Thank you, Scook and Robert, for the wealth of information! Being so picky about this decision, I YouTube'd an install video for X3 to observe whether the retail disc install takes longer than the digital install.
 
Having perused the comparison chart, the right choice for me would be Sonar X3 Studio. A few extra features across the board and an extra offering of virtual instruments. Producer, much more than an amateur such as myself would ever need.
 
Scook: Per post #18, I bookmarked the link in question for later use. Also found a YouTube video on installing the Lame MP3 encoder and noted the related links.
 
I run a three-year old 64-bit Windows 7 machine. I plain on keeping my current software versions (MC6 disc and MC6T download) for a while, at least.

The time it takes to install depends on when the counter is started. With the disk based install you have to wait for shipping. With the download it starts with the download. After securing the disks the install happens immediately after starting the process. With the download, the install happens after all the files are extracted from the download files. Once the install starts, there are disk changes with physical media which don't happen with the download.
 
Integrating a 3rd party mp3 encoder is a waste of time to me. It works fine but is it just saves the intermediate step of exporting a wave file. The advantage to exporting a wave and converting it outside of SONAR is the ability to easily compare the exported wave to the converted mp3.
 
If you purchased the mp3 encoder for MC it may work in SONAR. I have no experience with moving between product lines and how the mp3 license is handled. I am sure some else has the answer.

I hate to have to ask this again, but slightly confused. I sent an E-mail to Cakewalk about it yesterday, but I would like to know for sure.
 

 
This is the Checkout options box for Sonar X3 Studio (the middle package). The default is set to the $149 option. I thought a cross upgrade from MC6T to X3 was $99? And if Sonar X3 is a standalone product (that is "it's own"), why would these two options matter?
 
A little worried that I would have to pay $149 to upgrade when I thought it was actually $99...

I would imagine there are two options because owners of an older version of SONAR have already paid significantly more for their DAW than owners of other Cakewalk products. But Cakewalk sales can supply the official explanation.
 
You may have checked the price during one of the promotions. There have been several promotions since the product was released. The picture in your post are the standard upgrade prices.
 
FYI, you may be able to get a better price from a third party supplier like JRRShop. I believe their NEWSLETTER15 discount code will knock 15% off the upgrade price.

Right. You are getting the same effective price, but you are starting from a product that was at least $50 cheaper.
You're actually getting full credit for what you have already purchased. Future upgrades aren't quite that linear.
Fwiw, I think Studio is an excellent choice.

RobertB
Right. You are getting the same effective price, but you are starting from a product that was at least $50 cheaper.
You're actually getting full credit for what you have already purchased. Future upgrades aren't quite that linear.
Fwiw, I think Studio is an excellent choice.

 
Okay...so in other words, although I'm upgrading from MC6T, not an earlier version of Sonar, it is okay for me to make that $99 selection? Just need to make sure because it doesn't necessarily state as such.

No. It won't even accept that selection.
Everybody upgrading from a Sonar version has spent at least $100(probably more).
MC6 was $49. What you are seeing is the difference to pick up the slack.
Make sense?
 
Basically, Cakewalk is crediting you the full price of MC6 (and a little extra)against your X3 Studio purchase, which would otherwise be $209.
You are getting the same(or better) deal as the rest of us when you select the $149 price, even though on the surface it appears to be more.

RobertB
Basically, Cakewalk is crediting you the full price of MC6 (and a little extra)against your X3 Studio purchase, which would otherwise be $209.
You are getting the same(or better) deal as the rest of us when you select the $149 price, even though on the surface it appears to be more.

I think I sort of get it. The Studio retail is $200...so that's what the $50 MC6 price is taken from?
 
What I don't understand is if it's the standalone product either way, what difference does it make and also -- ethically speaking -- which one am I supposed to purchase?
 
I'm sorry, just trying to be budget conscious and I don't understand the logic in the math. Given the fact that I thought I could upgrade for $99, I may end up just picking up the core X3 for $29 (end of April promotion). I guess what I thought initially was wrong and it just took the wind out of my sails... LOL

Attempting to purchase a product without the appropriate precondition, will cause the sale be voided. Upgrades go through an approval process on the back end. If there was no verification process why would anyone pay more than the lowest price shown on any product.
 
The April promotion for the basic version of X3 is attractive. By the time you get used to all X3 has to offer, X4 may available.

Got it, okay. That's what I needed; I'm glad I know this.
 
Now it's either the basic X3 ($29) or X3S ($149)...just a matter of what I want to spend/what functions I will use. Either way, I'm confident that it will be better than what I have now.