Just wanting a quick survey, as I am deliberating...

It's been a long while since I have been in the forum. I hope all is well with you all. I am currently running X3 and am debating on weather the upgrade, AT THIS MOMENT, is worth it. I was simply wondering what your personal experiences have been with the stability of the program and if the upgrade is worth it for ME. I am not using touch screen and I am running Windows 7 Pro...I refuse to mess with Windows 8 yet. I love X3, but the goodies that come with the new Sonar do look appealing. Thanks in advance for your input!
 
David

I'm running Windows 7 too and got no really special problems with Platinum, with the exception of a bug with Kontakt5 in non-english windows localization.
 
Platinum is stable as X3 was. Some of the new features are nice and timesavers.
The new membership program sounds good. Hopefully, Cakewalk will meet the expectations and marketing messages.
 
Is it worth? Hmm, yes I think so. But this is relative to my own perspective.
 
Is it worth to invest some money in a software that you use regulary and you want to get the best of it? If yes, buy it.
 
_Markus

If you're currently on X3PRODUCER (you don't say which version you have) it is most definitely worth upgrading right now to Platinum as there's a short term $50 discount.  It's the equivalent of getting 2 versions, or 2 years, for the price of 1 "old style" upgrade.

Thanks Karyn...I am running the latest version of X3. I've pretty much always kept up with the upgrades...just trying to evaluate my needs vs. my wants!

Ahhh...sorry...Producer...

Thanks again, Karyn....Do you happen to know if you can purchase a hard copy of it, as well as the download?

I personally HATE downloaded software. I trust NOTHING online and am basically disconnected at home completely. I like have a disc close by for reinstalls or for simply being able to me more mobile if I decide to switch around PC's.
 

CD burners are on the decline too! Put those files on a flash drive!

Hey David, You can buy a boxed version of the Platinum upgrade as Sweetwater at the temporary price of $149.
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SonarPltUpBx
 
Kind regards,
 
tecknot

I would wait. There are no earth shattering developments with Platinum. There will be bug fixes for Platinum and X3 is really stable now. I am waiting to see if Cakewalk really does more frequent updates. When they start updating items such as Staff view, ACT and color optimization , then I will jump in. X3 just works so well, I need a really good reason to switch.

I have to thank CW for offering a cheap upgrade to X3 Producer before the end of the year and for moving to the subsription model, since it's made my decision easy--I'm never buying another CW upgrade again. I've been using it since the old DOS days, and have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on "odd numbered" upgrades over the years, and with each upgrade I've found the interface to grow more confusing and use very few of the more advanced features, since I'm mainly a MIDI based composer using hardware modules and keyboard rather than soft-synths.
In the past, I used to buy the ugprades for the effects, and now that I have all of the legacy ProChannels and core CW effects and the 64-bit system  I see no more reason to move on. It's one thing when I decide to buy an upgrade every now then because I want to; another thing entirely when I'm forced to buy it every year. I realize that I don't "own" this software (only the "right to use it"), but a pure leasing based model is pure anathema to me. 

raisindot
I have to thank CW for offering a cheap upgrade to X3 Producer before the end of the year and for moving to the subsription model, ...

Sorry to disappoint, but there is no subscription model.   You can pay up front like you always have, or you can pay in instalments.  There is no subscription. 

For someone who is mainly a midi based composer with hardware synths I can totally get not upgrading. I would've probably kept it at Studio or even Basic. X3 was a very important upgrade for me with ARA, VST3 and speed comping. But midi-wise? Unless you must have SkyLight, probably a basic version of Sonar 8 would suffice.

Rather than being concerned with a hard copy versus a download, I'd get a copy of something like Acronis True Image.  That way you can back up your hard drive or even transfer files to another drive.  That would be more important to me, as it can restore (or move) your latest versions, versus the initial releases you'd get with a hard copy.  It'd be nice to [re]-install the current version of Sonar wouldn't it...versus having to install at ground zero and install all the updates again..??.

If Addictive drums 2, pro channel version of Rematrix reverb, vocal align, mix recall, and other stuff is worth the price of upgrade, then the answer s/b ...upgrade!   Running great on my setup btw.