Matt

bitflipper
I am still on 8.5 and will likely remain there until SONAR un-does some of the changes made at X1 and propagated forward since. I've even considered abandoning Cakewalk for Studio One or Reaper, but decided there was no great benefit in doing so.

Out of curiosity what were the changes they made at X1 that you disagree with?  I'm sure if I search I could find a thread but this seems easier.  (EDIT oops I see I missed someone else asking the same thing.)

I'd posted a thread shortly after the X1 release that went into detail about why I'd concluded it was unusable for me. Wish I could remember the thread title...it had screenshots comparing automation envelopes in 8.5 versus X1, and that's my primary barrier: I hate X1-3 automation.
 
In 8.5, you can show as many automation envelopes as you like. You can simply hover the mouse over any one of them to identify it. You can switch from editing one to another with a single mouse click. And they're all visually overlaid over the audio waveform, which can be very important when the automation is tightly correlated to the audio.
 
In X1-3, you can only edit one envelope at a time. Other envelopes are dimmed to the point of sometimes disappearing into the background color. This makes it very hard to see how the envelopes relate to one another as well as to the audio. Envelopes are visually separated from the waveform. Switching between them involves expanding a dropdown list and making a selection, then re-finding the exact spot you wanted to drop in a node.
 
Having 2, 3, 4 or more hand-drawn envelopes on a track is normal for me, and they are usually correlated. As an example, if I want to increase a reverb send on a vocal to smear the end of a word, I bring the track volume down to mirror the send envelope so that the combined volume remains the same. Easy in 8.5, clumsy in X1-3.
 
While I was evaluating X123, I kept looking for enhancements compelling enough that they'd convince me to change the way I automate. There haven't been any. ProChannel? Don't need it, because I have plenty of third-party processors that are equal to if not superior to PC. Melodyne? I've had it since SONAR 5 days. Nomad plugins? Uh, no thanks. VST3? My compressors all sidechain just fine already. AD is very nice, but not going to replace Superior Drummer. Randomly-reassigned keyboard shortcuts...still trying to figure out how that's an enhancement. Ditto for unnecessarily hiding the polarity and interleave buttons.
 
I do like the overall look of the X series, and especially appreciate them finally putting all configuration options into a single dialog. Why that wasn't in SONAR 1 beats the heck outa me.
 
I used to upgrade every time, because each new version let me do something I either couldn't do before, or couldn't do conveniently. SONAR 6 gave me AudioSnap and ACT. SONAR 7 gave me sidechaining and the step sequencer. SONAR 8 added mono outputs, channel tools and Dim Pro. SONAR 8.5 came with new freeze options, an improved step sequencer and the very handy global effects bypass feature. 
 
None of the X-series versions has offered anything that screams "cool! now, finally, I can _____".

try the X2 demo, it'll give you enough idea of what X3 is like

Recently I upgraded from 8.5.3 to X3c, the main reason is VST3 support.
Generally, I'm not into X series' new GUI & shortcuts. For example, for almost 20 years, I really get used to hit F9 to "Select from now", F10 to "Select thru now", F7 to "Go to From", F8 to "Go to Thru"... D for drawing in PRV, E for Erase, S for select, etc etc... Now, they are assigned to something else... I can do key binding, however it takes hours to re assigned the way it worked before. So I just wonder why should Cakey replace them in the first place after 20 years?? There is SO MANY key/button left unused in the keyboard, why bother using the old shortcut to assign something new? It ruins the workflow... I already had that "Doh! Wrong button again... What did I press?" dozen times since I upgrade to X3.

It would be great if Cakey includes preset for the old shortcut to import. We have Cubase, Protools, etc key binding preset included, why not Sonar 8.5 compatible shortcut/keybinding preset to import?

So, one more thing to consider before you upgrade is are you ready for the new workflow / shortcuts? Just a thought.

I read this thread with interest simply because I was one of the people not overly happy with Sonar3 - Sonar8.53. Having been a dyed in the wool Logic user from Atari / PC until they dropped PC support, Sonar was behind the curve from my perspective. The X series stepped up the game. First of all, it looks great and is easier to move around and get things done. The 8.53 versions console for instance is limited and ugly to work with. Don't hate me, that's my opinion. I seldom used the console in the other versions. In the X series I'm there half the time. Mainly for group editing. On that note, selecting a group of channels and holding the cntrl key to make changes to all of those channels simultaneously is a huge workflow enhancer.
 
For me it is much easier/faster to group tracks, add sythns, audition sounds, way more flexible for creative/controlling efx with chains and essentially unlimited fx bins using the standard fx bin along with as many as your pc can handle in the prochannel. I really like the screensets and shortcuts to quickly bring up anything from a efx gui to the mixing console in the docker by simply pressing "d" or "shift d" for full screen. The prochannel really shouldn't be dismissed as just a collection of additional efx. It's much more than that. Not only are the modules well done - outstanding, the orderly and fast access to view what's happening on a channel is a time saver.  Melodyne, yes I've had that installed as well for quite some time. But it's dinosaur slow compared to the seamless integration of the ARA version one can use with X3. The console emulator introduced in the X series is good/enhancement/must have in my book. Love that subtle fx. Comping is just plain ole fast and easy now. Not much more to ask for. The browser introduced in X1 is easy on the eyes along with the drag and drop capability. One more thing I noticed, CPU usage is lower and more even for the same 8.53 projects in the X-series. 
 
Not having an audio editor built in (miss Logic there) is annoying to me still. I have SF so that's not a void, but I want one built in!!
 
I'm a licensed user of Reaper and Studio One 2. They're all good. So if 8.53 still gets you to where you're going stay with it. It's all about the music anyway. I like to keep up with the latest affordable tools that make the way I record and mix easier and in the end have a better sounding product. So I recommend upgrading. My 2-cents. 
 
I agree with one poster here in regards to Vista64. By the end of its' development, it was rock solid on my machine. 

My experience with the X series generally, and X3c in particular, mirrors musicroom's almost to the letter

Upgrading usually requires a new computer to get the same performance.
8.5 works. There's nothing in X3 I need except the future (of new bugs that will never be fixed).

> Why should I have to learn a new user interface 
 
75% of all office users felt the same when Windows 95 came out. After a year of using it and then shown a PC with Windows for Workgroups, they couldn't believe how they managed to work on it. The difference was between night and day.
 
As soon as X3 demo comes out install it, set aside two weeks of your life and learn it top to bottom I suggest.

Same happened when Microsoft totally redesigned their Office Suite to incorporate the now infamous "Ribbon"
 
An idea which has permeated into other software packages, including the X series of Sonar

The thinking here for a progressive group such as DAW users is puzzling. The sheer fact that we all record digitally, manipulate our data visually, work at sample levels... would imply we are basically a no fear, go for it smart group who want to enjoy the latest and greatest professional audio/midi tools. The irony here is that no one has to learn a new software. The learning curve is mild at best. Some changes, sure. That should be expected. Technology didn't stop in 2008. I just put a new sound system in the truck. With this type of thinking I'm reading here, I should be really ticked off the radio manufacturer removed the danged pushbuttons to select my AM stations! I'm still struggling to find the 8-track tape slot!! I had to actually read the manual to get the blue tooth and usb audio working (I didn't see any blue teeth anywhere). Why couldn't they just left it alone? Damn them!

Putting in a new stereo in your truck would be more analogous to buying a new plugin for your DAW. Not the same as replacing the truck with one that you steer with a joystick, apply the brakes by bouncing up and down in the seat and the ignition switch is hidden in the trunk. Sure, you could get used to that, but all you want is to get to the mall.