Cactus Music
I will stick with Sonar until it drops dead,, That might be a long time. This whole evaluation of other software really makes you realize how good we have it with Sonar. NONE of these other DAW's have ALL of the features we've been using. NONE. 
Cubase at this point ,, just reading, seems to be the closest because for me midi is important. I'm downloading it but It's Huge compared to the others at 9 GB,, Last time I tried the download wouldn't install. 9 GB?? it better e good. I have Cubase 5 LE and it's real boring. Came with my Tascam interface. 
 
I just downloaded MixBus and I think for straight audio it might have a unique sound. I imported a midi file , it sounded real good, I'll give them top marks for their version of TTS-1 but heLI if I could figure out how to edit or load a different VST. I also couldn't figure out how to do simple things like re size the work areas. It's certainly a reasonable price for the basic version at $100. But clicking a mouse does nothing so it's kind of like a beginner DAW. 
 
I also downloaded Mix Craft. Closer to Sonar in GUI and at least you could re size windows and find things. Much better interface than mix buss and opening it was logical and scanned my VST folders. So a step up from Mix Bus GUI and interface wise..  But,, I loaded a midi file and it injected a terrible sounding synth and for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to change it. I tried for 10 minutes. I don't care, if simple things like changing a VST are that hidden it's not for me. Price is reasonable but Home Studio would blow it out of the water. 
 
Cubase is hogging my internet so I can't try Studio 1 just yet . I have a free version from 2 years ago, not sure it's fair to compare it being it was free so more like Sonar LE. It was like Cubase LE and boring. 

I didn't realize until tonight that the Cubase 8.5 demo requires an e-licenser. Means I can't try it out. I'd consider buying it, if I could test drive it first, but I don't want to buy an e-licenser to test something I may never purchase. Too bad. I hear its the best for midi implementation...

"My understanding is Splat projects won't open in earlier versions. It's not backward compatible"
You are correct sir! (how did I miss that? Why am I asking you?)
Now that sucks!
(edit)
I've been watching Cubase vids, demoing MixCraft, working in SO3 a little.
None of them are Splat; basically I've wasted a day I could have spent in the studio.
I'll "hang" with Cubase on Tuesday, but no x86 version, and the dongle, just doesn't excite me. (my office rig is x86)
I'm going to "sit tight" until I leave Win 7, and that may be awhile; I'm less motivated than ever!
Danny's advice below really is the best way to go; don't panic, run with what you know.
T

I'm just about there...I'm going S1 3 Pro...

I came from Cubase and don't want to go 
back.  Too expensive.
 

I've used SO3 Pro for several months.  I really like most of it, but the lack of track templates is a PITA; especially with multitrack drums.  Other than, the mixer/console view gets really visually mucky once you a few tracks and buses in it ... which leads to my favorite thing about Reaper.  Tracks are tracks are buses are folders.
 
Someone above mentioned it being a tweaker's DAW.  I agree.  But that is a pro not a con.  The good news is you can use it as is and gradually change menus and toolbars to be an exact fit for what you want.
 
SO3 Pro is really close for me.  It has a lot to like.
 
I'm on Reaper for now

I am switching to Cubase. As mostly midi in-the-box, that seemed like the best approach for me.
I"ll keep both running for as long as Sonar remains functional. I wanted to prepare for the inevitable migration when either a Microsoft update or Sonar licensing hicks up.
 
 
 

I'm 95% gonna go Studio One. Still considering Cubase, but the lack of ARA is very dissapointing.

My 2 cents on a part of this journey.
 
Can’t really comment with authority on DAW’s alien to my understanding. They may be Allah’s gift to the last generation of humanity, but if I can’t get something to work out of frustration, got to stay open that it may be operator error, ignorance on my part and not the fault of the program. Reed survives change because it is flexible, that kind of esoteric crap and the like.
 
My opinion only, if Splat or Splunk or whatever the hell they call it is working, no need to jump ship. Probability is that the program will function as is for many years. You are secure, up and running for a long time to come. Sonar as it is may outlast any of us.
 
If there is a hard on failure, bug in your workflow that Sonar has not resolved (and there are many of them), sinking of the Titanic should not be a big issue. If you laid down the full admission price for lifetime upgrades in the last week or so, yeah, lot to get upset about and I don’t see a penny coming back to compensate you for your trust.
 
Only know about Reaper and a small bit about Studio 1.
 
