ramscapri
 
 
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...

Yup... only time will tell what the future holds. As of this moment it's a wicked deal no matter what. What happens next year... well that's up to the Baker's to provide content to keep the users hooked. Really, as has been said, this puts far more pressure on them to produce quality content. They seem up to the task. I think up until abotu a year ago they were chasing their tails with bug fixes and had to deal with some screwy head office nonsense (Roland... ugh). Now they seem to be reinvigorated, up to the task and their hands have been unbound by their new overlords Gibson... who seem to be really benevolent overlords thus far.
 
but yeah... time will tell.

Has Dimension Pro (in Platinum) been updated? Will my previous version work with the "Professional" upgrade?

jgarland
Has Dimension Pro (in Platinum) been updated? Will my previous version work with the "Professional" upgrade?

Dimension Pro has not been updated. SONAR Professional would be a separate install but all your plugins and ProChannel modules would work.

ibediggin
hey
some nice music
great sound

I probably should have also mentioned that in addition to the Amp Sims, the effects (aside from ProChannel) are ones I've designed for the Membership Program, and the loops are either from me, or from companies I've reached out to about contributing content. You'll like the Vintage Tape Echo effect that was used on the leads - it has head wear, wow, and flutter controls 

Craig, any chance these loop collections could also include individual note samples? Loops without those are far more limited in their use, as one can only get so far slicing and pitching things.

Also, I would hope that as little membership content as possible be restricted to Sonar. At this point, I doubt Sonar will be my primary DAW again, but the content and AD2 seem to be a very enticing value to keep upgrading even without becoming a Sonar user.

Anderton

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.

I agree with this, but I would have gone with a 2yr model. CW will be under a bigger gun for new features to keep people on-board after the year is up. Plus, the "interest" is high enough that outright purchase is the better deal by far. For a 2-year deal at, say $5.99 for Artist, $15.99 for Professional, and $29.99 for Platinum would have generated more 2yr fiscal income as well as make the software less like a monthly household bill, and more like a Netflix bill. People with budgets don't watch those cheaper costs as much, and tend to chop off the more expensive fat, first. 

I don't like the direction companies are going. Adobe started this crap and now Avid is following and now Cakewalk.
I understand you need a sustainable business model, but having a confusing subscription model with convoluted rules on what you get to keep, with a mandatory year minimum, or get downgraded; is not really the way to go. People recognize when they're being shafted and when companies begin to exploit them. Not saying you are. Everyone has been friendly here for my short time here, but I feel this new model leaves the door open for the company to become exploitative.
 
Why do I feel this way? Because Adobe has this model now and has left the door wide open for their competitors if someone decides to step up to the plate. (Which if you look, a lot of their customers hate it and don't like them for it)
 
What can go wrong with this:
I pay for a year or whatever terms of subscription and barely any updates at all come out.
I pay and it could backfire and a constant stream of updates, untested or unfinished, could break things for me.
Cakewalk could withhold updates in the hopes of getting people to buy another subscription.
Cakewalk could change their model or terms and force people into a constant subscription or deactivate their software. (Meaning they wouldn't have to innovate and earn your money, just keep you locked into subscription)
 
Honestly, I see this as a slippery slope and I don't like it. There's a line that has to be drawn and I feel companies will keep stepping over it if people allow them to. No matter how you phrase it, subscription models for software are generally always bad for consumers and consumer rights. (being that companies usually can revoke and disable products you've already paid for, even on the basis they disagree with how you're using it.)
 
With all that said, I'm just going to watch how this all pans out and stick to Sonar X3. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the plans with all the confusing rules. I feel theres gotchas in there (mandatory year) with the way its worded.
 
Will be watching intently.

DragonBlood
I don't like the direction companies are going. Adobe started this crap and now Avid is following and now Cakewalk.
I understand you need a sustainable business model, but having a confusing subscription model with convoluted rules on what you get to keep, with a mandatory year minimum, or get downgraded; is not really the way to go. People recognize when they're being shafted and when companies begin to exploit them. Not saying you are. Everyone has been friendly here for my short time here, but I feel this new model leaves the door open for the company to become exploitative.
 
Why do I feel this way? Because Adobe has this model now and has left the door wide open for their competitors if someone decides to step up to the plate. (Which if you look, a lot of their customers hate it and don't like them for it)
 
What can go wrong with this:
I pay for a year or whatever terms of subscription and barely any updates at all come out.
I pay and it could backfire and a constant stream of updates, untested or unfinished, could break things for me.
Cakewalk could withhold updates in the hopes of getting people to buy another subscription.
Cakewalk could change their model or terms and force people into a constant subscription or deactivate their software. (Meaning they wouldn't have to innovate and earn your money, just keep you locked into subscription)
 
Honestly, I see this as a slippery slope and I don't like it. There's a line that has to be drawn and I feel companies will keep stepping over it if people allow them to. No matter how you phrase it, subscription models for software are generally always bad for consumers and consumer rights. (being that companies usually can revoke and disable products you've already paid for, even on the basis they disagree with how you're using it.)
 
With all that said, I'm just going to watch how this all pans out and stick to Sonar X3. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the plans with all the confusing rules. I feel theres gotchas in there (mandatory year) with the way its worded.
 
Will be watching intently.

I think you are looking at this very cynically.  If you want to, you can consider this a paid update (X4?) for $149 (assuming you own X3 producer and want to go to Platinum).  You now have the (license) software forever.  You can choose to take advantage of the updates or content you are entitled to over the next 12 months (think Content Club) and not spend another dime and keep all that stuff.
 
The monthly payment is really just a payment plan option with a high interest rate that might be right for people in certain circumstances.
 
Not really seeing how this is comparable to Adobe at all.

LaszloZoltan
he 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. 

Please, it's not a subscription (rental) model! You get to keep the software (it's not surrendered to anything) and once you've paid for it, it doesn't expire. If the price goes up too much for your taste, you're not forced to renew to keep using the software.
 
Prices for any DAW can go up or down for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with a membership program. Common sense would indicate Cakewalk will have to stay competitive, unless the plan is so successful all the other companies go out of business. Part of competitiveness depends on what's offered, part on the price at which it is offered.

DragonBlood
What can go wrong with this:
I pay for a year or whatever terms of subscription and barely any updates at all come out.
I pay and it could backfire and a constant stream of updates, untested or unfinished, could break things for me.
Cakewalk could withhold updates in the hopes of getting people to buy another subscription.
Cakewalk could change their model or terms and force people into a constant subscription or deactivate their software. (Meaning they wouldn't have to innovate and earn your money, just keep you locked into subscription)
 
Honestly, I see this as a slippery slope and I don't like it......

I just upgraded to platinum. If I don't perceive value in a year I won't renew. If I do, I will. Simple as that. If I were very concerned I would hedge and pay monthly (maybe drop down to Professional) and simply cancel if I reached the point I felt I had had enough. (if the value isn't there) Simple as that.
Having said that, as a long time cake customer, I am very confident that I will continue as a SONAR customer..