mudgel
Platinum = better than gold.

Depends on the ruler you are measuring them by (as with anything). If going by conductivity, #1 = silver, #2 = copper, #3 = gold... platinum is #10  Then again you could go by Olympic medals where platinum has no place at all.
 
If I were to throw the new version names at a new user, I bet most would latch on to "Professional" as being best from name alone.

 

Any news on the trial version?
The Platinum (which should have been named Professional)
Will there be an announcement?

YouDontHasToCallMeJohnson
I think changing the names of the levels was stupid, at best.
I have heard people describe themselves as an "amateur."
I have heard people describe themselves as a "professional."
I have NEVER, EVER heard anyone describe themselves as a "platinum."
 
This change has provided confusion but NO value to anyone but the marketing dudes who got paid for pitching the change. 
 
Better would have been "King." Or "Emperor."  Or something else a bit less inane than the name of a precious metal.    "Platinum" is so five years ago.
 
There was no good reason to change.  'Tis sad no one in the room said, "Not a good idea."  

Believe me, any change is massaged to death with a zillion different opinions about what is or is not a good idea. Fortunately, fistfights don't break out with any regularity.
 
The previous naming had a few problems. The base version was just SONAR X3 instead of having a name to differentiate it from the others. "Studio" - well, everyone works in a studio. "Producer" - that's a person who works in a studio. So is "Producer" less powerful than "Studio," because with Studio you get a full studio?
 
Having the basic version as "Artist" kind of implies someone like a songwriter or solo musician using the software.
"Professional" means it's intended more for professional work,
"Platinum" is really valuable, so of the three, this is the highest-end version.
 
So hopefully the different levels are clearer now to people not familiar with the program. 

A few subscription questions:
 
Is there somewhere in My Account or Command Center to see the date when you have reached the end of the 12 month period? I haven't seen any?
 
Since I see that Andrew Rossa of CW has stated that payment is automatic, does that mean automatic payments will be charged continuously until you contact CW to stop or do they stop at the end of a 12 month period?
 
I did the lump sum through Paypal. Will I be charged another lump sum automatically at the end of the 12 months or will there be a warning notice so that I can decide if I wish to make another lump sum?

YouDontHasToCallMeJohnson
I think changing the names of the levels was stupid, at best.
I have heard people describe themselves as an "amateur."
I have heard people describe themselves as a "professional."
I have NEVER, EVER heard anyone describe themselves as a "platinum."
 
This change has provided confusion but NO value to anyone but the marketing dudes who got paid for pitching the change. 
 
Better would have been "King." Or "Emperor."  Or something else a bit less inane than the name of a precious metal.    "Platinum" is so five years ago.
 
There was no good reason to change.  'Tis sad no one in the room said, "Not a good idea."  

I disagree with the statement that Platinum is "five years ago."  An auto company is using that as a feature level on its new vehicles.
 
Platinum has connotation in the music industry, and although many of us do not aspire to achieve that level of success, I have no issue with using it as version name.  And I would bet that there is some hip hop artist out there that refers to himself (probably in the third person) as Platinum.
 
Of course I really don't care what it is called as long as it performs its function.

Also, regarding the trial version, I believe it will just be Artist.

err  , how do i load rematrix solo  in professional?,  doesn't show up in the audio fx browser dir ,  is included in the
basic download version right? does it need a seperate folder path in preferences?  cheers
 
 
ah ok got it  , it's in prochannel window

Hello Andrew/Cakewalk,
 
How can I upgrade from X3 Producer? I've been trying to with my new account and I get the full price with about £30 knocked off not the Intro price for the upgrade.
Also Command Center won't let me login using the details of my new account and I can't find my Serial Number for X3 Producer within my new account. Can you help me with this problem
 
Thank you
 
Liam

I think it should have been named;
Mature
Extra Mature
Extra Strong

Okay now I understand that it isn't a subscription model; thanks Cakewalk for explaining this. It was not clear at all on the website.
 
Though I'm still clear as mud about the new names. Version 8, 8.5, X1, X2, X3 - they all are clearly identifiable versions of the program. But now... what version is being sold? Please don't say "Platinum" unless the next release is going to have another name like "Cobalt" or "Ruby" or "Emerald"...