What I've found most useful from the last year's updates are . . . new customizable Control Bar, Command Center, Prochannel REmatrix Solo, FX Stacking, ARA Improvements, Rapture Session, Start Screen, Recyclable plugins, improved Audio Snap detection, the monthly Ezine, the Monitorizer plugin, better VST3 compatibility, and all those little things that have added up to making the program snappier, more stable, and an honourable mention for the many miscellaneous bug fixes.
 
When you add in all those additions from this past year that I haven't found that useful . . . well, there's been a lot added to Sonar in this last year, something for everybody I hope. Much thanks and praise to the baker programmers, and let's hope 2016 brings many more Sonar advancements. Happy New Year to all Cakewalk staff and this amazing Forum community !

In terms of workflow, aux tracks, patch points and mix recall have been a revelation, but what pleases me most is that I've enjoyed twelve months of reliable, adaptable and productive recording.
 
The recent optimizations have resulted in a new level of performance which (even with my relatively average workstation specification), allowed me to work on complex arrangements with absolute confidence.
 
Will I be signing on for another year of updates ? - Without a shred of doubt.
 
Respect to all at Cakewalk and the online community.  

Synth recording, Mix recall, virtual keyboard, speed improvements, PRV improvements, command centre.
 
Just signed up for 12 months after a delayed upgrade from X3. Looking forward to future goodies!

I know I sound like a broken record but my favorite Sonar Platinum feature is still this forum. There are so many great adds in the software but coming to the forum and learning how to get the most out of them is what I like best. 
 
If I had to limit it to the software itself it would probably be the patch points and aux tracks. 

If I had to choose one , Synth Recording does it for me..

My favorite part was the "special surprise."  Whatever that was.
 

This year has been amazing for SONAR. I've been using it and its predecessors since version 1 for DOS on a 4.25" floppy, and the enhancements this year alone stand out.
 
If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the performance related improvements. For someone who puts a lot of hours in using the program, that extra speed and solidity means a whole different experience.
 
I'm actually worried that the pressure to bring out enhancements once a month will lead to rushing out changes that aren't really "done" yet. At the same time, the big recent coding changes lead me to suspect that Gibson is putting more resources into the company; they're going to want a return on that investment, which is fine with me.

anxiousmofo
My favorite part was the "special surprise."  Whatever that was.
 

Drum replacer

backwoods

anxiousmofo
My favorite part was the "special surprise."  Whatever that was.
 

Drum replacer

I don't recall that being a special surprise, but to each their own.  If that's the case, it wasn't my favorite part.
 
I'll go with the speed improvements then, I reckon.

I like some of the project templates. They are pretty interesting and educational. It makes me wonder what someone might say if they saw one of my templates.

I like learning things- consider lots of Craig's FX chains! So useful and educational. I love that the Moneterizer FX chain was open to us. Really I don't understand much of what it is doing. Why delay both right and left channels equally? Why trim the highs? An A/B button that mutes output altogether? And it makes me want to tweak my own FX chain for this purpose which makes sense to me.

Hidden magic is hard to learn from.

In general, I'm a happy user. Waiting on my next fix.

While I know Noel is a genius behind the development of the software, I feel Craig is the genius in charge of the development of me.

Thanks Craig.