This is the first time I've downloaded an  Early Access Update. What does Early Access mean?  Not tested fully? A little risky to install at this time? About how long will this be called Early Access considering this is 7/25?

http://forum.cakewalk.com...lk-SONAR-m3383319.aspx

I think the idea of early access is to let us have a preview of what's coming, usually in the next week. Also helpful for Cakewalk to beta test (though they claim it not to be) with actual users to iron out any last minute issues that may occur, outside of their internal testing arena. Definitely not advisable to update early if you are in the middle of an important project. I think of it as a "90% submission" (sometimes 99% ?). . . with that last 10% for us to help with the unforeseen issues.
A great idea IMHO

I certainly have zero knowledge one way or the other - I believe they sometimes provide an early release for those who might be experiencing more of a show stopper kind of bug, where they might say something like 'for those experiencing crashes with xxx, or yyy redraw/rethink/redo doesn't zzz, then try the early release.
 
I would also say that IF any given early release, or really any release at all, causes issues that knock someone out of the water, there is always a pretty painless ability to do a rollback from Command Center, with just a couple of mouse clicks.
 
I think that makes installation of ANY update a BUNCH less risky, even if it is an early release.
 
Bob Bone
 

Excellent advice from all, especially the link Craig gave.
 
thanks,

.......and the fact that you could go back to any release in 1 minute,the early Access is a great idea.
Peace