There is no renewal if you are already renewed. That happens once a year or monthly depending on what plan you have.

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

Thanks Scook. That seems to agree with what I wrote. I also think some of this is still undecided. Or it may appear to be.  

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

There is nothing that scook cannot find! Thanks:)

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.

Well they didn't offer Rapture Pro as part of the package and that was "rolled out" during the subscription model.
 
I think Cake is smart enough to know that it will have to continue to include the occasional special feature (drum replacer, vocal sync) as part of the package to catch the eye of more new users.  I'd expect them to pick and choose a little bit, just like they did with Rapture Pro.....where they gave us Rapture Session instead and Pro as a paid add on if you so choose.  
 
 

John T
The other thing is that everything slated as upcoming on the rolling updates page is for all three versions, Artist, Professional, and Platinum.  
 
I think Cakewalk should try to come up with a good reason for people to pay a Platinum (non-lifetime) membership. As far as their own publicly stated plans go, it currently doesn't offer very much.

 
I noticed this as well. It would be nice to have some assurance - not that it matters much to me, having already bought into lifetime, I'm pretty much bound to take whatever they give me, which I'm fairly confident will be reasonable and I'll be happy to have it. But they are still selling the whole line, and if a new customer looks at the What's Coming updates page, they would be hard pressed to find much motivation for the higher tiers. Yes, there are obviously still differences in the legacy package, but if everything coming down the pipeline from here on in is going to be in all three versions... it kind of begs the question.

Rocsee70
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...

I don't know if z3ta is the best example, Noel specifically mentioned Drum Replacer & VocalSync as examples. These are features we did automatically get in the past with Platinum, but wouldn't if they had been developed in the new model.
 
My guess is that after August 31, Sonar Platinum simply becomes Sonar Lifetime. The price point & upgrade path being the same, but the difference between instead being subscription length rather than content amount. This way everyone is getting the same monthly content and can pick & choose which premium add-ons they want to purchase.

subtlearts

John T
The other thing is that everything slated as upcoming on the rolling updates page is for all three versions, Artist, Professional, and Platinum.  
 
I think Cakewalk should try to come up with a good reason for people to pay a Platinum (non-lifetime) membership. As far as their own publicly stated plans go, it currently doesn't offer very much.

 
I noticed this as well. It would be nice to have some assurance - not that it matters much to me, having already bought into lifetime, I'm pretty much bound to take whatever they give me, which I'm fairly confident will be reasonable and I'll be happy to have it. But they are still selling the whole line, and if a new customer looks at the What's Coming updates page, they would be hard pressed to find much motivation for the higher tiers. Yes, there are obviously still differences in the legacy package, but if everything coming down the pipeline from here on in is going to be in all three versions... it kind of begs the question.

As someone that bought Pro and updated to Producer within a few months.  (Same concept as the difference between Professional and Plat), I think the legacy features alone sell it at this point.  The extras sell it.  A new customer should see that when they see things like the Fly out Analiser EQ, the Mastering EQ + Comp, B-Reverb, the Extra Addictive Drums, Drum Replacer, Vocal Sync, Tape Sim, Lounge Lizzard, True Pianos, Ultra Analog, Pro Channel Compression, Tube Saturation, Console Emulation..etc...and that is just the difference between Professional and Plat.
 
Those extras are quite expensive for a comparable side solution.  
 
If they update all 3 with great new features, I'm all for it.  It will add value to all 3.  

Brian Walton
... If they update all 3 with great new features, I'm all for it.  It will add value to all 3.  

Agreed.

Not sure why everyone is so anxious about lifetime upgrade ,I understood it right away.Reaearch image line you get lifetime upgrades to new version but that doesn't mean you get every synth they make.
Either buy it or don't

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]
All Platinum owners get the same updates and features. If you are an active member, the updates will be the same as the lifetime. Only difference is lifetime means you get all future updates to SONAR. Artist and Professional are still under membership and lifetime updates are exclusive to Platinum.

 
Andrew has laid my question to rest in another thread. Lifetime updates are identical to yearly subscription. It is a no brainer - there is certainly no incentive to stay on a yearly plan. Seems an awesome deal whether you get a discount or not.