I'm with you Bob. All I see is a really nice deal that people can take advantage of if they have the brains to see it. I'm happy for all the ones that are and have taken the deal. 
 
 

Paul P

bapu
Some people just want to be right. In spite of the facts.

Why does the truth hurt you guys so much ?
 
And why are you all taking this personnally ?
 

No one is taking it personally. None of us are employed by CW where I could see one taking it personally. 
 
Keep in mind that when the original offer was made there were those that tried to cause trouble by making up stuff about it. Now there are those that are trying to call out CW for extending the offer. It seems as if nothing CW does can go with out some one finding fault with it. Some of us are tired of it.  "No good deed goes unpunished", it seems to be true. 

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]

Jesse G
So I purchased Sonar Platinum initially on 11/25/2015  and then I updated to Sonar Platinum Life Time updates on 6/27/2016  I hadn't had Platinum for an entire year when I updated for the asking prices,    Was there suppose to be a refund of some type?
 
I've heard of refunds being given back to those who purchased before the year was expired on their initial purchase.

 
Prorated pricing was only offered to users who had two consecutive annual memberships, the second one being renewed this year. So you wouldn't have qualified for that. Your price would have been 199, the same as it is now.

Noel,
 
The only reason I upgraded my Sonar Platinum of 7 months was because Cakewalk posted that the discount offer would end at the end of August 31, 2016 and if we didn't take advantage for the offer, would would not be able to purchase the lifetime update for the offered discounted price. 
 
Well August 31st came and instead of charging the full price to those who didn't take advantage of the discounted price offered to those who purchased lifetime updates as posted by cakewalk by August 31st,  you extended the discount price so that others could buy at the same price the earlier purchasers did who felt pressured to beat the deadline of August 31st. 
 
If I knew that I I didn't need to purchase the lifetime updates product by August 31st and spend a total of 348.00 for only, at that time 7 months of platinum use, I would have got a full year out of Sonar platinum and got the rolling updates I was supposed to have received and then made my lifetime purchased in November 2016 before my subscription expired.
 
I believed as many other the other purchasers that we had to purchase by August 31st or we would be out of the deal to have the lifetime update at a valued price, such wasn't the case.
 
I paid 149.00 to update my Sonar X3 to Sonar Platinum on 11/25/15 and then paid 199.00 to update to Sonar Platinum lifetime by a deadline date of August 31st 2016.   Something is not right about that  
 
If I took advantage of the lifetime update by the deadline and there were not other offers offered, then I would be satisfied because I took advantage of a deal that others would not have had an opportunity to participate in unless they met the required deadline...., Tsk Tsk Tsk .

No Leadfoot,
 
Don't make this something that it is not, the words refund $199. was never typed,  Look carefully. 
 
I am basically saying that if Cakewalk says they are offering life time updates for $199 but in order to take advantage of the lifetime updates at that price, we have to purchase the offer buy August 31, then they should NOT make the same offer available after the deadline date to those who didn't take advantage of the offer by the deadline date. 
 
From what I read, I was under the impression that I would not have had an opportunity to take advantage of the lifetime rolling updates for Platinum if I hadn't jumped at the offer by August 31.  

All the speculation and doubt and concern over the last three fiascos have been the result of treating us like children. (X1, subscription and monthly payments, and now life-time “free” updates.)
 
Six months ago did some professional marketing person in the room ask, “What happens if we don’t meet our summer goal? What do we do then?”
 
Did someone really say, “Well since it will be close to the holiday sale season we will just extend our offer for another 4 months.”
 
Did a real marketing professional ask that? Or do no such persons work for CW?
 
More “reasonable” speculation: “The CW managers did not meet their goal for the summer special so they blamed it on the users’ demand for more so they can reach their goals.”
 
How about you just tell us the truth????
 
Treat us like adults. Do you really think your great idea about crowdfunding lifetime updates is unique?
 
Tell us the Truth!!!!!!
 
You failed to meet your goals and you really want to prove yourselves correct in the eyes of your bosses. Hence another four months of speculation and waiting and wondering,…..
 
