Just re-upped for another exciting year with Sonar. Looking forward to being pleasantly surprised each month!
 
Craig, you're incredibly dedicated, creative with your additions to the product, and are a very sincere, likeable guy. You might consider letting some comments about your efforts slide as critics and forums go hand in hand. In short, you'll have to be content with pleasing most of us.
 
Thanks to Craig and the Cakewalk Team,
Dan

Karyn

declan
if the upgrade to SPLAT2016 was $199, as was strongly insinuated,  I was saying "no way" at a New Year's Eve party with 3 other Sonar users.
 
If CW had said a SPLAT upgrade was $99 months ago I'd never have been "shopping" the way I have been.
 
A $99 upgrade is a no-brainer for me, but I really do think CW has spent too much time selling the "membership model" rather than making people want the actual 2016 product.
 
I'm not being snarky here, but info coming out a couple of week before many "memberships" expire is at least a marketing strategy in any business I'm familiar with.

I think this is what Cakewalk didn't anticipate. (and I must admit that I didn't either).
 
What you're implying is because you felt $199 was too much to pay for another 12 months of updates and new stuff, you were planning on buying (or maybe have bought) an alternative DAW to use instead of Sonar... 
 
Why?  Were/are you under the impression that if you don't renew then Sonar will stop working??  How much is a new DAW?  $300?  $500?

Karyn, no I wasn't talking about buying another daw and I certainly know I own SPLAT2015. 
 
My point is $199 for a Sonar upgrade wasn't nearly as attractive as other software I have my eye on that may be $300 or $400.  
 
But consider this:  A year ago many here (like me) were saying $149 was a good deal (turned out to be great) but $199 would require a different "bird in the hand" impetus to "upgrade" this year. 
 
Now you're going to have to refund the guys that tried to re-up at $149 and it seems like they're getting blamed for complaining about the lack of information mere weeks before their "memberships" expire.
 
I can come up with $99 before March 31st and I'm sure I'll be quite happy, as usual.
 
And I got a Host/Mod to give me a "" on a forum for the 1st time.  Really lovely.
 
 
 
 
 
 

danholobow
Just re-upped for another exciting year with Sonar. Looking forward to being pleasantly surprised each month!
 
Craig, you're incredibly dedicated, creative with your additions to the product, and are a very sincere, likeable guy. You might consider letting some comments about your efforts slide as critics and forums go hand in hand. In short, you'll have to be content with pleasing most of us.

I never expected everyone to like all the content I do, as I said it's stuff I make for myself and I highly doubt everyone here does the same kind of projects I do. But, you know how the internet is...someone says "I don't want to pay for content" and if no one points out that's wrong, then people will think they're paying for the content when they're not.
 
As to the amps, the fact remains he was right that what was released initially sounded horrible. I'm sure there are plenty of people who tried them out when SONAR 2015 was first released, and never bothered to again. This seemed like a good opportunity to tell people the problem was fixed, and they can hear examples of all the sims in action if they want to hear what they sound like.
 
 

Were the amps fixed in a SPlat update?  I seem to remember you posted a link to update them, but that's long gone in my memory.  If it was in a Kingston, Lexington update...then that'd be fantastic.  To be honest, Sonar is adding much, that I haven't even tried them yet, as with other stuff too.  ie.....I got Melodyne Editor, when the upgrade offer was good back when, and I haven't even used Melodyne more than a couple of times.  So....that goes to show you...
I too applaud all you do, which seems like an over-full plate most of the time.

declan
My point is $199 for a Sonar upgrade wasn't nearly as attractive as other software I have my eye on that may be $300 or $400.  

That's the part I'm having difficulty with... $400 is more attractive than $199??
 
 
 

declan
Now you're going to have to refund the guys that tried to re-up at $149 and it seems like they're getting blamed for complaining about the lack of information mere weeks before their "memberships" expire.

I believe that's already been done.  The refund I mean, not the blame..
 
 

declan
And I got a Host/Mod to give me a "" on a forum for the 1st time.  Really lovely.

Have a and a  to go with it on me
 
 

A big thanks to the mods, C.A. and Andrew Rossa. I'm hooked up for another great year in Cakeland and people have been bending backward to make it happen. There is nothing I own, of any value, that has this level of support and service behind it. It's really an example that other companies should follow. I've had people like Andrew dropping me update pm's in the middle of the night, over something as small as a $100 transaction. I don't get that service when getting a $30k car.
 
I'm turning into a fanboi and that's not easy at my age. I'm supposed to be all cynical and grumpy at this point. At least that's according to my Scottish blood lines. If you're having issues with your renewal, have faith. These folks are going to make it right for you. Group hug?

ampfixer
A big thanks to the mods, C.A. and Andrew Rossa. I'm hooked up for another great year in Cakeland and people have been bending backward to make it happen. There is nothing I own, of any value, that has this level of support and service behind it. It's really an example that other companies should follow. I've had people like Andrew dropping me update pm's in the middle of the night, over something as small as a $100 transaction. I don't get that service when getting a $30k car.
 
I'm turning into a fanboi and that's not easy at my age. I'm supposed to be all cynical and grumpy at this point. At least that's according to my Scottish blood lines. If you're having issues with your renewal, have faith. These folks are going to make it right for you. Group hug?

+1

Karyn

declan
My point is $199 for a Sonar upgrade wasn't nearly as attractive as other software I have my eye on that may be $300 or $400.  

That's the part I'm having difficulty with... $400 is more attractive than $199??
 

I did say "other software".   I had to wait 6 months before I spent $199 to upgrade to Omnisphere 2 and I thank the cosmos I was finally able to, and that was in December.  Strangely, I was endowed with Christmas cash, so my discretionary money (spouse can't say much) is in play.  So I've been really focused on researching/trialing other things I don't have.
 
A daw upgrade/membership is a very low priority for any of us who've been amassing software for years and CW didn't even try to pique my interest.  In fact the insinuated $199 price made me cross that off my list.
 
I would still be very happy with X3 if I didn't have SPLAT (AD2 & packs, mix recall, PRV improvements) but I don't have a clue as to what I'll really be getting with this yet.  My ampsims are well covered, and Strum has its uses in a pinch.
 
The roll out for Sonar2015 wasn't exactly smooth from a marketing standpoint, and this year it seems clear that CW is promoting a daw with monthly bug fixes that mostly don't affect me.  I know (and applaud) the additional info coming next week, 2 weeks before my membership lapses, and still aver that CW made another booboo.
 
Of all the times I've upgraded this will be the 1st time I'll wait a couple of months to "upgrade" simply because CW didn't want my money any sooner.  Weird business model. 
 
As to the , well "I'll send you truckloads of flowers from all the worlds you stole from me" for a few milliseconds.
 
 
 
 
 

Never mind:)

declan
Of all the times I've upgraded this will be the 1st time I'll wait a couple of months to "upgrade" simply because CW didn't want my money any sooner.  Weird business model. 

 
I've also struggled at times to figure out Cakewalk's behaviour.  My take is that first, the number of employees is very small indeed.  Next, that they are more interested in the technical aspects of their products than worrying about online stores and membership renewal strategies.
 
I'm constantly amazed by the presence and integrity of Cakewalk's employees here in these forums.  Their obvious desire to make us happy far outweighs the odd frustration I can experience.