I know, weird thing to ask for...
 
And I totally understand if you don't like the cut steam takes for its distribution and maybe some of their contract details don't mesh with what you need.  But if Steam is out of the question for any reason, maybe you could make your installs similar to XLN's online installer, which is a little bit like Steam...
 
So, why am I even asking? Several reasons:
 
1) Over the versions, you keep changing the 3rd party tools supplied.  So installing Sonar after you had to wipe windows once again, or just cause you have a new hard drive or computer, which ends up happening way more often than I'd like, becomes a major undertaking, as you have to basically install every previous version of Sonar if you want some of the filters or synths they came with.  If there was an XLN alike online installer, where you can pick what you want to install from a list of all products you own, it would be a lot less of a headache...
 
2) Just because optional automated installs and updates are really nice.
 
3) It could also function like Windows system file checker, automatically checking, updating and repairing corrupted or outdated files when we have problems.
4) We're not allowed to transfer (sell, gift) the software anyway, so having it registered to one's Steam account wouldn't have any negatives for Cakewalk users, none that I can think of, anyway...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

WTF is Steam?

A popular online software distribution tool (65 million users) with a user client, that allows fully automated installation from their repository of software for which you own the license. Users still can choose if they want to buy the software directly from the developer or through Steam.
 
XLN's Online installer (Addictive Drums) is somewhat similar, for convenience and simplicity purposes, but of course, only works for XLN's stuff and nothing else.

The other day we had somebody who gained a considerable performance increase if they so happened to be playing grand theft auto at the same time. I guess this is the next logical progression ;)

IIRC Music Creator is, at least was, available via Steam. While it isn't quite the full meal deal of X3 Producer it is quite full of features. You might want to take a look at that.
 
Regards,

it still is, and there's a bunch of z3ta expansion packs on sale right now

mmorgan
IIRC Music Creator is, at least was, available via Steam. While it isn't quite the full meal deal of X3 Producer it is quite full of features. You might want to take a look at that.

not exactly the thing to switch to when you're already using X3 Producer?
 
Its good though, that means the Cakewalk guys are already doing business with Steam / Valve...

CakeAlexS
The other day we had somebody who gained a considerable performance increase if they so happened to be playing grand theft auto at the same time. I guess this is the next logical progression ;)

That's rather interesting, but sounds extremely implausible  ;-)
 
I'd rather not run games along with Sonar X3, but I'd love to solve the installation issue after upgrades, where its really time consuming to install the many excellent plugins from your old Sonar versions that have been removed from the newest version.
 
Of course any other solution to this problem would be just as well with me :)

It was rather tounge and cheek but had some basis in fact. It allowed a nvidia graphics card to go into the right PCI mode (using Sonar wouldn't trigger the right PCI mode, and consequently stuttering effects were experienced).

n13L5
I know, weird thing to ask for...
 
And I totally understand if you don't like the cut steam takes for its distribution and maybe some of their contract details don't mesh with what you need.  But if Steam is out of the question for any reason, maybe you could make your installs similar to XLN's online installer, which is a little bit like Steam...
 
So, why am I even asking? Several reasons:
 
1) Over the versions, you keep changing the 3rd party tools supplied.  So installing Sonar after you had to wipe windows once again, or just cause you have a new hard drive or computer, which ends up happening way more often than I'd like, becomes a major undertaking, as you have to basically install every previous version of Sonar if you want some of the filters or synths they came with.  If there was an XLN alike online installer, where you can pick what you want to install from a list of all products you own, it would be a lot less of a headache...
 
2) Just because optional automated installs and updates are really nice.
 
3) It could also function like Windows system file checker, automatically checking, updating and repairing corrupted or outdated files when we have problems.
4) We're not allowed to transfer (sell, gift) the software anyway, so having it registered to one's Steam account wouldn't have any negatives for Cakewalk users, none that I can think of, anyway...

 
We love Steam. Been a great partnership with them so far. We'll keep it in mind :)