cityrat

Ryan Munnis [Cakewalk]
 
You can either use Cakewalk Command Center https://www.cakewalk.com/Command-Center to download and install which will activate automatically (requires an internet connection) or you can follow our Offline Activation instructions here https://www.cakewalk.com/My-Account/Offline-Activation 
 
(the link in the page is not currently active, we'll have that up soon)

 
Ok hold everything here.  Are you saying SONAR is now a challenge /response activation?  If so, that's a pretty BIG deal.
Can this be clarified?  Is this a change?
 

Honestly, we always had a challenge/response system. That is what the registration code was.
 
The new system is far easier (IMHO) and you don't have to worry about if that was a zero or an 'O' in your activation codes. 
 

perfectprint
With Mix Recall - can it only A/B or can you save and choose from multiple different scenes from within a project?

 
You can A/B the latest 2 mixes, but you also have a drop down of all your available mixes.

 

Beepster
Sooo... the upgrade price for Producer is going to go up to $200? Okay now I'm gonna do a bit of grumbling... that's gettin' pretty steep, guys. Hope there will be plenty of sales throughout the year.
 
/grumbling

 
They're going to have to make a good sales pitch in a years time too because there won't be any big shiny release to sell - all the next years development should have already been released!
 

Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]
Honestly, we always had a challenge/response system. That is what the registration code was.

For the user code and serial.  But not per machine id correct?  Now you are going to machine ID?

Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]

Beepster
Sooo... the upgrade price for Producer is going to go up to $200? Okay now I'm gonna do a bit of grumbling... that's gettin' pretty steep, guys. Hope there will be plenty of sales throughout the year.
 
/grumbling

Funny story. When we were cleaning the old office out and moving to the new one, we found all kinds of fun stuff. One was a price sticker for Pro Audio 9. It was listed as $500 in 1999 (approximate) dollars. If we adjusted that to inflation it would be $690 in today's dollars. I understand that it going up to $200 can be steep, but we're still selling our software cheaper than we have in years past. 

I think I may have actually had a brainfart in how this all works (sorry I have not fully scoured all the info... which I will in the morning). When we purchase the 12 month "upgrades" are they cumulative?
 
As in if I don't "upgrade" from X3 for a year and then pay the $200 I'd get everything that happens from now until one year from now AND whatever comes out in the 12 months I pay for with nothing missing? Like any plugins or other goodies?
 
Sorry... having a hard time wording that because I'm brain fried from other mayhem today but if that IS how it works then $200 doesn't bug me.
 
I will say though in regards to those really old versions and their cost... I used to sell electronics and software back in the mid-late 90's and everything was still ridiculously expensive so those prices don't really surprise me... especially considering it was music stuff.
 
Lulz... now I'm remembering $30+ Zip disks.

cityrat

Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]
Honestly, we always had a challenge/response system. That is what the registration code was.

For the user code and serial.  But not per machine id correct?  Now you are going to machine ID?

Yes, but you can still install on multiple machines, if you so choose too. Just like the existing paradigm provides.

Just posting this Q again, with additions:
 

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]

GeorgeZ
Quick question, if I reg X3 Producer now, is there a grace period for a "automatic" update (the outright buy version I guess) to the latest version (which is what... Platinum)? I'm totally confused :P

There is no grace period. We've been discounting SONAR for the past few months. New customers for example are only paying $329 right now. If you add in the price of the upgrade to Platinum, it's actually slightly cheaper than the street price of $499 for Platinum.

Ok, so if I reg X3 Prod after the new Sonar release, I have / get X3? Just asking as it's obviously not in the store anymore? Also, will that version be fully functional (I saw something mentioned about Sonar reverting to demo mode or something??).

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]

Greeny
So one final question, since I already have AD2 with 3 kits, do I get to choose another 3 kits or do I just keep what I already have?
 

Yes, you get 3 more ADpaks, 3 more MIDIpaks, and 3 more kit pieces.

Andrew,

Thank you for be so patient and answering some questions more than once. I like your model and if Adobe had used it I would still be upgrading Creative Suites. I will be upgrading Sonar when available.

One question. I just went through a disappointing purchase with XLN Audio where they led me (and others) to believe that if I bought their Producer Bundle that I would be upgraded to Addictive Drums 2. While I did get Addictive Drums 2, it doesn't allow you to use previously purchased ADPacs with AD2. I thought it was a misleading/deceptive tactic.

Is this true for the Addictive Drums 2 included in this years Sonar upgrade? In other words you Only get the AD2 "engine" but will have to pay XLN another $80 for a "real" upgrade to AD2.

I do like the new features in Sonar! Keep up the great work!

Walt

Leonard
This new model gets folks like me who skip releases into your annual revenue stream. I really like Sonar. Count me in.

Questions.

My daw will now need to phone home to run Sonar Platinum? My Sonar X3 Pro rig is an offline machine. Do I now need antivirus software if it must be plugged into the web exclusively for this purpose? Which AV program do you recommend? A trip to windows 7 update is now necessary to plug up security holes.

and everything was working so well.

That is my concern. I have a problem with having to keep an active internet connection on my daw computer just to get updates for that year as it simply does not go online for anything. I built the system just for my music/mixes etc.. Therefor, no computer problems ever..... I also always pay for the total update price instead of a monthly fee as I want to know I own it. (BUT to update I can't simply download an update and apply it to my daw computer any longer without it being online???)
That is my main concern.
 If I can still download updates and apply them to my daw system then I have no issues and think it is a great idea.

Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]

cityrat

Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]
Honestly, we always had a challenge/response system. That is what the registration code was.

For the user code and serial.  But not per machine id correct?  Now you are going to machine ID?

Yes, but you can still install on multiple machines, if you so choose too. Just like the existing paradigm provides.

 
With all due respect - this is NOT the current model.  You have changed it to be by MACHINE ID.  This is NOT the same as it is now at Gibson's discretion of what is "acceptable".
 
I understand the business reasons.  But I have also had issues with companies who have also claimed liberal policy shutting out activation during upgrades with problems that required new MBs etc.  This is a change in the trust / model between users. 
 
 
 
 
 

Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]

cityrat

Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]
Honestly, we always had a challenge/response system. That is what the registration code was.

For the user code and serial.  But not per machine id correct?  Now you are going to machine ID?

Yes, but you can still install on multiple machines, if you so choose too. Just like the existing paradigm provides.

Cityrat, have you installed previous versions of Sonar on multiple machines? It's always been like that.
Cakewalk doesn't track it like, say, Toontrack or IK. Your existing reg code just needs to be associated with the machine on which Sonar is installed. it is entirely local.
Or have I missed something somewhere?