Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]
Now it's time to focus on editing, comping, and take management. There are many other areas we'd like to improve on moving forward as well. 

 
YES!!! I've spent the last couple of years hoping to hear something like this. Thanks so much for listening to us who do heavy edits, customizations, etc. and have been unhappy with the implementation of some of the core features. I hope feature requests posted by many of us are being taken into consideration!! 

Ok so what about us on the monthly subscription? Will that continue as is and if so why should I pay for the lifetime upgrades and then have to buy plugins etc when for basically $15 a month I can get them? Can someone please explain this to me?

kenny@vhprecords.com
Ok so what about us on the monthly subscription? Will that continue as is and if so why should I pay for the lifetime upgrades and then have to buy plugins etc when for basically $15 a month I can get them? Can someone please explain this to me?

There are two main differences between the Artist/Professional/Platinum packages.
 
1) Sonar Artist (the actual program) has particular features missing (eg. pro channel)
2) Sonar Platinum (the package) includes a lot of extra "content" (plugins, soft synths, sample packs)
 
Some of the extra content is deemed "core", if you buy Platinum you will always get it.  Craig has said the Anderton packs are deemed "core" in the Platinum package.
Other included content is dependant on deals made by Cakewalk, eg Melodine and AD4, or thrown in as extras (sample packs) and may or may not be available in the future and is considered "added value".
 
If you continue your basically $15 a month you will continue to get everything advertised as part of your package.  Lifetimers are guaranteed all "core" content but may or may not get the "added value" content when/if new content becomes available.

astaub
"You will have to buy any future add-ons..."
 
i'am bit confused about...
 

• Is Melodyne Essential a add-on?
• Is Dimension LE a add-on?
• Is Rapture LE a add-on?
• Is Z3TA+ Classic a add-on?
• Is Ultra Analog Session 2 a add-on?
• Is Strum Session 2 a add-on?
• Is Lounge Lizard SONAR a add-on?
• ....

 
What is and don't add-on?
 

If it is already in Platinum, it will remain in Platinum. From what I've read elsewhere, I wouldn't expect too many new LE versions to be added in the future. You'll have the option to buy a new synth outright, but I don't see them spending resources building future "lite" versions of new synths.
 
Regards,
Dan

Bristol_Jonesey
What makes you think it's going to change again?

Well, simply the history of the last 5 years or so.  I started in 2009 with Sonar 8.x.  We've since moved through the X series and now into Platinum.  So the question is very valid: If 'Platinum' as a product changes to something else, which for the sake of the periodoc table might be 'Gold' does that terminate the contract for lifetime updates.
 
I haven't seen the contract TOCs, but it should have definitions for 'Lifetime' and the product, if it states only for lifetime of Platinum, then it's fair to ask.  'Lifetime' itself can carry limits to the term.

omg I would make this lifetime offer only available until the end of the week. And then when all these nay-saying forum fools figure out they've missed out because they want you to testify before Congress on what a "core product" is because their head is completely up the gift horse's mouth we can all just laugh and laugh and laugh.

As others have said this lifetime option works perfectly for me as I really don't use any of the plugins or VSTi that come with Sonar anyway.  I'm very happy with my BFD3, UAD2 and Slate plugins and really like the idea of getting the core improvements like better editing and better VST utilization.
 
My subscription was up on 5/29 and just became a life-er today!  Nice timing :)

soens
This may have already been asked, but with Sonar X1 through X3, Sonar's flagship DAW was "Producer". With the new model it's "Platinum". So when it changes again at some point will "Platinum's" "lifetime updates" end?

If you are so skeptical/worried, then why not just opt out and continue with the existing model of annual updates (paid in full, or monthly)? That is not going away.
 
 

astaub 

• Is Melodyne Essential a add-on?
• Is Dimension LE a add-on?
• Is Rapture LE a add-on?
• Is Z3TA+ Classic a add-on?
• Is Ultra Analog Session 2 a add-on?
• Is Strum Session 2 a add-on?
• Is Lounge Lizard SONAR a add-on?
• ....

 
Well it's interesting you point out nothing but separate instruments as your examples. With the possible exception of Melodyne I wouldn't be surprised nor would I care if ANY of those instruments were not part of the deal. 
 
With this pricing scheme, you break even at 8 months from now if you upgraded in January like all the other non-freaks out there. So, come next January every penny you earn is a bonus you can apply to upgrade your Lounge Lizard instrument (which is what, $30?). Besides, Dimension LE? Rapture LE? Both of those are deprecated instruments anyway. Wait what, you DIDN'T upgrade to Rapture Pro when you had the chance? Oh I see what's going on here. You want to make music with software from 10 years ago without having to every pay anything again? Yeah good luck with that. Also good luck with driving a car without having to ever buy gas, change the oil, get new tires, or refill the washer fluid. 
 
If you were a little smarter and not a cheapo you'd be asking: Is PRO CHANNEL part of the core product? Is AUDIOSNAP part of the core product? 

Read this from KVR -Cakewalk Announcement has cleared my questions:
 
"From June 1 through August 31 2016, purchasing or upgrading to SONAR Platinum will give the buyer free, lifetime updates of any future core features, enhancements, and fixes. Customers who purchase SONAR Platinum with Lifetime Updates will never again need to pay for another renewal of the Rolling Updates plan."
https://www.kvraudio.com/news/cakewalk-announces-sonar-platinum-lifetime-updates-and-mac-alpha-33696
 
...if it true this statement is from cakewalk - self