MPH
My question to Cakewalk (which they probably won't / can't answer)... What are the general future plans for Sonar? How long are they planning to update / support Sonar? That is the only way to define how good of a deal this is for their long-time users... Without quantifying this, I'm having a lot of trouble getting excited about this offer. If in two years they put Sonar to bed and roll out their new flagship DAW, this won't seem anything more than a Kickstarter for a Mac Sonar version.

I don't have an issue paying for additional content but what is the expected lifespan of Sonar?

There is perhaps reason to suspect they will discontinue it in 2037 
 
Joking. They have said very clearly that there are no plans to discontinue and replace Sonar. It is their flagship product and the center of everything they do, and they are very much focused on continuing to develop, improve, and sell it, not cashing out on it in a gigantic bait-and-switch. I don't think there is any way you can get much more reassurance from them than that, given that a contractual agreement not to totally and flagrantly screw over their longtime loyal user base is a) hopefully not necessary given the general goodwill they've created with us over the years, and b) unlikely to hold legal water if it really came down to it.
 
Whether you choose to take them at their word, or instead believe they are rubbing their hands together and hatching secret evil plans, is pretty much up to you. But if they were, they likely wouldn't tell us about them here on the forum, would they?...

bsantini99
I for one am not buying into this money grab to support MAC development. Part of your money will go toward this and not toward updating Sonar PC. I am not giving these guys $199 of my money without seeing what I am getting. How about a written guarantee they will continue monthly updates for at least the next two years and commit to adding x number of new vsts, other plug ins, and improvements. If they are truly 'listening', how about a list of features people are requesting you will commit to. They could at any time discontinue the current platinum product or reduce the frequency or quality of the updates. Once you give them your money, you give up control and choice. 
 
....

It's funny, because when I rolled into the page and watched the video, I have to say I was a bit shocked at the lack of real rationale being put forth.  It seemed like double talk, really, and almost at a child's level.
This indeed is a push to get a cash infusion.  I would have bought in if that had been stated with a sober, clear demeanor and candor, but it wasn't.  What seems to have been attempted is this "Hold on to your seats, folks, because we are about to give you a WORLD-CHANGING PRIVILEGE!  Get ready, it's coming!  You will be astounded!"
 
Well, if you think about the fact that you are already on a subscription or paying a yearly hundred some to be on a so-called "update" vehicle (while many vendors offer fixes and decimal-version updates free because they are responsible for functional programming, no less) -- a vehicle that did not even include upgrades in the first place -- you might soon realize, after letting the hype dissipate, that you just got asked for $200.  Sure they are trading your money for an unlimited upgrade future, so it's not devoid of balance, BUT, I would ask this: since upgrades to new evolutionary products (like the jump from X2 to X3 and such) are far and few between, why didn't any of you ever ask why you are paying $100 or more a year for fixes and polishes?
 
I'm not sure I like the way these young folks are carrying on, frankly.  I understand the fine lines here, and love the software, but if I were everyone here I'd look at that video again and ask "What was that about?  Did I get played?"
 
Why not just issue stock, so to speak, stating that you need some money?

subtlearts
There is perhaps reason to suspect they will discontinue it in 2037 
 
Joking. They have said very clearly that there are no plans to discontinue and replace Sonar. It is their flagship product and the center of everything they do, and they are very much focused on continuing to develop, improve, and sell it, not cashing out on it in a gigantic bait-and-switch. I don't think there is any way you can get much more reassurance from them than that, given that a contractual agreement not to totally and flagrantly screw over their longtime loyal user base is a) hopefully not necessary given the general goodwill they've created with us over the years, and b) unlikely to hold legal water if it really came down to it.
 
Whether you choose to take them at their word, or instead believe they are rubbing their hands together and hatching secret evil plans, is pretty much up to you. But if they were, they likely wouldn't tell us about them here on the forum, would they?...

Which is why I'll most likely stay on the sidelines, with some popcorn and see where this road leads...

whitejs
...BUT, I would ask this: since upgrades to new evolutionary products (like the jump from X2 to X3 and such) are far and few between, why didn't any of you ever ask why you are paying $100 or more a year for fixes and polishes?
 

