...is it 3-4 dim pro's I have ? is it another 3-4 raptures? worst of it.. give US the right to re-gift them to our friends.. if we want!! or even a charity.. it's really a BIG waste.

I agree. Already I have upgraded to AD2, TH2, zeta, etc.
 

dubdisciple
Mike, I have not taken a poll or anything, but I suspect drum replacement for most is more of a production technique than a compensation for poor drumming. It is the sound bring replaced and not the technique.  

Yup.
 
Quantumeffect had given me some excellent drum tracks (played live) but a s a producer of the track I found that occasionally his kick or snare are not "right" for the overall vibe I wanted. Drum replacement was simply faster than spending mucho time to polish his kit piece tone.
 
Disclaimer, overal I like Dave's kit and his playing has never been bad. Just as dub said it was prod tech for tone, not performance.

.

For me it's  not even an issue of speed.  I sometimes just simply want a different sound or I want to reinforce a sound. Layering a kick with an 808 kick is pretty common across multiple genres. 

aidanodr
As was mentioned elsewhere a CORE version would be an idea. I thing ARTIST could be the closest to that.

 
In a lot of ways Artist is like "SONAR Core", it has the basic FX to get you started and the same 64-bit mix engine. The big things that Artist does not have in regards to the 'core' SONAR that Professional does is:

• Surround Support
• SMTPE/MTC
• Expandable ProChannel

 
I would strongly encourage you to compare in the chart we have up on this page: http://www.cakewalk.com/products/sonar/versions to help you decide which one is right for you. As Noel stated earlier, if you go from X3 Producer to Artist there are some plugins that will not work.

Willy Jones [Cakewalk]
 
I would strongly encourage you to compare in the chart we have up on this page: http://www.cakewalk.com/products/sonar/versions to help you decide which one is right for you. As Noel stated earlier, if you go from X3 Producer to Artist there are some plugins that will not work.

I have James and I will again. I am measuring what I have and what I am using. As I mostly use 3rd party plugs like Native Instruments Komplete, Alchemy and numerous others I think PRO is good for me going forward. I cannot see anything huge extra in Platinum to be honest. OK More of the ProChannel in Platinum but again great IF you make use of it and is it worth the extra $100? 

Over my time with X2, X3 I am not using alot of Sonar. I tend to keep it simple. Once 3rd party plugs work, midi & audio works. Once I can freeze etc and export I am happy.

I assume with New Platinum or Pro installed AND X3 installed it will see all those plugins that came with X3 Producer anyway?

What WOULD make me jump to Platinum is if either all the plugs ( Rapture, Dimension etc ) & suites were updated to new versions / changed and then some more included. BUT TBH whats on offer we all have anyway by now. The difference between Platinum and X3 Producer is in the CORE elements?
 
 

My concerns with not going Platinum is that there will be core functionality added going forward that will not be part of professional or artist versions so for those few as yet unknown things I will have to keep at the premium level. Grrrr

.

mike_mccue
It seems like you can go with a gut feeling of what you think is right for you.
 
If you go with a lesser package and later decide, or learn, that you want to have a feature that you isn't available for your package then you can always cross grade to the higher level with a minimum of added expense.
 
That seems like a really great system to me, but I'd like to see the cross grade pricing and figure out all the details.

If it's more than $0.00, many will complain. If it's equal to the differential, those that want it will be happy. 
 
I would imagine it might well be something between those two numbers. Makes the most cents.
 
But assuming we're talking a month-to-month Pro to month-to-month Plat, that would just be start paying the new monthly charge. Simples.
 
Disclaimer: I have no inside info.

.