Shambler
Just in case people missed it, Quad-Curve in Platinum gets an upgrade 'Includes zoom spectrum analysis'.

Isn't that the same thing from x3pe? or a further upgrade?

I can't decide whether this is good news or bad news. Most likely it turns out just one more reason (excuse?) for me to stick to 8.5 and cross my fingers hoping my PC will run for a few more years.
 
 

Greeny

Shambler
Just in case people missed it, Quad-Curve in Platinum gets an upgrade 'Includes zoom spectrum analysis'.

Isn't that the same thing from x3pe? or a further upgrade?

Now you mention it...I think I've been away too long lol.

I was also cringing when I saw the move towards the subscription model. However, upon deeper inspection and reflection, this new model will actually be a significant improvement if Cakewalk can manage to regularly have significant updates (i.e. with new features).
 
First, I think one should not look at the monthly fees, but just the upfront 1 year payments. With such payment, you are essentially still buying the software, except that you are buying the latest version that will be available one year from now, including all new features ! Now, these 1 year payments are the equivalent of the upgrade prices in the past, where in the past you were buying the latest version available now, and would only get bugfix updates.
 
What's more, when your 1 year has expired, you can just wait until the next release that has all the new features that you are willing to pay for. So, not only do you save money because monthly payments will be more expensive than an upfront 1 year spending, but you save even more money because you can have several months without membership as long as you are willing to bear with. In fact, the latter is also a very strong incentive for Cakewalk to constantly come up with new features, content, etc... to pull us into renewals.
 
So, in all, unless you can't spend the money upfront, there is really no valid reason to go for the monthly payments.
 
Some cons that I can think of:

• The model seems to have a significant price increase for the loyal users that always upgraded to the latest version. Those upgrades used to be $119 to $149, where now it turns out that you pay $199 after the first year (am looking at Producer only). This is exactly the price that you paid in the past when you had skipped the last upgrade. This may be another significant reason why to adhere to my above scheme with intermittent non-memberships since it no longer 'pays off' to be 100% loyal (now I'm afraid Cakewalk will soon realize this and come up with a scheme that makes it again more expensive if you are not constantly renewing your membership :p).
• It's getting unlikely we will get the end-of-cycle discounts from the past, since there is no cycle. In fact, I immediately regretted not having taken advantage of the 60% discount of late for upgrading my X1 Prod to X3, since I'm in the process of buying a touch laptop. If I want to upgrade now, it will cost me $199 again instead of $79 (but I'll then still have the very latest release in early 2016).
• This model may let Cakewalk release new features prematurely, knowing that members will still get all the fixes later on. This may leave users disgruntled at the bugs, and moreover may result in my above 'advantage' with intermittent non-memberships having you end up with a version after 1 year that has some recent features full of bugs, still pushing you to renew your subscription.

Interested to hear some thoughts, corrections,.. on my reasoning here, as it's very likely I will take the jump in the coming months.
 
 
 

And Cakewalk have even marked the occasion by coining a new word "availabled" cf:
"Thank you for your interest, we'll let you know when SONAR is availabled!"
Tut, tut, you Americans!
 
Love the video (despite 'interface' being spelled incorrectly...) I love the new features - I could have done with MIDI stretching on a session yesterday actually.
 
 
 

Spencer
Ok I have a honest question and I expect a honest answer. The paint tool. Ok, cool stuff, but. Are you guys purposely going out of your way to avoid making an actual, proper DUPLICATE functionality? I want to instantly copy my selected 4 bars into the next 4 bars into the next 4 bars into the next 4 bars etc by pressing ONE KEY. No mouse. Is that really too much to ask for?
 
Why do you always take eons to implement insanely basic features that every single other daws have?

+1 for a duplicate function , could be nice on a surface or laptop for fast editing (hey, even FLstudio mobile on iphone has it :)) works like a charm

I approve of this thread. Very little random nerd rage here!
 
Sven

I think one aspect of the new pricing model was not mentioned yet...
 
Before there was an option to wait a bit and get each version of SONAR cheaper. That is how CW has "got me" as a customer, starting with X1. Other move was an "extra value" for early adopters, like with X2. That has convinced me as well.
 
But from now on there is:
1) either $150 to get permanent license (with "get it now! it will be more expensive soon!") or monthly subscription. So it looks like there will be no reduced price for the "old version" (since there will be no "old" version, in fact no versions at all).
2) new authorization schema, taking into account "super smooth" transition to the new shop. Apart from promises and "good intention", CW effectively trust ME less then before...
 
This time it is above my limit. I am not a pro and I am not a semi-pro. I do not need the "bleeding edge" of SONAR and I am not ready to pay for that. I only hope not many CW customers are like me... SONAR is a good product, I do not want to see it dead.

I'll be jumping on board as soon as it's available. The upgrade to AD2 plus the Producer Bundle is superb value in itself and with all the other new features it's a no brainer! Then I get more stuff over the next 12 months? Awesome!!

Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]After 12 months of non-interrupted membership, they get to keep their software.

That is the first time I've seen this kind of membership and I must say, it's a relief to see a company doing this. I dabble in 3D animation as well and the company that owns most of that software (won't mention the name, mostly because it eludes me ATM :) ) just pulls the rug out after membership runs out, no matter how long the membership continues.
 
So, kudos to Cakewalk. I was worried about the membership thing, but now I'm not.