Lets be clear, this is XLN's doing, not Cakewalk.
 
Also, they can legally do it because we bought a license to use the software, not the software itself and I'm pretty sure their End User License Agreement states that they can do exactly what they did.
 
I am certain there are ways to protect your installation (disk image, etc) so that in the event of a hardware failure you can recover.

Gawwuf
I have been a long user of Cakewalk software, and love the Sonar X series, I upgrade right away, it seems like a slap in the face that only new users can get this upgrade to Addicted Drums 2.
 
Just sayin.
 

Really? How much did you pay for Sonar and upgrades after that? How long have you had use of Sonar? I can't imagine why you would expect freebies, Sonar is tremendous value.

And really do you need AD2? I'm rapidly concluding I don't need it. What is wrong with AD1?

I agree with other posters, XLN should offer the ability to create an offline installer.
 
[EDITED FOR TYPO - I wrote AD1 rather than AD2]

This debate has no clear cut winner. Good point that someone else is a johnny come lately and gets more goodies at a cheaper price. Irritating no matter how you justify. One the other hand, I can see the point of hey, you did pay more and received less - but you got to use the software for several months before the discount buyers got on board. Been on both sides of that - CIP, I recently bought harrison mixbus for 19.99. I imagine there are more than a few loyal users of that software that feels a little raw after dropping a couple of bills on HMB only to see people like me get it for the same price of 2-person meal special at chili's. When HMB upgrades to V3.0, I'm in line for that as well.
 
Waiting can be a good thing. Especially when you consider that we could record and produce successfully to the end of time with the tools we have now. In my opinion, this is the software companies' blunder. If we wait, it's proven to be a better financial decision of course given that we really have all we need now, and... I do.

Honestly I thought what they did last time with the SONAR Content Club of the month was a great solution. It rewarded early adopters by giving them more perks but also enticed new purchasers with monthly incentives.
 
Also, I'm just sour grapes that I missed out on the free CA-2A & AD2 upgrade...would have loved that!!

I'm pretty sure you CAN do offline installs. Look around their site I'm pretty sure I read it there somewhere.
 
Also, I have the brushes kit and it does upgrade when you do the AD2 upgrade. All the paks are upgraded to the new version with AD2. One last thing, AD1 will still be supported for the time being. How long that is I don't know.
 
It was interesting programming the brushes. I've played drums lots of times but never the brushes. I learned that you have to start sweeps ahead of the beat, either by an 1/8 note or 1/4, depending on the sweep.
 
Personally, I think it's worth the upgrade price because it sounds so much better. I even saying this and I'm stuck not using AD2 properly because the individual outs aren't working for me at presend. I'm stuck with the main outs only.

Gawwuf
I have been a long user of Cakewalk software, and love the Sonar X series, I upgrade right away, it seems like a slap in the face that only new users can get this upgrade to Addicted Drums 2.
 
Just sayin.
 

dwardzala
Lets be clear, this is XLN's doing, not Cakewalk.
 
Also, they can legally do it because we bought a license to use the software, not the software itself and I'm pretty sure their End User License Agreement states that they can do exactly what they did.
 
I am certain there are ways to protect your installation (disk image, etc) so that in the event of a hardware failure you can recover.

Is the actual gripe against "new users" getting a better deal at time of purchase than the early adopters?
 
OR
 
If we are going by the "logic" of the OP.........the people who bought X3 in March 2014 and got the free AD2 upgrade, should also be getting for free all future upgrades to AD3??? AD4??? AD5 etc....???
 
 

All this speculation that they're going to stop supporting AD1 is just that - speculation.
 
AD1 isn't dead - it's just not being sold anymore.  
XLN has a record of great customer service. They haven't said that they aren't going to stop supporting AD1, kill the licensor/installer mechanism - just not sell it anymore. 
 
The add-on packs will now include the AD2 player. So if you only want an add-on pack or two you don't have to upgrade to AD2 (previously you had to own the base package to use any of the add-on packs) - you can buy it and use it with the included AD2 engine, you just won't be able to use it in conjunction with the AD1.  But hey (the nonbackward compatibility) that isn't out of line with way most plug-ins work.
 

There's nothing to stop you from continuing to use AD1 except the knowledge that AD2 is lurking out there, taunting you to upgrade.
 
I know that this is hard for many us - I mean this is software !
How can I be a man if I don't own the latest release and have it installed on all my computers? Could I live without my wife rolling her eyes yet again as I try to explain the benefits of upgrading something she doesn't understand or care about?  Her tender, loving comments of 'didn't that do-hicky you bought last week do the same thing?' and others just serve to remind me of the emptiness that comes of not having something new to install...
 
...Steven
 
 

Guitarpima
I'm pretty sure you CAN do offline installs. Look around their site I'm pretty sure I read it there somewhere.

Not really I'm afraid:
http://www.xlnaudio.com/support-knowledge_base-offline_installation_of_addictive_drums
 
There might be a hack to nick the installer package from the temporary folders during an install however this has bypassed me so far.
 
The problem is what happens if XLN went bust and their package/registration servers went permanently offline?
BTW really I do like online installers as long as they allow me to back up the package (Native Instruments Service Centre for instance is a classic example). I hope Cakewalk does something as slick as XLN online installer (that also allows me to backup the packages so it isn't required to be online) with X4/X5.
 
 

AD1 is dead? Oh no! I will always remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news. RIP AD1.