Karyn

declan
if the upgrade to SPLAT2016 was $199, as was strongly insinuated,  I was saying "no way" at a New Year's Eve party with 3 other Sonar users.
 
If CW had said a SPLAT upgrade was $99 months ago I'd never have been "shopping" the way I have been.
 
A $99 upgrade is a no-brainer for me, but I really do think CW has spent too much time selling the "membership model" rather than making people want the actual 2016 product.
 
I'm not being snarky here, but info coming out a couple of week before many "memberships" expire is at least a marketing strategy in any business I'm familiar with.

I think this is what Cakewalk didn't anticipate. (and I must admit that I didn't either).
 
What you're implying is because you felt $199 was too much to pay for another 12 months of updates and new stuff, you were planning on buying (or maybe have bought) an alternative DAW to use instead of Sonar... 
 
Why?  Were/are you under the impression that if you don't renew then Sonar will stop working??  How much is a new DAW?  $300?  $500?

Karyn, no I wasn't talking about buying another daw and I certainly know I own SPLAT2015. 
 
My point is $199 for a Sonar upgrade wasn't nearly as attractive as other software I have my eye on that may be $300 or $400.  
 
But consider this:  A year ago many here (like me) were saying $149 was a good deal (turned out to be great) but $199 would require a different "bird in the hand" impetus to "upgrade" this year. 
 
Now you're going to have to refund the guys that tried to re-up at $149 and it seems like they're getting blamed for complaining about the lack of information mere weeks before their "memberships" expire.
 
I can come up with $99 before March 31st and I'm sure I'll be quite happy, as usual.
 
And I got a Host/Mod to give me a "" on a forum for the 1st time.  Really lovely.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Were the amps fixed in a SPlat update?  I seem to remember you posted a link to update them, but that's long gone in my memory.  If it was in a Kingston, Lexington update...then that'd be fantastic.  To be honest, Sonar is adding much, that I haven't even tried them yet, as with other stuff too.  ie.....I got Melodyne Editor, when the upgrade offer was good back when, and I haven't even used Melodyne more than a couple of times.  So....that goes to show you...
I too applaud all you do, which seems like an over-full plate most of the time.

A big thanks to the mods, C.A. and Andrew Rossa. I'm hooked up for another great year in Cakeland and people have been bending backward to make it happen. There is nothing I own, of any value, that has this level of support and service behind it. It's really an example that other companies should follow. I've had people like Andrew dropping me update pm's in the middle of the night, over something as small as a $100 transaction. I don't get that service when getting a $30k car.
 
I'm turning into a fanboi and that's not easy at my age. I'm supposed to be all cynical and grumpy at this point. At least that's according to my Scottish blood lines. If you're having issues with your renewal, have faith. These folks are going to make it right for you. Group hug?

Karyn

declan
My point is $199 for a Sonar upgrade wasn't nearly as attractive as other software I have my eye on that may be $300 or $400.  

That's the part I'm having difficulty with... $400 is more attractive than $199??
 

I did say "other software".   I had to wait 6 months before I spent $199 to upgrade to Omnisphere 2 and I thank the cosmos I was finally able to, and that was in December.  Strangely, I was endowed with Christmas cash, so my discretionary money (spouse can't say much) is in play.  So I've been really focused on researching/trialing other things I don't have.
 
A daw upgrade/membership is a very low priority for any of us who've been amassing software for years and CW didn't even try to pique my interest.  In fact the insinuated $199 price made me cross that off my list.
 
I would still be very happy with X3 if I didn't have SPLAT (AD2 & packs, mix recall, PRV improvements) but I don't have a clue as to what I'll really be getting with this yet.  My ampsims are well covered, and Strum has its uses in a pinch.
 
The roll out for Sonar2015 wasn't exactly smooth from a marketing standpoint, and this year it seems clear that CW is promoting a daw with monthly bug fixes that mostly don't affect me.  I know (and applaud) the additional info coming next week, 2 weeks before my membership lapses, and still aver that CW made another booboo.
 
Of all the times I've upgraded this will be the 1st time I'll wait a couple of months to "upgrade" simply because CW didn't want my money any sooner.  Weird business model. 
 
As to the , well "I'll send you truckloads of flowers from all the worlds you stole from me" for a few milliseconds.
 
 
 
 
 

declan
Of all the times I've upgraded this will be the 1st time I'll wait a couple of months to "upgrade" simply because CW didn't want my money any sooner.  Weird business model. 

 
I've also struggled at times to figure out Cakewalk's behaviour.  My take is that first, the number of employees is very small indeed.  Next, that they are more interested in the technical aspects of their products than worrying about online stores and membership renewal strategies.
 
