cparmerlee

Beepster
Not exactly release notes but there is this...
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=NewFeatures.01.html
No list of bug fixes there. Just the documentation on the new features.

Thank you for that reference.  In my particular case, I found things on that list that I'm sure I would use a lot more than some of the items Cakewalk featured.  I probably use the product differently from most, but everybody ought to spend a few minutes on that list.  Some good stuff there.  I love the improvements in scaling MIDI velocities.

+1 on posting that list! I didn't realize recursive media browser search was a new feature. I'll be using that a lot.

Thank, scook. He posted it in my New Features list thread from yesterday... he did however steal it from a post one of the Baker's made. Still, gotta organize the chaos.
 
And if anyone's interested I'll post it again...
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Full-list-of-all-new-features-w-videosdescriptions-of-each-in-one-post-m3145468.aspx
 
I made a list of all the new features I could find, copied and pasted their descriptions, linked any vids for the features and gave a brief impression/description of my own based on the vids.
 

hey
some nice music
great sound

ramscapri
What if there are no updates / upgrades for one year from my upfront purchase ? Then I pay again at the end of one year for what ? Does Cakewalk have a sure-shot plan for releasing updates / upgrades / new features during the course of one year and then year after year ? 

I think a point that's being missed a lot is that Cakewalk's engineers have always developed new features throughout the year. They were just frustrated because many of those sat around waiting for The Big Update, when they could all be tested together. Now the features get released when they're ready with simplified testing procedures and modular installation.
 
As to upcoming new features, I'm not at liberty to give any details, but I'll tell you this. A huge percentage of Cakewalk employees are musicians and of course, they use SONAR. They have a zillion ideas of cool ways to add on to SONAR. Cakewalk's problem will not be coming up with new features to add - their problem will be deciding which ones to prioritize. This also makes it difficult to say exactly what's coming up because they work on lots of features in parallel; some come together quickly, while others take longer than expected.
 
Make no mistake about the Membership program. Cakewalk is doing this because they believe it really is a better way to own and pay for software, and that the user base will be thrilled with what happens over the next year. It's a lofty and challenging goal, but I truly believe they will pull it off and more importantly, so do they.
 

Beepster
Thank, scook. He posted it in my New Features list thread from yesterday... he did however steal it from a post one of the Baker's made. Still, gotta organize the chaos.
 
And if anyone's interested I'll post it again...
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Full-list-of-all-new-features-w-videosdescriptions-of-each-in-one-post-m3145468.aspx
 
I made a list of all the new features I could find, copied and pasted their descriptions, linked any vids for the features and gave a brief impression/description of my own based on the vids.
 

I will add there are now product listings in the support pages like this one https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/By-Product/SONAR%20Platinum for Platinum with knowledge base articles about installation, authorization and system requirements.

rfreeze

TabSel
I still need to know the bug fix policy.

So, say, for example, just before my subscription ends, there would be a a feature rolled out that was announced long before and I'm eagerly awaiting. Now, a major bug in this new feature slipped through preventing the new feature to work at all. A hot fix will be announced, my subscription ends, the hot fix gets roled.

What about warranty here?
I paid with my subscription for this new feature, but it doesn't work until fixed.
I'm not entitled to the fix, as I'm no member anymore.

How is this handled please?

What about other bugs which get fixed along the way after my subscription has ended?
I'm happy to subscribe in order to get new features, refinements and such.
But afai understand, there have to be a warranty period, for the product as a whole, and for new features and patches in particular that get rolled out?

Please clarify.

Thank you

This question has been asked several ways now, but not answered yet.  We really do want to know :)

I have already addressed this several times, not as an official Cakewalk person, but I don't think I'm too far off the mark. Right now I'm too busy to comb through 28 pages to find all of the posts, but here's the most recent one.

Beepster

ramscapri
 
 
Agreed Andrew, but I do have a few questions here, some related to the purchase models and some technical.
Firstly, let me say that I love Sonar. I started with 4LE when I knew practically nothing about music sequencing and audio production, then to 6LE, X1LE, purchased X1 Producer and now own X3e Producer. Sonar has brought me a long way ahead in realizing my dreams to compose and produce music and I commend Cakewalk for the great progress made in developing Sonar. The new model seems to look good in many ways. But I do need to ask the following (Willy, Andrew, others, please help to clarify) :
 
1. If I do go for the upfront upgrade to Platinum for $149 which is a full purchase, why do I then have to pay an annual fee again after one year and then year after year ?! I don't see how this is any different from the subscription option. Why do I keep paying major upgrade prices for possibly smaller feature updates at times ?
 
 
2. I do see the advantage of getting updates as and when ready, but how do I know when updates / upgrades are coming ? What if there are no updates / upgrades for one year from my upfront purchase ? Then I pay again at the end of one year for what ? Does Cakewalk have a sure-shot plan for releasing updates / upgrades / new features during the course of one year and then year after year ? Will the customers get to know the forecast and the specifics ?
 
3. Lets say even if there are no major updates / upgrades but only bug fixes and enhancements to the executable. Does it mean we would now pay for software bug fixes which were always supposed to be free in the first place ? I ask this because I read that the periodic payment would be necessary even to get bug fixes which are essentially corrections to software errors / inadequacies ! Now this beats me...
 
4. Why does the renewal price show as $199 for the next year ?
 
Some tech questions...
 
