Sonar 2015 appraisal

Drone7
I can see a lot of concerned people making reticent comments about this new sales model.
 
The only thing i don't understand... if we buy outright, do we still get the big-fixes and updates like usual, or do we only get fixes and updates if we subscribe? From what i can see, subscribing for the Pro version costs a $100 more a year than just buying outright. If Cakewalk is saying we only get bug fixes/updates etc for the extra $100 when we subscribe, then that's a no-go in my books, i'll be out of here.

Drone7
Besides, i didn't see anything in this update aimed at EDM producers, quite disappointing. Do they ever wonder why Fruityloops and Ableton Live are the biggest selling DAWs in the world. EDM my friends! I make EDM, i can't see a thing in this update that makes me giddy with glee or lick my lips with anticipation.

Drone7
-I wish Cakewalk would overhaul the Pentagon I synth and give us version II with ultra-low aliasing filters and upgraded synth engine with some all new EDM presets, plus change the graphics of the front panel.

Drone7
-I also would like to see a built-in cutting-edge Arp integrated for every channel the same as the one in Logic Pro X.

Drone7
-A brand spanking new drum-machine full of 24bit uncompressed EDM drumkits similar to NI's Battery 4.

Drone7
-Overhaul Dimension Pro and Rapture, these two romplers are quite pedestrian and getting very long in the tooth. What? 5 years old now, or longer? Hundreds of all-new cutting-edge modern sounds with plenty of phat synths and punchy basses.

Drone7
-Overhaul Dimension Pro and Rapture, these two romplers are quite pedestrian and getting very long in the tooth. What? 5 years old now, or longer? Hundreds of all-new cutting-edge modern sounds with plenty of phat synths and punchy basses.

Anderton
Z3TA+ 2 is huge with EDM artists. Probably what you'd like is to see that included with SONAR. 

Drone7
Thankyou Andrew Rossa for chiming-in so quickly and addressing my concern, that's what i needed to hear and puts me at ease now. Cheers.
 
Addressing some of the replies, i'm not sure, but i don't think the midi ARP feature in Cakewalk is a dedicated tool in the sense that we can play 'through' it, isn't it a 'post-played' tool? If so, neither will it give immediate functionality in real-time while playing, thus it is hard to achieve immediate relevant results on the fly.
The one in Logic Pro X is dynamite, as is the Karma feature on the Korg workstations; the Arp plugin in Cakewalk is a Grandma compared to these others, thus my request for a dedicated one with new algos. The Karma function on Korg workstations gives powerful immediate flexible results, this is what i am referring to, it is highly relevant for EDM, and actually an absolute necessity.
 
I already own Z3TA+ II, but Pentagon is a 'gem' in its own right. It's actually one of the better softsynths out there, believe me, the sound is awesome, much like a 'vintage' Ford Chevy V8 car, it just needs a reconditioned engine and some small additions and a new lick of paint to show it off.
It seems that Cakewalk think Z3TA+ has replaced Pentagon, so they have neglected it, but really Pentagon is a beast in its own right with a powerful phat chunky hardware sound, it just needs an update to bring it into the modern era, it's a much underrated synth with personality and guts, i just wish Cakewalk would come back to this baby and give it a loving upgrade with all new refined filters and presets to show it off in all it's glory.
 
I don't find Rapture very useful by today's standards, sorry! It can't compete with Nexus II, Rapture is like a 10 year old Toyota car, it can do some basics etc but times have moved on if you know what i mean.
 
And as for Dimension, i have to say the stock sounds are long overdue for an overhaul IMO.
 
Also, a new version III of PSYN would put a smile on my face. 
 
But the drum-machine, oh that drum-machine, where art thou oh Romeo? Pretty please Cakewalk, may we have an EDM drum-machine, this is a practical request for us EDM dudes.
 
Thanks all for the thoughtful replies. But FYI just to make it clear, i'm an EDM fanatic, i eat, sleep, breath and sh_t this genre, so EDM is all you'll ever hear about from me. Just sayin.
 
PS: I wish someone from Cakewalk would explain if the upcoming "Drum Replacer" is for Acoustic drums or if it is a drum-machine or a beat designer or what? A hint would be good.
 
FWIW, i just finished filling out an exclusive survey from Steinberg sent to me personally. In a nutshell, i told them Cubase is way overpriced, full of superfluous irrelevant features and frivolous plugins, and the USB eLicenser is a pain in the ass and needs to go. I  told them when these things are rectified i'll take another look, but actually i can't see them fixing the situation.

CakeAlexS
If you have an earlier version of Sonar you get to keep the plugins when you upgrade to the new version so what would be the issue if they get dropped? They are clearly no longer being developed.

Of course I'm sure most of us would like to see them back on the development cycle rather than frozen in DirectX/VST 32 bit land forever... But if that can't happen I can't see how peddling old technology will appeal to new users.

Drone7
I already own Z3TA+ II, but Pentagon is a 'gem' in its own right. It's actually one of the better softsynths out there, believe me, the sound is awesome, much like a 'vintage' Ford Chevy V8 car, it just needs a reconditioned engine and some small additions and a new lick of paint to show it off.
It seems that Cakewalk think Z3TA+ has replaced Pentagon, so they have neglected it, but really Pentagon is a beast in its own right with a powerful phat chunky hardware sound, it just needs an update to bring it into the modern era, it's a much underrated synth with personality and guts, i just wish Cakewalk would come back to this baby and give it a loving upgrade with all new refined filters and presets to show it off in all it's glory.
 

I don't find Rapture very useful by today's standards, sorry! It can't compete with Nexus II, Rapture is like a 10 year old Toyota car, it can do some basics etc but times have moved on if you know what i mean.
 

Drone7
If there are still DX plugins in Sonar, i'm very disappointed! VST3 is the only way to go. I hope that in the near future Cakewalk will update all its plugins to VST3. However, if the current DX plugins are 32bit and running as DX through bit-bridge, even more disappointing!
If this is the case, then Sonar needs a serious housecleaning session and cleanup. That's like having stray dogs running around the neighbourhood, messy and unseemly and just generally uncivilized and not unified. I had assumed that Cakewalk would have done a springclean by now and got everything in Sonar unified and on the same page. The current situation gives me thoughts of wanting to go look at Cubase or Bitwig Studio, because i know the plugin sets in those are all on the same page format-wise. I can't stand a messy motley crew of plugins littered throughout a DAW, very untidy and irksome, call me OCD, but i think i do have a point. Is Cakewalk ever gonna rectify this? 

johnnyV
Sonar for Electronic Music- Less Audio editing, Lots of synths and space farts, easy to use by none musicians. 

Drone7
-I wish Cakewalk would overhaul the Pentagon I synth and give us version II with ultra-low aliasing filters and upgraded synth engine with some all new EDM presets, plus change the graphics of the front panel.
-I also would like to see a built-in cutting-edge Arp integrated for every channel the same as the one in Logic Pro X.
-A brand spanking new drum-machine full of 24bit uncompressed EDM drumkits similar to NI's Battery 4.
-Overhaul Dimension Pro and Rapture, these two romplers are quite pedestrian and getting very long in the tooth. What? 5 years old now, or longer? Hundreds of all-new cutting-edge modern sounds with plenty of phat synths and punchy basses with an interface overhaul.