That is true, they need to integrate the technology they exchanged with the alien greys first....
 (might have been bitcoins involved not sure)... I do have my sources but people may end up getting assassinated so best I don't squeak.

I like the idea of a stink plugin.  Kind of compliments the suck plugin, but in aromarama.
 
@

Silly thread.

Silicon Audio
I actually think that this is the first time in history that people aren't champing at the bit for the next version.  The reason is that X3 is just so solid that folks have got back to the business of just making music.  Sure it's not 100% perfect, but it doen't impede the musical process at all.
 
Yeah, there are alway more features in the wish lists, but I think the level of satisfaction with Sonar is at an all time high.

+1

One of the best threads i've read in ten years of skateboarding forums on the net; this one is like a mixed bag of lollies with interesting flavours and additional humour thrown in. 
 
Mr Anderton's affirmations about the intentions and direction of Cakewalk are very reassuring to me, he said exactly what i needed to hear. 
 
To me, the former Sonar X3 release (bugs aside) was stellar through-the-roof smokin off the charts; the new plugins sucked me in big-time. I myself, concerning DAW updates and new releases, am all about new plugins (quality not quantity, of course), that's what i look forward to; i don't care much for new features, i'm an improviser, and the features in modern DAWs are more than i can even use, so, no need for more, imo; my whole personal music-making process is always a simple affair, and modern DAWs already offer much more than simple; anyway, to me, new DAW releases are like presents at Christmas time, i look forward to it, and Sonar X3 already done good on that count. Clearly Cakewalk takes the game seriously and are aware of their end-user demographic, very pleased with that!
My main wishes for new release DAW upgrades are... refinements to existing 'plugins' (ver I ver II ver III etc) to make them perform even bigger and badder, plus 'brand-new' plugins that excel performance-wise, and newer higher performing plugins that are made to replace and usurp existing ones; that oh so lovely refurbished feeling.
 
With Cubase and Sonar going at it hammer and tong, such quality DAW 'options' can keep music producers in good stead! If you already own a Ferrari, it is nice to have a Mclaren to swap between when the need arises.
 
 

CakeAlexS
@Wookiee I'm not aware of any regression bugs from X3D. Here are the outstanding X3E issues we know about (what is your issue?)
http://forum.cakewalk.com...aspx?m=3009969&p=1 (first post)... Thanks.

My s p e c ific problem is that the Arturia's VST3 Oberhiem SEM V will not load and causes a crash if you try.  I am aware that others have had problems with other Arturia VST3's and that some others have had problems with other suppliers VST3's.  Arturia say it is to do with the way SONAR checks authorisation of said VST3.  
 
Arturia have acknowledge that there is a problem but imply that the fix should be sorted by Cakewalk and the "work around" is to downgrade to Producer version D.  I have yet to have a response from Cakewalk support, every time I go to my error report it says awaiting further information but I have not received an email asking for anything even though I have asked.
 
Here is my report number CWBRN-25791

Wookiee
 
Well Graig it did not take me 3 to 4 months either but we have had five maintenance patches

 
Not just maintenance; there were also enhancements that added dynamic updates of folders to show content added externally, created a media bin in the browser for the current project, incorporated Microsoft's new video engine while allowing you to still use the old one for backward compatibility, changed initialization to default to an ASIO driver if one was present, exposed MIDI out automatically for MIDI-out compatible plug-ins instead of having to do it manually, eliminated some timeouts, automatically instantiated the TTS-1 if you opened a MIDI file and no MIDI output ports were available, made the VST Scanner compatible with Vista even though it's not a supported OS, resized track control widgets dynamically, cleaned up several interface elements in X3d, added more localization translations, allowed automatic reversion to DirectShow if trying to open a video with compatibility problems, added several new accelerators to the Browser, etc. Although the vast majority of changes related to fixes, some of which were relatively esoteric or discovered only when Sonar got into the hands of enough people in the field, to be fair the patches have done more than just fixes.
 
There are plenty of programs that could have used more maintenance patches, but Cakewalk actually did them. To me, that's a positive as opposed to ignoring the requests for fixes, which would be a negative.
 

the last has broken something that was working in "D".

 
The jury's still out on that, VST3 is a bit of a moving target; see Alex's posts. Other VST3 instruments working fine in Sonar seems to imply the issue is deeper than just a simple yes/no compatibility problem.
 

What I am saying is do we really need a yearly release of a "New" product.  Would it not perhaps be a little better to have say a two year cycle with a more robust product from day one. 

