marled

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
Regarding BandLab you have to understand what its designed for and the target audience. Its a mobile platform intended to be easy to use and collaborative. Its actually way more evolved than Momentum and has the right balance of editing, capture, social and collaboration tools. For many that's all they need and a DAW would be overwhelming.  I personally find web/mobile applications that try to do too much counter productive since advanced editing is not what most people use such devices for. 

That is exactly what worries me! I realize that a lot of us including me do not fit into their target group. We are not a part of this playful young facebook-iphone-generation that always wants more whenever it is new! I think for plenty of us this is the reason why we have chosen Sonar and not one of those contemporary toy DAWs!

I think our demographic needs to accept that there won't be enough of us in a few years for a company to make a living selling us tools.  For better or worse, BandLab and others need to look for a market that is growing, not shrinking.
 
The world is changing, and it has always been a young persons world.
 
I remember watching the Ed Sullivan show with my parents when the Beatles were introduced to the states, and my father thought it was the end of civilization.  But we somehow survived.  He was a professional musician, but he never liked rock and roll.  He said anybody could get a guitar and play 3 chords.  Ha! 

Good news.

This is really good news. Nice to see that it will live on. Rock on. 

We need to be realistic.  A new company can honor the lifetime updates and go under in a year.  Does that help anyone?  Or it can come up with reasonable charges for improved updates and perhaps stay in business for more years.
 
I think those are the realistic choices.  Any complaint about the lifetime updates should be directed at Gibson - not this new company - at least from the information I have at the moment.   Someone else may know more.

Great news and it sounds like fairness is part of your thinking for those who have invested over the years with a "no cross-over/cross-grade" fees approach to keep and maintain what we own now while making the product ready for future upgrades and enhancements. Seems most likely such new features and changes will require additional investment but understanding that all of these benefits cost money to create, market and sell - in order to do it well, an that's what we all want anyway.
 
I actually didn't truly believe Gibson (or anyone else) could honor a "lifelong no further investment needed promise" even thought I bought and paid for it - especially in a day and age where subscription models are required for software companies to sustain positive development and growth plans, which a ways require fresh cash!
 
Thank Meng, we appreciate you already. 

abacab

marled

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
Regarding BandLab you have to understand what its designed for and the target audience. Its a mobile platform intended to be easy to use and collaborative. Its actually way more evolved than Momentum and has the right balance of editing, capture, social and collaboration tools. For many that's all they need and a DAW would be overwhelming.  I personally find web/mobile applications that try to do too much counter productive since advanced editing is not what most people use such devices for. 

That is exactly what worries me! I realize that a lot of us including me do not fit into their target group. We are not a part of this playful young facebook-iphone-generation that always wants more whenever it is new! I think for plenty of us this is the reason why we have chosen Sonar and not one of those contemporary toy DAWs!

I think our demographic needs to accept that there won't be enough of us in a few years for a company to make a living selling us tools.  For better or worse, BandLab and others need to look for a market that is growing, not shrinking.
 
The world is changing, and it has always been a young persons world.
 
I remember watching the Ed Sullivan show with my parents when the Beatles were introduced to the states, and my father thought it was the end of civilization.  But we somehow survived.  He was a professional musician, but he never liked rock and roll.  He said anybody could get a guitar and play 3 chords.  Ha! 

Partially I agree. But I like to note that there are already a lot of youngster DAWs on the market (=a lot of competition), whereas the DAWs for a mature audience are shrinking. So I believe there is a niche market for that. I understand that BandLab is surely not the right company for that, but Cakewalk was! I think for us older generation it would have been better if Sonar died and we got a key for local activation!

Thank you, Meng, and welcome. I slept a lot better on Friday night after reading this great announcement. Thanks for communicating with us. One thing you will realize is that one of Cakewalk's greatest strengths has been this user forum. Everyone from beginner to expert can learn or share something of value here. I'm also happy that Noel will be part of this to bring his years of expertise with Sonar to the table. I'm looking forward to seeing what BandLab Technologies can add to Cakewalk's products and what new things I may be able to do using your tools. I'm excited at the prospect. 

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
I'm sure Meng will chime in but you can rest assured that SONAR is not going to be dumbed down. The addition of SONAR completes BandLab's ecosystem by adding professional desktop production to their mobile platform.

 
That's the way I see it too, particularly with SONAR being able to offer "the next step" for users who were raised on mobile. BandLab didn't have a next step before, but they do now 
 
 
I think what a lot of the "oldsters" may be forgetting is that they all started somewhere. Music has always been a discipline that not everyone is willing to learn - there are a lot of starter guitars and keyboards sitting in closets. But if those coming up can have a gratifying musical experience easily, it gives them the incentive to take it further.
 
I've known quite a few DJs who after DJing for a while started learning an instrument because they wanted to continue to evolve. It wouldn't surprise me if for some people, the mobile BandLab approach becomes the "gateway drug" to an eventual lifelong interest in pursuing music.
 
 
 
 

Dear Bandlab,
 
Hoping this question is OK. I ask with sincere interest and respect.
 
I would like to know, as a Sonar lifer since the early 90's if I choose to use my Sonar Platinum as it is today will I be able to do that? I mean re install on a new pc or laptop down the road, etc. We heard promises of an "activation algorithm" from prior owners and now that seems to be gone?
 
Thank You very much
Frank L.  

stratman70
Dear Bandlab,
 
Hoping this question is OK. I ask with sincere interest and respect.
 
I would like to know, as a Sonar lifer since the early 90's if I choose to use my Sonar Platinum as it is today will I be able to do that? I mean re install on a new pc or laptop down the road, etc. We heard promises of an "activation algorithm" from prior owners and now that seems to be gone?
 
Thank You very much
Frank L.  

That question was already answered by Noel.  BandLab acquired the server backend from Cakewalk intact, so no interruption will happen.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3731449