Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]

pwalpwal
how will this affect steam editions?

We'll have a small FAQ and Blog post tomorrow morning.
 

Has this been posted?  I haven't found it.

Galeon
IMHO, SONAR should follow a marketing strategy similiar to the one used for FL Studio:
1) Artist, Professional and Platinum should be sold exclusively with lifetime updates. Do you already own a version and want the better one? Simply pay the difference in price. No more problems/misunderstandings with the payment method.
2) In the lifetime updates should be included only the bug-fixes and the core enhancements while the future plugins (like the new L-Phase Series) should be sold separately: in this way Cakewalk could offset losses caused by the lifetime memberships.
3) Speaking about plugins already included: they're too many, expecially in Platinum. TTS-1, Cyclone, Dimension LE, Dimension Pro, DropZone, PSYN II, Rapture, Rapture LE, Rapture session, rgcAudio Square, Roland GrooveSynth, RXP, Lounge Lizard Session 4 and many more. Some of them I've never opened. IMHO, the only one that should be included is Rapture Session and the others sold separately, while the only third-party VSTs included could be Addictive Drums 2, Melodyne and TH3 (or Ozone 7 elements in partnership with Izotope): in this way Cakewalk could even reduce the price of SONAR.
4) The world is full of casual customers who only complain about the price or don't understand the membership method used by Cakewalk, just give a look at the SONAR discussions page on STEAM: with a slogan like "SONAR Platinum, only for 300$. Pay one time, keep it upgraded forever." sales would be guaranteed.

Respectively, I disagree on every point.
 
1)  FL isn't incentive enough to really push the development of the software.  It is clear that Sonar with their model is.  FL has honestly proven this with the updates they make.
 
2.  Those extra features are what drives the price differences between the versions.  And things like L-Phase are available as additional purchases today for the lower tier people.  They already have that business model.  
 
3.  A number I don't use either, but that is part of making the package well rounded for different types of users.  Most of those plugins do not cost Cake that much to provide at this point.  The ones you mentioned AD, Melodyne and TH3 actually do and are the ones that theoretically under your model should not be included since they require 3rd party licencing.  (Lounge Lizard and True Pianos and Overload are also 3rd party, but stripped down versions of the full blown product with discounts for upgrades) I'd argue these are some of the prime things people spring the extra cash on for the Plat version.  
 
4)  Cake had the pay one time keep it forever model for ~20 years.  Potential customers that can't read likely will struggle to use the software anyway.  Also the OP states they are only offering the "monthly" subscription straight from Cakewalk, if you go to a retailer, your option is the full boat pay up front version, you can go to a retailer site and see there is no confusion that if you pay that amount out of pocket, you own a license that doesn't expire right then and there. 
 
5)  If you want a stripped down version, just buy Artist and periodically opt back in when you need future state fix of compatibility.  I'm inferring from your post you are not a Lifetime Plat owner.  
 

groove

Brian Walton
To keep the pay model going I'm curious what is in the oven for new features, since the last 5 months have been pretty heavily focused on fixes and enhancements to existing sets.   I'd imagine the non-lifers that are forking out the money every month will want some sizzle on the steak to keep going.  
 

Not to thread-jack, but I am very happy that CW is focused more on bugfixes than ever-expanding features with new bugs of their own.  Given the number of voices that were asking for more stability and more focus on bugfixing than new features, I would hope that others are happy too.
 

I'm also very glad about focus on stability and bug fixes.  But I'm just being realistic that most users don't want to pay ~$200/ year for that alone.  Those of us that got on the lifetime plan, no problem, but those that are in the position to either continue to pay or not, I'm guessing they will want a combo of both fixes and new otherwise they will likely opt out and then jump back on when the fixes they actually run into are addressed.  

ampfixer
The announcement should have been "Prices going up May 1st - Update Now!"
 
Isn't that really what this is about? And what happened to the Platinum Only perks?

Exactly.

My first thought: I'm glad I took the "lifetime updates" offer when it was out there. 
 
There were so many who just wanted to point out all sorts of conspiracy theory about what Cakewalk wasn't going to do (i.e. no worthwhile updates, product cancellations, rebranding to get out of having to "pay out the updates"), or that the lifetime updates would always be available and it was a cash grab that would be extended over and over. 
 
At the time, I thought "I'm taking advantage of this", figuring that if Cakewalk kept offering lifetime upgrades forever, I'd still be winning over the previous purchasing model (monthly or yearly updates that ended at the end of their respective terms, so it would be about $199/year or so), but if they stopped, I'd definitely save a ton of money over the long haul.  So now I look at it over the 5 year plan.  If I got 50% off for each of the next 5 years at $250 each year, that would be $1,250 over the next 5 years.  I pay $0 (or $199 if you include my "investment" last year).  Lucky/fortunate me.
 
If they had not offered the lifetime upgrades, I may still be on X3.  I'm glad I happened to be paying attention when it was announced and offered.  And as a result, I've gotten at least a little more involved in my music hobby, my use of Sonar, and this forum.
 