Two significant fiascos under Gibson’s “guidance” in less than three years. I was hoping for more from Gibson’s supervision.
 
Tell us the truth.
 
One of the original emails indicated great things were to happen on September 1. What we got was a lame extended promotion as the result of “user demand.” Total dog-stuff. Who are these people employed in marketing who have allowed this to happen again? Cakewalk is NOT supposed to be like Ronco. “Wait there’s more!”
 
Tell us the truth. Treat us like adults and we will respond as such.
 
The point of the yearly subscription (which membership is) is to avoid the insanity of constant, and “holiday,” promotions. Yet, here we are again. Just as we have always been. Over, and over, and over.
 
Stop the promotions. Set reasonable prices for all products and STOP special sales. These promotions only result in users being pissed having missed the sale. This is just stooopid. A waste of EVERYBODY's time. Just stop it.
 
Tell us why you want to raise lots of money via the lifetime support offer. Tell us the truth. You will gain more user loyalty and more user respect than with this stupid, “trust us” stuff.
 
Tell us the truth.
 
NO other group of managers in any other company cares what you guys are trying to keep secret. That is so last century. An extremely small number of audio software users will change programs based upon some little bitty changes and improvements.
 
The fastest growing, and most profitable, companies tell the truth to their customers.
 
Treat us like adults and we will respond as such.

joakes
And your rant, Mr Johnson, is one of a rational adult ?

Can't this thread be locked, its way past its expected shelf life ?

KR
Jerry

^^ this, in Spades

The truth has been presented, but if people choose not to believe it, then they assume it's not the truth. Not much can be done about that.
 
Also, remember that when Cakewalk started lifetime updates, they had absolutely no idea what would happen. You'd think musicians would understand the concept of improvisation...

I'm one of those that probably would have waited till December to upgrade instead of in August if I would have known.  I'm annoyed how they handled this.  They could have at least bumped the price to $250 or something just to maintain some credibility.
 
However, I'm still happy to have the new features that came out this past month.  The cleaner comping and multi-track plugin add addresses my everyday use so it's worth the money I just paid. 
 
On the bright side, if lifetime updates is still up for grabs, Cakewalk will continue to push major improvements to bring in additional cash.  Since a lot of us feel screwed anyway, Sonar should just extend the lifetime option permanently.  You pay $200, you're part of the club, you get continual upgrades.  This way Cakewalk will continually try to create new and exciting ideas to get new customers and we'd all benefit.  It's better than Cakewalk turning their attention to non-core add-ons and letting this update program fade to just minor bug fixes.

Remember that comic from the Far Side ?
 
Here's my take on some of this threads sub topics ...
 
The first deal Cakewalk introduced was touted as a "Loyalty Discount " on a Lifetime SONAR membership ...at a much better price for some people ....
As we all know , there was a lot of hush hush involved at the time up until the deal broke to the general forum populace .
When Cakewalk posted the original deal it may have caused a couple of unintended ripples amongst  some of the membership here   ....
 
Please allow me to explain Why I feel this way ....
 
Starting here in the upstairs part of the forum , traditionally this part of the forum was populated primarily by SONAR users pretty much all a cross the board ...there was no defined hierarchy of rank among users unless an individual had a chip on their shoulder , or they self promoted their butt straight out the door ... 
I never felt out of place coming here when I was using SONAR 6 PE while SONAR was at X1 X2 or even X3 ...
Then I waited a little while to jump from 6 to X3 then to SPlat ....
Before I go further ...there are members here on this forum that produce some really great music ...some of these guys to this day have never even made it out of SONAR , 6 , 8 or X 1 ....
 
So here's where I'm going with all of this ...
Now all of a sudden a new deal comes down the pipe with the word loyalty ....keep in mind I'm not looking to do semantics ....
I do understand the marketing ...yet I do want to bring up the feelings ....
Remember some of those guys I mentioned that never made it out of the fill in the blank version of SONAR ? 
Some of these guys have been kicking around here a lot longer than me ...I'm here 11 years bro ...
I do understand that Cakewalk is doing what it feels is best as a company that wants to grow ...
The thing is ,
That Loyalty Word is a double edged Sword ...based on a consumerism type of theater/ definition  ...fine OK ..jump a few hops get a deal ...You be the man ...Yes sir ...you loyal ...all that with a join date of 2015 ...Rock On
 
Based on The Real True Meaning of the Word Loyalty ....not really OK ....
 