1. Is Sonar Platinum an update option to X3 Producer, meaning a small update download and install ? Or is it a completely new executable which will require me to download few GBs ? Is there a DVDs box option ?
 
2. In case its a new executable, can we assume this will be once and for all, meaning all feature additions and upgrades / updates in the future will be patches and small downloads ? OR will there continue to be full executable upgrades of 4 to 5 GB files to be downloaded again or boxes purchased ?
 
3. Will new feature updates be of modular type, that is, I could choose and download what I wish, which in turn means they will not be of cumulative nature ? Or will they be sequential and conditional, meaning, I get an update only if I have a previous one ?
 
4. I would assume bug fixes and basic enhancements to be cumulative though, as they used to be previously, that is, like X3e would include everything from X3a to X3d as well. True ?
 
5. How will the bug fix patch updates and builds be named and tracked (like previously they used to be X3a, X3b......X3e with a build number) ?
 
Regards...

1. By paying again after 12 months is basically just like buying an old version upgrade like say X2 to X3. If you decide not to do it you still get to use what you already bought just like before.
 
2. They have a page showing upcoming features but do you really think Cakewalk is just going to not release any new stuff for a whle year? They would crash their business immediately if they did that. It is somewhat trust based but if they don't provide content people will just say screw it and bail so they'll have to haul butt even more than they used to.
 
3. That is a moot point because they aren't going to simply not release content. As far as bugs all software will have SOME bugs but X3, which is the backbone of this model, is about as solid as you can get. Anything new they add can be repaired more easily because we, the users, will be getting it sooner instead of all in one massive chunk causing a scramble to fix ten things instead of one or two.
 
4. Because the $149 upgrade is only an introductory offer. That will expire at some point that has not been clearly defined yet but I've seen February as a potential cut off date. Then it will be $199 for the foreseeable future.
 
I can't/don't really want to attempt to answer you tech questions. You should take a look around the site and this thread. Many things have been answered over... and over... and over again. It is however confusing at first glance so I get it... you just wnat to know.

 
Thanks Beepster. Appreciate your answers. But just on point no. 1, I get what you say that it will be like going from X2 to X3, but its just that this time we don't know when that will come. Previously we would upgrade from X2 to X3 when X3 actually comes out, but what happens now ? Different customers may have different annual cycles...how does one decide whether putting the money will be worth it ?
So then, it all boils down to the trust factor as you say. CW definitely has that from me today. The next one year will be a real test though...
 
Will try to search other similar posts for info. But I do hope Noel / Willy / Andrew can chip in with responses to my tech queries. They are so important because I just cant get my head around how all this is going to technically shape up and what to expect.
 
Cheers...

SteveStrummerUK
Craig, with the greatest respect, and with apologies for quoting you slightly out of context, as I detailed in THIS POST, there is also a distinct disadvantage compared to the Adobe model that (obviously) is never being mentioned by you and others in this thread.
 
Taking up an Adobe Subscription Plan doesn't require any initial purchase of a software licence. A new subscriber simply starts paying the same as everyone else, regardless of their previous loyalty or which versions they already own. There is no tiered payment structure for identical products, and there is no requirement to pay a 'fee' to join.

 
I think this has been addressed, but if not, a new user can start off paying, say, $9.99 a month for Artist or whatever. They don't have to pay a fee to start membership. Like Adobe, if they don't keep their commitment to pay, the software reverts to demo mode, but unlike Adobe, if they maintain membership for a year the software is fully authorized and theirs to keep.

berlymahn
Love my Sonar X3 Producer and consider myself a loyal Cakewalk user and advocate, but am going to let this one sail without me.
 
I simply have everything I will ever need: a great DAW, cool synths (from CW and others), effects, etc.  Stunning capability so far and tons of music to be written!
 
Would probably buy in for the amusement of it, but I simply have too many ass kicking bills.  Boo hoo, I know. 
 
Wondering if CW will continue to offer effects, presets, instruments etc. to the occasional [independent] buyer, or is this an exclusive in or out club thing?
 
Cheers,
Jim
 

I kinda have to agree with you there on the first part, berlymahn. The DAW is just a fancy new pen, and it seems that by buying into it at the upgrade price I am surrendering my licence to the subscription model and to terms that are subject to change as well- that can actually be a very dear cost down the road. Sorry CW, but Im a little too wary (or paranoid, if you prefer) to buy into this scheme. 

scook

Beepster
Thank, scook. He posted it in my New Features list thread from yesterday... he did however steal it from a post one of the Baker's made. Still, gotta organize the chaos.
 
And if anyone's interested I'll post it again...
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Full-list-of-all-new-features-w-videosdescriptions-of-each-in-one-post-m3145468.aspx
 
I made a list of all the new features I could find, copied and pasted their descriptions, linked any vids for the features and gave a brief impression/description of my own based on the vids.
 

I will add there are now product listings in the support pages like this one https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/By-Product/SONAR%20Platinum for Platinum with knowledge base articles about installation, authorization and system requirements.

I think you got that one posted in the new features thread right? If not could ya maybe toss it in there? I'm not being as meticulous keeping it updated as I should be (attempting to do wome other stuff and keep getting distracted up here) but I'll comb through whatever pops up and put it in the OP eventually. You're better at this than I am. lol