So time will tell how smart you were? 
 
If Cake suprises everyone with a release this year it's not you. You will have to pay for the new release again(unless otherwise stated on purchase). That policy kind of pissed me off and putting Cake in a bad spot in my world.

I still think it is me.  I don't have to purchase a new release again just because they released it.  I've skipped upgrades in the past because I didn't feel like I needed to upgrade.  and even if I do upgrade to 9 or whatever they call it, I probably won't do it when they first release it.  I'll wait for a point update or two or maybe even wait until just before 10 comes out so I can get it at the cheapest possible price.

upgrading is not mandatory.  that's why I'm against the subscription route - if I wanted a feature available I'd have to subscribe to get it. if not, I just choose which upgrades I want and which ones I don't.

Good Lord, I'm all for fun speculation about new products, but this thread takes it to a whole new level...

If Sonar goes to a subscription pricing model, then it's Goodbye Sonar, Hello Cubase for me.

LMAO.... in post #17 jm24 suggests (in his opinion) that Sonar should become subscription software, several post later it's being re-acted too like it's a fact already........ talk about Chinese whispers.

drewfx1


I'm 100% against a subscription model. I upgrade only when I want to and when I feel it's worth my while for the $$$, and I don't want to be locked in to yearly updates I don't need or desire.

And you're unlikely to get advance information from any vendor in a competitive industry, unless a direct competitor just announced/released a new version with a desirable feature and the vendor wants to talk about vaporware to keep pace.

And I also see no correlation between awards ceremonies and product releases. Companies are not going to delay a product release just for that reason. Most companies don't even seem to bother waiting for the trade shows to release new products anymore - thanks to the web, they can announce them whenever they're ready or whenever it suits them.

I'm 110% against it. I would not do it. I also agree with yours and others point about the award and the release.

So you did not renew your subscription for Sonar, thereby skipping 8.5.

No different than a magazine. And just like previous issues of a magazine, your version of Sonar did not turn into a pumpkin.

If you would have read my comments completely, instead of just reacting to the first words you feel threatened by, you would have learned that nothing in what I have written has suggested you would have to renew. Or that the software would stop working. Nor that one could not renew whenever one wished. Quite the opposite to all of these criticisms.

Currently, pricing for upgrading/renewing is based upon what version has been previously purchased and is eligible for such.

And you missed the point: It is not good for any of us to have to wait months to get bugs fixed. A main reason they do not get fixed quickly is because of the upgrade cycle. Break the cycle, get better service.

Selling Sonar by the time period instead of by the version will result in better software, and a stronger company, that will have a continuous crossgrade value proposition: buy any time of the year and be assured of one year of product updates and upgrades. Always the same price.

This would set CW apart from all the other guys.

Not good for you? Fine. Don't renew. But such a narrow view of what a subscription is is interferring with your understanding of an idea that WILL benefit everyone involved.

J

the polling numbers don't look good for the loudest idea

Hey guys,

Personally, I think Sonar 9 is going to be announced any day now. If not really soon, then at least by the end of the year. It would be too much of a shift for them to wait much longer... and they are a business with a proven business model, so if they tinker with that model, it would probably be very minor.

Please correct me if I'm wrong:

Sonar 8.5 was announced September 16
Sonar 8 was announced September 22
Sonar 7 was announced September 21

So we're right in the normal pocket of release schedules, unless they've changed their cycle. The Bakers have been going through the normal price-cutting specials that have indicated the end of the release cycle in the past, so unless something has changed in their development cycle, then by the end of the month, my guess is we'll have Sonar 9 announced.

These days, it seems like bad business to change a gameplan that already works. So, assuming Cakewalk's prior business plan has been working, then we'll all be talking about Sonar 9 actual features very soon.

HOWEVER, it's possible Cakewalk has changed its gameplan slightly... striking a new balance of development time and their prior yearly release cycle.

Here's one clue that supports a slightly later release date: Normally, Scott Garrigus' excellent series Sonar Power! is release a couple of months AFTER the release of Sonar. We got Sonar 8 Power! in December 08, 2 1/2 months after the release... roughly.

This time around, a basic google search reveals that expected pub date for Sonar 9 Power! is Feb 2011, as of the time of this posting (which could change any day). IF we go by that very questionable date, then that still puts Sonar 9 released this year... right before Christmas. That way, Cakewalk could tap into the holiday season by offering pre-orders, etc... and still rake in the normal yearly upgrades for their financial books. :)

So... if not by the end of this month, then I predict by December. :)

BTW, for those that can read Japanese, check out the Sonar 9 Power page on the Japanese version of Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.jp/S...Garrigus/dp/1435458508 -- at least as of right now, it says 2011/2/2 -- Of course, that date can change, but it supports the idea that Sonar 9 is running a bit later than usual... maybe.

