Why should I stop complaining?

I finally installed X1 last night... what I saw wrenched my gut.

I just wanna be happy... I don't know why they had to destroy a good thing just too provide entertainment to the hobby lobby.

I gotta find a new DAW.

I don't even want to spend today fixing all the colors to make X1 look less ugly.

Black backgrounds? .....Really?

High contrast lettering right next to No contrast lettering. .....Really?

I see myself learning PT9 and using an old version of SONAR for MIDI comping until I find another MIDI editor. I hope to find one that has the features that I have hoped and dreamed SONAR would have some day.

It seems like a huge step backwards to have to learn a second program while clinging to skills that I can use with a program that is being driven into the ground by misdirection.

I can't figure out why Cakewalk didn't choose to simply improve their 90% perfect DAW... instead they took the functionality it down to 70%, made it look ugly, and have pretended some toy like efx represent technical accomplishment.

It is depressing... almost like learning the heads on the tape deck are worn out and it's gonna cost more than I'll pay for new ones.

Two days ago, a producer/engineer with a dozen RnB gold and few platinum credits drove over and sat at my DAW and gave me a master class on PT9. I don't even know another face to face contact person that uses SONAR.

With PT9 I get to enjoy the company of a person who is willing to help me learn something powerful simply because he senses that empowerment is a great gift.

I had a great work flow in SONAR, one that pummeled the work arounds with tenacity and speed... now I have to start over... none of the work arounds have been streamlined and now it takes more steps to do everything. That just plain sucks.

It's been a long trip... and I feel like I just got kicked off the train by a mob of folks that should have been more than happy with Home Studio. I feel that it is a shame that ego and financial status requires the amateur hobbyist to own the top tier product... even when they don't know what all the extra stuff does.

It seems that Cakewalk intends to placate the frustrations of people who purchase technology that they are not prepared to understand. For the past 5 years Cakewalk has engaged in both smoke and mirrors marketing and dummy down development... which is a typical, perhaps classical, symptom of a mature technology abandoned as a products to be consumed as light entertainment.

I'll continue with my license... or I may ask for a refund.

I think I'll be using 8.5 for a long while.

The nausea is still sort of unsettling.

all the best to all of you,
mike

John T,
 You've been blocked for weeks. So I have no idea what you are saying up there. :-)

 If it's helpful, I can start CC'g you when ever I post... just so you can be sure get fist crack at saying whatever ugly things you wish to say. You might find it relaxing to not have to stalk so closely.

best regards,
mike


as usual: edit spelling

But then how does Mike get to be special god damn it? It's not fair.

It's a view backed by reasoning and voiced without hysteria.

I can accept that without trying to invalidate it.

My experience may end up being different, but  it still doesn't invalidate this view which has been clearly stated.

So indeed Mike, why should you stop complaining?

It gives me another reference to consider when a trial version becomes available, which is a necessity for me before I make any decision to adopt.

My current DAW is likely operating in the high 90th percentile of my current requirements so I am not in any hurry and I'm always aware that is an open market with many competing products.

So carry on complaining or praising I'm all ears and grateful for people that jump in before I'm prepared to, and illuminating the big picture.

Seeing someone complaining about "being thrown back ten years" in the same breath as complaining about having to use a (not all that) modern mouse is just hilarious.

mike_mccue


I finally installed X1 last night... what I saw wrenched my gut.

I just wanna be happy... I don't know why they had to destroy a good thing just too provide entertainment to the hobby lobby.

Because it's the hobby lobby that's paying their bills. That I understand. When I started with Cakewalk about 8 years ago, I was the hobby lobby and for all intents and purposes it did a great job and I imagine that in that sense, it still does.
The part I don't understand is why Cakewalk insists on catering strictly to this demographic when every other major platform out there is falling over themselves to appeal to the more "professional" crowd. And why? Because people don't buy Pro Tools because it's the best, they buy it because that's what the "pros" use. Just like everything else. The majority of people don't buy Gibsons guitars because they are the best (and I'm not saying they are or aren't), they buy them because that's what their favorite rockstars use. My point is that Cakewalk would do well to build their reputation as a viable alternative to the "big boys" instead of changing the the look and GUI for no apparent reason. Trust me, no one is switching from Nuendo or Pro Tools to SONAR because SONAR did a cosmetic overhaul or added the "pro" channel.

Having said that, Pro Tools 9, really? This program is so far behind that they should be embarrassed. Now they have ADC, an increased track count, and can run natively on any audio interface. Wow, welcome to the year 2003 :(

These cars, you can't even feed them hay. It'll never catch on.

