Doktor Avalanche
No issues with off the shelf Dell machine now 4 years old. I tend to wipe the machine and reinstall windows when I get it.

I usually build the PC myself. Last time around I had somebody build it for me, but in all cases I buy Windows and install it myself. Dell is not innocent when it comes to adding a bunch of softjunk, but looks like you have defeated them.

Like many here I have run both PC's and Macs in the studio. I for one am thrilled that Sonar has stayed with a single platform. It could well be the reason it is so far ahead of other PC offerings. I would also argue that most musicians I know who do run Windows platform choose Sonar as their DAW. I imagine the folks at Cakewalk are probably quite happy with their placement in the market.

Here we go again! Why does every thread get taken over by those with an agenda to talk about the main DAWs in us an whether SONAR would be better on a MAC. Stay on topic guys.

Hmmm isn't that what the OP was discussing? Maybe I've lost the ability to read it is getting late..

No looks like just waking up has affected my ability to read. I thought this was the end of the other thread, not the beginning of a new one. Similar titles threw me.

dp. Believe it or noot, I dp every time someone uses the hotel lift (elevator)

Doktor Avalanche
Only reasons to use professional recording studios from my perspective...
 
1) Rooms sound - drum kits etc.
2) A treated room when mixing - this is a big deal. Sadly I often have to do without it down to budget limitations.
3) It can often make a band more productive, purely psychological. They think they've made it if they see lots of bright flashy lights.
4) It can also make a band more productive when they realise how much money is being spent (assuming it's their money), or if there's a deadline to get something done (assuming they care, the ones that don't often spend most of their time rolling up the next spliff).
5) If they nick gear... hopefully it won't be yours....

I respect your perspective...but I think you overlooked the top reason...  in that it's the engineers, staff, and people that work in those professional studios. People supporting themselves with their craft, choose to use these studios, because they also typically haven proven track records and with agendas that aren't just "experimenting and fishing around" but get to the point, in a timely, professional fashion.  Yeah... rooms sounds are nice, but that's really just part of the creative, professional approach.  Although it's played a part in some big hits ("When the Levee Breaks"??? :-)... ), typically that wasn't the main reason for success.  Any rate, tell Phil Collins about "room sounds" on drums ! ;-D

Ten years ago buying Sonar 4, everything audio related I bought had some kind of feedback to vendor - which daw you use. Everything but Sonar used to be there as a checkbox. This is more an exception nowadays.
 
Being owned those years by Roland helped a lot, I think.
 
I heard a story on a podcast about ProTools vs Cubase in studios. Panel meant that Steinberg have had their tries to enter sending some tech guys over to main studio venues and try to sell Cubase basically as main daw. But they failed due to not being compatible enough with hardware on site - controllers etc. Something like that - but Steinberg tried and failed - is what they meant in this podcast.
 
When entering a new realm we tend to be insecure - and marketing use that as much as they possibly can.
- What do the pro's use?
- What are used in studios?
Those are selling points - but not for Sonar so much.
 
So how to proceed marketing Sonar - Cakewalk, just be professional about it.
I followed Avid DUC forum since last fall - since this new debackle with new policy etc - PT being the only main daw I haven't had hands on.
 
But all this crap about PT12 that's been going around - now make even PT users post threads like this one. Even PT users are feeling insecure these day and the need to be excused for using it. There was this guy, Moderator even on forum - that posted this thread about how much he loved PT12 and how well it went recording this 30 piece orchestra etc.
 
Why did he feel to post that to begin with?
It doesn't take much for us to be insecure.
 
Cakewalk has been forerunner in some fields, and still is top dog in many areas as I see it. x64 was early adopted, 64-bit engine was early adopted, in my view they crushed competition in how freeze is implemented(still to be in ProTools by the way). PC in X-series was also new thinking as I recall, more to resemble physical consoles kind of, and changed format for that.
 
I swapped daws like crazy the last five years to find the best solution for my music project.
I thought, a daw that cost so much more - it must be better on something, or better maintenance, support or similar. But found there is no correlation on price and these factors - when diving in the big money ponds.
 
What Cakewalk did so far with new policy really convinced me they mean business.
I feel they want more, and listen more - and deliver too.
 
Avid is trying to dictate terms and condition for their userbase - future will tell how that goes. Q1 2015 already show numbers in the red, and result down by $8 million same period last year. And Q2 and Q3 report this year will tell what future might be - if successful approach or outrageuous, which I feel it is.
 
I use Cakewalk Sonar - because I'm worth it.......my bank account too....
But please Cakewalk, change the music on Rapture Pro trailer, the worst crap I ever heard - made me puke, almost, that off pitch portamento kind sound, more than music. Even if it's not my genre, it got to be likeable and not repulsive. I know there are much cooler sounds in there to show off - in my DP even.
 

Kamikaze
Here we go again! Why does every thread get taken over by those with an agenda to talk about the main DAWs in us an whether SONAR would be better on a MAC. Stay on topic guys.

As annoying as it may be that is the topic:)

Opps... Somebody insulted EDM music.... ! Prepare yourselves! It could get messy...