Just my wild guessin' two bits.

Sonar 8.5 was announced September 16 Sonar 8 was announced September 22 Sonar 7 was announced September 21

Here is the timing of AES over those years:

2007 - Oct 5th
2008 - Oct 2nd
2009 - Oct 9th
2010 -  Nov 9th.

Count Dookoo predicts we will see an announcement prior to Nov 9th.  Given that AES is running about a month later than normal, I'd say sometime early to mid-October.

Jose7822

It's merely a discussion about a "what if" situation.  Don't see anything wrong with that :-) 

Ha... it just seemed that people were working themselves into righteous indignation about an act that probably hasn't even been thought of, in a thread where I can't even follow the OP logic... it seems about 100 stages removed from reality!


Eratu's theory on the other hand... I can follow that, that's the kind of speculation I'm after!  

 

Sijel

planning to upgrade my system massively before the UK's VAT rises in January to 20%. If its not available before then no upgrade. I will be making some major purchases before the rise and so will many UK users.

Seriously?!  You would change your buying pattern of upkeep on your treasured recording studio based on a ~2% change in tax rate?!  If the upgrade costs 100 pounds in th UK that would be a 2 pound difference.  Even a starving artist could surely skip one scone for one day   to offset such a terrible crushing taxation increase?!
And will all of the UK really not upgrade because of a tax delta?!  I thought only the Scots had a reputation for being miserly cheapskates?!  LOL
 

Hmm.
 
Don't make the mistake of thinking we all fall into the same category as the financially bankrupt person posting this one up!!!
 
I will wait until Cakewalk announce pricing and package details along with everyone else, then make my decision to buy or not ot buy.
 
 
You know, if you think about it, with CW being fully under Roland control now, it could well be that Cakewalk no longer NEED to make annual updates to keep the cash register ticking over (even rushing out buggy plugs in the process)
 
If Roland are indeed bankrolling the whole operation, the mad dash to release upgraded software can be taken more leisurely and with an eye on quality, rather than speed.

fireberd

There is conjecture on the gearslutz forum that the next whatever version may not even be called "Sonar" since Roland is involved.

I hear it will be called Rolar, and it will come in three versions: Rolar Bearings for those just starting out, Rolar Coaster for fun / hobby / intermediate users, and Rolar Derby for hardcore musicians.

*dances to* o/~ Rolar girl, don't worry... o/~

eratu


Hey guys,

Personally, I think Sonar 9 is going to be announced any day now. If not really soon, then at least by the end of the year. It would be too much of a shift for them to wait much longer... and they are a business with a proven business model, so if they tinker with that model, it would probably be very minor.

Please correct me if I'm wrong:

Sonar 8.5 was announced September 16
Sonar 8 was announced September 22
Sonar 7 was announced September 21

So we're right in the normal pocket of release schedules, unless they've changed their cycle. The Bakers have been going through the normal price-cutting specials that have indicated the end of the release cycle in the past, so unless something has changed in their development cycle, then by the end of the month, my guess is we'll have Sonar 9 announced.

These days, it seems like bad business to change a gameplan that already works. So, assuming Cakewalk's prior business plan has been working, then we'll all be talking about Sonar 9 actual features very soon.

HOWEVER, it's possible Cakewalk has changed its gameplan slightly... striking a new balance of development time and their prior yearly release cycle.

Here's one clue that supports a slightly later release date: Normally, Scott Garrigus' excellent series Sonar Power! is release a couple of months AFTER the release of Sonar. We got Sonar 8 Power! in December 08, 2 1/2 months after the release... roughly.

This time around, a basic google search reveals that expected pub date for Sonar 9 Power! is Feb 2011, as of the time of this posting (which could change any day). IF we go by that very questionable date, then that still puts Sonar 9 released this year... right before Christmas. That way, Cakewalk could tap into the holiday season by offering pre-orders, etc... and still rake in the normal yearly upgrades for their financial books. :)

So... if not by the end of this month, then I predict by December. :)

BTW, for those that can read Japanese, check out the Sonar 9 Power page on the Japanese version of Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.jp/Sonar-Power-Scott-R-Garrigus/dp/1435458508 -- at least as of right now, it says 2011/2/2 -- Of course, that date can change, but it supports the idea that Sonar 9 is running a bit later than usual... maybe.

Just my wild guessin' two bits.

Just got my 10/2010 issue of Keyboard - no Sonar ad.
 
As far as I'm concerned, the longer it takes to release the next version, the more likely the changes are going to be more significant.  It's silly to have an annual update cycle.  Do you see Logic, Cubase, or Pro Tools with annual integer releases? 

Wow!

So any day now we'll hear news of Sonar 9. 

Good find Mumpcake.