I was very late in getting into the DAW world. I started with 8.5! Cakewalk was my first DAW and I've never bought one from another company.

1999 here, I think it was cakewalk 8 pro, and an echo Mona.

Sonar V2. Simply because I was (and still is) using Roland gear and I thought a daw from the same company would be convenient when troubleshooting (Here, in JP, Sonar has been sold and supported by Roland since the early days. Didn't know what Cakewalk was when I bought Sonar. Thought it was a new brand from Roland, just like Edirol. X3 is going to be sold and supported by them too until Tascum is ready).

To be honest, I was sad to see Roland letting Cakewalk go. My dream was Sonar Producer coming with the software version of D-50, and XP-50 too (because I used to use it and still own it).

As for loyalty, I don't know what that is. I choose products based on quality (and looks :p). If I find some other daw from some other company better, I'll use it as my main daw.

Danny Danzi

vintagevibe
If X2 was your main DAW but they left too many bugs in it would you upgrade to get bug fixes?

I'll be impaled for this vintage, but no, I would not. As a matter of fact, as soon as that happens with a company with me, I leave them. That said, I might rethink that only because of how cool the bakers have been to anyone that approaches them like a human being. If you have tried tech support and you have tried email and bug reports etc and you are still unhappy, I'd try and talk to one of the accessible bakers you see on the forum if you can. I know that may not fix bugs, but you never know where the solid communication may land you.
 
I say that due to my own negligence. I like to think I know my way around Sonar pretty good. Many times I thought something was a bug....actually, I was POSITIVE it was a bug and it was pilot error. I'm not saying that's true in your case as I know several have complained about features not working right in X2. But honest when I tell you, it may not hurt to try talking to someone like Noel, Seth, Andrew, Daniel, Dan or Ryan. You just never know man...seriously. So though I'd definitely be upset, I'd see what could be done first before I jump ship. With any other DAW manufacturer, I probably wouldn't be as lenient.
 
-Danny

Well I already jumped ship to Cubase 7 because I need notation and Sonar will never have it.  My problem is I have many years of files I use for teaching and live performance that I need daily.  It would be far too big a project to get them all in Cubase so I'm pretty much stuck with some version of Sonar.  Most of the problems I have are things others have complained about.  I already have all the X3 add-ons but I need a program that won't drive me crazy every day.  I'd be happier if just my now time marker would stop disappearing!   So I either have to deal with being annoyed daily or pay $150 for bug fixes since X2 was abandoned.  Either way I'll feel like I've been screwed.

I had some version of Cakewalk 8 (I think) that I got for free someplace. My first purchased version was Pro Audio 9.0 (I think I still even have the box!). I used that and eventually moved to Sonar 2. Around then, I started exploring others (mainly Ableton Live), then used Reaper for several years. About a year ago, I made the jump back to cakewalk with Sonar x2 Producer. I'm expecting to be on X3 by the end of the year (it's going to be tied with an OS upgrade on my DAW machine).

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]

Beagle
Sonar 4.
 
But it stopped with X2.  I'm not interested in a product distributed by Tascam.

The product is still being developed by Cakewalk and you can buy upgrades direct from Cakewalk, just as in the past. I am not sure what the distribution matters to you but ok.

yea, I don't really get this either.

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]

Beagle
Sonar 4.
 But it stopped with X2.  I'm not interested in a product distributed by Tascam.

The product is still being developed by Cakewalk and you can buy upgrades direct from Cakewalk, just as in the past. I am not sure what the distribution matters to you but ok.

think it's more an issue with giga sampler and how tascam dealt with it.. I've heard it from a few people.
 
I do "get it" from having a few companies like NI do the dirty on me (kore  2 other things).
 
as for loyalty.. I won a competition in computer music and got the pro pack, (rapture/dp/p5/sonar 7pe) all in one box.   I upgraded since obviously.. weirdly I won another competition for some magix software at the same sorta time.
 
but I do use various other rival products.. as certain aspects I like in various programs... I can't say I'm loyal to any program or company... it's business.. as much as I don't expect them to buy any music I make using it.
 

I go all the way back to the DOS days and a 4 track cassette recorder.  Then I went to Cakewalk for Windows with Cakewalk chasing SMPTE generated by a JL Cooper Datasync hooked to a pair of ADATs.  I went totally DAW at Cakewalk Pro 9.

I used nothing but Cakewalk until SONAR X1 when issues made me take a look at Reaper 4.  I still maintain my upgrades of Cakewalk products but I also use Studio One and Samplitude Pro X.  Looking to add Pro Tools 11 to my setup before the end of the year.

Danny Danzi

spacey
Now I'm hoping X3c and my computer will last long enough before everything
changes again to let me record a few tunes...that will pobably suck.
Well...at least my computer skills are getting better. Maybe I should be like FBB and
record that. ;)

A bit off topic here, but since you mentioned this, I just had to chime in here. My apologies ahead of time for the topic drift.
 
Just do what I do Spacey....put a good version of Sonar on your machine, and if you decide you want the newer stuff, put it on a little pc that doesn't matter too much.
 
 
 
-Danny

I didn't quote everything you said but I appreciated every word Danny.
 
When I started I picked out Cakewalk and my first computer based on a guess.
I've been buying computers and upgrades through the years. Sometimes it's by choice and sometimes
it's because I have to, to continue.
 
As a hobbyist I've had the luxury to do whatever I want, whenever I want but sometimes the software and hardware dictates that one is not in control of the game.
One does have control of what equipment they use but whether or not it is going to perform....luck of the draw sometimes.
 
I've stayed with Cakewalk because I wanted to. They sell a product that I've liked for many years.
I've purchased every version since I started back with Guitar Studio 1 and not one time did I buy out of loyalty. Sometimes everything clicked and recording was a blast. Sometimes nothing but a pain.
 
Well X3c and the computer I'm using are getting along and both are doing everything I ever wanted and I know they both can perform beyond my abilities so it's a great time.
The bakers may think I'm loyal but I'm not. I just like what they've been doing for a very long time...
and I have to say- they did some amazing work with X3.
Now the CH.....well that's another story...I'm loyal to that bunch. :)
 
 

CWPA 5 - started with the Creative Sound Blaster thinggy... moved on to Layla 24/96 with Ensoniq EPS and ASR... still remember working with a MIDI Merge Box (pink) by MidiMan. 
 
Funny to have stopped at Sonar 5 because of too many windows and other complications.
 
Today am back since X1 and now X3c.
 
Cakewalk has always been my choice of midi sequencer and i hope it will always be.
 
cheers!!!