So i knew the lifetime updates was too good to be true , I sent a email to support 9 days ago as phone support is never available , Still no reply .
 
Guess that area has had to be scaled down or something . My Sonar platinum is stuck in Demo mode so i cannot actually export anything i create.
 
9 Days :(  Abysmal customer service! 

I feel for ya.  I had the same problem and it turned out my internet connection was the issue.  You check that.
 
I hope you get things sorted out soon.
 

http://forum.cakewalk.com/How-do-I-keep-SPLAT-out-of-demo-mode-m3453197.aspx
 
This may help.

Fortunately I haven't needed any Cakewalk email or phone support for quite a while, but I must admit it's troubling for me to see so many recent forum posts about not being able to even contact Cakewalk support. There must be many new users who need some help getting up and running. Uncle Craig had mentioned in another thread that they're probably just training some new tech support people and there's a backlog to get caught up with, but I'm starting to wonder.
 
I get most of my support questions answered by reading this forum, so I would give that a try, if it's something about the program that folks here can help with . . . thought I suppose there are many support issues that only Cakewalk themselves will have solutions for.
 
I did an internet search (stuck in demo mode site:forum.cakewalk.com) and there's a lot of answers available for the demo mode issue, for example: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Solved-Stuck-In-Demo-Mode-m3163493.aspx
Hope you will find one of them helpful.
 

noynekker
 
 Uncle Craig had mentioned in another thread that they're probably just training some new tech support people and there's a backlog to get caught up with, but I'm starting to wonder

i have seen it mentioned quite a few times that the 'excuse' for the poor support of late was because of the influx of new users with the introduction of the 'lifetime updates' and over time others jump on the same band wagon using the same 'excuse'. if you however check back you will see that this latest round of support problems existed prior to the release of the lifetime updates, so it is clear to me that it is just being used for a convenient excuse and not totally the truth  its easy to check for yourself, just look back to where this latest round of support issues began and you will see it was indeed prior to the introduction of lifetime updates (not talking about months or years prior, much closer than that) i recall it well as i was at that time visiting the site regularly with regards to the upcoming huge/big announcement, so it was fairly obvious to me when i seen those seize the opportunity to rope in lifetime updates as a good excuse and it shows that cakewalk are just like every other company, they aren't somehow miraculously more open, honest, trustworthy than any other, they are just the same, and open to little 'untruths' and the like. but many of the faithful see them as butter wouldn't melt in their mouth, and that you can just believe everything they say and all that, the reality is they are just the same as every other company, they and their goals will always come first, what is in their best interest and the profit margin, the almighty dollar will always come first, to think anything else would be deluding yourself. not that there is anything wrong with it if they stay within the bounds of the law, they all do it, it's part of being a business, part of being in business, what has to be done, they all do it, basically because that is how it is, hence they are all basically the same, don't let yourself be deluded by all the fluff.
 
as a long time user and a lifetime subscriber myself i have seen many things over the years, and i believe that this forum (although today and for some time now, only a shadow of it's former self) has lead to this feeling of cakewalk are different to all the other companies, they care about their customers more than other companies and all that, and cakewalk know this and use it to their advantage, the forums are relatively closed, the faithful guard the fences, and repel any sign of descent somewhat blindly, it is a place generally speaking only for the happy and those with positive things to say, yes i know other stuff gets said, but if you were to be honest and have been taking note of how the faithful react to the not so positive stuff, from all the knee jerk defensive posts to the downright out and out attacks on those perceived as a threat to the happy kingdom, a threat to the way they see this company and product, then you will know what i mean. something i will never understand, it's a company?, it's a product? i can not understand having an emotional attachment to either, you find something better you move on, not like a company or product has feelings? it's not like it is you husband or wife, your girl friend or boy friend, brother or sister, mother or father, but anyway, i will never understand it.
 

