I think most users would prefer the updates to core functionality. The "extras" have been typically things you would never miss if you never saw them (such as the X2 Content Club). I think I have developed anti-GAS over the past several months as the more toys one has distracts them from the purpose at hand. X1 was a good platform and I pre-ordered X2 as a result... X2 turned into a nightmare for me so I waited for a couple weeks feedback before buying X3. X3 introduced some very crucial functionality - Speed Comping, ARA, VST3 support, etc. - which will last for years to come. And now that X3 has been very good to me I am taking a more critical eye on things.
 
I already own most of what CW sells, and cannot help looking at the X3P->SONAR Platinum and feel I am re-purchasing things that I already own (for the most part). The new features do not give me the same feel as when I read about X3... and banking on the "possibility" of things coming down the pike is not the same as announcements of addressing user feedback to core functionality and announcing what is slated to be done. Granted there are business concerns to doing such, but the new model is turning the tables on things as well. Dangling a carrot for a "potentially missed extra" does not carry the same weight as "we are perfecting X-component." Many of the threads now have very little "What to expect in the coming year" (customer-focus), but more defending the new model to the bitter end (company-focus). The upcoming year will force a shift in this paradigm as well, as users reflect on their past year of membership.
 
I still have a couple weeks to hem and haw about this, but X3 will be a tough act to follow. The core functionality is what matters most (to me anyway).

 
First time poster here, actually first time poster anywhere, but I have used the Cakewalk forum resource daily for years for the excellent information and advice, and I'm familiar with many of you by your forum names. (I thought that given the circumstances of this Cakewalk announcement, now would be the time for a first post.)
I must have read through 100 pages by now both here and at Gearsluz (God is there some awful, incompetent dribble over there re the membership announcement.) I have checked out all the Cakewalk links etc so I feel confident I can comment with at least some knowledge.
 
The first thing is I basically applaud the "membership" system. It shows a lot of courage and makes sense for a variety of reasons that have already been stated by Cake and others.
 
I agree with others on here that the new features in this release are a little underwhelming. I would have thought that Cake would have predicted the confused and at times belligerent response to the new purchasing arrangements, and come out with all guns blazing. A sort of "knock your socks off" update to balance the critics. Having said that, Mix Recall, VocalSync and the MIDI Enhancements are attractive, but not something that would really have anyone rushing for their credit cards. And I say that realizing that the potential is that Cake Bakers have probably spent months refining some of this new product to have me comment that it's not very good. Sorry!
 
The other hot discussion point is bug fixes relative to the end of a 12 month membership. I don't know if the content and bug fixes are going to be separate downloads but I would hope they would be. Any bug fix with a "connection" to a past edition/update should be down loadable for all users. It is in Cakes best interests to have happy customers operating stable and consistent software. From what I have read in the past both here and on other forums, Cakes reputation was obviously smashed during the Roland experience, and the lack of updates to X2. Cake has taken back a lot of ground with X3e but you have a long way to go, and how you manage the bug fix aspect will be important. You want customers sharing and posting good experiences, because it is great for Cake's reputation.
 
Re support, I would go one better than the rest of the pack and give 18 months of continuous service.
 
Beepster made a comment re having the "monthly" content available in the Cake store for sale at a premium price. I think that is an excellent idea and gives customers the opportunity to buy what they may have missed and Cake the opportunity for extra revenue.
 
Post #964 by Mettelus is an excellent post and I agree 100%. The Cakewalk hierarchy need to take note because a lot of what Mettelus says I constantly read on other forums during the discussion of software. A lot of people have reached saturation point when it comes to buying software. When Sonar X3 scans my plugins I have 1020 plugs, and I'm not saying that just to impress Bapu. I actually feel embarrassed. I will never buy another compressor, and not even Steven Slate can talk me into it. I have Amplitube 3, T-RackS, Komplete 9, VTM, VCC, VBC etc,etc. Like Mettelus, I'm over GAS, and I want core functionality as a priority. (I also know that Cakewalk has to grow by enticing new users.) I also demand reliability on the latest computer systems and a focus on workflow improvements that give me efficiency, although I am aware that one person's workflow improvement is not another's. ( A perfect example is the bitterness that is still maintained to this day re the GUI update from 8.5 to X1.)
 
Unlike many others, X3 is my only DAW, and I have no desire to stop using Sonar and experiment with other DAW's. I will upgrade for this first "cycle" because it should be of value. The value, or projection of that value will be more interesting in the second cycle. But I would just skip updates until I saw something I liked. I really wish Cake all the best over the next 12 months.
 
Hmmmm, ended up being a long first post. Is there some sought of reward for that? Perhaps a free compressor?
 
Regards
 
Greg

dcmg
I think some replies I'm seeing suggest that the folks who ( for lack of better description)
a) "game the system" and adopt late in a product cycle,
b) buy the "current" but sunsetting version at rock bottom price
c) then get favorable (or free) upgrade to the next version
are the most opposed to this new system. Harder to do that in this ecosystem.

Certainly you can call it "gaming the system". That is one way to look at it. But here's how I look at it - I have been using Sonar since back when it was just Cakewalk Pro Audio back on Windows 95. In fact, I might even have used it on Windows 3.1, but I forget. Either way, I would buy the program as-is, and use it as-is.
 
When a new version came around, I wouldn't feel obliged to buy it any more than I would feel obliged to buy the new version of any software - instead, I would see if the number of improvements justified the price, and if so, then I would upgrade. Developers know that the value you gain by picking up a few extra features and improvements is less than the value of going from no software to some software, so they offer discounted upgrade prices.
 
But there's still no guarantee that the discounted price is worthwhile to any given user. It certainly has never been worth the money for me. So, in 'recent' years, I've gone from Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 to Sonar 4 (or was it 5?), then Sonar 7 Studio, then 8.5 Producer, then X3. Only with a gap of 2 or 3 versions is it worth the price to me. It's the same this time around - all the new features demonstrated for the impending version, plus the 'Up Next For Members' stuff, does not add up to $200 worth of stuff for me. I might grab it at the $149 level just in the hope that I get enough bug fixes on top to make it worthwhile. But I'll know 12 months from now whether that gamble paid off or not.
 
Hopefully Cakewalk will make it so that customers like us can still do well with this system, getting all the same updates as everybody else, just having to wait longer to get them, and maybe missing out on some optional freebees along the way. The alternative, where failing to stay subscribed potentially ends up leaving us as second-class users with many key features missing, will just push me over to a different DAW where the cost of ownership is lower. Despite many frustrations I stick with Sonar due to familiarity and backwards compatibility - but if it gets too expensive, there are feasible alternatives.