I am back after a couple year absence (health, work...)  I have noticed that the postings on the forums are much less active than it used to be.  
 
I know it could be a variety of issues:
 - SPLAT Could just be that good!  
 - There are other ways of solving issues
 - User-ship (is that a word?) is down
 
Just an observation.  THoughts?
 
 

I think  the more we know, the less we ask. However there is always student waiting to ask a question.
 
 

space_cowboy
I am back after a couple year absence (health, work...)  I have noticed that the postings on the forums are much less active than it used to be.  
 
I know it could be a variety of issues:
 - SPLAT Could just be that good!  
 - There are other ways of solving issues
 - User-ship (is that a word?) is down
 
Just an observation.  THoughts?
 
 

Just my observation. When Sonar would introduce an annual release (i.e. X2 to X3) there would be a huge amount of posts for days or weeks. Now that updates come out every month, I think the posts are more spread out since some updates have features people like and others are not interested so don't post. I read the forum every day with my morning coffee and it seems like the number of posts have been pretty stable (and very helpful for me).
 
Walt

I think that with a new version being released every year or so with completely new guis and features being abandoned while introducing new ones or moving the features elsewhere contributed to more activity. Now that it seems we have settled in to a consistent core program, there is less confusion and thus less activity here. I have never been much of a media guy just to get on forums just to chat anyway. If I see a question that I can lend a hand with, I will jump in from time to time.
At the same time, I hope that less activity here means people are actually working on new projects which means more great music being produced by Cake products!!!!

I do think people struggle with problems for shorter periods of time. I remember people working for months with issues as simple as set up. That time seems to be way down. I think the advice people get is better. The computers are better. And each computer based engineer makes the initial transition to computer only once, so the supply of new users is reaching a steady state of growth.

I think the answers above cover just everything I would have said.  I will add one more thing to the pot. We have hosts now and I believe it helps to keep the noise level down a little. 

....and of course some of the old "forum know-it-alls" don't post much these days!

My thoughts....
 
1) Sonar is better...issues get resolved much, much faster because of the new delivery system.
2) Monthly updates keep people more busy
3) The Forum is divided up with the Coffee House and other areas, so if you don't go to those areas you see less activity
 
This still is the best place to go for info.  Test it out.  Ask a question and see how many good answers you will get.

There is another thing at play, at least for me.
 
As the program grows in complexity, and my working knowledge of the ins & outs of the program hasn't evolved at the same rate, I'm less able than I was during the X series and prior to give a relevant answer straight away and by the time I've researched it, someone else has usually beat me to it.

Welcome back, space! 
 
The user base continues to grow, but I have noticed that many of the old-timers don't drop in as often as they used to. I include myself in that group. Even though I still check in every day, I don't post with the same frequency as I did a decade ago.
 
Part of it is that SONAR has become largely problem-free. Part of it is that for us greybeards the same perennial questions have become tedious to re-hash. I am never going to explain the sampling theorem to another YouTube-educated nitwit. Fortunately there are others here, including many helpful newcomers, to take up the slack.