John T
I must say, I agree that this is all very unclear.
 
It's been said that there is to be no difference between the lifetime updates and the monnthly / annual updates. OK, get that.
 
It's also been said that some kinds of things that would previously have been in rolling updates now won't be. Cakewalk cited Drum Replacer as an example of something that would probably have been a paid for add on if the new model had been running at the time.
 
OK, so that's all fine. And is cool if you're on the lifetime updates.
 
However, if you don't go for the lifetime update deal, they've basically just said "we are planning to reduce what you get for your monthly / annual payment".
 
Not saying I think that turns it into a bad deal or anything; the thing is still remarkably cheap no matter how you slice it. But, you know, that has just happened.

Exactly John! This is precisely where I am confused.

John T
 
It's also been said that some kinds of things that would previously have been in rolling updates now won't be. Cakewalk cited Drum Replacer as an example of something that would probably have been a paid for add on if the new model had been running at the time.
 

Can't see where that was said. Even if it was, I guess it was cited as merely an example. Things like Drum replacer, Vocal sync, and all the various integrated stuff in Sonar becoming payable would be the biggest disaster. I really don't think that was ever the intent of Cakewalk. Someone from Cakewalk, please correct me if I am wrong.
 
 

What I'm batting at, I suppose, is this.
 
The difference between Platiinum and Professional, more or less, is the "add-on" stuff. Look down the comparison chart here.
 
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Versions#start
 
Now, in terms of buying into the Platinum tier in the first place, well, like a lot of us I'm sure, I'm well-covered on that; been paying for the top end version for years.
 
What's niggling at me is this: looks like there'll continue to be a Platinum monthly / annual fee that's higher than the Professional monthly / annual fee. But doesn't look like that higher fee will get you anything extra.

John and Bruce lets hope CW will clarify this soon. I see both of you have good logical reasoning. I don't believe it is your fault here and is due to CW not explaining this well at all.
 
In fact I have my own doubts too. We shall see.  

ramscapri

John T
 
It's also been said that some kinds of things that would previously have been in rolling updates now won't be. Cakewalk cited Drum Replacer as an example of something that would probably have been a paid for add on if the new model had been running at the time.
 

Can't see where that was said. Even if it was, I guess it was cited as merely an example. Things like Drum replacer, Vocal sync, and all the various integrated stuff in Sonar becoming payable would be the biggest disaster. I really don't think that was ever the intent of Cakewalk. Someone from Cakewalk, please correct me if I am wrong.
 
 

Yes, it was cited as an example, by either or both of Noel and I think Andrew from Cakewalk.
 
As an example, of course. Drum Replacer is already in there and isn't going to be taken away. They're talking about the type of thing that could become a paid extra.

John
John and Bruce lets hope CW will clearly this soon. I see both of you have good logical reasoning. I don't believe it is your fault here and is due to CW not explaining this well at all.
 
In fact I have my own doubts too. We shall see.  

For sure. I don't think there's any malice or trickery at work. I think there are just some details that haven't been fully worked out. Or if they have, they haven't been fully communicated.

Exactly John.

I agree guys  - no intention to mislead at all. Just a few details yet to rise above the noise.

For reference here is Noel's post http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3418919
 

John
Keep in mind this offer is only for some CW users and for a very limited time. 

Not sure what you mean with 'offer' but the fact is that when you enter or renew Platinum today, you will get lifetime updates. There is currently no way to buy a 1 year renewal. I would also not know why you would want that, since almost all upgrade/buy options have exactly the same price. The only exception is if you already have Platinum and are not eligible for the $99 offer, it will cost you $199 while the old price for 1 year was $149.
 
 
It has been stated by Cakewalk reps in another thread that there is NO difference between monthly or lifetime membership when it comes to content. The confusion came from Cakewalk using the term 'core' just to clarify that you would not automatically get stuff that you didn't get in the past either (e.g. Z3ta+ 2). From what they said, they don't plan to limit what you get in the future either. We'll have to wait and see though whether Platinum will still get goodies that Professional or Artist are not getting...