Kamikaze
What's your take on the core, Tenfoot. How do you interpret it.

I guess the core is the essental DAW features and functions of Sonar as it stands now Kamikaze, excluding third party addons like Melodyne, vst plugins and fx. If Drum Replacer were to be released now, as an example, I would definitely expect that to be offered as an optional extra. On the other hand, if a function that exists as part of the program now, such as the playlist or staff view were to be removed, I would consider that to be Cakewalk letting down their side of the bargain. 
 
 

BobF
There are too many pieces-parts for them all to get love in a reasonable time-frame, IMO.  That's what I see as the center of discussions about what needs to be fixed/enhanced/added.

 
I agree. Some of what's being worked on now is indeed "core" - comping, ripple editing, plug-in handling, browser enhancements, workspaces - these are all things that affect the vast majority, if not all, users. I can't imagine the majority of SONAR users saying "hey, stop working on ripple editing, and tweak the Matrix view instead."
 
As to Kamikaze's concern that doing a Mac version will mean a drop in development for the existing product, there's a different team working on the Mac. Furthermore, SONAR is SONAR, regardless of the platform. It's not like features will be developed for the Mac and not for Windows.
 
The crux of the issue is this: there are a million things that could be done with SONAR. Only a very limited subset of those million things can be worked on. Choices have to be made. Some people will agree with those choices, some won't. The same thing is true of any DAW, and I tell you that from personal experience working with Steinberg, Mixcraft, Ableton, Avid, MOTU, and others for many years. There is nothing unique about SONAR's situation in that respect.
 
Finally, "core" is a moving target as technological developments occur. ARA and VST3 support are good examples of that, and MPE is just around the corner. Cakewalk can't spend its time exclusively on the past or present but has to put time into the future, which means working on elements that aren't visible to the public yet.
 
 

Cakewalk has been doing what I want it to. I do have some personal peeves and things I would like to see enhanced, or simply fixed. but for now, im glad to be doing what im doing. I never take for granted the technology I have at my fingertips. (not for one second).
 
I would have given my left nad for a software like this 10 years ago.
I try not to ever forget the feeling I had of cutting tape all night for one kick drum track in one song.
Sorry if I didn't describe "Core features" .
Interesting topic though.

Anderton
plug-in handling, browser enhancements

Any insight you can give on these? Are these tweaks/bug fixes? I ask because they show as added/available on the Rolling Updates page and there's nothing in the October update description except a language fix.

telecharge

Anderton
plug-in handling, browser enhancements

Any insight you can give on these? Are these tweaks/bug fixes? I ask because they show as added/available on the Rolling Updates page and there's nothing in the October update description except a language fix.

Weren't the browser enhancements released in 2016-08?

tenfoot
 
Weren't the browser enhancements released in 2016-08?

Yes, they were. I was asking in the context of "being worked on now."

telecharge

tenfoot
 
Weren't the browser enhancements released in 2016-08?

Yes, they were. I was asking in the context of "being worked on now."

Ahhh - got it:)

tenfoot

telecharge

Anderton
plug-in handling, browser enhancements

Any insight you can give on these? Are these tweaks/bug fixes? I ask because they show as added/available on the Rolling Updates page and there's nothing in the October update description except a language fix.

Weren't the browser enhancements released in 2016-08?

 
Only for plug-ins; there's more to come (same with comping - Cakewalk considers what's happened so far as "phase 1"). As for plug-in handling, load balancing is a new technology. I believe that like Mix Recall and several other features, it will continue to be refined.
 
To me this is one of the strongest aspects of the rolling updates - community reaction can be taken into account. When Noel did Mix Recall, it was very basic. But the reaction to it was so positive it received several subsequent refinements. This is also part of what I mean about "core" being a moving target. 

so... what's "core"? what are we actually paying for in the lifetime updates deal? or is it just a crap shoot?

pwalpwal
so... what's "core"? what are we actually paying for in the lifetime updates deal?

As I've said, "core" is a moving target. I'm sure when people paid for the update in the year where ARA integration was introduced, they never anticipated it would someday lead to a feature where dragging a clip to the timeline generates a tempo map. Buying any software that runs on anything with a microprocessor will always have an undefinable future, due to the ever-present reality of technological change/advancement/retreat.
 
Bottom line is you're paying for never having to pay for an update again. The only way to have an idea of what will happen in the future will be to look at what updates have included in the past. I think the specifics of what people get will be less important than their feeling that they got their money's worth, and more.