Even if I ever fully stopped using CbB I feel every penny I spent with Cakewalk, Inc. was well spent and I do not have any regret, remorse, frustration of anger.

For me, this was FANTASTIC news.  I was stuck with Sonar X2, which worked great on my old system but has been a headache since I upgraded and had to reinstall everything.  I had always intended to update Sonar to Platinum when the time was right, but of course I missed my chance.  When Cakewalk shut down, I was disheartened.  I wound up trying Studio One and Cubase, searching for a new DAW.  Cubase came close to what I needed (and I will likely still use it sometimes), but the more I used other DAWs, the more I missed Sonar.  

Enter Bandlab.  When I read the news that Bandlab had intended to raise Sonar from the dead, I was hopeful but hesitant.  I had no expectation that it would all happen so soon.  I was struggling with X2 on my newly updated system, when I chanced upon this thread.  I couldn't believe it.  What?  Cakewalk's back, already?  And it's FREE?  

When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.  So I strolled over to the Bandlab site, found Cakewalk, downloaded, installed...and then started doing the happy dance.  Finally, Cakewalk is back and my studio is just the way I wanted it.  Fanfriggintastic!

While the free aspect will certainly turn the industry on its ear, maybe that's exactly what it needs.  I'm not worried about all the years and money I invested in the "old" Cakewalk.  Every cent was well worth it.  But times change, and here we are.  I'm looking forward with cautious optimism.

WOW, i mean WOW... BMOG, you really opened a can of juicy worms. I have spent more time reading posts than working on music in my *grand* new CbB today. I am a Cake user since DOS daze and have paid my way. I didn't get every version of SONAR, usually every other until X where I got all 3 and on to SPlat. When CW was deep sixed I made the rounds... *nothing* measured up, least of all Pro Tools. (Samplitude was closest.) I had finally decided to stay with SPlat 'till the ship sank and Meng came into my life with glittering promises that I greedily gobbled. When Cakewalk by BandLab was offered for free, I *rejoiced!* Unlike the OP, I was not offended in the least. Meng simply took good ship SONAR in a new direction. Hey, his ship! 
 
My drummer, who was on X2 also grabbed it and we are now able to exchange .cwb's. Joy! And free!
 
Maybe I'm just an old hippie but I think free lunch is grand. I *love* sharing free lunch with as many as possible. That I paid for something in the past is irrelevant and I cannot fathom your pique, BMOG. I have enjoyed the debate, though. Best to you!

I think this is great for Sonar and could be just a massive user base increase.  Seems totally feasible this could position Sonar to become one of the most commonly used DAWs.  It would sure be interesting to know the number of downloads that have happened.  I suppose a Mac version would be a nice, but in the big picture, there are so many more potential users already on Windows.  Plus you've got lots of media professionals who are totally not happy with Mac hardware, and I do not blame them.  My current machine is a refurb and runs great.  $375 delivered.  No way I feel any need whatsoever to buy a new Mac.

Why are you giving Cakewalk by BandLab away for free? 


Jeremy March 26, 2018 04:46




We’re introducing a Give What You Want system to offer a full fledged DAW to all users, no matter your budget. This way people have the opportunity to show their support for the development team if they appreciate the product and its value to their creative process.
 
 
Not exactly free per https://help.cakewalk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002366114-Why-are-you-giving-Cakewalk-by-BandLab-away-for-free-
 

fresh101
BMOG I feel you and I understand why you feel the way do. I give you credit for being open to other points of view and maybe even leaning at bit more to the center because of it. I'm really hoping this works out for everybody in the long run. I can see many benefits to this plan of action by Bandlab but...my biggest fear of this that people will look down at it because of the stigma of the freeware label. Sometime people perceive things as less than because they are free or inexpensive. Or the "if it cost more it must be better" camp. Flstudio aka Fruityloops had that stigma for a looooong time. One for it's very humble beginnings and two for seeming cheep. What saved it was it's ever increasing user base (very huge now) and its constant development. I'm hoping Bandlab can do the the same for us. As a consistently top 10 DAW around for over years we already have a head start.

