I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.  You can't maintain software by just giving it away for free.  There has to be a source of income.  I just hope it's not in the form of banner ads placed within Cakewalk (Sonar) itself.
There's nothing like getting your creative juices flowing while watching banner ads scroll through your DAW.
 

tobiaslindahl
How is this bad?  You get it for free, why does it matter if other do too? 
It was dead and (almost) buried and now you get to keep using it. I can't possibly see how this can be taken as a negative, although I knew some would manage. 

I did not need it for free BECAUSE I PAID FOR IT!

mritenburg

BMOG
What in the hell is going on so I have spent money from as far back as cakewalk, to 8.5 all the way up to a lifetime member and Bandlab just gives it away for free????? I was told the free version is the latest version of Splat minus 3rd party plugins WTF again I say! That has to the ultimate middle finger to loyal members of this DAW!

I'm not sure I understand your post.  Do you feel other should have to pay as much as you did to use Cakewalk?  Is that your gripe?

I feel if Bandlab wanted to give away a version for free strip it down so that the free version does not have the same capabilities as the full version. What is the point of every purchasing the software then?

fresh101
This is another example of the "How come they?" mentality many Americans suffer from. The original poster probably would not have had a problem receiving the product for free as a loyal paying costumer....but as far as everyone else?..."How come they get it for free too?" is what's really being asked here.

I am American and proud of it, if that means I want my hard earned dollars to count for something then I am guilty as charged. I have paid for every version since cakewalk, which paid the developers that created the latest version of Splat. So yes I fee others should not get for free what my invested dollars have paid for, give them a baseline version but not the latest and greatest

Have I missed something here? You get a cut down new version free, but are able to continue to use your bought full version plus all your 3rd party bought plugins etc. in tandem. Is that right?

The BandLab users now get to use a mini Sonar, will love it, and then BandLab will develop it. If you don't like what they do, you continue to use what you have bought.

I bought a lovely new car two years ago, but the manufacturer sold out and the new guys have since brought out a new improved model - I am entitled to a new car? I think not.

RajahP

BMOG
What in the hell is going on so I have spent money from as far back as cakewalk, to 8.5 all the way up to a lifetime member and Bandlab just gives it away for free????? I was told the free version is the latest version of Splat minus 3rd party plugins WTF again I say! That has to the ultimate middle finger to loyal members of this DAW!

Don't worry Buddy, I think you will have a chance to spend money again.. 
 
I've been at it since ver. 7 (I think) ... And I am just happy that this incredible piece of software did not just go away.
Thanking the BandLab crew for keeping it alive and looking forward to 'supporting' its future development.

This is where I see many people missing the point of the development of SPlat, if there was never another upgrade to SPLAT it is still by far and away better than most DAWS on the market! What more do you really want the DAW to do that is can't do already? The development at this point can only be for nitch type functionality that is just more icing on the cake. SPLAT was is just fine, you have people doing well on version 8.5 so this development praise from Bandlab I just don't get it

jmasno5
I will admit this was first reaction too, WTF. However, if bandlab keeps it updated I'll be happy. Still new free owners do not have all the cool stuff I received as addons when I purchased Sonar. This is what I tell myself anyway... let's face it, the product needs a lot of fresh blood to continue. The more users the better. I'm looking for it to be the ultimate DAW someday. So, I'm going with it. Let's see what happens.
Oh yeah, the new piano roll looks great!

This DAW will never get in the class of the Ultimate DAW until the fully embrace the MAC OS world, they do that then there is a chance. Most major studios are using some MAC OS DAW over windows that I have come in contact with

Leee
I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.  You can't maintain software by just giving it away for free.  There has to be a source of income.  I just hope it's not in the form of banner ads placed within Cakewalk (Sonar) itself.
There's nothing like getting your creative juices flowing while watching banner ads scroll through your DAW.
 

+1

Sir William
Have I missed something here? You get a cut down new version free, but are able to continue to use your bought full version plus all your 3rd party bought plugins etc. in tandem. Is that right?

The BandLab users now get to use a mini Sonar, will love it, and then BandLab will develop it. If you don't like what they do, you continue to use what you have bought.

I bought a lovely new car two years ago, but the manufacturer sold out and the new guys have since brought out a new improved model - I am entitled to a new car? I think not.

Car comparison does not quite work here but I get what you are saying, if you had paid off your car and then you found out the dealer was giving that model car away for free then we are on the same page. If my understanding is correct all the free version is missing is 3rd party plugins. To me that is still a great DAW better than the 8.5 version of Sonar again I say how much more development can really be made other than continued adding of plugins with Sonar.

BMOG
 If my understanding is correct all the free version is missing is 3rd party plugins.

At this time, BandLab Cakewalk has very few plug-ins or content. It is similar to SONAR Artist (with no content and Rapture Session) except the program is the Platinum executable and PC modules. No Additive Limiter, no LP plug-ins, no DPro, no Rapture....