SONAR reviewed in May issue of SOS...

It doesn't read well from the beginning.  From the start the review does not pull any punches, but instead punches some holes in what CW is so determined to convince us.  Oddly, just as many of us have recognized, the obvious is, well, obvious and SOS (Robin Vincent) agrees:

Robin Vincent,SOS
"Maybe it’s the weird weather that’s driven developers into full gear, but this winter has certainly been the season for major updates. Both Propellerhead and Steinberg got in their version 8s before the end of the year, while Cakewalk chose to unleash the latest iteration of their Sonar DAW in the build up to NAMM 2015. Sonar Platinum, as it’s now called, is the first major DAW to step away from traditional ideas about purchasing and support, pre–empting Avid’s similar move with Pro Tools 12 by a couple of weeks. What’s loosely been termed the Adobe model (as Adobe were the first big company to switch to it) replaces the traditional boxed, fixed–fee purchase with a subscription of monthly payments. While you continue to subscribe, you receive support and free access to any updates that occur during your subscription.
Cakewalk have put their own spin on this, by insisting that users are buying ‘membership’ rather than a subscription, and by offering additional custom content to members each month. Sonar’s Skylight interface is largely unchanged.And after 12 payments, the software is yours to keep using; alternatively, you can continue to subscribe to keep the support, updates and content flowing. They also stress that they still offer the traditional boxed product, which includes 12 months of free updates and content. Any future updates would require the renewal of membership at some kind of upgrade price. So in many ways it’s the same deal as before, but you are buying on credit so you don’t have to fork out a large sum up–front. Whether this model works for you or not, it does seem to be the future..."

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may15/articles/sonar-0515.htm
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker
the Rocker returns but for this mere moment

I don't see this part of the review as "bad"...

As you mention, it really hasn't changed much... If you buy up front, you just don't get the once/year major new release and instead get continuous smaller release over the year... If you buy on the monthly it's not much different than paying your credit card monthly with the exception that if you don't complete the 12 months of payment, your not forced into a bankruptcy while still owning this release... It is basically a no-approval-needed financing...

I'm really over all this stuff by now and I'm more interested to see fixes and improvements... Getting close to this month's release? Of course that's believing there will be a release this month...? ;-)

I think I'll see if I can read the whole review...

Thanks for the lead...

Keni

I wasn't saying the review was bad, just that the important data were stated late as far as the subscription process.  Kinda like learning to ignore everything before the "but" in arguments.
 
;-)

I don't see anything bad in the section quoted.  When SOS criticizes a product, there is no doubt.  That's one reason SOS is my favorite trade mag—unlike another from the UK I won't name that publishes reviews that read like overly enthusiastic advertisements.
 
Right at the top of the article it says:
 
Cakewalk are the first major DAW developer to move to a monthly payment model. And Sonar ‘membership’ provides plenty of goodies...

That's just as I saw it during the heated discussions at the time.... it's more of a pay as you play option, without a credit check, which is a great thing if you ask me because it opens the doors for users who can't afford a yearly pop.
But the powers that be insisted on saying subscription membership... that alone locks ears from hearing the part after the "but". lol
I'll stick with adobe cs6 until I can no longer keep my stubby-fat grip on it simply because I want to own what I pay for at some point, credit or cash, and there's no end to that type of model.
 
And I agree with "AT" about subscriptions in relation to newspapers and mags in the old days, but I think it has more to do with trusting a "physical" company with a working track history, vs faceless internet companies that popup with promises and die before even the virtual ink dries.... constantly.
However that too has some premise in the age and history idea also.
 
I came back to Sonar with x1 because it showed me they were truly in the game to play, and with the roland split I got nervous again, but I feel safe now. lol
Nothing is guaranteed, whether on my porch or in my "binary interpretation machine", but having a positive record means a helluva lot, and always has.
 
CWs model is different, but they are using the same name to identify it, I think that is the biggest issue as far as that goes I think.
I am faithful to sonar, and hope to always be.
At some point my title will change from "user" to "investor" if they keep up their end, lol, just as their ranking as a professional DAW will rise to truly combat the top tier of the industry.
 
That's my two-cents... spend one, save one!
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interpolated
Soundsonline has also moved to a subscription system for Gold/Silver level sample libraries. Everybody's at it.

But with Soundsonline you only ever own what you already own. Anything paid for by subscription is only available while you pay and you'll always pay, unlike Sonar where you will own the current release after 12 months membership or immediately if paid in full.

"Sonar’s Skylight interface is largely unchanged." I read that as a dig....as if to say "they're asking money for an upgrade but they didn't even change the GUI."

In fact there are improvements both large and small to Skylight. The customizable control bar is a big step, as is the new sends. It's a good interface already, I don't know what kind of "change" they expect. I don't expect change for the sake of it - if it works, leave it alone!