Customer Support [Cakewalk]
Hey all,
 
Let me help try to dispel some of the myths that seem to be making the rounds in this thread. I'm also being a bit candid here, and it probably won't be the stock response you'd expect at this point.
 
First, while we didn't specifically mention install/reinstall in the FAQ, we've mentioned there, and also now on our home page, that our servers and website will remain active, and there will be no changes to how you can access your products. I know the feeling you get when you read "at this time" or "as of now", etc, but that's the best way we can be open and honest with you. We have no control over what happens to us next, but we were told that moving forward, servers will remain up. There's currently no indicator that this will change, what day that could change, etc, so all we can say is what we know. As strange as this may sound, it's sort of business as usual for now. Uninstall, reinstall, and authorize as little or as often as you need. If it makes you more comfortable, get the downloadable installers and put them on a hard drive, another machine, etc. If one day someone decides to shut everything down, we'll have a plan in place for you to authorize without the server.
 
The less fun thing for me to bring up is all the mentions of bug fixes. Unfortunately, this is another "at this time" situation. Gibson has in fact ceased operation and development of Cakewalk products. Bug fixes are definitely part of what the development team works on, and without a development team... well... you know the rest. The few of us here have been working on plans A, B, and C for different scenarios. If we get sold, shut down entirely, or somehow repurposed, we're doing our best to ensure we have a plan in place for our users. Don't forget, we're still SONAR users too, and we still want it to exist as much as anybody else.
 
Though I may get some flack for this, I'll even mention Lifetime Updates. In short, it looks good on paper. If Gibson didn't shut down Cakewalk, it'd still be something we could honor. Of course, the term "Lifetime" should always be met with the question of "what lifetime?". During the promotion, we said "even if we change SONAR Platinum to SONAR ___, you'll still get updates" and believe it or not, we meant it. I personally would have looked with caution, but if the plan was for updates to be enhancements and bug fixes, and then charge for new content, instruments, and major features, the business plan now seems to make more sense. It's unfortunate that it comes off as a "too good to be true" situation, but considering annual updates were $249 on our site for just about all of 2017, I still think the price for the now dreaded LTU wasn't all that bad. I know of a certain industry standard that costs more for a single year anyway, and they definitely weren't handing out new features each month.
 
Now a question for you all: would it be helpful if we continued to update the FAQ when we receive new information, or to address some of your concerns? Otherwise, what do you think the best way for us to relay information would be? I'm open to doing whatever it takes to keep you all in the loop.

Yes. Please keep the FAQ updated. The new information is much appreciated.

Agreed, please keep the FAQs updated as you learn more. Thanks for all you do and have done over the years. Hoping things work out for you and all of your user base.  Hey, here's an idea as a gesture for the Lifetime folks like me.. make the Pro Channels Modules available to us for free!  

Thank you Mr. Customer Support.  Most of us really appreciate any bits of information you can provide.
Any information you give goes a long way of either confirming or dispelling the rampant rumors flying around the Internet.   The more we know, the less we have to guess.

For example, many people believe (and still do) that Cakewalk is finished as a company and Sonar is dead in the water.
But you mentioned the possibility of being bought out (however remote it may be), that gives us some hope that we haven't seen the last of Cakewalk.

Yes please.

Glad to see such great feedback. Of course, I'll have to run some of this by the people that are a bit higher up the chain than myself, but I think we can definitely do most of what you all are recommending. 
 
The one thing I'd be a little skeptical about is setting up an email blast, only because nothing we have going on seems to be written in stone. Without a firm understanding of direction, I wouldn't want to put that type of message out just yet. That's why I think using the forum and FAQ, and starting a new thread dedicated to updates may be the best route.
 
In regards to the continued questions about authorization, my best guess is that will be the very last piece of news that is released. The auth solution should be dependent on the direction of the company moving forward. As nice as it sounds to permanently unlock SONAR and the other Cakewalk products, I personally think that would devalue the company and make it less likely for Cakewalk to be revived. 
 
I'll check in and see what I can do, and I'll also try to be more active across the forum in general. It sounds like it's definitely helpful to hear from us as often as possible, so I'll continue the trend if it helps!

anyone else think it's kind of ironic to see a "Customer Support [Cakewalk]"  user posting now, ffs...

Thank you Cakewalk for bringing us up to speed. This FAQ, or whichever thread, seems like a great place to keep these updates coming.
 
I'm so sorry for all you guys at Cakewalk. It can't be much fun right now. I personally didn't pay more than $120 for my lifetime updates and got a year of updates for that...so am pretty ok about the whole LTU thing.
 
