On the Fence about buying Sonar Platinum $149 Upgrade price has me interested

Ok be honest if you have platinum how do you like it?  How was the install process for you? The upgrade price at $149 is that the best deal coming this year or should I wait until around Christmas time like I normally do to upgrade?  I must admit Sonar X3e is working just fine for me so convince me why I should upgrade again?

You just need to decide if you really want the new features added. X3e was a great update to Sonar's X series, and Platinum continues to be as stable as X3e. I like Platinum a lot . . . the new Control Bar, FX bin display, PRV display updates, as well as the Prochannel Rematrix Convolution Reverb and Bark of the Dog modules are my personal new favourites, though there are many other new additions that others will find useful (Vocal Sync, Addictive Drums 2, Mix Recall, Pattern Brush etc. . .)
 
The addition of Command Center for installing new updates, makes installing updates very easy, though it's far from perfected as of yet.
 
There will always be "DEALS", it's the nature of selling software products, however, with the new membership model being implemented recently it may be better to get in early, or pay more later ?

I've just had a look and AudioDeluxe.com have Sonar Platinum upgrade from X3 for $125.99 for members. Only takes a 1 minute signup to join.

Well, I was excited...until I tried to install it and received a blue screen because of some conflict with bdfsfltr - which appears to be a part of my virus connection. So I could only install it in Safe Mode. Even then, Plt continues to crash and stop working - apparently it doesn't like Melodyne or at times my Roland Quad drivers - but also for other 'unknown' issues. So now, if I want to update, it has to be via Safe Mode - even disabling virus still gets me a nice blue screen. 
 
It's slow to open projects as well and really apart from midi manipulation improvements and the rematrix solo, there's not much in it for me. X3e continues to be my 'go to' DAW as it rarely if at all crashes and loads projects quickly.
 
If I had to do it over again, I'd probably just try the monthly payment option, as by now, I would have cancelled it...just sits on my system now as I won't touch it anymore...rather spend my time making music than stuffing around with Plt. Big waste of time and money for me.
 
Just my experience of it. So I'm not going to try to convince you to upgrade. I would advise you rather to try the monthly option if it's still available;

Fabio Rubato
Well, I was excited...until I tried to install it and received a blue screen because of some conflict with bdfsfltr - which appears to be a part of my virus connection. So I could only install it in Safe Mode. Even then, Plt continues to crash and stop working - apparently it doesn't like Melodyne or at times my Roland Quad drivers - but also for other 'unknown' issues. So now, if I want to update, it has to be via Safe Mode - even disabling virus still gets me a nice blue screen. 
 
It's slow to open projects as well and really apart from midi manipulation improvements and the rematrix solo, there's not much in it for me. X3e continues to be my 'go to' DAW as it rarely if at all crashes and loads projects quickly.
 
If I had to do it over again, I'd probably just try the monthly payment option, as by now, I would have cancelled it...just sits on my system now as I won't touch it anymore...rather spend my time making music than stuffing around with Plt. Big waste of time and money for me.
 
Just my experience of it. So I'm not going to try to convince you to upgrade. I would advise you rather to try the monthly option if it's still available;

It seems to me that your virus setup is the problem. Most people use MS essentials or some non conflicting protection. Some do without and have their machines offline. I suppose what is a priority to you is not one I have. I much rather be able to run my programs without trouble. But thats just me.  

My experience matches with most other posters.  I installed with NO problems, runs all the projects I have opened, old and newer, runs fast and has never crashed.  The additional features are true upgrade material. 

Something that is overlooked when making a decision to upgrade is the advantages of "being up to date". There is a wave of information that you can ride when staying current. If you ask about using AD2 or the new Control Bar you will get lots of answers. Notice how many and how fast people respond to posts about R-Mix SONAR or V-Vocal. Nothing against those programs, I am just pointing them out to make my point. If you want to know how to do something there will probably be several threads on it and not by people using Windows XP. There is a good amount of Cakewalk posts on the new SONAR. Not so much on Home Studio 7 XL. (actually none) New ways to do things what software is causing crashes doesn't happen in a vacuum. Someone will have had the same thing. A crash in an older version and you have a smaller number of people who are in the same place as you. And lastly, if this the last "version" of SONAR it is the best time to upgrade. Even if you let your membership lapse for a few months or a year you wont be on a totally different version.

mudgel
I've just had a look and AudioDeluxe.com have Sonar Platinum upgrade from X3 for $125.99 for members. Only takes a 1 minute signup to join.

A lot of good information but if this is true about $125.99 I will buy this tonight.  Also what happens after your year membership is up, do you have to pay a one time charge again or a monthly fee?  If so that will be constantly paying for software if that is the case.

BMOG
Ok be honest if you have platinum how do you like it?  How was the install process for you? The upgrade price at $149 is that the best deal coming this year or should I wait until around Christmas time like I normally do to upgrade?  I must admit Sonar X3e is working just fine for me so convince me why I should upgrade again?

Why even be on the fence when it's pretty close to a no brainer? It's better. Period. More value and inspiration for your time using it.

scook
With the one-time payment method, the software is yours just like all previous upgrades. After your membership ends at the end of a year, you may elects to sign up for another year, go monthly or allow the membership to lapse. There is no continuing obligation to pay Cakewalk anything to use the product you are about to purchase.

If you don't sign up for another year and you need or want updates what happens then?

BMOG
Only thing I found at that site for $125 http://audiodeluxe.com/products/cakewalk-sonar-professional-academic
http://audiodeluxe.com/products/cakewalk-sonar-platinum-upgrade-sonar-x3-producer

You will not see the final price for the X3-to-Platinum upgrade until after the product is added to your cart. The

scook

BMOG
Only thing I found at that site for $125 http://audiodeluxe.com/products/cakewalk-sonar-professional-academic
http://audiodeluxe.com/products/cakewalk-sonar-platinum-upgrade-sonar-x3-producer

You will not see the final price for the X3-to-Platinum upgrade until after the product is added to your cart.

YOU ARE CORRECT WOW!!!

In X3e I had to get with Melodyne to get it working properly there was a problem with the activation code they gave me they had to give me a new one.  Is Melodyne transferred to Platinum?  Also once Platinum is installed and working can I uninstall all other versions of Sonar or is it better to keep them for just in case purposes?

scook
Only one license for Melodyne is issued with SONAR. You received yours with X3. Melodyne will show as part of Platinum but it is the same license. Do not bother with installing Melodyne again. Platinum will pick up the previous install although it will show as not installed in the Command Center. 
 
You can also skip Rapture and Dpro.
 
If you want to delete old versions of SONAR do it before installing Platinum but if you have the space, it is best to leave them installed. If you manually delete the tutorials in "Cakewalk Content" for each version,  SONAR uses about 200MB of disk space per version. The rest is shared between all the versions installed. Leaving the tutorials on the disk will consume a couple of GB more. Also each version from 8.5 through X3 contain plug-ins not included in newer versions.

Great point about the plugins from previous versions, so i am assuming Platinum has a Melodyne replacement?