Yes Mike. I'm not trying to offend you and I don't know but perhaps you should cross-grade (down grade) to a DAW that are the opposite to SONAR X1. Out date!

You find it here-----> http://www.avid.com/us/products/family/pro-tools


Best Regards
Freddie

Man

Personally i don't think Sonar will ever replace Protools as the 'Pro' choice, too many people have money and ego invested in taht now. So Cake made a business decision lets go for the money. Funnily enough one thats recently be echoed by AVID, because if allowing PT to be used by any interface what have they done but dumb it down. They have obviously decided that PT is so entrenched in the pro world that they are safe to go after the hobby market as well, good luck to them inspired timing.

So cake are trying to offer something new that will appeal to people in a different way, its bold and to be applauded, its not worked with you, but a lot of people will like it.

They probably figure that most 'pro' users are going to jump ship anyway so what do they have to lose.

For my money you were looking for an excuse to jump to PT9, just man up and say its probably better now for your needs.

Personally I bought Pt9 yesterday, but i did not do it becuase X1 is bad, i did it becuase its a sound business decision. I will upgrade to X1 becuase its relatively cheap and because i still like the way certain things work, I am curious and becuase i am a host whore :) However my eyes are WIDE OPEN and i will not be on here slagging Cake off if i don't like the product. I may even wait until the demo comes out so i don't waste any money. An option that you had.

G

Personally i don't think Sonar will ever replace Protools as the 'Pro' choice, too many people have money and ego invested in taht now. So Cake made a business decision lets go for the money. Funnily enough one thats recently be echoed by AVID, because if allowing PT to be used by any interface what have they done but dumb it down. They have obviously decided that PT is so entrenched in the pro world that they are safe to go after the hobby market as well, good luck to them inspired timing.

Boy, is Avid going to get an education.  Now that they have gone native they will have to deal with anyone with a Laptop and a sound card.   Or some, who have the most convoluted PC systems that you can imagine.

Mod Bod

Personally i don't think Sonar will ever replace Protools as the 'Pro' choice, too many people have money and ego invested in taht now. So Cake made a business decision lets go for the money. Funnily enough one thats recently be echoed by AVID, because if allowing PT to be used by any interface what have they done but dumb it down. They have obviously decided that PT is so entrenched in the pro world that they are safe to go after the hobby market as well, good luck to them inspired timing.

Boy, is Avid going to get an education.  Now that they have gone native they will have to deal with anyone with a Laptop and a sound card.   Or some, who have the most convoluted PC systems that you can imagine.

there is a list of "Avid Approved" PCs and interfaces, i don't think there will be too much support for every odd system...

OOPS!

Double Post !

ross g2

Mod Bod

Personally i don't think Sonar will ever replace Protools as the 'Pro' choice, too many people have money and ego invested in taht now. So Cake made a business decision lets go for the money. Funnily enough one thats recently be echoed by AVID, because if allowing PT to be used by any interface what have they done but dumb it down. They have obviously decided that PT is so entrenched in the pro world that they are safe to go after the hobby market as well, good luck to them inspired timing.

Boy, is Avid going to get an education.  Now that they have gone native they will have to deal with anyone with a Laptop and a sound card.   Or some, who have the most convoluted PC systems that you can imagine.

there is a list of "Avid Approved" PCs and interfaces, i don't think there will be too much support for every odd system...

You can say you aren't going to support a platform but it doesn't stop the questions or people who don't bother to read the system requirements.
 
Cakewalk updates it's system requirements and almost immediately people were asking if it will run on non supported  or marginal hardware.
 
Sure, some folks are dummies but it's those, who make the same bad decisions knowing full well what happened the last bad decision they made, who are the ones who scream the loudest it seems.  Avid will have it's fun, I'm sure.

I think the mistake was having Sonar in the program name. To all intents and purposes it's a different program that happens to behave a bit like Sonar. That's how I see it anyway.

I have had plenty of frustration trying to do some things that were second nature in 8.5 only to discover it's completely different in X1. Once I've found the 'new' way though so far, most of the 'new' ways have been an improvement for me.

Try using the mute tool the old way (press K) and you'll see what I mean. Even the manual wasn't overly clear on the new method but now I've discovered it (press F10 to switch between mute tool & erase) and I find it an improvement. It does seem to have become more keyboard driven, which I personally prefer. I'd chuck my mouse away tomorrow if I could.

I'm slowly getting to grips with the shortcuts and I think once I've got used to the 'new program' I'm gonna love it.

I am one of the 'hobby bobby lobby bunch' though so I can sympathise if you're earning a living from it. Must seem like someone's just turned out the lights and pulled the rug from under your feet at the same time.