Why ? because I even questioned my own loyalty to Cakewalk ..Yeah , what now ? 11 years w Cakewalk don't mean $hit anymore ? If I feel that way I can deal w it ..yet I know I'm not the only one
 
This is the fricking While Elephant in the living room nobodies supposed to mention ..throw me out of here for it lol
 
For the record , I'm not qualified to even pretend to have any or all the answers ...a person has to ask the right questions to get those right type of answers
I'm just here looking to shine my little flashlight on a few dark recesses of some of the problems ...
They will all pass in due time ...
 
One of the unintended ( I hope unintended ) consequences of both these two deals ..concerning the first that lapsed and now the second that is still in play is this .
There is now currently a tremendous amount of peer to peer pressure on the forum regarding the topic we are discussing...
 
First , What I want to know is ........When did it not be OK to run what version of SONAR you got ?
 
Second , Why are some people finding the need to make fun of a few select other people here that may be having a melt down here and there while they sort out where they stand ?
 
I happen to have a soft spot in my heart for mental cases ...not only have I been one ,
I'm kinda still one ....As they say , Once a Pickle never a Cucumber ever again ...
 
Anyway , I'm still over here sorting it out with the wheels so I can upgrade ....
 
all the best ,
 
Kenny
 

kennywtelejazz
Remember that comic from the Far Side ?
 
Here's my take on some of this threads sub topics ...
 
The first deal Cakewalk introduced was touted as a "Loyalty Discount " on a Lifetime SONAR membership ...at a much better price for some people ....
As we all know , there was a lot of hush hush involved at the time up until the deal broke to the general forum populace .
When Cakewalk posted the original deal it may have caused a couple of unintended ripples amongst  some of the membership here   ....
 
Please allow me to explain Why I feel this way ....
 
Starting here in the upstairs part of the forum , traditionally this part of the forum was populated primarily by SONAR users pretty much all a cross the board ...there was no defined hierarchy of rank among users unless an individual had a chip on their shoulder , or they self promoted their butt straight out the door ... 
I never felt out of place coming here when I was using SONAR 6 PE while SONAR was at X1 X2 or even X3 ...
Then I waited a little while to jump from 6 to X3 then to SPlat ....
Before I go further ...there are members here on this forum that produce some really great music ...some of these guys to this day have never even made it out of SONAR , 6 , 8 or X 1 ....
 
So here's where I'm going with all of this ...
Now all of a sudden a new deal comes down the pipe with the word loyalty ....keep in mind I'm not looking to do semantics ....
I do understand the marketing ...yet I do want to bring up the feelings ....
Remember some of those guys I mentioned that never made it out of the fill in the blank version of SONAR ? 
Some of these guys have been kicking around here a lot longer than me ...I'm here 11 years bro ...
I do understand that Cakewalk is doing what it feels is best as a company that wants to grow ...
The thing is ,
That Loyalty Word is a double edged Sword ...based on a consumerism type of theater/ definition  ...fine OK ..jump a few hops get a deal ...You be the man ...Yes sir ...you loyal ...all that with a join date of 2015 ...Rock On
 
Based on The Real True Meaning of the Word Loyalty ....not really OK ....
 
Why ? because I even questioned my own loyalty to Cakewalk ..Yeah , what now ? 11 years w Cakewalk don't mean $hit anymore ? If I feel that way I can deal w it ..yet I know I'm not the only one
 
This is the fricking While Elephant in the living room nobodies supposed to mention ..throw me out of here for it lol
 
For the record , I'm not qualified to even pretend to have any or all the answers ...a person has to ask the right questions to get those right type of answers
I'm just here looking to shine my little flashlight on a few dark recesses of some of the problems ...
They will all pass in due time ...
 