While I certainly see your point there are two places where reality intrudes. With a few exceptions the industry is on an update schedule that averages out to about once a year, so Sonar has to be sufficiently agile to keep up. If users had to wait two years for Sonar to implement features that allow it to remain with competitive with other companies while dealing with fixes of ever-decreasing relevance to the majority of users, that would be problematic for keeping the company afloat. The other issue is that many of the fixes didn't become apparent until Sonar was out in the field for awhile. A program with Sonar's flexibility can be used in many different ways and some users may or may not have workflows that expose particular bugs. Also, sometimes problems occur after a release, like changes in Avid's Fast Track drivers that Sonar needed to accommodate. Unfortunately other companies don't key their changes to Sonar's release schedule. The Arturia issue might fall into this category; I just continue using the VST2 versions of Arturia's synths.
 
Most people seem pleased with X3's stability and Cakewalk's dedication to making it more so. There's always a balance that needs to be struck between not ignoring the past while preparing for the future; I think Cakewalk is doing a very good job of walking that fine line, but wouldn't expect everyone to agree.

AT
I like the idea of a stink plugin.  Kind of compliments the suck plugin, but in aromarama.

All the best musicians get it right before the mixing stage.  I prefer to stink and suck at the tracking stage rather than "fix it in the mix".  I find my playing stinks and sucks enough without having to resort to plugins.

I'd like a chance to get practiced with X3 before being sold on whats new in X4.
I am more than happy with X3 with the updates thick and fast, the service, outstanding.
 
It might seem more stable to maintain the current release, which is attracting new and
seasoned users alike than risk being avaricious with a less than spectacular product upgrade.
 
But,
being solvent is good business and it is a pattern unlikely to be broken unless there is a game
changer in the pipeline.
 
I think it will be business as usual. 
 
 

BJN
I'd like a chance to get practiced with X3 before being sold on whats new in X4.
 
I am more than happy with X3 with the updates thick and fast, the service, outstanding.

Well remember, this isn't Adobe's "subscription" model. All your projects created in X3 and all the plug-ins you're using will continue to work regardless of whether you upgrade to X4 or not. Carry on making music, and if X4 ends up having some compelling feature you really want, you can always upgrade at your convenience. 

sergiobklyn
I hear that they are going to revamp the staff view... NOT!

Staff view will be rendered in front of you as a 3D hologram, where you can move notes around by "grabbing" them with your hands, and placing them wherever you want. Also, Console View now has electrodes you attach to your head. You imagine what you want the sound to be like, then Sonar analyzes that and sets the parameters accordingly. I don't think Noel will mind me mentioning these, as they're two of the more minor updates to the program.

Silicon Audio
I actually think that this is the first time in history that people aren't champing at the bit for the next version.  The reason is that X3 is just so solid that folks have got back to the business of just making music.  Sure it's not 100% perfect, but it doen't impede the musical process at all.
 
Yeah, there are alway more features in the wish lists, but I think the level of satisfaction with Sonar is at an all time high.

No kidding, wasn't even thinking about an X4 until I saw this thread..............

Heck with electrodes for the console view. I want the electrodes to record what's going on in my head!

munch, munch; bring me a cold coke dear!
 
"Get off those forums darling!" Nup! You just keep doing those dishes! ROFL
 
Seriously, one thing that's got me peeved, is why the hell it took ten years to get to an acceptable state of pro DAWs that we have today. I'm adamant that we should have had the current versions of Cubase and Sonar ten years ago. Mankind is so slack sometimes, but actually i think Microsoft and Intel are more to blame; nonetheless, happy to be where we're at, however, i'm getting older and not liking it LOL
 
 
Still don't know how to utilize the quote functions in here. 
 
Mosvalve, one thing i can do is vouch for Studio One, it is actually easy peezy after the 'smallest' of learning curves. No quirkiness happening in Stuidio One land, just a 'slightly' different methodology, but a good one at that, nothing approaching obtuse like some other DAWs. I was ready to dump Studio One until i persisted a 'little bit' more with it because 'visually' it looked so clean and inviting and simple, then wallah! It's actually up there with Cubase and Sonar for user-friendliness, no joke, but Presonus need to address their plugin count in quality and quantity, plus their one single softsynth is dogs breath and their provided sounds are very mediocre, so i simply can't work with it. Before someone says the obvious in response, i am in a sort of self-imposed bondage, rather than going for third party stuff and all the licences and installation crap that goes with it, i would rather everything be in the DAW from the start, hit "install" and bang! Everything is ready, with nothing more to do but hit "Go!".
 
Will be looking with keen interest at Studio One ver III coming at the end of this year i'm told. I'm sure they must realize what they're up against at the moment, the DAW competition these days as we know is fierce; if Presonus drop the ball with ver III then i reckon they're finished, IMO they have a chance with the next version to consolidate their well-regarded DAW status or it's game over and they'll slide backwards into oblivion. 
 
I'm glad to be living in these days with all this tech, but i'm sure someone probably said that back in the middle ages too LOL