Greetings to all,
 
I have not posted to this forum for a very long time due to health and life issues.  Been using Cake products since 1996.  Used to be quite active on the forum and I'm glad to see that the forum is still an active place to come and find answers to Sonar questions.  I'm seeing a few names I recognize from "the old days" but many names I remember seem to no longer be here.  In any case, I'm glad to be back and I hope to be able to participate in the forum, though it probably won't be at the level I used to participate.
 
I want to put in my two cents about the June 1st "huge announcement".  Frankly, I am underwhelmed.  I was suspicious about the hype and my suspicions seem to be confirmed.  While I think it's a great step for Sonar to be ported to Mac (and I congratulate Cake for doing this), I do not now, nor have I ever, nor will I ever, use a Mac computer.  PC's have been running Cakewalk products just fine for me since 1996  and I see no reason to change.  I realize that being compatible with Mac will bring in new Sonar users, which is great, and it's great for those who are currently running Macs with Sonar.  But for all the hype, it doesn't do a thing for me.  Selfish?  Perhaps.  I just thought it was a bit oversold to those of us who use PC's.  I don't know what I was expecting, but porting to Mac sure wasn't even on my list of wants. 
 
That said, I do look forward to the upcoming new features that were also part of this "huge" announcement and I jumped on the monthly update bandwagon when it was first offered to me, as well as paying for the next year ahead of time.  I'm also going for the "lifetime updates", though I will wait until we see how it actually plays out before I make a final judgment on it.  Like many others, the "core" updates language leaves me feeling a little skeptical.  We shall see.
 
I have noticed from reading the forum recently (to get a feel for it before posting after such a long time away) that there are quite a few rah-rah folks here now and that some of the Cakewalk staff that contribute to the forum (for which I thank them profusely!) are pretty defensive about comments that aren't totally pro Sonar.  I do think this is a pity but I also understand.  I want to assure any of you who think my post is intended as a knock on Cakewalk, Sonar, or anything else, that is absolutely NOT the case.  I've been a loyal customer and user for quite a long time and my loyalty remains intact.  So I hope that nobody will take offense at my comments. 
 
Bill

A big part of the risk is customer support going dark in tandem with deployment/demo mode issues. The Mac community is like a pool of sharks so unless deployment and support are top-notch, there is substantial concern for assuming a new user base will swarm in, especially in multi-DAW online environments where SONAR is substantially under-represented. Word of mouth advertising will win out over any marketing campaign, and the "One screw up negates 100 atta-boys" adage is something to seriously consider.

The part I don't get is this: how come I have to pay the same to get into "lifetime updates" even though I just paid for platinum already 4 months ago as the person who bought Producer X2  three years ago?

In the initial announcement, those who renewed this year paid less for lifetime updates. The person who bought X2 Producer didn't renew last year so has to pay full price.
 
Probably the best thing to do is follow the instructions to find out whether you are eligible for additional discounts. As it says on the @SONAR4Life page:
 
Other discounts may apply. Log on to shop.cakewalk.com to see your pricing.

Craig,
 
It seems as if there are some glitches yet in the pricing.  Two weeks ago I had the discount pricing and now, tonight, after pay day has arrived and I was ready to buy; I am back to a higher price.  I updated to Platinum, renewed and have made 17 payments.  I have sent a PM to Andrew, but it looks as if nothing will get done tonight. 
 
I am hopeful that Andrew can help me out, as I have been a loyal customer and have made every upgrade since 2004.

Anderton
In the initial announcement, those who renewed this year paid less for lifetime updates. The person who bought X2 Producer didn't renew last year so has to pay full price.
 
Probably the best thing to do is follow the instructions to find out whether you are eligible for additional discounts. As it says on the @SONAR4Life page:
 
Other discounts may apply. Log on to shop.cakewalk.com to see your pricing.

Hi Craig, care to weigh-in on my question?
 
"For those asking why they don't get the $99 offer after paying monthly... It is because you only paid up to 1 month max in advance. On the other hand, if you paid a year's worth of membership in Jan, then you still have 6 months left. Hence the price difference."
 
Quote above from Silktone.
 
Is this true (in bold)?  I understand how this applies if you take-up the offer here in the middle of the year (at the six month point)... but should you wait until the end of August, then the move to "Lifetime" should be even less, right?
 
Second to this, as a subscriber who has also now made 5-6 months of payments, how is that difference applied for the final amount?  Why should my six months of payments differ from the $99 crowd's six months of payments?

