Anderton

lawpi would rather they bundled less & lowered the price

Sounds to me like you want X3 Studio Edition. It's basically Producer, but bundles less and lowers the price. Here's a comparison chart.

yes I think you're probably right, once some of the issues are resolved

Been following the thread. All of it!!

Craig has confirmed what I have been saying since I started using X1:

This is just the beginning
They have something up their sleeves.
The new GUI was done to make it easier to change things, the things to come!

I will agree also with all who have said that this is the best upgrade yet!

But let me point out something that hasn't been mentioned. The Tone2 plug is the full version. And it's fantastic!! Do not miss it!!

Great job CW Team!!

It seems to me that the consensus is clear X3 rocks.  

CakeAlexS
So the Melodyne offer has expired?.... crap.

Strictly speaking, the Melodyne offer ended in October, but I contacted them directly a day late, and they sorted me out and said they were extending it through November. Just go and look up the customer services email on their site. Really nice helpful people.

I can confirm the Melodyne $149 upgrade offer was valid in 2Nov without me asking. I registered the version that came with X3 and then I was asked if I wanted to upgrade..

Sonar X3 is a fine development of the software. 
 
I think that the key point here, though, is that the price structure has changed quite a bit since Sonar 7 and 8.  At this point, the Producer edition's added value, versus Studio, is entirely in bundled plugins.  The extra cost to upgrade to X3 Producer from X2 Producer still represents a decent price for that bundle, if it offers you something of value - a few of the ProChannel effects and some of the VST instruments are certainly useful, although most of these are accessible even if an X2 Producer user upgrades to X3 Studio.  Both XLN and Celemony seem to be stand-up companies committed to ensuring that no-one falls through the cracks if they already own the software, etc.
 
Nonetheless, it's a fact that the price structure has changed, such that the Studio edition offers power in the core software comparable to what in the old days was available only in the Producer edition. 
 
I really wonder why Cakewalk hasn't marketed this as a drastic price drop in the Producer edition, and introduced a new "suite" edition above the Producer edition.  I think that is a missed opportunity for them.
 
I also think that for those on the Producer upgrade path, the gradual erosion of its superiority in the core software means that Cakewalk risks having them hop down to Studio.  What then happens when Producer once more gains the killer feature absent in Studio?  More griping I suppose...

Grem
Been following the thread. All of it!!

Craig has confirmed what I have been saying since I started using X1:

This is just the beginning
They have something up their sleeves.
The new GUI was done to make it easier to change things, the things to come!

I will agree also with all who have said that this is the best upgrade yet!

But let me point out something that hasn't been mentioned. The Tone2 plug is the full version. And it's fantastic!! Do not miss it!!

Great job CW Team!!

That sounds great and Craig is a huge asset but unfortunately for some the "the things to come" won't include decent notation.

I will side somewhat with the OP view.  In all honesty, if I got a "do over," I don't think I would buy X3 Pro.  I see the value that the majority of you enjoy in the product but in my situation, the extras didn't trump what I already own.  I'm not angry about it or disappointed about it.  It's just how I feel about it.  I should have bought the studio version, X3 or non at all.



 

Mod Bod
I will side somewhat with the OP view.  In all honesty, if I got a "do over," I don't think I would buy X3 Pro.  I see the value that the majority of you enjoy in the product but in my situation, the extras didn't trump what I already own.  I'm not angry about it or disappointed about it.  It's just how I feel about it.  I should have bought the studio version, X3 or non at all.



 

A really cool part of the deal is that XLN will give you other stuff if you already own Addictive Drums.  I wasn't going to upgrade but I'd get things I would buy anyway from XLN so it ends up being pretty cheap and MAYBE some of my X2 bugs will be fixed.

vintagevibe

Grem
Been following the thread. All of it!!

Craig has confirmed what I have been saying since I started using X1:

This is just the beginning
They have something up their sleeves.
The new GUI was done to make it easier to change things, the things to come!

I will agree also with all who have said that this is the best upgrade yet!

But let me point out something that hasn't been mentioned. The Tone2 plug is the full version. And it's fantastic!! Do not miss it!!

Great job CW Team!!

That sounds great and Craig is a huge asset but unfortunately for some the "the things to come" won't include decent notation.

Actually I still have my fingers crossed on this one. I hope they address it in the next version. I don't know how high it is on their list of priorities. currently I am waiting for the next survey to come out. I will make it my number one choice for improvement.