Been on platinum for a few days now and despite a few issues with melodyne and Kontakt for me, largely its been a solid release.
 
However I do feel a little short changed, certainly when compared to the joy of the X3 release.  Its clear there has been lots of back room work on things like the command centre but for everyday usage there is nothing that is really blowing me away.  With X3 we had ARA, VST3, AD, Speed Comping, Blue Tubes suite etc  in other words a whole raft of major developments and improvements.
 
The Mix recall is the only new feature that is comparable in terms of product evolution to the X3 features in my opinion. The vocal sync is cool but not earth shattering for me. I'm underwhelmed with the new audio snap, it certainly detects transients better but that's about it, it still sounds the same and offers nothing new functionality wise.  The control bar is well and good but I can't imagine ever reconfiguring again now I have done so adds nothing to daily workflow. ReMatrix and AD2 I already had so that might be swaying my outlook I admit. Expandable sends and FX are fine but just move the scrolling problem to elsewhere in the pro channel as opposed to the FX bin in my opinion.  Pattern tool I just don't get, what was wrong with control V?  PRV enhancements are better but again a little underwhelming and the midi timestretch thing I can't really see any point for in my workflow.
 
I'm not whinging, just commenting, hopefully now cake has some fresh money and subscriptions they can start rolling out killer new features as we go along.  I'd still love to see a product roadmap even though I am already a paid subscriber

P-Theory
Been on platinum for a few days now and despite a few issues with melodyne and Kontakt for me, largely its been a solid release.
 
However I do feel a little short changed, certainly when compared to the joy of the X3 release.  Its clear there has been lots of back room work on things like the command centre but for everyday usage there is nothing that is really blowing me away.  With X3 we had ARA, VST3, AD, Speed Comping, Blue Tubes suite etc  in other words a whole raft of major developments and improvements.
 
The Mix recall is the only new feature that is comparable in terms of product evolution to the X3 features in my opinion. The vocal sync is cool but not earth shattering for me. I'm under with the new audio snap, it certainly detects transients better but that's about it, it still sounds the same and offers nothing new functionality wise.  The control bar is well and good but I can't imagine ever reconfiguring again now I have done so adds nothing to daily workflow. ReMatrix and AD2 I already had so that might be swaying my outlook I admit. Expandable sends and FX are fine but just move the scrolling problem to elsewhere in the pro channel as opp0sed to the FX bin in my opinion.  Pattern tool I just don't get, what was wrong with control V?  PRV enhancements are better but again a little underwhelming and the midi timestretch thing I can't really see any point for in my workflow.
 
I'm not whinging, just commenting, hopefully now cake has some fresh money and subscriptions they can start rolling out killer new features as we go along.  I'd still love to see a product roadmap even though I am already a paid subscriber

I understand what you are saying. It maybe as you point out that perhaps we have been spoiled.  I'm not thinking that though. I think this is a tweak of X3 that offers a great deal more. I like the customizable control module. I like the ReMatrix reverb both of which I will get a lot of use from.
 
But wait there is more.  We are just at the beginning of things to come. I don't know what they are but this version is meant to be added to.  It will be as things become available. For right now think of this release as the first installment.   

Well I want to see the changelog which will arrive sooner or later, and if it is what I hope it is, then this application is absolute gold dust. Sometimes the best changes are the boring ones which don't translate well through marketing...

CakeAlexS
Well I want to see the changelog which will arrive sooner or later, and if it is what I hope it is, then this application is absolute gold dust. Sometimes the best changes are the boring ones which don't translate well through marketing...

 I have no doubt whatsoever that from a technical point of view, the amount of effort gone into this release is massive and builds an excellent delivery mechanism for future code.  My comments were based on what we got on release day compared to what we got on release day with X3.  Lets just hope there is a load of new features to blow us out of our socks in the pipeline with the new membership model.....time will tell :-)

Yes X3 spoiled me.  It and 8.5 are my favorite CW releases of all time (big nod to Sonar 1 with VSTs !!!).
 
So you can guess I've really regretted upgrading a few times.
 
I'm awaiting Platinum with medium excitement (except for the AD2 stuff), but time will tell. 
 
But we'll always remember this release, and I'm very excited about this "one year" so this forum should be very, very interesting.

for me getting fairfax 1 and 2 and reel machines for AD2 which I already owned is worth the price alone, I see your point though it doesn't seem to have the immediate WOW factor of X3 but I am noticing lots of nice little touches and with a release as good as X3 I think evolution over revolution is probably the right way to go - in my opinion that is :)

Greeny
for me getting fairfax 1 and 2 and reel machines for AD2 which I already owned is worth the price alone, I see your point though it doesn't seem to have the immediate WOW factor of X3 but I am noticing lots of nice little touches and with a release as good as X3 I think evolution over revolution is probably the right way to go - in my opinion that is :)

No doubt AD2 is a killer product but I already had it and all the expansion packs and it is my go to drum rack these days.  In terms of value if you didn't already have AD2 its a great deal my comments were more about the new functionality leaving me a little underwhelmed

Well its tricky to compare since we have changed the product model to be one of continuous enhancement.
For one if we were releasing under the old model, you would have seen a couple more features baked in (drum replacer and the touch kbd for one) out of the gate and a few patches. If you take those into account its certainly pretty much on par with the feature count in X3.
However now for the same cost you will now get those features and a whole bunch of features we already have planned for the year. 
Also another point to make is X3 added support for two standards - ARA and VST3. We pick stuff like that carefully since it requires years of maintenance. Surely you don't expect us to add new standards every year :) The new SONAR includes enhancements to both those standards. You will hear more about it when the upcoming features are unveiled.
Additionally some users would argue that they want more improvements than new features. We focused on these requests as well and improved stability and workflow.
 
To summarize you aren't getting less at all and the next few months will prove it.
 

All of the packs? I bet XLN love you!

I will be sitting on the fence this time. 149.00 for updates that more than likely wont effect me ?
+ Cakewalk is hiring on all levels !
More improvements than new features ...is a good direction though !