My apologies if this is the wrong forum, but the full version of Pro Tools is $24.99 vs Sonar Platinum which is $49.95 a month.   Just wondering why Pro Tools is so much cheaper then Sonar.  I thought they were always more expensive.

Thank you,
Adam

Because after 12 months you get to keep SONAR Platinum and it keeps on running with whatever features you have.

From what I can tell, PT 12 ceases when you stop putting a quarter in the meter.

Thanks for that. I plan on paying for life (or until I stop recording).   I mean if i pay Sonar for a year (or the one time fee), I only get updates for the year.  Either way, im forced into renewing every year.   PT seems cheaper here, which surprises me.

It is not cheaper. Only first time SONAR members would pay $49.99/Mo with a $19.99 renewal. For users of X3 SONAR, Platinum is currently $14.99/Mo with a renewal price of $19.99.

Sure, but I am comparing first time user prices here.   PT has their upgrade prices too.   

But you are not a first time buyer and as Dave points out SONAR provides a non-expiring license. Over time even first time buyers would still pay less for SONAR based on published prices.

alewgro
Thanks for that. I plan on paying for life (or until I stop recording).  Either way, im forced into renewing every year.  

You're not forced into renewing Sonar every year. After a year with Sonar, you keep the software for life. After a year with PT, Avid has your money, and you have nothing. Even if you decided to stop recording sometime down the line, you'd never be able to revisit your mixes in PT, cause you wouldn't have a program to play them with. Even at $24.95 a month, that seems like a rip off to me.

very true!  Plus what does PT have to offer that Sonar doesn't?  For real

Well, (I always want to be respectful to our hosts) there is a certain slant that Pro Tools lends itself to that, IMHO, is more powerful when doing certain tasks like editing, beat detection, audio stretching and setting up markers.  But then, there are things where SONAR wins hands down.  (Melodyne ARA, input monitoring is easier, loop recording and comping.)
 
If I am recording someone else, I prefer to use Pro Tools 11.  If I am creating my own music, then SPat tends to shine there.  That doesn't mean that I can't switch roles at any time and use either product if I want to.  A little more refinement on AudioSnap and the implementation of some feature requests that I've posted in the Features forum and I'd be a totally happy camper with SPlat.

I'm not upgrading to Pro Tools 12 native (as of now) because I don't see that Avid really cares about my market segment.  I wouldn't advise anyone to get on the PT 12 bandwagon unless they have the bucks to go whole hog with all the hardware and they have the business to support it and demand that level of gear.

Realistically, it's lacking a lot that Sonar has.