Some Ideas That Should Be Considered By Cakewalk

I agree with some of the previous threads re: features Cakewalk should implement to make it an even better DAW. I believe there are a few specific instances that would appeal to a broad range of users that a few other DAW's have been using as well.
1. As has been noted, a simple Arranger Track capability would be huge for workflow. This would be something similar to what Studio One now uses (and I think possibly Cubase too).
2. Some may consider this a bit of a cheat but I think a Chord Suggestion mechanism, similar to what Cubase offers, would have broad appeal as well.
3. For a smaller segment of users, I think Cakewalk may eventually consider updating their video/film capabilities so that serious film composers can feel comfortable using Cakewalk as their go to DAW for such functions.
4. Also, I believe the Matrix view has great potential promise and possibilities but it seems as if Cakewalk has sort of forgotten about and left it in "beta" mode as one user described it.
5. Finally, I feel that Cakewalk should just junk some of their older soft synths and either replace them with something more up-to-date or let them go. Frankly, their age (and I'm assuming lack of use by most) bring down the DAW's brand.
6. On a related note, my opinion is that because their are so many great third party plug-ins out there (NI, Spectrasonics, East/West) that Cakewalk should only introduce their own VST's if they are truly ready for "prime time." Again, other-wise, the brand becomes degraded. An example, imo, of a VST that Cakewalk is effective with is their Rhodes/Electric Piano piano plug-in which actually sounds very good and has a decent lay-out. On the other hand, I believe their True Piano's plug-in, especially when compared to what else is out their, is barely serviceable and that if only played deep within a mix.
On a more positive note, I believe Cakewalk is moving in the right direction, particularly in their GUI and things like their toolbar and some of their other capabilities, even when compared to other heralded DAW's. I think comping into one track has been improved which is a big help. I have become a believer in the roll-out system so long as they're legitimate features and fixes and not just irrelevant, sounds-good bells and whistles.
So, all said, I hope Cakewalk continues in their efforts of refining and adding features that people will actually find useful and practically innovative and continue to make workflow both easier, more attractive and at the same time more sophisticated.
I think implementing some of these suggestions will firmly place Cakewalk as a 10/10 DAW.
 
 

Two more notes: Cakewalk customer service is uniformly excellent. Also, I have noticed that sound clarity is noticeably better in the "X4" series as opposed to X3 although I do still get the occasional audio dropout.
Forum host: Sometimes a repeat is necessary and has more impact than votes, especially when no indication from Cakewalk is made that such suggestions are being looked into or are being worked on. (And yes, sometimes they do. See: Replacer, Drum; Center, Command).  Seeing, in the real sense, is sometimes believing and one hopes gets needed attention. Also, I made other suggestions and comments not made or very rarely stated.
I  have been a long-time Cakewalk user and am trying to add my two cents to make a better product.
The slight condensation in your reply doesn't represent the company well. Maybe another line of work might be in the offing.
Frankly, if these comments break Forum protocol rules, so be it. I'll live and survive. 
 

>>  sound clarity is noticeably better in the "X4" series as opposed to X3
 
Could someone who knows please confirm this?
Has something been changed in the underlying audio engine?
 

jpetersen
>>  sound clarity is noticeably better in the "X4" series as opposed to X3
 
Could someone who knows please confirm this?
Has something been changed in the underlying audio engine?
 

20-40% better...

A cwp only has pointers to the audio files, so saving a new cwp in any version of SONAR will null if the audio isn't altered.

@mudgel - yes, I understood what you meant. Thanks. It would be crazy if it did anything to the sound without asking. But apparently digital DAWs do not escape all issues analog mixers have. So summing a large number of tracks still adds noise, even in digital. Could be they added some clever algorithm to reduce that - not inconcievable.
Anyway, I'm sure if they had, then they would have trumpeted it from the rooftops.