lfm

Anderton
It seems to me that paying $50 - $100 annually for, say, 10 years ($500 - $1,000) is less expensive than updating Platinum for 10 years ($199).

 
But you don't have the most powerful statement towards a vendor - your annual payment saying you are happy with how things are.
 
If it happends to 10 000 users not renewing - vendor start asking themselves, what did we do wrong?
There is potential risk a vendor never do that - if all is lifetime updates anyway.
 
ImageLine was about 6 years after Sonar with 64-bit version - was this due to their lifetime policy?
 
I'm not saying that is Cakewalk policy - probably people I trust more than many others with my money.
But unless there is something of need for my own use - I do not open wallet - and that is a statement lost, if signing up for life.
 
I hope Mac version turns out really well in all venues of audio industry. Probably very smart move.
 

You are completely overlooking the need for any software company to gain new users, not just old ones.  ImageLine waiting 6 years for 64bit just shows they were not cutting edge trying to get new users.
 
Sonar has a long history of rolling out things either before or at the same time as others.  They still plan on monthly updates, so they are clearly focused on remaining relevant.  ImageLine did not have that same model.  And sonar offering lifetime updates is clearly a move to get new users and new users are going to be looking for solid/tested and cutting edge.  

**warning this is only my personal opinion**
I believe sonar will roll out a new DAW sooner or later in a few years maybe not.
but if they do...if they do, they will still be doing updates to sonar, maybe not big ones, but still updating. they have made a promise and they will keep it.
I've never, ever known cakewalk to be dishonest with its user base. never.
 
also going to a MAC version will bring in new revenue.
possibly more plug ins will be a route they try and take advantage of as well.
 
even IF sonar rolls out a new DAW in a few years... you will all still have got your moneys worth.
 
I trust this company more than any other out there. probably more than any company I've ever done business with.
any time there's been a speed bump, cakewalk has released a patch or an update to fix the issue.
more often than not, quickly and productively.
 
im not a fan boy, I simply like doing business with cakewalk and I always have.
I haven't always been pleased with features or changes, but I've never known them to screw their users.
 
you have to have a little faith and trust them that they are doing the right thing. stick to making good music and let cakewalk do what they do....make the software that enables you to make that good music.
 
 
 

I have read a lot of these posts and still can't understand what the problem is.
 
Cakewalk is giving current members a great discount on their software to thank the current members and also to introduce the coming of the Sonar OSX software. Truely something to celebrate.
 
If you are a new member , you can get the lifetime Sonar for $199,00. New members will also profit from this.
 
They also have given the monthly subscription members the chance to get on board as wel with almost a 3 month time period to be able to pay for this.
 
For those who don't want the lifetime upgrade also have no problems because at the end of August the membership will go back to annual/monthly payments as before.
 
The only thing I can see is that everyone is now stuck on the lifetime one time payment as if that is the end of the road and how will they make any money after that, while after August 31 everything goes back to regular payments and they will be making enough money for the company to survive for the next 50 years at least.
 
I don't see the problem.
 
 

vmw

jb101
If Cakewalk had a history of skulduggery, I could maybe understand, but they have always been straight with their customers.

Well I notice there is no footnote on the order page saying you need not pay for MP3 if you have paid for it back in the days of pro audio. It is listed as an extra line item only. While that is not skulduggery, it is economical with the truth.
Luckily is very easy to activate without having to pay twice.
Or may be its lifetime payment has run out.

 
Where to start?
 
1. If that is the worst case that you can find to accuse Cakewalk of "skulduggery", then it proves my point.
 
2.  How do you think Cakewalk profits fro this heinous "skulduggery"?  That money does not profit Cakewalk at all, but is passed on to pay for the licence for the MP encoder.
 
3.  If what Chucklebaby said is true (I  wasn't around in the Pro Audio days), then you would have only paid once for the MP3 encoder, and Cakewalk would have earned nothing from either transaction.
 
4.

vmw
It is listed as an extra line item only.

 
So, it is listed, then?
 
IDK - Cakewalk as a company has always shown itself to be ethical, and loyal to it's user base.
 
edited for clarity/grammer

RD9
I agree with you about 3rd party software.  In my case I bought Addictive Drums and the AD2 upgrade long before they were included in Sonar so in one sense I paid for them twice. 

Yes you paid for AD2 twice. And now you have two licenses so you can install the software on two computers.
 
And, oh yeah, you got Sonar and everything else for FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
 
Explain how you should feel sad in any way?

jb101
1. If that is the worst case that you can find to accuse Cakewalk of "skulduggery", then it proves my point.

