Anderton

SubSonic
I likely will take advantage of the $149 "upgrade" price to this new service from X3 Producer, but I won't pay $199 a year for it thereafter.

 
I don't understand why someone is so certain of what will be introduced 12 months from now that they've already decided they don't want it. Just because you've been burned by other models doesn't mean it can't be done right.
 
Those with decent memories will note that when I first came into this forum, I was dead set against subscription software programs. I wrote an editorial for Harmony Central, an article for Pro Sound News, and posts in other forums that made my opinions perfectly clear. And those opinions have not changed.
 
But then I understood that software requires a new means of distribution. Boxes in stores weren't going to cut it any more. Just go to a GC and see how many boxes of software are left. More companies were going to digital downloads. Apple took Logic away from retail, made it download only, and offered no upgrade path.
 
The rental model is great for companies. They get consistent cash flow, and because the software expires, they are accountable to no one. You want to open the files you created last year? Sorry. Pay up. Now.
 
What makes Cakewalk's approach so different is it incorporates the new realities software companies face, but is 100% accountable to the customer. Some people here recognize what a huge commitment that is on the part of Cakewalk in terms of rewarding and respecting their user base. Others don't quite see that...yet. But the onus isn't on YOU to renew. It's on Cakewalk to create something that makes you WANT to renew, because you don't have to. You can keep using your software, as long as you paid for it, for as long as you want.
 
That's a HUGE difference.
 
Meanwhile, all the people who said last September that Cakewalk would be out of business in a year after being acquired...well, let's hope all their bets were gentleman's bets. And if you're going to bet against Cakewalk again, I'd recommend the same approach.
 
 

yevster...Look, this model actually allows you to choose how much you're willing to pay. Let's say your 12 months have run out. You keep what you've paid for, then just wait until CW puts out something that's worth another $200. You can pay that $200 a year later, two years later, etc. You can wait until CW puts out enough new features to be worth your next $200...

TabSel

yevster...Look, this model actually allows you to choose how much you're willing to pay. Let's say your 12 months have run out. You keep what you've paid for, then just wait until CW puts out something that's worth another $200. You can pay that $200 a year later, two years later, etc. You can wait until CW puts out enough new features to be worth your next $200...

Tempting. But what about bug fixes/Patches? We all know these HAVE to come. if you want bugs to get fixed, you can't choose when to pay, you HAVE to pay (maybe even 12 months in order to "keep" the fixed patch level). This can not be legal, can it?

Soft Enerji
Just trying to get a definite answer to the Addictive Drums question that has been asked. Will I be able to use my ADpaks, MIDIpaks and Kit Pieces that I already own and use in AD 1, with AD 2? 
 

yevster

ChazEd

yevster
You can pay that $200 a year later, two years later, etc. You can wait until CW puts out enough new features to be worth your next $200. This is different from before when the number of versions you were behind determined how much you paid to catch up.

Can you please point me to this info in the faq?

Yep. Copying&Pasting:

If I let my Membership expire after 12 months, can I renew it again later?

Yes, you can come back any time and pay the Renewal rate. If you choose to renew Monthly payments, you will need to complete an additional 12 consecutive months to permanently activate the latest update you have received.

Trolleater

Vern C
Dave_ _lol is obviously a troll that never used Sonar legally and is upset because he'll have no way to pirate the next version.

if I could hake cakewalk.... lol why would I not hake a real DAW! I'm so mad because I have something that is suppose to work and it doesn't work, and now they are going to trash it for something new with out fixing the bugs!  

Anderton
 
It works just fine. The problem is you don't.

yevster
No argument that Pro Tools is backward feature-wise and in terms of the overall value proposition. My point was that without significant improvements in the reliability of the product, Sonar cannot compete for the Pro Tools users who are seeking greener pastures. I won't bother recounting all my nightmares with X3 here, but no commercial user with clients or deadlines would have put up with a quarter of what I had to go through.

aidanodr
I upgrade my Sonar X3 Producer to Platinum via the $149 one off payment. I get 1 year membership for the following 12 months. My choices then are:
 
1. Stop subscribing,own the Platinum outright with updates ONLY up to that point
2. Continue subscription via another yearly sub of $149 or greater ( after intro offer ) in perpetuity 
3. Continue subscription via monthly sub of $14.99.

cparmerlee

aidanodr
I upgrade my Sonar X3 Producer to Platinum via the $149 one off payment. I get 1 year membership for the following 12 months. My choices then are:
 
1. Stop subscribing,own the Platinum outright with updates ONLY up to that point
2. Continue subscription via another yearly sub of $149 or greater ( after intro offer ) in perpetuity 
3. Continue subscription via monthly sub of $14.99.

 
And the big problem I see with #2 is that there is no assurance of any release upgrades at that time.

he only feature in the present announcement that I see a compelling case for (in my circumstances) is the ability to snapshot different mixes.  That is powerful, and if I had an expectation of ongoing improvements of that magnitude, I wouldn't have a big objection to the annual fee program.