noynekker
 
 but I'm starting to wonder

 
my feeling is with what i am and have seen, is that things aren't as rosy as they are being portrayed and that there could indeed be trouble ahead for cakewalk and sonar, that the trouble is already here, i don't think that the mac thing will go well, take a look at previous forays into mac territory with instruments like z3ta, rapture pro etc, not exactly well received considering all the issues encountered even to this day, a lot of unhappy mac people out there, i myself use a mac as well as pc, i know the cakewalk track record with regards to mac offerings first hand, and it's not good.
 
i think things are not what they seem, and only put your trust in people you actually know, not companies, not some name on a computer screen

Grim, it's quite the ranting response, I appreciate the passion, though it may take a few weeks to analyze all you've listed . . . basically, you seem to be dedicated to Cakewalk, yet doubtful of their business practices, and suspicious about their intentions. Let's just hope the current blip in customer service is a temporary thing, and not jump to too many conclusions yet.

more cynical than ranting, imo

The Grim
i have seen it mentioned quite a few times that the 'excuse' for the poor support of late was because of the influx of new users with the introduction of the 'lifetime updates' and over time others jump on the same band wagon using the same 'excuse'.

I have not seen such a claim. Support problems have started after changing support schema (which was announced before put in place). Why it was changed and why that was not smooth is (logically) corporate internal. The only claim at that time was a hope that new schema can work better. And may be it can once completely implemented...
 
Later claim was about SOME progress in deployment of that new schema. And the latest known claim is that this progress was completely consumed by increase of Platinum users number (which is also logical, since Lifetime offer is attracting).
 

they and their goals will always come first, what is in their best interest and the profit margin, the almighty dollar will always come first, to think anything else would be deluding yourself.

Cakewalk is a company. I guess at your work you are also put priorities on making money, unless you are working in non-profit organization for free.
So the only difference is in kindness, when possible. And concrete employers, with real names, are present in this forum.
 

as a long time user and a lifetime subscriber myself i have seen many things over the years,

which has lost his forum account...
 

and i believe that this forum (although today and for some time now, only a shadow of it's former self) has lead to this feeling of cakewalk are different to all the other companies

Grass was greener 20 years ago
 

it is a place generally speaking only for the happy and those with positive things to say, yes i know other stuff gets said, but if you were to be honest and have been taking note of how the faithful react to the not so positive stuff, from all the knee jerk defensive posts to the downright out and out attacks on those perceived as a threat to the happy kingdom, a threat to the way they see this company and product, then you will know what i mean.

Most posts in this forum are about bugs and complains. And many of them are coming from "supporters".
 
Defensive replies are on posts which are not constructive, useless, or trolling.
 

I have a sneaking suspicion that they are transitioning from cool bros who drive Audis in Boston and are just as expensive, to overseas support. Everyone else has. That may be why the brass is concerned and offering sympathy but can't just walk down the hall and light a fire under the support staff.
 
Or they truly have decided we're gonna do it and the old dogs in here will help the new pups for lifetime updates. But they can't say that or there would be mutiny.
 

The Grim

noynekker
 
 Uncle Craig had mentioned in another thread that they're probably just training some new tech support people and there's a backlog to get caught up with, but I'm starting to wonder

i have seen it mentioned quite a few times that the 'excuse' for the poor support of late was because of the influx of new users with the introduction of the 'lifetime updates' and over time others jump on the same band wagon using the same 'excuse'. 

As has been pointed out multiple times in these forums, that is only one of many factors that unfortunately all hit at the same time, including a changeover in how support is being done, trying to implement chat, existing support people leaving, new ones needing to be hired and trained, etc.
 
To further muddy the waters, several people have come up with theories that have no bearing on this, like the upcoming Mac alpha being the reason.


Rather than speculate, it makes more sense to read the replies from Ryan Munnis, Noel Borthwick, and Keith Albright, all of whom are official Cakewalk people, and have stated what's going on accurately and transparently. 
 
There's absolutely no denying that support is a problem right now. However people who say there's "no" support are wrong; there is support (just not enough), and Cakewalk is working to correct the problem. See the other posts in related threads from professionals who understand the difficult in hiring qualified people during a period where demand exceeds supply of both support needs, and people who can provide same.