As said in truth, Reaper has evolved by tweekers for the tweekers especially over the last several years. Fast and furious point updates with a myriad of fixes and implementations that I can’t follow or see how the improvements will do anything for my workflow.
 
This said, the sublime workflow in Reaper is unique across all DAWs. Will frustrate you severely if you are doing the demo and don’t have a lot of initial patience to absorb Reaper’s bigger picture. It just ain’t civilized, it ain’t christian.
 
Agree that the midi editing needs some more love, but the unisex attribution of a track, neither midi nor audio, is pure genius once we get beyond the prejudice we have been beaten into accepting and expecting.
 
I’d advise to do what I did. Get yourself sequestered in the bomb shelter. Shut off all distractions. Fire up the Reaper demo. Get frustrated, swear at the thing because it don’t work like Sonar. Curse the product. Curse idiots like me recommending the demo. Go the extra step and fight with the thing for awhile. The Aha moment will happen when things start to make sense and fall into place with elegance. You will not look back.
 
Thank you guys for your respected input on Cubase, Mixbus, Bitwig, Mixcraft. others. I got a lot to learn. Only thing I am certain about is that the future is brighter than bright for every one of us.
 
John

Fleer,
Have just returned from the mountain top.
Allah has delegated all things relating to DAWs to Buddha.
We are spiritually safe, but of far greater importance, politically correct.
Best to you brother,
John

But what does his holy noodleness think?

@Danny, for me it’s a hardware consideration, I want to keep using my Mac Pro. Bootcamp was just a PITA. Since the lack of a Mac version of Sonar happened. I’ve given up on the idea of Sonar for the future. With a DAW platform that is cross OS compatible, I can learn it again more thoroughly and when the time comes I can’t afford a new Mac all my projects can be switched over easily.

I'm going to use the other DAWs I have.  I had half of them on the Music Radar "poll".

cclarry

Danny Danzi

cclarry
In response to Danny...WHY?

While Sonar will continue to work for a while, if it does not get
picked up, it most CERTAINLY will die.  So, why wait until the 
LAST MINUTE?  Continue working it what you already know
while LEARNING the new one, and then make the transition
slowly.  Better than to wake up one day in the middle of a MAJOR
PROJECT, and find that your DAW no longer works...

Thanks for the reply. But I'm lost. How will it die? If I have say win 7 on a box and sonar plat with my code for forever since I paid for a lifetime subscription per Noel's latest post, how will sonar die? I see it dying two ways.

1. I put a version of windows on that doesn't support sonar. That won't happen because I never upgrade my OS. I buy a new machine and have all my old ones in working order. From win 98 SE, vista, XP, 7, 10 and have cake pro audio 9 through to plat between all of them. They still work. So I'm lost.

2. If Noel isn't correct and I don't receive my forever code....that is the only way I see myself not using sonar. I have all my software backed up, my systems all have drive back ups, so I feel pretty good. If I'm missing something Larry, please let me know? Heck I could use Sonar X2 or X3 and still be completely satisfied.

Sonar, as it is, may not die for you being on Win 7.  Most are on Win 10, and with constant updates
eventually it WILL cease to funtion.  Furthermore, like 8 Tracks and Cassettes, eventually it WILL
become "Obsolete".  Hey I'm not saying you can't "tie your system down and make it keep working".
I'm sure if you still had a 286 Machine you could run Win 3.1 just fine.  But the prudence is pretty
self explanatory.

But you are free to keep your machine antiquated if that works for you....but it, too, will EVENTUALLY
die.

 Acid Pro 7 still working on W10. Developers haven't stopped putting out 32 bit.  I've decided to keep installing 32 bit for Acid.  Just tested Spire on it.  Too bad there wasn't a full midi window for it.  This was going to be my DAW of choice. See what happen to it.  There are also users still messing with Project 5.

I tried many bought Cubase Elements then tried out Mixcraft....I loved Mixcraft from the very first look at the demo. I had a few problems with the 64 bit version, uninstalled it and installed the 32 bit version and everything then worked great. I loaded up a test audio track in just a few seconds, I then loaded up a video track in just a few seconds, both worked perfectly on the first try. I was even able to edit the video in just a few seconds. This program is so easy for me to use I love it and won't miss Sonar at all. Granted I don't know the whole program yet, but from what I've seen so far, it's awesome !!!!!!!