I'm sorry for those that missed it.  I'm sorry for those who couldn't take advantage of it when it was available.

Brian Walton
5)  If you want a stripped down version, just buy Artist and periodically opt back in when you need future state fix of compatibility.  I'm inferring from your post you are not a Lifetime Plat owner.  

 
I use Cakewalk products since the ancient Cakewalk Home Studio 9, now I have SONAR Platinum with lifetime updates.
 
What I expect from a DAW is a good, solid... DAW. Not a compendium of plugins, specially with the Izotope Music Production Bundle 2 or the Komplete 11 Ultimate around, that's why, after the release of the L-Phases Series I said "Ok, cool but... I've already Neutron Advance (for example), I don't need them". Installed. Forgotten.
The only essential feature for me are the Lifetime updates (that I already have) and, for the same reason, one day, I will buy FL Studio Signature with LT updates for 289$, even if I'll continue to use SONAR.
 
As I previously mentioned, SONAR versions (with LT updates) should be like these:
 
- Home studio: cancelled (IMHO... it's useless)
- Artist: Rapture session for 99$
- Professional: Rapture session + ProChannels + 1 AD2 Pak for 199$
- Platinum: Rapture session + ProChannels + 3 AD2 Paks + Melodyne Essential + Overloud TH3 Cakewalk or Ozone 7 Elements for 299$
 
From Artist to Professional: 100$
From Artist to Platinum: 200$
From Professional to Platinum: 100$
 
I think that the easiest way (to sell a product) is always the best way or, as someone said, "short reckonings make long friends".

declan

Seth Kellogg [Cakewalk]

pwalpwal
how will this affect steam editions?

We'll have a small FAQ and Blog post tomorrow morning.
 

Has this been posted?  I haven't found it.

this?
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=834500302
 

Glad I jumped on the Lifetime Deal when I did... going back to work now ;O)

I think it's kind of funny how everyone keeps coming out to say I'm glad I jumped on the lifetime deal as if they need validation of their decision. Two thing are certain: Cakewalk will change their pricing strategy again at some point - they have no idea what they want to do and have been changing every 6-12 months. The other thing is that the lifetime updates deal will be back at some point when they need more money, so no one missed out. The lifetime updates was just a money grab to fund the mac development which seems to have gone into vaporware and will ultimately fail for them as they cannot displace logic or the other daws out there. Only people here that will be getting it for free are interested - no money for Cakewalk in that.
 
I got tired of being jerked around by Cakewalk on the pricing strategies and thought they were really going to bring out some groundbreaking products last year after all the hype. Instead we got this overblown cash grab campaign. I decided to take my $199 and invest in FL Studio, actually paid less that this for the signature package with lifetime updates included. I have been using Sonar since 2010 and have seen very little in terms of updates to get excited about. I only upgraded to platinum because I wanted addictive drums and was a cheaper route than buying directly.
 
Sonar is now moved down to 4th on my list of favorite daws and find FLS is way faster to get ideas down and has more flexibility and core features to record, edit, and arrange audio and midi the way I want to work. So, now it is my primary daw and I'll keep Sonar just for my legacy projects. By the way, I do mostly rock and classical arrangements, not EDM as most people think FLS is only good at. Also note that FLS is family owned and not under some corporate umbrella, so there is more passion and the community interacts a lot more with the developers on the updates. Cakewalk seems to have become more disconnected internally since they came under Gibson which is very sad.
 
Another issue for me has been support. I had an issue a while back and emailed Cakewalk and got no response. I was able to figure it out on my own after some research. Then I got an email 4 weeks later asking if I still needed help. This is totally unacceptable. To folks that have not looked elsewhere and are happy with Sonar and the level of support, and it does everything you need, I have nothing but respect and wish you the best of luck. It is still a good daw as it stands.

You might be right, you might not be. I chose the uncomplicated route, and considering that my currency is 14 times less valuable than the US dollar, I don't have the luxury to jump DAWs every time I get the itch.. been using Sonar since it was Cakewalk 3.4 on one Stiffy Disk back in ... 1996 maybe? so I'm pretty sure I've had plenty of time to decide whether it's the DAW for me.

I am also one of the first and loudest to challenge them when there is a bug or an idea that needs work, so I'm no fanboy either.

But since I make a very decent living using Sonar between 6 to 7 days a week, I'll sit back and let the bunfight carry on.. now where's my popcorn?.. :O)

bsantini99
I think it's kind of funny how everyone keeps coming out to say I'm glad I jumped on the lifetime deal as if they need validation of their decision.

The topic is an official ANNOUNCEMENT of new Cakewalk marketing politic. There was several questions how to interpret it, and they was answered.
 
"I think it's kind of funny how everyone keeps coming out to say" what they think about it, are they happy with it or not, some propose how to do it better, other even manage to "advertise" another DAWs...
 
This forum is knows for complete freedom, but I think sticky threads should be moderated.