I'm constantly amazed by the presence and integrity of Cakewalk's employees here in these forums.  Their obvious desire to make us happy far outweighs the odd frustration I can experience.
 

declan

Karyn

declan
if the upgrade to SPLAT2016 was $199, as was strongly insinuated,  I was saying "no way" at a New Year's Eve party with 3 other Sonar users.
 
If CW had said a SPLAT upgrade was $99 months ago I'd never have been "shopping" the way I have been.
 
A $99 upgrade is a no-brainer for me, but I really do think CW has spent too much time selling the "membership model" rather than making people want the actual 2016 product.
 
I'm not being snarky here, but info coming out a couple of week before many "memberships" expire is at least a marketing strategy in any business I'm familiar with.

I think this is what Cakewalk didn't anticipate. (and I must admit that I didn't either).
 
What you're implying is because you felt $199 was too much to pay for another 12 months of updates and new stuff, you were planning on buying (or maybe have bought) an alternative DAW to use instead of Sonar... 
 
Why?  Were/are you under the impression that if you don't renew then Sonar will stop working??  How much is a new DAW?  $300?  $500?

Karyn, no I wasn't talking about buying another daw and I certainly know I own SPLAT2015. 
 
My point is $199 for a Sonar upgrade wasn't nearly as attractive as other software I have my eye on that may be $300 or $400.  
 
But consider this:  A year ago many here (like me) were saying $149 was a good deal (turned out to be great) but $199 would require a different "bird in the hand" impetus to "upgrade" this year. 
 
Now you're going to have to refund the guys that tried to re-up at $149 and it seems like they're getting blamed for complaining about the lack of information mere weeks before their "memberships" expire.
 
I can come up with $99 before March 31st and I'm sure I'll be quite happy, as usual.
 
And I got a Host/Mod to give me a "" on a forum for the 1st time.  Really lovely.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Since I purchased my annual "upgrade" mere hours before the $99.00 renewal was mentioned in a Cakewalk Store forum thread, and only a week before my subscription expired I would like to give the Marketing department the good ole .
 
I am happy to have my product upgraded regardless of the additional $50.00 cost however... it sure would have been nice to have a bit more of a heads up.

Anderton

bluesplayer

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]
We will have more information on that in the coming weeks.

 
This may just be my last year with CW, I've been with CW a LONG time (1989 - CW DOS Version 2) - but first time I've had to pre-pay for 100% UNKNOWN content & functionality.

 
Cakewalk has the same people, working at the same cadence, and they certainly haven't run out of ideas. So if you liked what happened in 2015, the odds are really high you'll like what happens in 2016. If you didn'tlike what happened in 2015, the odds are really high you won't like what happens in 2016. Same thing as deciding whether to renew a magazine you'd been receiving, or eat at a restaurant where you'd eaten before...your decision would depend on your previous experience.
 
In any event your existing software will still work 

Well Thanks Craig:  But will we be getting More Organ Grinders with a Plethora of New Adorable Monkeys??
:)

Sounds even less here @ £7.00 per month, or £1.61 per week.
 
That's roughly half a pint of beer.........

igiwigi
If they say you own what you paid for up to the point of staying or leaving,why can't we use a lot of fx vst's in another Daw. They are licenced to cakewalk and therefore you cannot own them ever.
I would like to use some fx In another daw at some point.

Some FXes from third companies are "Sonar only". You can get full versions of them if you want to use with other DAW. Most Cakewalks own plug-ins you can use everywhere.
 
You are not "owning" any software till you pay for the rights for that software. You can ask Tascam to sell you Sonar, but my guess it is not cheap
 
Normally you pay for software license, an agreement to use the software under some conditions. That can be number of computers, particular DAW, limited time. When you agree to be more restricted, you pay less. For example, you can get one month Sonar membership with the right to use all plug-ins inside it close for nothing. But after that month, you can not use anything.

I didn't expect to have any idea what next years updates might be. I was pleasantly surprised that they took the time to plan like that.  It makes good sense to communicate now that memberships are expiring I suppose.  I just assumed I would get an email and if I liked the price I would sign up.  
 
I am a little passionate about CW or I would not be on here but..hey, they don't owe me anything.   If you don't want incremental bug fixes or updates , buy logic or Pro tools. use the same crusty app for two years.   as far as using the built in VST in other apps.  They never promised me that either.  I could not have afforded it.  I know that.

I cancelled my monthly membership and paid the annual fee through cb without any hassles whatsoever....they remembered everything but the 3 digit code IIRC.