PEACE OF MIND

I was wondering what is/is going to happen to all the X2 users who bought X2 only a few months ago?
It seems that these people (Sonar Family) are getting a big slap in the face as far as not getting the problems fixed with X2.
They have also paid good money for a good daw , expecting that if there were any problems they would get the help they need from the bakers.
I was very supprised at the way all communications were shut down when Roland announced that they were buying cakewalk. Almost everyone including me were trying everything to get the bakers to come on the forum and explain/help with any problems. And I also got into some verbal fights in the process.
But now that Gibson is in the picture and Roland is all but gone I see all the happy bakers bringing out an X3 with 2 upgrades now and are showing a very strong presence on the forum. I like the turnaround and the info very much, but I cant help feel bad for those who bought X2 and are now facing crashes and other problems without the help they need.
 
The whole forum has changed to X3 and all the happiness that it brings. Where is the happiness for the X2 users?
 
I am sorry if this ends up as a problem on the forum , but I still cant help feeling the slap in the face and the absence / withdrawal of the X2 users here.
 
Is this thread completely wrong?
 
Danny

I also was an X2 user, but I understand that if you want a product to be continuously improved you have to pay the piper on occasion. So X3 was an expected expense for me to improve my X2 product. And yes X3 is a major improvement over X2. I want my software on my computer to be up to date and current with the technology that is now available.

Well if you go back in time a few years, you'll see how much software has evolved over the years. Go back 20 years and you'll see software that was pure awful back then compared to what is currently available. Continuous improvement is more than just words...it's evolution in action. What we take for granted today, wasn't even though about back then....Would you still want to be on a Windows '98 computer ??

Danny, I can commiserate with your perspective but agree with the replies here. From the business perspective, software companies need to continuously look forward, and resources can only spread so thin. Only a few of the previous versions will get any support (typically) if it is a critical issue... upgrades often go into patches or the next release.
 
I think my personal experience with X2 was a total fluke, but incredibly painful (I had a corrupted part1 file that was the identical byte size of what it should be that crashed X2 in the most flippant ways imaginable). *IF* I had gotten SONAR for the first time with X2, I would have walked away from it forever... but I had X1d to fall back on. My (irate) feedback to my experience was to have the MD5 hash checks with the install files, and I was happy to see these are listed for X3.
 
This forum, to me, is the absolute best asset to Cakewalk... the bakers DO read these posts, but do not always respond. And the community itself is a wonderful group of very talented and helpful people, whom I respect and admire.
 
Once I discovered the issue with X2, I did get it running and stable, but my experience left a sour taste in my mouth. However, I upgraded to X3 with little hesitation, and have found it totally stable out of the chute. My personal issue *was* addressed as well as many other's requests, but I cannot speak to the extent/specifics of many.
 
I apologize for the longwinded response; but to your question, I feel you can always voice opinions, and should. In response to the X2 support, I think you can understand why not to expect such, and as someone who (literally) despised X2 out of the chute, I very much endorse X3, which is the best "support for X2" (I feel) you can get.
 
Michael

I do agree with all of you and what you have posted. Maybe my OP didnt come across the way I wanted it to.
I just feel sorry for some of the late X2 users buying the software only to discover that there will be no development of the software and then having to choose to pay another amount of money for the upgrade.
A lot of the users do not readily have the money to upgrade and had saved up to buy the X2 with better expectations. 
 
Danny

cowboydan
I do agree with all of you and what you have posted. Maybe my OP didnt come across the way I wanted it to.
I just feel sorry for some of the late X2 users buying the software only to discover that there will be no development of the software and then having to choose to pay another amount of money for the upgrade.
A lot of the users do not readily have the money to upgrade and had saved up to buy the X2 with better expectations. 
 
