful if we continued to update the FAQ when we receive new information, or to address some of your concerns? Otherwise, what do you think the best way for us to relay information would be? I'm open to doing whatever it takes to keep you all in the loop.

Yes. Please keep the FAQ updated. The new information is much appreciated.

Thank you Mr. Customer Support.  Most of us really appreciate any bits of information you can provide.
Any information you give goes a long way of either confirming or dispelling the rampant rumors flying around the Internet.   The more we know, the less we have to guess.

For example, many people believe (and still do) that Cakewalk is finished as a company and Sonar is dead in the water.
But you mentioned the possibility of being bought out (however remote it may be), that gives us some hope that we haven't seen the last of Cakewalk.

Thank you Cakewalk for bringing us up to speed. This FAQ, or whichever thread, seems like a great place to keep these updates coming.
 
I'm so sorry for all you guys at Cakewalk. It can't be much fun right now. I personally didn't pay more than $120 for my lifetime updates and got a year of updates for that...so am pretty ok about the whole LTU thing.
 
The only concern I have, for me...is the ability to authorize new installs on new pc's down the road. Simples. I love Sonar, it has taken a long time to learn, and I want to carry on using this lovely program for many years to come, so thanks for sonar!
 
It's really good to know that Cakewalk are here listening, and talking.
 
 

Not to be too negative...but the "closing" of Cakewalk will likely forever taint them.
Unless some company like Microsoft picks them up etc. etc. which in reality IMHO is unlikely at this point.
Gibson will forever have put a stink on them.

Now, I greatly appreciate Noel and all the Bakers' efforts in their support for the last 10 or more years (for my time in Sonar) and want nothing but the best for him and teammates. But the company isn't looking like it will get a rebirth after all this time. Gibson has surely known for a long time they were going to shutter Cake. And there has been no concrete evidence any company is going to acquire their code or the company outright.

*All that said....I hope I'm wrong and something good for all happens, especially Cakewalk former employees.....and during the holidays. 😊 and us Users.

PS I haven't decided what my replacement DAW will be. I think I'm down to S1Pro and Cubase. I did make the jump to the SPLAT lifetime updates when it first became available and really liked the advancements over the last couple years so Gibson got me. A pox upon their corporate management. Good wishes for their employees.

Customer Support [Cakewalk]
Now a question for you all: would it be helpful if we continued to update the FAQ when we receive new information, or to address some of your concerns? Otherwise, what do you think the best way for us to relay information would be? I'm open to doing whatever it takes to keep you all in the loop.

Thank you for the post.
 
Finding an update post in the forums is sometimes not so easy with the current high volume of traffic. So, yeah, keep the FAQ up to date. I've been checking it semi frequently, so if new information is available, please add it to the FAQ.  
 
Thanks.

Guys, I'd like to think that the fact that there is still something left of Cakewalk suggests to me that "it ain't over until the fat lady sings" and I hear no song just yet!  Perhaps there are plans afoot otherwise Gibson could've just shut the whole operation down.  Therefore I'm going to be optimistic that something will rise from the ashes.  It would be pretty drastic and an absolute tragedy if after 30-years development, it was all for nothing!!!
 
So I'd know like to address the "Customer Support [Cakewalk]" person with some questions and suggestions.
 
I think until Gibson's full intentions with Cakewalk are addressed, we're all going to be nervous at having ploughed money into a black hole because I agree with others, if there is any truth in the financial state of Gibson or for whatever other reason they go under, "the fat lady will sing" and we'll all have a rather rude awakening which will be most unpleasant for us.  However, I and others I'm sure understand that to release a key which would allow us unlimited access to current software would devalue the company, so may I suggest the following which would show incredible good will from the parent company, cost them nothing and would at least show this community that Gibson are listening to the concerns of their customers and therefore this would be a kind of reassurance.
 
I therefore would like to propose that Sonar X3 is given with an unlimited offline licence and placed in the accounts of all current customers who's licence status with yourselves is "owned".  At least this means that if something were to happen, we'd have something usable and not that old so we'd have a chance of opening current projects without too much fiddling around while still being able to work and it also gives us time to assess what to do next rather than being left without our tools and having to rush to buy another product without time to look into it.  Please consider this option.  How does everyone in the forum feel about this suggestion as a compromise given the dire situation?
 
EDIT: And one more important thing that no one seems to have picked up, what does this line mean from Noel's statement "A dedicated team has been established during this transition period to continue to serve the Cakewalk community" - transition to what is the question I think we need answering please?  Clearly someone knows the answer to that.

Howling will this forum remain up and monitored 

It seems inevitable Gibson will go into Receivership at $520 mil debt, they cannot pay back and the credit bubble is up. While closing some arteries not making money seems logical it is really an indicator the company is in or close enough to Receivership.
Closing Factories,  Cakewalk and the next is the sign of the end.
Cakewalk will be sold off for peanuts and will reemerge as something not tainted by a closure that will have to be paid for all over again.
The case action for breach of contract needs to go to Gibson very soon. LOL  Who cares!
I just bought  Sonar Pro outright on thew 30th Oct, and havent installed it as been busy and happy with X3 for so long. I have no customer support  nor updates which I signed up for. I don't even know if it is buggy or not.
I am only out of pocket $200AU 
Hardly a claim worth worrying about on it's own.