Sorry if this has been answered before, I searched a little but did not find a short answer to the question.  Understandably everyone is much more concerned over the audio section of the software.  And I am guessing at this late date the midi side of the equation has pretty much arrived at the final destination?  

I need a midi sequencer software because my old Cakewalk Guitar Studio circa 1998 just can't play with Windows 10 I don't think.  And since I am used to Cakewalk I am looking at Sonar Artist.  I can use the audio stuff down the road but what I really need first is a sequencer.  So do any of the other versions have any midi advantages over artist?  

My old sequencer had some cal files for splitting notes to tracks and a few things like that that were useful to me, I am guessing that has gone by the wayside.  I looked briefly at the free Anvil Studio but at first glance it looks like it is missing some things and even though my cakewalk experience is on a 20 year old platform I still think it might soften the learning curve a little to stay with cakewalk.

One last thing, I see the pay once price is $105 for Artist.  And I saw somewhere that if you click through and actually buy the end price is cut in half to like $50 or thereabouts.  Is that correct?  Would it apply to me as essentially a first time buyer?

Thanks in advance for any help you all can give!!

I use Sonar almost strictly for MIDI and I can tell you there have been many improvements on the MIDI side of things.  Note there will be a learning curve as a lot has changed from 1998 but the change will be worth it. 
 
Yes Cal is still there as are the MIDI effects.
 
I would not hesitate in buying Sonar.
 

Thanks for the response!! And I suppose Artist will be more or less as powerful with regard to MIDI as are Pro and Platinum?

pedro803
Thanks for the response!! And I suppose Artist will be more or less as powerful with regard to MIDI as are Pro and Platinum?

The midi is basically the same in any version. There is additional content and plugins in the more expensive tiers.
 
Regards,
Dan

You'll find all you use in the older versions is still there and then some. And I think most of us depend on midi for a huge part of what we do. 
If your old version is registered then you qualify for the discounted price. 
Artist is probably all you will need. You can always upgrade. 
If you use midi drums you might want Professional just to get Addictive Drums. 

You'll be happy to know MIDI will continue to evolve, both as a protocol and within SONAR. By the end of this year, it's estimated that there will be 2.6 billion MIDI-capable devices now that Google has adopted it. Also, the Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression extension, which opens up vast new opportunities for expressiveness, is well on its way to being finalized. I recommend joining The MIDI Association (it's free) to stay updated on what's happening with MIDI.

Thanks Everybody for the responses, I think I probably did register my guitar studio software but I don't know of anyway to identify myself with it so no worries.

OK -- I made the plunge and bought Sonar Artist -- first impression is good -- but there is plenty I don't recognize, here's hoping for an easy transition and gentle learning curve!!   

Ask question just as you have.  This forum can handle nearly anything. And welcome to the forum. Make it a regular stop and I believe the learning curve will be less steep. 

Thanks John  -- I will -- here is a first question -- only asking because I need to know as soon as possible and I am working on some other things today not music related but I have a rehearsal with some folks tonight and I need to make a midi ready for that 
 
I have the midi but I need to remove a measure -- i.e. it comes back around to the top of the verse and plays for a measure before the place for the singing to start arrives -- I want to make it where when it gets to that point you just keep on singing, you don't have to wait for that measure to pass by.
 
On the old guitar studio you would just drop in a few markers at the places where you want to make the cut and then highlight the area between the two markers on all tracks at the same time and then press delete or cut or something and voila it was gone.  Is that more or less how you still do it in the modern version?  any quick tips on where to find markers, cutting tool or whatever I will need to do that? thanks?