One of the unintended ( I hope unintended ) consequences of both these two deals ..concerning the first that lapsed and now the second that is still in play is this .
There is now currently a tremendous amount of peer to peer pressure on the forum regarding the topic we are discussing...
 
First , What I want to know is ........When did it not be OK to run what version of SONAR you got ?
 
Second , Why are some people finding the need to make fun of a few select other people here that may be having a melt down here and there while they sort out where they stand ?
 
I happen to have a soft spot in my heart for mental cases ...not only have I been one , I'm kinda still one ..
As they say , Once a Pickle never a Cucumber ever again ...
I'm still sorting it out with the wheels so I can upgrade
 
all the best ,
 
Kenny
 

Actually I know exactly what you are saying and I must confess I too had some of those feelings. Check out my join date. It was just days after this forum opened. I was still on the newsgroup and was reluctant to make the move. I did and I have been here ever since. 
 
Through the years I have tried to help fellow users as much as I could. It seemed that none of that had any meaning. Yes I am a host. I think I am a fair one and I try to do my duty to the very best of my ability. All that said I can really understand your take on this. There is an echo of a little resentment to how CW has handled this. It isn't the first time nor will it be the last. 
 
However not just because I am a host I also saw a problem with the exclusivity of the way CW offered the first lifetime proposal. It meant those not able or aware would loose out of a very good offer. I was troubled by that notion. Even though I had been able to take advantage of the offer myself it was troublesome that many if not most were not included.
 
In the end my loyalty to my fellow users has been the means where I can except this new offer in a spirit of inclusion. It is that I see as the more important aspect of this whole thing. I would suggest it is made permanent. So all users can be included.
 
I hope you see this in the same light I see this. And be assured your post is taken in the same acceptance as it was offered. A very thoughtful post that touches on unspoken feelings I believe held by many.
 
We need to celebrate the idea of a real community where we all look out for each other.           

So is there going to be a timer for how long the deal lasts?
 
At $199 it's still a good deal. For a brand new license at $499 is a good deal.  I'm in no hurry for when Live goes to 10 and having a Suite license. Should be some sticker shock there.

John
Actually I know exactly what you are saying and I must confess I too had some of those feelings. Check out my join date. It was just days after this forum opened. I was still on the newsgroup and was reluctant to make the move. I did and I have been here ever since. 
 
Through the years I have tried to help fellow users as much as I could. It seemed that none of that had any meaning. Yes I am a host. I think I am a fair one and I try to do my duty to the very best of my ability. All that said I can really understand your take on this. There is an echo of a little resentment to how CW has handled this. It isn't the first time nor will it be the last. 
 
However not just because I am a host I also saw a problem with the exclusivity of the way CW offered the first lifetime proposal. It meant those not able or aware would loose out of a very good offer. I was troubled by that notion. Even though I had been able to take advantage of the offer myself it was troublesome that many if not most were not included.
 
In the end my loyalty to my fellow users has been the means where I can except this new offer in a spirit of inclusion. It is that I see as the more important aspect of this whole thing. I would suggest it is made permanent. So all users can be included.
 
I hope you see this in the same light I see this. And be assured your post is taken in the same acceptance as it was offered. A very thoughtful post that touches on unspoken feelings I believe held by many.
 
We need to celebrate the idea of a real community where we all look out for each other.           

Hi John ,
 
Thank you for such a thoughtful reply
 
It is clear to me you got the gist of where I'm coming from ....
I'm just bringing up some of the unspoken stuff beneath the surface  ...
 
Yes, I hope the Whole House Divided thing ...passes soon ...so we can get back to this ...
in your own words ..
"We need to celebrate the idea of a real community where we all look out for each other."       
 
all the best,
 
Kenny
 

Yeah, yeah. Make fun of me. Been here since cw9. Same old response whenever someone complains.
 
Talk about "adult" behavior: Why lock the thread? How about, if you don't want to read our tirades, DON'T READ THEM, instead of telling the admins to make it so you cannot resist.
 
