I'm currently using Sonar X3.  I'm not looking for complications. I assume if I update to the new BandLab, all (or most) of the software add-ons that came with X3 will be loaded on this Platinum type platform. Can anyone tell me why I WOULD  want to do this. Ie, what else would this have, other than what I have with X3? If it had better/easier to use effects or mastering tools, I guess that might be worth it
Thanks.
LNovik

I'm currently using Sonar X3.  I'm not looking for complications. I assume if I update to the new BandLab, all (or most) of the software add-ons that came with X3 will be loaded onto this Platinum type platform. Can anyone tell me why I WOULD  want to do this? Ie, what else would this have, other than what I have with X3? If it had better/easier to use effects or mastering tools, I guess that might be worth it.
Thanks.
LNovik

Joined with your previous thread.
Why? Free bug fixes and features
If you want to see what you missed in the last four years feel free to visit here. Ignore the content and new plug-insl read about the changes to the DAW. Browse the SONAR help page and new Cakewalk product page.

LENovik
I'm currently using Sonar X3.  I'm not looking for complications. I assume if I update to the new BandLab, all (or most) of the software add-ons that came with X3 will be loaded onto this Platinum type platform. Can anyone tell me why I WOULD  want to do this? Ie, what else would this have, other than what I have with X3? If it had better/easier to use effects or mastering tools, I guess that might be worth it.
Thanks.
LNovik

Better have a look at this post. Neil had X3 get really messed up by the CbB install.
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3746771

Also see my post right after that one for a safe way to check it out.

Hi,
Thanks, Scook. I DID hit the "here" button link you furnished. I assume you mean to scroll all the way thru the many pages of the sequential updates--from recent to 2015. I do see there were many, though I didn't see anything prior to  2015, which is only 3 years ago, not 4. I wonder if there was anything different when Platinum first came out.
However, my main question is about these updates. I seem to have read that many of these 3rd party add-on will NOT be included with the current free version of Bandlab Platinum. FOr instance, as I read about some software that might be valuable, I saw:1)
Mastering Templates;  August 2015; Get more out of SONAR's Start Screen with six brand new Mastering Templates that master your mix in seconds. 
 2)Les Paul Gold Top Expansion Pack
 3) Vocal sync-this one I'm especially interested in
Will these types of additions be included in the new version.
PS: Thanks. Sorry I sent the initial question several times; I hadn't realized it had gone thru.
LNovik

Yes, his is a pretty exceptional story. I do not have many 32bit plug-ins, most came with SONAR. I have tested X2 through Platinum and they seem to work OK but I am on Win10 and that may be why. I do not have PC with an old OS handy.
 
That said, CbB is not an update, it is a new product/upgrade. It installs in a similar fashion to all previous SONAR upgrades. All the old Cakewalk DAWs have shared utilities, DX and MFX plug-ins. CbB shares these in common with those DAWs. These are overwritten with every upgrade and sometimes with an update. This why users have always been cautioned about deleting old versions. Uninstalling old versions could remove software needed for the current version to work. That caution still applies. Moreover removing the most recent version definitely removes shared programs and libraries.

So I'm downloading cake as we speak. Downloaded the assistant and Windows 10 Defender didn't want to run it but I told him it was okay.
WSS

Look, if you are happy with X3 you can run it until it no longer works. There is one very strong reason to do so: you know how to use it. A new DAW is going to require that you learn how to use new commands and features, and that will definitely cut into the finite time you have to make music. X3 will do pretty much everything most users need to do to make music.
 
That said, X3 is no longer supported, so it is likely that at some point it will run into conflicts with operating system updates, and it may well be difficult to find a replacement machine that will continue to run your old software as time passes. It may also become useful in the future to use new hardware that is not compatible with old software. If you discover a use for anything much newer, you will have to upgrade to use it. So future-proofing is one good reason to add a second DAW to your arsenal.And right now you may find that a newer DAW will have something useful that you had not even considered before.
 
The second big reason for not upgrading, the price of upgrading after skipping a couple of versions, is now gone. It is remarkable hard to beat free as a price point. 

Okay. That was pretty simple.

WSS

I come from X3 Producer as well. CbB has MANY features X3 does not!!! I also believe ( I could be wrong ) Cakewalk reworked the audio engine for Platinum. LENovik, CbB is much snappier, and more responsive (mouse movements etc.) than X3.