SubSonic
I likely will take advantage of the $149 "upgrade" price to this new service from X3 Producer, but I won't pay $199 a year for it thereafter.

 
I don't understand why someone is so certain of what will be introduced 12 months from now that they've already decided they don't want it. Just because you've been burned by other models doesn't mean it can't be done right.
 
Those with decent memories will note that when I first came into this forum, I was dead set against subscription software programs. I wrote an editorial for Harmony Central, an article for Pro Sound News, and posts in other forums that made my opinions perfectly clear. And those opinions have not changed.
 
But then I understood that software requires a new means of distribution. Boxes in stores weren't going to cut it any more. Just go to a GC and see how many boxes of software are left. More companies were going to digital downloads. Apple took Logic away from retail, made it download only, and offered no upgrade path.
 
The rental model is great for companies. They get consistent cash flow, and because the software expires, they are accountable to no one. You want to open the files you created last year? Sorry. Pay up. Now.
 
What makes Cakewalk's approach so different is it incorporates the new realities software companies face, but is 100% accountable to the customer. Some people here recognize what a huge commitment that is on the part of Cakewalk in terms of rewarding and respecting their user base. Others don't quite see that...yet. But the onus isn't on YOU to renew. It's on Cakewalk to create something that makes you WANT to renew, because you don't have to. You can keep using your software, as long as you paid for it, for as long as you want.
 
That's a HUGE difference.
 
Meanwhile, all the people who said last September that Cakewalk would be out of business in a year after being acquired...well, let's hope all their bets were gentleman's bets. And if you're going to bet against Cakewalk again, I'd recommend the same approach.
 
 

So of course I am excited.  And it appears that this is not really any different (for me) to how I have been updating. Cakewalk has been one of the only companies that come to mind that have given notice of updates coming (especially for X3) that I can recall. They have also (even in not so great times) Delivered the message that we are important. I have seen this behavior for well over a decade. I have no need to question this now.. ahh well...   My question is always being an early adopter, Is there a difference in going through the dealer as opposed to the new command center (store)? Will it arrive faster with the dealer? I would love to continue in my tradition of "early".. Let me know .. In the mean time.. (I'll keep looking for that email.. sigh...)

Hopefully someone sees this question this time 'round:
 
If I were to decide to pay the $14.99 per month to go from X3 Producer to Platinum, can I later decide within the 12 months to just pay the rest up front?
 
Also, I assume PayPal will be an accepted form of payment?

Dave__lol

clintmartin

Bflat5
So, no more simply downloading the uprade? Sorry to be a naysayer, but I don't see an upside to renting software on the customer end.
 
Maybe I'm seeing it wrong, but when you purchase software you can continue using it until the OS will no longer support it. Pay a premium price to rent it and once your subscription is up you are forced to renew and can longer use it until you do?
 
Is that correct?

No that's not correct at all. Upgrade for $149 and it's yours forever. If you want more upgrades after a year...then you pay again.

NOPE! lol you need to look at it again... 149 for 12 months! its a subscription DAW service... You keep paying them or you have NO DAW! good luck in mid project and you have to convert ALL your projects to ProTools and have no way to do it!

You do not understand what is being offered here.  You pay $149, you get 12 months of upgraded content.  If, after 12 months, you don't give them another dime, all the content you received over the last 12 months is your to keep.  You can also spread those payments out and pay $15 per month for 12 months and get the same thing.

Vern C
Hopefully someone sees this question this time 'round:
 
If I were to decide to pay the $14.99 per month to go from X3 Producer to Platinum, can I later decide within the 12 months to just pay the rest up front?

Also, I assume PayPal will be an accepted form of payment?

I think they have stated that you can't pay a few months and then pay the difference in one lump sum.  However, you could pay for a couple months and the pay $199 (assuming the $149 discount is gone) and get 12 months from that point on.

Sonar forums are so entertaining around a release. Look, this model actually allows you to choose how much you're willing to pay. Let's say your 12 months have run out. You keep what you've paid for, then just wait until CW puts out something that's worth another $200. You can pay that $200 a year later, two years later, etc. You can wait until CW puts out enough new features to be worth your next $200. This is different from before when the number of versions you were behind determined how much you paid to catch up. The model, on its own, IMHO, is beyond reproach.

Some unease from CW's record of atrocious unreliability is understandable. With conventional releases, there was a period of debugging and troubleshooting without feature development to introduce more regressions. Tragically, much of this period seemed to happen after the .0 release and regressions still got introduced. Now, with constant introduction of new features, a regression-free release may be an even more elusive target than before.

Frequency of updates also guarantees nothing. I've lost count of how many free updates StudioOne v2 has received, and it's still a heinously slow, unstable, and buggy pile of monkey droppings, rivaling X3a at its worst. On the other hand, Cubase 8 Pro has received only one update so far, and works mindblowingly smoothly and speedily.

So whining or rejoicing about a product before there is a product doesn't make any sense. On the other hand, it is amusing to read. Unless you work for CW, I guess...

Anderton
You can keep using your software, as long as you paid for it, for as long as you want.

I'm very grateful for Cakewalk maintaining this model, but it's really sad that today a company has to go out of its way to underline the fact that the software they sell will be useable in the future without further payment.
 

I was going to formally request someone delete the idiot, but I think someone has.

yevster
You can pay that $200 a year later, two years later, etc. You can wait until CW puts out enough new features to be worth your next $200. This is different from before when the number of versions you were behind determined how much you paid to catch up.

Can you please point me to this info in the faq?

clintmartin
I was going to formally request someone delete the idiot, but I think someone has.

Just block him, as I did .