?Samplitude? Cheap but is it worth it?

This showed up in my mailbox.. Music maker 17 PLUS Samplitude 11.5 for under $90. I am am longtime sonar devote and don't need or am I looking for another DAW-however I thought there may be $90 worth of stuff there, any comments.

 Jim, thanks for the info. There are a handful of people on the forum that I'll always stop and read, and learn something valuable from. Your one of those guys... Thanks for being a contributing member. You add value that rises above rhetoric and emotion.

You'll want to verify which version they're actually offering you, and then compare its features to both SONAR and to other Samplitude bundles. They sell a bewildering array of configurations that are all built around the same core product but priced from fifty to a thousand bucks (!), differing in limitations (e.g. maximum track count) and bundled plugins.

Last fall I decided to see what competing products had to offer, being less than overwhelmed by X1 and feeling a little pessimistic about SONAR's future direction. Samplitude was one of many that I researched, although I did not demo it. It's a clean, full-featured and well-respected DAW but I saw nothing in it to suggest it would be anything more than a lateral move from SONAR. Even at the competitive crossgrade price of $250, it didn't seem worth it at the time.

Bit, seriously Samplitude - In my opinion overwhelms Sonar with it's audio management and suite of effects. I 'd rather edit, mix and master in Samplitude. The included object audio effects  and the effects suite in their Pro versions are truly professional  caliber effects in every aspect.

Sonar on the other hand overwhelms Samplitude with it's midi / VSTi  implementation. they both have strengths and weaknesses and in my opinion compliment each other very well. I 'd rather write and compose in sonar.

No Pastor... 5.2  is not a Typo. It's one of the most bug free versions of Sonar I've ever used. ( which included 6 - 7 -8.5.  Sonar V 5 records well,  it hosts VSTi's like a champ. There is nothing ( XP 32 ) that  any subsequent version brought out that I've had an interest in. I don't do  loops ( midi nor audio) ....I don't do audio snap...( zero use for that ). I don't do V- vocal  etc.    what I mean by overwelm refers to basic audio tools, basic user interface, basic editing prowess and power. There's nothing that's been added ( in my opinion ) to Sonar since version 5 that I see as leaps and bounds in shear user ability or power.  I don't really like the single Audio / midi track approach in any of the DAWS out there...and that is a weak point in Samplitude PRO9 that I use. yea  I'm way behind the bleeding edge and I have no problem with that.  I've tried Reaper ( hated it ) I've tried Presonus Studio 1 ( didn't do much for me. ) I want a recorder that can do basic editing. Samplitude ( in my opinion is a far better vehicle for mixing and mastering Audio than Sonar. Sonar is the best vehicle for midi editing and VSTi hosting. Both are excellent for basic audio tracking with Sonar getting a slight advantage for ease of use.

One reason I think that a move to Sonar 8.5 would be wise is that they re-coded and brought in threading efficiencies that appear to be worth the upgrade. I thought about it, but then it would require an OS upgrade , then likely a machine upgrade to make any real use of increased RAM and CPU speed upgrade. It's a whole house move and It just hasn't been my main priority as I'm pretty much a solo composer with my DAW.