"Actually they DON'T come out with a new version every year, not any more.
There is one core version available in different flavours (Artist, Professional & Platinum) and these are updated monthly. I spend more on coffee every year than I do on Sonar."


Ok, so are they charging a fee every month now? How does that work? I know some software companies make you pay a "maintenance" fee yearly.
 
Btw, it looks like Command Center is only useful for the newest versions (Artist, Professional, and Platinum), is that correct? It really doesn't come out and specify, it just says it installs "your connected products".

Musikman
 
 
Ok, so are they charging a fee every month now? How does that work? I know some software companies make you pay a "maintenance" fee yearly.
 
Btw, it looks like Command Center is only useful for the newest versions (Artist, Professional, and Platinum), is that correct? It really doesn't come out and specify, it just says it installs "your connected products".

You can pay yearly or monthly. Once you have paid 12 months via either method you 'own'  the software to that point. Unlike a subscription model it does not stop working. The one off, single payment upgrade fee gives you 12 months of updates,  and you own the software. 
Once you get your head around it and see see what is included each month it really is good value.  Bear in mind when you update you are getting all of the major improvements that have happened for the entire time since you last upgraded, which is quite a few years if you are still on 8.5
 
Yes -  CCC is only for updating Sonar 2015 onwards. You could hardly expect Cakewalk to implement new update features in six year old software -  there will certainly be no updates to the version that you have. 

There's so much that's been included in SONAR Platinum since 8.5.3. For example Melodyne Essential alone costs $99 and Addictive Drums 2 is $170. If you want to see what's been added to SONAR since X3, click here. And X3 added a lot that's not in 8.5.3.
 
This isn't to diminish the reality that if you're on fixed income, $200 is a lot of money. I totally understand that. But the pricing also has to be fair to Cakewalk, and you get a lot for $200. You could also upgrade to SONAR Professional, which is less expensive but extremely capable, although it lacks some of the "whoa!! cool!" features of Platinum.

Thanks for the answers, guess I've been out of the loop for too long, I have a lot of catching up to do!  Regarding the "one payment gives me 12 months of upgrades and I own the software", what happens once the 12 months are over and there are more updates released after that 12 months? I assume I would no longer have to continue paying, unless a new major upgrade is released?
 
Anderton, I hear what you're saying, I know there is a lot of value there, it's just frustrating that what was once very affordable to me is now stretching my wallet. I'll just have to either wait until they have a discount special, or try to find another way to afford it.
 
I'm wondering if I'm going to have to learn how to use the program all over again! I can see the screen grabs on the website, but having actually worked with the newest version, roughly how much different would you say the new version is from 8.5? I know there are more options, new look, etc.....but do the UI and general tools, etc...basically operate the same way as they always have?...or is it completely different?
 
 

See the FAQ http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/SONAR-FAQ#start
The short answer is after 12 months your membership would need to be renewed to continue to receive updates.

Musikman
Regarding the "one payment gives me 12 months of upgrades and I own the software", what happens once the 12 months are over and there are more updates released after that 12 months? I assume I would no longer have to continue paying, unless a new major upgrade is released?
 
 
I'm wondering if I'm going to have to learn how to use the program all over again! Having used the newest version, roughly how much different would you say the new version is from 8.5? I know there are more options, new look, etc.....but do the UI and general tools, etc...basically operate the same way as they always have?...or is it completely different?
 
 

If after the 12 months you choose not to continue your membership,  you own the software to that point,  and it will continue to function.  You do not however receive any further updates. 
 
The best way to find out how much it has changed is to download the demo.