Do not forget AD2 Producer vs Solo difference...

ralf
I'm not sure if the Quad-EQ is a PC module or a fixed part of the PC strip. It can't be removed or added for another instance. So, it may be that the Fly-Out feature will be removed when switching to professional, or maybe it will stay thanks to having X3 Producer installed before. Maybe someone from CW can clarify?
 

I too would be interested in some clarification on this. I'm assuming that the flyout would not work if you downgraded. I don't think that flyout window technically counts as a PC module.

ralf
I own X3 Producer, but for what I'm doing as a hobbyist it's a bit oversized. When going with Professional, I could keep all the Producer instruments and effects, I just would not get the new Platinum things like VocalSync and DrumReplacer, which for sure I don't need. I will loose only Pow-R dithering and QuadEQ fly-out, not sure if this is really worth $100 a year on the long term.

I'm also wondering if Professional is a better option for me. As an owner of X3 Producer upgrading to Platinum would only give me the extra 2 ADPaks and VocalSync. I cannot find any mention of a DrumReplacer in the Sonar feature lists, if anyone can point me in the right direction it would be appreciated. Not sure about Pow-R dithering (also not on the feature list) but if this was on X3e then we should still have it. However if the QuadEQ fly-out  is not retained then I will definitely be upgrading to Platinum.
The only other advantage of Platinum may be that some of the upcoming free content given may be Platinum only, but I doubt it.
 
Paul

tonemangler

ralf
I own X3 Producer, but for what I'm doing as a hobbyist it's a bit oversized. When going with Professional, I could keep all the Producer instruments and effects, I just would not get the new Platinum things like VocalSync and DrumReplacer, which for sure I don't need. I will loose only Pow-R dithering and QuadEQ fly-out, not sure if this is really worth $100 a year on the long term.

I'm also wondering if Professional is a better option for me. As an owner of X3 Producer upgrading to Platinum would only give me the extra 2 ADPaks and VocalSync. I cannot find any mention of a DrumReplacer in the Sonar feature lists, if anyone can point me in the right direction it would be appreciated. Not sure about Pow-R dithering (also not on the feature list) but if this was on X3e then we should still have it. However if the QuadEQ fly-out  is not retained then I will definitely be upgrading to Platinum.
The only other advantage of Platinum may be that some of the upcoming free content given may be Platinum only, but I doubt it.
 
Paul

The flyout is indeed awesome and I'm not trying to talk you out of the premium upgrade but you should still be able to use the old Analyst if the QC is the only reason you'd go platinum. It's just not as convenient.

Beepster
The flyout is indeed awesome and I'm not trying to talk you out of the premium upgrade but you should still be able to use the old Analyst if the QC is the only reason you'd go platinum. It's just not as convenient.

I've never used Analyst but sounds like a spectral analyzer. I  like the flyout eq because the controls are much larger and easier to adjust, and the analyzer is right underneath the eq plot which makes it easier to find problems and make adjustments. As previously stated I'll probably go Platinum the first year.
 
Thanks 

Since I have to wait till Weds to download Platinum, I'll just focus on the good reports.
 
Michael

 

ralf
What will be pricing to switch between versions? What will I have to pay if I get Professional now and decide to switch to Platinum later? Or in the other direction, will it be possible to switch from Platinum to Professional later?

 
 
If you switch from X3 Producer, the pricing states that you can subscribe to the professional for $99 (9.99 per month if you wish). I believe from the pricing quotes that if you started with professional and wanted to step up to Platinum you would then have to start the Platinum subscription from scratch. This means $199 if you subscribe for the whole year or 19.99 per month. The required 12 months to retain the contents if you stop subscribing will be based on the day you upgrade from professional to Platinum. I believe it also states that if you pay for the full 12 months of professional and decided to upgrade to Platinum you would receive some credit for the prepaid portion of the 12 months that has not yet elapsed. It does not say how much you might be credited with.
 
From the Faq:
 
Sure! If you’ve already begun Monthly payments, you may start a new year of monthly payments for                    Professional or Platinum at the higher monthly price. If you pay up-front or complete 12+ months of                    monthly payments, you may purchase a Crossgrade.                    

do you find it optimised ...as X1 dat i've found less "heavy " than x3 ?

stevec
My "outside looking in" guess; they want to first see how the initial "lottery" folks make out before releasing to the general public.  As mentioned above there are reports of issues with Kontakt and Melodyne, neither of which I've encountered so far myself, so that may be why the release date is a bit nebulous.  Perhaps they are putting the new system to the test right out of the gate. 

 
Very close to the mark. It's not just a new SONAR, it's a new installation system and store. There are a million moving parts and they all have to work. For example it doesn't matter how good SONAR is if the installation is frustrating. So they're testing the waters to make sure the system can handle it before opening it up further. (And I'm pretty convinced it was indeed a random selection process, or Karyn would have gotten an invite.)
 
The Melodyne issue seems fixed - I tested a build last night - haven't had problems with Kontakt so no comment there. Also there was an issue with the amp sims. If Cake can push those fixes out with the hard launch, that will convince at least me that fixes can happen faster with the new installation model.
 

YouDontHasToCallMeJohnson
We already have had well over a year of the CW/Gibson alliance providing us with reasonable changes. It is just silliness to doubt this will not continue?
 
One of the most important contributions of the alliance has been the regular involvement of THE CRAIG.
 
THE CRAIG obviously believes the good times are here to stay. That alone is all I need to know to buy-in to the new scheme.

I really appreciate the props, but I'm not being humble when I say it's all about Cakewalk and it's also all about Henry. The Cakewalk team has been phenomenal on all levels, and Henry is really committed to this being a long-term success story. I do indeed think that the good times are here to stay because that is the goal of all involved.
 
I will take credit for making the acquisition happen, but it wasn't exactly challenging. Henry was really excited about bringing in Cakewalk, and Cakewalk saw the obvious advantages in being part of Gibson Brands. Roland was painless to work with and the whole thing happened in a short period, without drama.
 
In a lot of ways I'm just being my usual mastering engineer self. The tracks were recorded by great musicians in a quality studio, and the mix is great. I just add a little EQ and dynamics and stuff.
 

Well, I am going to go with "Professional" (I have studio) The monthly payment is what did it for me.(with the wife not working, $99 is to much at once) I understand what they are doing with the membership. It sort of forces Cakewalk to continually upgrade and release them right away. If they don't, then people will be dropping the membership and Cakewalk will lose customers and of course, $$$$. I will keep going with the membership, but if there are no releases in a year, then I will need to rethink.
 
I think the membership will work though.
 
Doug

The manual is available now. New features from the help file here  http://www.cakewalk.com/D...lp=NewFeatures.01.html

I fixed the link. It just points to the new features section in the help.
 
The Reference Guide pdf is usually available after the release of the product.
 
 

That's what I thought however you said the manual is available now in post #1226. I'll wait as per normal procedure. Thanks.