Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]

Regarding IPad/Android integration, we have definitely considered it many times. While it makes sense for companies that have hardware controllers, the ROI on them is dismal for most companies. We've gotten our feet wet (scalded!) in that area so we know what it takes. Doesn't mean we won't do it but there are too many other things we need to do short term.

I see thanks for the insight.

I sent the email below to Cakewalk Pre-Sales Support on June 10. My case number is 319407. There was no response so I followed up again on June 18. I still have not received a response to my questions even though the acknowledgement email from Cakewalk says most responses are provided within 3 business days. I'm hoping I might get a response via this forum. I have owned Cakewalk flagship products since 1998 with my purchase of Pro Audio Deluxe 7. I believe I may even go further back than that. My email:

When you say lifetime updates for SONAR Platinum, what exactly does that mean? For example, what happens if I purchase a lifetime update and you discontinue SONAR Platinum production in 2017 and I've already purchased updates through 2017? If you change the name of your flagship product to something else (as you've done before), do the lifetime updates end? Is there a minimum number of years that the term lifetime encompasses. I'm a long time owner of your products and have purchased updates which are good through July 1 2017. I would be very disappointed if I paid for the lifetime updates only to find lifetime was a year or two. Please advise.

This has been answered many times in multiple threads. We have no plans to discontinue SONAR. We have been developing this brand since 2000. We simply chose platinum as the main tier for lifetime updates because its the product that most committed users buy. It would have been too complicated for us to retain both lifetime and annual memberships for 3 sku's simultaneously.
There are no guarantees on the lifetime of humans or companies :) Bottom line is as long as customers continue to support Cakewalk and the SONAR brand we plan to support the product for life.
In any event, as many others have said you recover your cost even if you do normal 2 annual updates.

Thank you for your response. I was not able to find answers to my questions anywhere on this forum or through emails to Pre-Sales Support which is why I decided to post my questions here. If there have been numerous postings, perhaps users are still confused or have questions. I have also read the FAQs several times and did not find answers to my questions. Again, thank you for taking the time to respond.

The reason for my concern is based on my experience with Cakewalk products. I have purchased Pro Audio 7 and 8, SONAR Producer 3, 5, 7, and 8.5, SONAR X2 Producer and SONAR X3 Producer, and now SONAR Platinum (not to mention lots of other products by Cakewalk). Each of these products were, at the time, your flagship DAW. For various reasons, the names were modified. The SONAR brand, as you call it, has gone through name changes at the top level with the latest change going from X3 Producer to Platinum. Am I to take your response to mean that if the name were to change from SONAR Platinum to something else, say SONAR Platinum 2 or SONAR Diamond, the lifetime updates would still apply? If so, I'm ready to purchase.

Thanks in advance for your patience while I try to get a better understanding as to how the lifetime updates work!

OK I think I see your question.
Last year we decided to do away with product versions Like X1 X2 X3 X4 etc - we now have only one version of SONAR now and the concept of rolling updates. There 3 SKU's (i.e. Artist, professional and Platinum) that have different feature sets and bundles. All 3 SKU's share the same core features. 
Now I am speculating here since we have no plans to change this but in the future assume we change the current SKU's or add new SKU's of SONAR. In this scenario you would continue to own what you bought earlier and continue to receive lifetime updates for all the features you have. You may even get new core features added for free to SONAR. Its really no different from the current rolling updates program except there is no annual cut off date for the updates. The only exception is that there may be certain new paid features or plugins added from time to time that are optional purchases.
In short the name of the SKU (in your case Platinum) doesn't have anything to do with lifetime updates. We may rename SONAR Platinum to something else down the line but you will still receive updates for the features you own and the core application for the foreseeable future.
 
Edit: I added this question to the Lifetime Updates FAQ for future reference.
 

Thank you! I have purchased the lifetime updates.

BTW, I was unable to complete the transaction using PayPal, either through the initial Web page or through the PayPal link in the email confirmation. After going to PayPal and selecting my payment method, the return to Cakewalk would go to a File Not Found page. I ended up using a different payment method.

Thanks again!

I bit the Bullet and became a LIFER!!!!

SONAR Platinum

Membership valid through ∞

You will receive lifetime updates for this product forever!
 
NOW Bakers,   CAN I HAVE A FREE  CAKEWALK COFFEE MUG!!!
 
C'Mon Noel, hook a Lifer up!!!!

I think the idea is that we can take the money we save over the next few years and have custom mugs made... 
 
https://www.custommugcup....ed-mug-white-mugs.html

subtlearts
I think the idea is that we can take the money we save over the next few years and have custom mugs made... 
 
https://www.custommugcup....ed-mug-white-mugs.html
Hey, 2.50 is not a bad price to pay for a custom mug, I have to get the Bakers permission to have a mug made with their Cakewalk Brand Trademark,  I believe.
 
What about this Sonar Coffee Cup instead?
 

 
or  this one?

Very Cool.  Thanks Noel.