 
 
READ what I wrote "...While that is not skulduggery.....
Calm down and comprehend what is written by people.
I assume the majority of us are going to continue using Sonar - all people are doing in non help requests are expressing concerns, impressions, attitudes - the pros and cons. This forum is gold to cake, marketing and their ultimate owners.
 

jb101
2.  How do you think Cakewalk profits fro this heinous "skulduggery"?  That money does not profit Cakewalk at all, but is passed on to pay for the licence for the MP encoder.

 
 
READ the my last comment in this post and tell me how this license works when you can continue to unlock the MP3 encoder - perhaps that is a lifetime license.
 

chuckebaby Paying twice ??? it wasn't an add on in pro audio. it was included free with that software.
so you didn't pay for it then.

 
Well I am not to sure about it being free as opposed to being part of the purchase price because if you bought the Pro Audio product and then upgraded to the next version you could email cake and they would kindly send you a small utility to unlock MP3 and that was for free.
 

vmw
Well I notice there is no footnote on the order page saying you need not pay for MP3 if you have paid for it back in the days of pro audio.

 

vmw
Well I am not to sure about it being free as opposed to being part of the purchase price

 
well which is it
 
im not even sure I understand your point. but any rate.
just make good music man.
 
the encoder was included with Pro Audio. yes it was free.
I know because I began on Pro Audio 9. I believe that was back in the early 1700's.

Brando
Bob - if it's the cat in your Avatar, it looks like he/she has some DJ skills. Put her to work earning the upgrade and you'll be a lifer before you can say "Deadmau5 Rulezzzz...."

I would, but she only plays Cat Scratch Fever and anything by the Stray Cats - AND she has a $1000 a week CATNIP habit, and I think she may be selling off some of my gear - or maybe my audio engineering son is building his new studio at the same time mine seems to have less and less gear.  
 
Hmmmmmmmm :)
 
Bob Bone

I upgraded to Platimum from X3 in February of 2016 using the monthly payment option. My understanding, which I believe to be correct, was that I was signing up to make twelve monthly payments, after which time I would own Platinum including all rolling updates received during that twelve months, whether I renewed monthly payments or not. However, now after having made only five of the twelve payments, I received the email telling me my subscription would expire on Aug 3. Checking my account membership details indeed shows the expiration date of my subscription to be Aug 3. I'm confused as to what my status will be at that time.
 
If I do not renew my subscription or purchase lifetime updates by that time, will I own Platinum and all the updates I've received since subscribing or not? If not and  I choose to renew the monthly subscription, will I then need to make twelve more payments before I actually own any version of Platinum? When I signed up, my understanding was that I agreed to make twelve monthly payments, no more and no less, to then own outright Platinum and all updates issued during that twelve month period. It is not clear to me now that this option is now available, but again, I believe that to be the terms of the offer to which I agreed. 

Can someone from Cakewalk please clarify this matter?

Brian Walton
You are completely overlooking the need for any software company to gain new users, not just old ones. 

 
There is nothing like:
a) features(that you really need now)
b) reliability
c) maintenance
d) listen to user feedback(features you want eventually)
e) affordable
that sells a product.
 
When I eventually tested FL Studio they did not have the features part - so no purchase.
I did not care one bit that lifetime updates of something that is not doing the job to start with.
It's enough that one of those rules do not apply to a product/vendor.
 
Even Avid with ProTools thinking they had the market in their palm had to eventually fold to these rules. For a year they thought they could dictate anything - and everybody would have to pay for life.
Not until report after report showed dropping results and stock dropped from $18->$8 were they reacting.
 
Today, not even ProTools is out of pricerange for most people - just about what Platinum costs.
It used to be different.
 

 
Sonar has a long history of rolling out things either before or at the same time as others.  They still plan on monthly updates, so they are clearly focused on remaining relevant.  And sonar offering lifetime updates is clearly a move to get new users and new users are going to be looking for solid/tested and cutting edge.  

History so far has shown very little, if anything at all, of what is top voted on Features & Ideas forum is ever implemented.
 
So why have lifetime updates of something that is never going to implement things that you want down the line.
 
But 2015 was spectacular with Sonar updates, no doubt.
But was anything from topvoted user requests implemented - not that I saw.
 
Maybe my reasoning is different from most and Sonar4Life will be a hit, even in the long run.
I'm sure it's a hit right now just introduced.
And those that sought after a Mac version probably buckle up for life too.
 
Rule d) is what worries me about Sonar....every time topvoted feature request come up for discussion, it's in complete denial from Cakewalk these are fair requests....or doable...or any excuse they can find.
 
So since I'm not signed up for life - my wallet is closed - screaming a statement of discontent.