Can't wait for the Mac users feedback on using Staff View

A few months ago I purchased a higher end PC laptop, despite everyone I know saying no, no, get a MAC . . .
but I said no, no  . . . my favourite DAW Cakewalk Sonar has never ever mentioned a MAC version was on their horizon. So yeah, a bit surprised by all this. Frankly, I was expecting the recent marketing hype to something more substantial, like better notation, or another joint venture with a major plugin maker, or another cutting edge DAW breakthrough that Cakewalk is famous for.
 
Only 1.5 years into the "new" membership plan, the rules change . . . lifetime updates, guess I should feel grateful, but instead I feel a bit confused. The money I've been spending helping and supporting Cakewalk every year, to further develop the software, well . . . now they're saying that's not so important. Seems it's now become more important to buy Cakewalk's other products / plugins / add-ons to offer my support.
 
Problem is, I've already bought most of the plugins / VSTi's that I need elsewhere, and it will probably be cheaper to update those instead of buying new Cakewalk plugs etc . . . now Cakewalk is finally catching up with their own offerings of mastering plugins, Quad curve EQ with Spectrum Analyzer, VST3 Synths, better Drum plugins . . . but sorry, I already bought that stuff somewhere else.
 
I remember Cakewalk saying (in 2015) it would probably cost $199 for the next years membership update, but somehow they gave us a deal of $99 in (in 2016) . . . now they want that $99 for "lifetime updates", guess I should feel grateful, but instead I feel confused.
 
Most of the recent Cakewalk Sonar new features, I have no use for . . . BUT, I do really appreciate many of the core improvements, making recording, mixing and creating, a much smoother process. For that reason I will spend the $99 to get my "lifetime updates" . . . but I worry Cakewalk will not get any more of my money in the future ? . . . how can that be a good business plan ? . . . just hope they know what they're doing.
 

Thank You Cakewalk for developing SONAR to unprecedented heights & endeavoring too create a future Mac version
I hope I can say what I have to say with out getting too gnarly around the edges .
 
I only care about one thing and one thing alone Making Music .
 
For many years the shortest distance between my desire to create new music and the actualization of the music I was looking to give form too and express in a tangible physical form has constantly been achieved by using SONAR as my primary musical creation tool  ...
Even when I have used Logic , I still bring my work into SONAR for all the final editing and touches .
 
I do not consider my self a PC or a Mac guy at all .I consider myself to be a guy who will use what I currently have .
Since I have both platforms , they are what I will gladly run .No matter how humble the current specs of my music Rigs may be .
 
 
I found Jim's post interesting up to a point , Yet in absolute truth and honesty from where I'm sitting ,
I don't give 2 $hits about what computer , OS , or hardware that is currently out there which claims to be the latest , the greatest , or the fastest or the best ....
 
I'm not a studio owner I'm a player first ..that is my main marketable skill and that is what I choose to focus on .
 
When it comes to Speed , the only Speed I really care about is The Speed of Musical Inspiration . 
 
In other news,
The past few days my mind has been constantly bombarded by the collective brunt of the general tone of many of the users of this forums subjective fears ...
The highlight reel includes Panic , fear , anger , speculation on the rise and fall of Cakewalk . Lets also include any other number of imaginary personally biased ideas that have been kicked up from the dark recesses of the sedimentary level of ones own vain imaginings .... 
 
Yeah , I do get it . Too be human is too be human right ? I guess that includes the whole total spectrum of the physiological and neurological roller coaster  joy rides  some of us here have taken in our written posts ...
 
Thankfully there is a way out for me .
I choose to harness and wield the most powerful weapon I posses against the gravitational pull of all the subconscious influences and ramblings that have invaded the Absolute "Shaky"  Peace and Serenity of my Orbit ...
With one bold slash of the sword of my minds eye  I have laid waste to my inner opponent whom had taken up residence in my being in the form of an energy parasite ....having done so with out my consent I might add....
While surveying the devastation of my slain opponent as it withered it's dying last breaths , I was struck with a clarity of mind that had been absent from me ever since the thread announcing the June 1 st happenings had been started .
I took the time to ask myself , How could I have possibly missed this important incentive and good news ?
There it was ,the message stood boldly shining in absolute clarity  as it stood there as plain as the nose on my face ...
What was the important  message you ask ?
 
Cakewalk asked "you and me "  if "We wanted to be friends for life with full support " or Infinity for those of you who so choose ...
 
all the best ,
 
Kenny     
 

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk
The upgrade price from SONAR Platinum is $199. However if you renewed earlier this year (meaning this was technically the second time you purchased SONAR Platinum in the last 18 months), and paid say $99 during that promo, we are only charging you $99 (basically the difference). Since you didn't renew, you would just pay the full upgrade price. It's essentially the same price.

I renewed In February, I believe, but when I log into the CW Store it still says my Lifetime upgrade price is $199. Am I looking at the wrong thing or am I missing something?