Fresh great post and I am more in the center now! There were some great post that gave me another way of looking at it. What did the most for me is that because I have paid, the free version will not have all those bells and whistles my version has. But I will wait and watch for a while before installing the new version, I use my current SPLAT everyday and very pleased with my results

Kamikaze

dubdisciple
Kamikaze... I get what you are saying.  My point was not that one needs to install it with any urgency. It was more so the point that the product will continue down the line of this version instead of anything previously installed.  Also, you never know when free status may change

Yeah I just think you were actually agreeing with the other poster, but it looked like you weren't.
 
This is an 'Early Access' Bandab have called it that. I never adapted the early access versions when Sonar adpoted it in the last couple of years, so I see no difference hear. Already there have been concerns with the installer, and BandLab have said they will address that next release. So I'll at least wait for that.  
 
I don't think BandLab have any plans t change the free model soon, it's not really up and running, s there is 'urgency' as say. 
 
(not responding to you here)
 
---------------------------------------------
Regards Bmog, he's made his point, he has his feelings, and feeling are feelings, you can't escape that. And he responded positively to the constructive criticism about his viewpoint. But some have acted like he's throwing a continuous hissy fit, which he hasn't.
 
 

Thanks You

HeatherHaze
For me, this was FANTASTIC news.  I was stuck with Sonar X2, which worked great on my old system but has been a headache since I upgraded and had to reinstall everything.  I had always intended to update Sonar to Platinum when the time was right, but of course I missed my chance.  When Cakewalk shut down, I was disheartened.  I wound up trying Studio One and Cubase, searching for a new DAW.  Cubase came close to what I needed (and I will likely still use it sometimes), but the more I used other DAWs, the more I missed Sonar.  

Enter Bandlab.  When I read the news that Bandlab had intended to raise Sonar from the dead, I was hopeful but hesitant.  I had no expectation that it would all happen so soon.  I was struggling with X2 on my newly updated system, when I chanced upon this thread.  I couldn't believe it.  What?  Cakewalk's back, already?  And it's FREE?  

When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.  So I strolled over to the Bandlab site, found Cakewalk, downloaded, installed...and then started doing the happy dance.  Finally, Cakewalk is back and my studio is just the way I wanted it.  Fanfriggintastic!

While the free aspect will certainly turn the industry on its ear, maybe that's exactly what it needs.  I'm not worried about all the years and money I invested in the "old" Cakewalk.  Every cent was well worth it.  But times change, and here we are.  I'm looking forward with cautious optimism.

Your story makes sense to me call me bias but it feels better to know that someone who has been working with Sonar is seeing a benefit from the free upgrade , I think when I wrote this post I was thinking of new people getting all those benefits of SPLAT for free.  Keep us posted on the progress of the new DAW

Phoen1xPJ
WOW, i mean WOW... BMOG, you really opened a can of juicy worms. I have spent more time reading posts than working on music in my *grand* new CbB today. I am a Cake user since DOS daze and have paid my way. I didn't get every version of SONAR, usually every other until X where I got all 3 and on to SPlat. When CW was deep sixed I made the rounds... *nothing* measured up, least of all Pro Tools. (Samplitude was closest.) I had finally decided to stay with SPlat 'till the ship sank and Meng came into my life with glittering promises that I greedily gobbled. When Cakewalk by BandLab was offered for free, I *rejoiced!* Unlike the OP, I was not offended in the least. Meng simply took good ship SONAR in a new direction. Hey, his ship! 
 
My drummer, who was on X2 also grabbed it and we are now able to exchange .cwb's. Joy! And free!
 
Maybe I'm just an old hippie but I think free lunch is grand. I *love* sharing free lunch with as many as possible. That I paid for something in the past is irrelevant and I cannot fathom your pique, BMOG. I have enjoyed the debate, though. Best to you!

Great post!

Thank you, BMOG!