I'm curious...  which version of SONAR are you currently using? 
 

whitejs

bsantini99
I for one am not buying into this money grab to support MAC development. Part of your money will go toward this and not toward updating Sonar PC. I am not giving these guys $199 of my money without seeing what I am getting. How about a written guarantee they will continue monthly updates for at least the next two years and commit to adding x number of new vsts, other plug ins, and improvements. If they are truly 'listening', how about a list of features people are requesting you will commit to. They could at any time discontinue the current platinum product or reduce the frequency or quality of the updates. Once you give them your money, you give up control and choice. 
 
....

It's funny, because when I rolled into the page and watched the video, I have to say I was a bit shocked at the lack of real rationale being put forth.  It seemed like double talk, really, and almost at a child's level.
This indeed is a push to get a cash infusion.  I would have bought in if that had been stated with a sober, clear demeanor and candor, but it wasn't.  What seems to have been attempted is this "Hold on to your seats, folks, because we are about to give you a WORLD-CHANGING PRIVILEGE!  Get ready, it's coming!  You will be astounded!"
 
Well, if you think about the fact that you are already on a subscription or paying a yearly hundred some to be on a so-called "update" vehicle (while many vendors offer fixes and decimal-version updates free because they are responsible for functional programming, no less) -- a vehicle that did not even include upgrades in the first place -- you might soon realize, after letting the hype dissipate, that you just got asked for $200.  Sure they are trading your money for an unlimited upgrade future, so it's not devoid of balance, BUT, I would ask this: since upgrades to new evolutionary products (like the jump from X2 to X3 and such) are far and few between, why didn't any of you ever ask why you are paying $100 or more a year for fixes and polishes?
 
I'm not sure I like the way these young folks are carrying on, frankly.  I understand the fine lines here, and love the software, but if I were everyone here I'd look at that video again and ask "What was that about?  Did I get played?"
 
Why not just issue stock, so to speak, stating that you need some money?

 
SPLAT is a subset of their users.  If they wanted a money grab, they would have rolled out such an opportunity to say the Artist users.  
 
While I don't like spending money.  I'm guessing this is going to be a pretty good deal.  
 
The only people paying $199 for lifetime were not current members (or perhaps paying monthly, and you opt out at any time).  If you were a current member at the time of the offer, it seems most are paying $99.  
 
X2 to X3 type of updates happened basically every year like clockwork.  It is not much different than paying for that in advance, with a little extra $, and you are getting a lifetime of them.  Think about if this was offered 15 years ago, are you suggesting it wouldn't have been worth it?  

whitejs
Why not just issue stock, so to speak, stating that you need some money?

Because it wouldn't be true.

whitejs
 
BUT, I would ask this: since upgrades to new evolutionary products (like the jump from X2 to X3 and such) are far and few between, why didn't any of you ever ask why you are paying $100 or more a year for fixes and polishes?

It's really hard to accept the premise that a Drum Replacer, Linear Phase EQ and Linear Phase Multiband (both capable of mid-side processing), Upsampling on rendering and playback, Tempo Detection for music played without a click, Patch Points, Aux Tracks, added import/export file compatibility, and being Windows 10-compatible the day it was introduced can be dismissed as "fixes and polishes." And that's just within the last year, nor does that include optimizations, enhancements, updates to products like Melodyne and Lounge Lizard, a monthly magazine, etc. etc.
 
Probably the reason why no one ever asked "why you are paying $100 or more a year for fixes and polishes" is because they would consider that a ridiculous question, and they don't like asking ridiculous questions.

Brian Walton

whitejs

bsantini99
 
....

[...]

 [...]
While I don't like spending money.  I'm guessing this is going to be a pretty good deal.  
 
The only people paying $199 for lifetime were not current members (or perhaps paying monthly, and you opt out at any time).  If you were a current member at the time of the offer, it seems most are paying $99.  
 
[...]

It is not exactly like that. Also all current members but who didn't extend this year their membership yet (like me I am member till August) will have to pay 199$ (+VAT in EU). But happily it gives no extra cost. So I fully agree with you it is real good deal.

Brian Walton
If you are on X3, go to audiodeluxe.com and add the upgrade to Plat from any producer to your cart.  The deal is better than $199.  
 

Thanks for the tip - that's a very decent price reduction!

Just for grins, I looked at the audiodeluxe site, where it looks like there are some decent deals, but in this case, $339 is what I was offered.  Nonetheless, I bought it on Saturday for the $199 deal directly from Cakewalk.