Reality: 
We were told we would have a limited time offer that would result in great things. That's all. That does not constitute facts. That is marketing hyperbole.
 
What we got was a poorly thought through offer. And now an extension of essentially the same offer, based upon "user demand." That is marketing hyperbole.
 
We were repeatedly told, 'Give us money for Lifetime updates and you will get fixes for free.' That is marketing hyperbole.
 
"Give us your money and we will give you something free."    AHHHHHHH!!!!
 
And now the explanation for the extension is that it is the beginning of the holiday sale season so the offer is extended. I maintain that that should have been anticipated by the managers who thought up this strategy.
 
=============
 
Being angry is not being an adult?
 
I am unhappy because again i am being told nothing, and then as usual the fanbois start admonishing me to stop complaining and sit in the corner like a good little boy.
 
Every time anyone has real complaints the forum bullies tell the admins to stop the complainers.
 
================
 
Example of displeasure: It was about five years to get color choices back. I should not be unhappy about that FACT?
 
 

I can see the headlines now. BUSINESS IN PRICE OFFER SHOCK. Somebody call the cops.

The primary purpose and responsibility of management is to “Anticipate and Prepare.”
 
All the supposition, speculation, and concern, about the company’s well-being, and all the questions about pricing, and specifics and definitions, should have been addressed in the initial offer. They were not.
 
Instead what we got, repeatedly, was marketing idiocy: “FREE LIFETIME updates for only 200 dollars.”
 
Obviously the details of the offer were not clear. Witness the hundreds of questions public and private, and the support messages and calls, including the hundreds of hours spent by CW personal that SHOULD have been avoided. That is evidence of lack of “Anticipation and Preparation.”
 
We are told all our lives: “An offer that sounds too good to be true probably is.”
“FREE Lifetime updates for only $200,” was rightfully suspected to be “too good.” So as reasonable adults we questioned the implications of what this offer might mean.
 
But for the next few weeks not one real trustworthy word about our concerns. Just more and more and more of FREE, HURRY, FREE, HURRY. Push, push, push.
 
“Buyer beware” is another tenet of life during wartime.
I was stung by Lexicon’s blatant fraud of dumping its audio interfaces knowing full well they would not work with win2000 and wXP.  (Hence, I refuse to use anything lexicon.) Should I not be distrustful of such a similar presentation?
 
To not be wary about "FREE FOREVER" would be irrational.
 
There are only two actual facts:
 
An offer was proffered to existing Platinum owners/subscribers promising lifetime rolling updates in exchange for $200 (adjusted for whatever reasons.)
 
A second offer has been made to all existing and new Sonar owners/subscribers promising lifetime rolling updates in exchange for various amounts.
 
Until “lifetime” has been clearly defined, and such time is actually achieved, there will be no factual evidence that the promise of “free lifetime updates” is true. That is how facts work.
 
We are given reasons for the change and the extension of the offer. But these are NOT facts. So far they are merely hearsay. Are they only the reasons decided to tell the public to justify the changes and betrayal? (Someone told us this FREE offer was a loyalty reward. Now obviously betrayed.)
 
Should I not be skeptical about these statements being the truth? We were told there was a limited time to buy “FREE LIFETIME updates for $200.” And then we learn the time limit was a joke. That those of us who responded were duped. Why should we not feel annoyed by this treatment?
 
Why should we not be unhappy about this? Why should we not express our feelings of being treated fraudulently? That proximity to the holiday sale season is reason enough for us to be satisfied that we were treated with truth and respect and reason? I don’t think so!
  Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!  That is now perceived as a lie.
 
To be told that the “managers” of the company actually had no clear idea about what they were doing, and that they just decided to throw some brown stuff at their customers to see what would stick, is more than insulting. “Just trust us. We know what we’re doing.” Obviously NOT!
 
That we were just part of an un-thought-through experiment: A barely structured Dead jam that may end anywhere at any time is the result of no clear “Anticipation and preparation.”
 
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, those of us who have being paying attention and have been expressing our dissatisfaction are allowed to be treated with personal attacks and derision by the forum bullies. 
 
Sad days for all of us.