Hello.  I am a longtime CW user: my current version of Sonar is Sonar Platinum v. 21.11.00 build 25 Lexington.  I use a PC running Win 7.
 
I'm told the equivalent of the latest version of Sonar Platinum is freely available to download from BandLab.  So I'm thinking of downloading it.  I have a few questions I am hoping someone can answer before I make the leap.
1) Can anyone tell me what the latest version of Sonar has that my current version is lacking - will the newer version provide me anything beyond what I have now?
2) If I go ahead and upgrade, can I upgrade over the existing installation, or do I need to do a "clean uninstall" of the existing Sonar before installing the newer one?
3) I gather that BandLab has some sort  of "download assistant software" that must be installed before Sonar is.  Does that software work well?   Does it play nice with Win 7?  Anything I should know before downloading and installing it? 
4) Can I now get rid of the copy of the Cakewalk Command Center on my DAW?
5) I understand the newer version of Sonar does not include the 3rd-party bundled software (Melodyne, AD2, Rapture, etc).  What about the "Pro Channel" plug-ins - are they included in the newer version?
 
And lastly: any tricks, tips, late-breaking info, considerations, etc that I should know about before doing the upgrade?
 
Thanks in advance.   

BbAltered
Hello.  I am a longtime CW user: my current version of Sonar is Sonar Platinum v. 21.11.00 build 25 Lexington.  I use a PC running Win 7.
 
I'm told the equivalent of the latest version of Sonar Platinum is freely available to download from BandLab.  So I'm thinking of downloading it.  I have a few questions I am hoping someone can answer before I make the leap.
1) Can anyone tell me what the latest version of Sonar has that my current version is lacking - will the newer version provide me anything beyond what I have now?  Cakewalk by BandLab is more stable than your existing install.  CbB has bunches of fixes.
2) If I go ahead and upgrade, can I upgrade over the existing installation, or do I need to do a "clean uninstall" of the existing Sonar before installing the newer one?  You should not remove anything since Cakewalk by BandLab will use any existing plug-ins you have.  CbB installs adjacent to your existing install.
3) I gather that BandLab has some sort  of "download assistant software" that must be installed before Sonar is.  Does that software work well?   Does it play nice with Win 7?  Anything I should know before downloading and installing it? The BandLab Assistant is a download manager and required to download Cakewalk by BandLab.  It works with 64 bit versions of Win 7, 8, 8.1 & 10.
4) Can I now get rid of the copy of the Cakewalk Command Center on my DAW?  No.  CbB uses that in the background during this transition period of moving from the Sonar to BandLab environment.
5) I understand the newer version of Sonar does not include the 3rd-party bundled software (Melodyne, AD2, Rapture, etc).  What about the "Pro Channel" plug-ins - are they included in the newer version?  The native plug-ins are included.  The latest release of Cakewalk by BandLab also includes Melodyne 4, Cakewalk Theme Editor and Drum Replacer.  However they are downloads separate from the main program.
 
And lastly: any tricks, tips, late-breaking info, considerations, etc that I should know about before doing the upgrade?  Enjoy
 
Thanks in advance.   

BbAltered
1) Can anyone tell me what the latest version of Sonar has that my current version is lacking - will the newer version provide me anything beyond what I have now?

Check out: https://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Whats-New#2017.10  and look at what has been added/fixed since Lexington.
 
CbB is basically that plus a few more bug fixes. Check out the bottom of this post: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Cakewalk-By-BandLab-is-here-Free-Available-for-Windows-now-Updated-4282018-m3743935.aspx
 
Note that CbB doesn't have the 3rd party extras SPLAT had. This thread spells out the differences: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AwrivrPMMqFyAnbRfV03U2ki00VwOJNHeFXolbyyzKA/edit#gid=0
 

BbAltered
2) If I go ahead and upgrade, can I upgrade over the existing installation, or do I need to do a "clean uninstall" of the existing Sonar before installing the newer one?

 You pretty much HAVE to do this if you want to keep all the extras that came with SPLAT. Do not uninstall SPLAT - CbB will live happily beside it.
 

BbAltered
3) I gather that BandLab has some sort  of "download assistant software" that must be installed before Sonar is.  Does that software work well?   Does it play nice with Win 7?  Anything I should know before downloading and installing it? 

It works fine with Windows 7.
 

BbAltered
4) Can I now get rid of the copy of the Cakewalk Command Center on my DAW?

 Theoritically, yes - but I wouldn't advise it. It's the only way you can install the extras that came with SPLAT.
 

BbAltered 
5) I understand the newer version of Sonar does not include the 3rd-party bundled software (Melodyne, AD2, Rapture, etc).  What about the "Pro Channel" plug-ins - are they included in the newer version?

 All the Pro Channel plugins that came with SPLAT come with CbB. Things that were released separately (like CA-2A compressor etc) do not come with CbB, but it'll pick up whatever you had in SPLAT.
 

BbAltered
 And lastly: any tricks, tips, late-breaking info, considerations, etc that I should know about before doing the upgrade?

CbB should pick up your plugin directories. Some users have found they're not all picked up. If you find plugins are missing for some reason, check the plugin directory list and compare it to SONAR - apart from that it should go smoothly.
 
M.
 

I would read the stickies on top about this, but in essence yes it works well with win7x64 and you need to install it in parallel with your existing Sonar version in order to use the bonus plug-ins included in it. Latest installer (Band Assistant) works well. You should not uninstall CCC ... it might be needed for authentication of your Sonar install and accompanying plug-ins at some point. Word about CbB is that it's actually better than the last published SPLAT edition ... I'm not familiar with the Lexington edition so can't say much about the difference. Anyways, you will have both installed so it's just a win-win situation regardless.
- Sven

I presume you have the x64 bit edition of windows ... if not it's a no go. CbB is 64-bit only.
 

Hello.  Thank you jimfogle, iRelevant, and msmcleod for your helpful and informative responses - u guys r awesome.
 
1)  So if I understand correctly, after I am done, I will have both my original Sonar install and the new CWbBL installed on my computer - is that correct?
 
2) I forgot to ask this earlier: my DAW is offline.  Is it possible to do the install and authentication of CWbBL with an offline DAW?
 
Thanks again.

1) yes, But (see #2)
2) No, You have to be online

BbAltered, it's possible to share your phone's internet with your computer. That's how I suggest you authorize Cakewalk by Bandlab

If you are doing it the regular way, you also need to take into consideration that the download of CbB is around 500 MB and there are no off-line installer, if you are to use your phone you need to have a good data quota for your phone. Might be better to connect the machine on-line for the duration of the install and authentication. After that there is not any more hassle, at least that I'm aware of.

I don't have an internet connection in my studio, so to do online installation, I have to physically move the computer to another room - it's a PITA for sure.  I can deal with large download sizes.  The problem arises when a program needs an online connection to run (which is why I no longer use AD).
 
So if CWbBL or the BL installer require an online connection to run, then I am SOL with CWbBL.