The only concern I have, for me...is the ability to authorize new installs on new pc's down the road. Simples. I love Sonar, it has taken a long time to learn, and I want to carry on using this lovely program for many years to come, so thanks for sonar!
 
It's really good to know that Cakewalk are here listening, and talking.
 
 

Customer Support [Cakewalk]
Glad to see such great feedback. Of course, I'll have to run some of this by the people that are a bit higher up the chain than myself, but I think we can definitely do most of what you all are recommending. 
 
The one thing I'd be a little skeptical about is setting up an email blast, only because nothing we have going on seems to be written in stone. Without a firm understanding of direction, I wouldn't want to put that type of message out just yet. That's why I think using the forum and FAQ, and starting a new thread dedicated to updates may be the best route.
 
In regards to the continued questions about authorization, my best guess is that will be the very last piece of news that is released. The auth solution should be dependent on the direction of the company moving forward. As nice as it sounds to permanently unlock SONAR and the other Cakewalk products, I personally think that would devalue the company and make it less likely for Cakewalk to be revived. 
 
I'll check in and see what I can do, and I'll also try to be more active across the forum in general. It sounds like it's definitely helpful to hear from us as often as possible, so I'll continue the trend if it helps!

Great to hear once again from Cakewalk Team. I have new faith that Cakewalk will indeed be survived now, somehow. Hopefully not by some other lesser or undeserving competitor daw that may ruin it, but otherwise a clean rebirth of it, maybe even a brighter future. Weirder things have happened in the world. Thanks so much for the contact, and look fwd to seeing an official new faq/update post that is locked view only so won’t get bogged down in comments. Maybe create an official mirror post for users to comment on per subject contained within. Sure we can all come up with a cleaner way to sift thru all this, yet keep everyone active.
Cheers and Keep Truckin! <3

Ps,
I am going to create a cool post that Cakewalk can see how everyone responds to fantasy outcomes, never know what ideas may come of it.... :-)

Not to be too negative...but the "closing" of Cakewalk will likely forever taint them.
Unless some company like Microsoft picks them up etc. etc. which in reality IMHO is unlikely at this point.
Gibson will forever have put a stink on them.

Now, I greatly appreciate Noel and all the Bakers' efforts in their support for the last 10 or more years (for my time in Sonar) and want nothing but the best for him and teammates. But the company isn't looking like it will get a rebirth after all this time. Gibson has surely known for a long time they were going to shutter Cake. And there has been no concrete evidence any company is going to acquire their code or the company outright.

*All that said....I hope I'm wrong and something good for all happens, especially Cakewalk former employees.....and during the holidays. 😊 and us Users.

PS I haven't decided what my replacement DAW will be. I think I'm down to S1Pro and Cubase. I did make the jump to the SPLAT lifetime updates when it first became available and really liked the advancements over the last couple years so Gibson got me. A pox upon their corporate management. Good wishes for their employees.

Dear Support,
 
First, I'd like to note how truly sorry I am that you all have to go through the loss of a job and the shuttering of what was a remarkable piece of software that had both the gravitas of something of a "tradition" behind it and a view to the future. Cakewalk Sonar was unique in that respect. And that difference has to make the pain of what you all have experienced that much sharper. It is very clear that those who have had the role of "Baker" at Cakewalk cared about the product very much and their level of involvement reached much further than the term "day gig" would normally imply. Thank you for that!
 
Thanks also for the comments you posted here. That note and the posting go a long way towards answering the issues and concerns that that have consumed so many of us since the news of Cakewalk's plight blindsided us. Your words are noted for their wisely measured tone and caution. While affirming the possibility of a "restructured" entity to be picking up the reins that could continue the work that was Cakewalk's niche, you stop short of encouraging speculation that could be regarded as "unlikely" or "implausible"; thanks also for this.
 
For my part, I'd appreciate a locked post and/or FAQ on the site, updated as appropriate, with perhaps a short alert here as significant updates occur. That would seem to cover all the bases. As you mention, the unlocking so many are requesting would surely have the adverse effect of devaluing the product and reducing the chances of the software ever being revived or sold. Such an action would certainly be the death knell of Sonar, so I'm hoping that we who love Cakewalk and enjoy working with it don't ever hear that bell.
 
I think I've been using Cakewalk/Sonar for 28 years and I was looking forward to using it for at least 28 more, so, yes, this all has been kind of difficult. Thanks to you, however, for especially being as clear as possible at this point. My prayers are offered for you that you all land "feet first" when this is all over. I'm sure that the inconvenience we've experienced is nothing compared to "heartbreak" (as one writer aptly put it) that you all feel.