Sanderxpander
I don't have the same amount of studio time every month and personally really dislike the multitude of updates. I have to add that I also have a slew of third party software and sometimes it feels like every time I work I have to update a ton of stuff first. I can obviously skip one or two but that only postpones the problem.

This. I religiously update every month, but have no time to actually write music lately, so I become overwhelmed with installed features I'm not aware of, and hadn't had a chance to learn. I couldn't even begin to tell you what's been installed over the last 6 months. The monthly updates, in my mind, take away from studio productivity for those of us who have other full-time jobs and who get to spend precious little time writing. I liked the previous annual setup where there was a set, single new feature list. While I appreciate the effort that goes into providing these monthly updates, I can't help but think it's not sustainable in the long term, and there is a certain amount of potential for frustrated users as we are always in a state of beta (see current problems, introduced with JP, with many AIR instruments). And just rolling back all new features to solve 1 problem is not a suitable resolution.
 
KEv

I am in the always looking for updates in CCC category. I think this new model of releases is great. I probably do not use the program to its fullest, but I am loving it. I try to test the new features when they come out, but only a few sticks with me (I am a creature of habit). But I am getting to grips with some of the new features (Vocal Sync is my new favorite), and know there are much more available if I should need it. And it has been very stable on my part, beside some user errors
Best of luck.

Why are people updating so often if it's a burden??!!! It is completely unnecessary if you are able to work with what you have.
 
Here is the way to go about it if that is the issue...
 
Whenever it is convenient or you are curious as to what's been up go through and read the monthly eZines to check out all the new stuff that's been coming down the pipe. They are PDFs so you can either read them from your browser or download them (like I do) to read wherever at your leisure (like on your phone/tablet while taking a dump... they ain't that long).
 
If you see something you like or see a bug fix in a version that pertains to you do a couple forum/google searches to see if there are any issues that may pertain to you in that version. Most of the problems we've had this year are rather minor and very specific to certain setups.
 
The Bakers recently (well it's been a few months now) made it so ALL the update downloads that have come out while you have an active membership are available at any time. So after you've decided there is an update you are interested in (after reading the eZine and forum reviews) just go to your account (or open the CCC if you have it installed) and download that version. I'd personally recommend creating a Windows restore point so you can easily go back (but if you have CCC I'm told you can rollback easily from there) then install the update.
 
It's pretty easy and painless. I get it though for those who aren't malingering around here all the time like some of us are which is why I'm saying this.
 
Check the eZines + create restore point + install ONLY what interests you = a pretty awesome experience
 
I do get it though. We've been trained to ALWAYS be updated to the latest and greatest and it IS a massive pain in the balls when you've got stuff to do. It's just not necessary with this system. It's really quite laid back and casual if you want it to be.
 
Cheers.

My preference would be a quarterly feature update with bug fixes during the other months.  Mixing new features with bug fixes every month means we may never get a clean, or at least almost clean, version.  I do understand this will never happen for marketing reasons as long as CW uses a monthly payment model.   
 
Thanks for asking OP.

RD9
My preference would be a quarterly feature update with bug fixes during the other months.  Mixing new features with bug fixes every month means we may never get a clean, or at least almost clean, version.  I do understand this will never happen for marketing reasons as long as CW uses a monthly payment model.   
 
Thanks for asking OP.

Could not agree more, this should happen for common sense reasons IMHO.

I think the "problem" is that previously there was a fixed feature set update and then a bunch of patches for issues whereas now they always come mixed together. I may want patches but no new features (which often introduce issues). I'm left wondering whether what I'm using is the most fail-safe option or whether I should update. Even disregarding new features. I have no statistics to back this up. It's just a feeling I'm left with from the current method and my personal solution is just to update less often unless I really run into a crippling bug or see a new feature I really want.

Not to belabor the issue or be argumentative but from what I've seen most of the new stuff has been separate downloads (aside from the initial release with the Control Bar, FX Racks, PRV stuff). Drum Replacer was separate as have been other items. The new aux track stuff really couldn't be separate because they are baked in.
 
If you look through the releases really most of the core downloads really were bug fixes and enhancements. The flash and dash were kind of side dish/separate downloads.
 
Really though I think if we were getting the types of bugs that X1, X2 and even X3 introduced over the year then it would be a problem but really if we take the most up to date/patched version of X3(e) as a metric for bugginess/stability it was actually more fudged up and problematic than pretty much all the Sonar 2015 releases.
 
And you were STUCK with those bugs once Cake decided to stop working on a version (which was what led to me howling like a baboon once they bailed on X2).
 
Basically if even a couple of the Sonar 2015 releases ended up less useable than X3e was then I could see it being an issue but that has not been the case so far. I was concerned about that as well and the new delivery method required a LOT of trust on our end (a commodity I in short supply of) but so far the Bakers have held up tot heir end of the bargain.
 
Some users, with specific setups, have gotten temporarily burned on a release or two but they were outliers and had the rollback option and/or usually got a fix rather promptly.
 
It comes down to are we experiencing MORE or LESS showstopping bugs than we were before? I'd say, from personaly experience, FAR less and at least now when those things do come up there is a good chance it'll get sorted out whereas before you were simply stuck for a year until the next release which may or may not correct the issue.
 
I don't think that's a naive or overly forgiving assessment of the situation. If it sucked I would say so.
 
Anyway... if anyone is having problems just report them so the Bakers at least have an opportunity to correct the issue. Not just for you but for everyone else having the same problems.
 
Cheers.

To the best of my awareness, all along since the beginning of Cakewalk time, they have combined fixes and features - both the semi-annually and the current monthly approach did this.
 
Bob Bone
 

Beepster
It comes down to are we experiencing MORE or LESS showstopping bugs than we were before? I'd say, from personaly experience, FAR less and at least now when those things do come up there is a good chance it'll get sorted out whereas before you were simply stuck for a year until the next release which may or may not correct the issue.

Pretty much every time there is major functionality introduced we see major bugs. The good news is they get fixed by the next month or earlier (well mostly). So it's better than X3E.

The olde bugs however are really still taking too long to get resolved and I sometimes wonder if they will ever be resolved. When Platinum was first released it looked like they were on the right track and 'on it', I'm not so sure now. New functionality is clearly taking up a lot of their time.

Is it better .. Yes.. Is the situation right now perfect... Hell no. We are still having to cope with a moving target.

I still feel Sonar is going through a transition phase with it's development cycles so right now I'm cutting them slack. By second quarter 2016 though I hope to see some BIG improvements with existing functionality. If we get another load of bolted on features and no big changes with EXISTING core program and stability/workflow for the better by then I guess I will review my renewal situation.

I like the updates so far.  I just upgraded to Platinum from X3 Producer a couple of months ago.  I don't use everything that has changed very often since I am usually just recording guitars, bass and vocals (with drum loops).  The stuff I am using most of the time hasn't changed so dramatically it causes any issues.  So far the updates have made things easier for me.