Danny

If someone buys SONAR X2 at retail, we're offering free upgrades to SONAR X3 between 9/1/2013 and 10/31/2013. More details here: http://www.cakewalk.com/page.aspx/Purchase-SONAR-X2-at-retail-and-get-free-SONAR-X3-Upgrade
 
We don't sell SONAR X2 direct anymore, so really the only way someone should be able to obtain it at this point is from another vendor. So for whatever it's worth it really it shouldn't be a problem moving forward. In fact I'm sure many will probably take advantage of blowout sales and get X3 in their hands for even cheaper. If someone upgraded to SONAR X2 relatively recently but prior to those dates, then they very well most likely got a killer deal on it (many people got SONAR X2 Producer in their hands for $49). 
 
With that being said, SONAR X2 is still a great product and we assist people every day with it and are more than happy to continue doing this. People just need to elaborate on what they need help with. They do this with us directly all the time every day and the vast majority of customers that we work with were and are extremely satisfied with SONAR X2. :)

I had X2a and was not entirely pleased with the whole enchilada. In the end though I ate well for about 10 months. There are still plenty of good things to say about X2, it's just that there appears to be even more good things to say about X3.
 
And I would agree with the post pointing out that if an X2 user is having an issue there are plenty of peers here on the forum willing to help out. I would also say that to the best of my knowledge Cakewalk Technical Support is still supporting X2.
 
Just my $0.02
 
Regards,

that's not how they roll geet...
 
Small team, concentrate on current v. for 1/3 of year, then move onto next version. Bakers need to eat too...

In 12 to 18 months, a new version of Sonar will enter the market place once again. This has been a steady pattern for over the last decade. X3 will be yesterday's version and the next release will be better than the one before it. If the company doesn't continue to develop, it declines. To develop, it must keep a cash inflow. Start putting $10 a month away now and don't be surprised in a year when X4 is released and no more updates come to X3.

I will keep my copy of X2a operational as well. It always worked great for me and will continue to be used as a back up to X3. X1 is now out of use for me.

I think we nee to realise that software development is way ahead of its release cycle. I would be surprised if they were not already well on the way to what X4 will be. Along with that they will have interim goals for various updates that usually include not just fixes but some smaller new features that perhaps weren't ready at full version release time.

There will always be a group of people who will risk buying the last iteration of a version because they buy late in the cycle. Sonars history is that most updates occur in the first 6 months of the annual cycle with a further 6 months or so till next version.

You can be sure that Gibson had nothing at all to do with the X3 release, in fact we are yet to hear an official announcement declaring that the intention to purchase has been completed and become reality. I've stated my opinion several times and that is that X2a was a fork in the coding road and continue developing what was essentially a useable and stable platform for most users was pointless considering the depth of coding that was required for VST3 and ARA implementation.

So it is sad that some got "burnt" but it's the same story every year. As the Cakewalk staffers have said, anyone who upgraded to X2 late in the cycle likely got it a heavily reduced price and any new users getting in on the ground floor with the full version will be eligible for a reduced upgrade as is any current user.

I mean there was someone on here a while ago claiming they were due special consideration for an x3 upgrade as they had just bought x2 a week before the release. They paid $49 for x2. Now if you had skipped x2 and gone from x1 to x3 you would pay $199, same cost. Of course I'm talking at the Sonar Producer level.

I did a lot of work with X2a and it runs very well on my system. At this point just about all X2 problems have been identified, and solutions are often available on the forum. Of course X3 is an improvement over X2...and an Audi is a better car than my 2000 VW Beetle, but the Beetle has served me faithfully for many years and runs great.
 
Any problems I experienced with X2 were minimal and I was highly productive with it. What I suggest is use X2a, enjoy it, make some fantastic music, and wait for some great upgrade deal to come along if you didn't buy it after 9/1. I have plenty of older versions of other programs on my computer that I never upgraded because while the newer versions had more features or whatever, what I had worked so I didn't feel any compelling need to change. Ultimately if I write a cool melody line the notes will be the same on X2 or X3.