Customer Support [Cakewalk]
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.

Thank you for the post.
 
Finding an update post in the forums is sometimes not so easy with the current high volume of traffic. So, yeah, keep the FAQ up to date. I've been checking it semi frequently, so if new information is available, please add it to the FAQ.  
 
Thanks.

Agree that maintaining the FAQs would be really helpful.

If there is the possibility of some work being done then I would like to see the main installer broken in to the component parts as multiple installers would help users with different requirements.

I think this would need installers for:

Main Product
Cakewalk VSTs - selectable by restricted and unrestricted
Third Party VSTs - selectable by company
DX and DXi
Other content
Help and Documentation

For an FAQ details of what VSTs are restricted to Cakewalk would be a real help.

Guys, I'd like to think that the fact that there is still something left of Cakewalk suggests to me that "it ain't over until the fat lady sings" and I hear no song just yet!  Perhaps there are plans afoot otherwise Gibson could've just shut the whole operation down.  Therefore I'm going to be optimistic that something will rise from the ashes.  It would be pretty drastic and an absolute tragedy if after 30-years development, it was all for nothing!!!
 
So I'd know like to address the "Customer Support [Cakewalk]" person with some questions and suggestions.
 
I think until Gibson's full intentions with Cakewalk are addressed, we're all going to be nervous at having ploughed money into a black hole because I agree with others, if there is any truth in the financial state of Gibson or for whatever other reason they go under, "the fat lady will sing" and we'll all have a rather rude awakening which will be most unpleasant for us.  However, I and others I'm sure understand that to release a key which would allow us unlimited access to current software would devalue the company, so may I suggest the following which would show incredible good will from the parent company, cost them nothing and would at least show this community that Gibson are listening to the concerns of their customers and therefore this would be a kind of reassurance.
 
I therefore would like to propose that Sonar X3 is given with an unlimited offline licence and placed in the accounts of all current customers who's licence status with yourselves is "owned".  At least this means that if something were to happen, we'd have something usable and not that old so we'd have a chance of opening current projects without too much fiddling around while still being able to work and it also gives us time to assess what to do next rather than being left without our tools and having to rush to buy another product without time to look into it.  Please consider this option.  How does everyone in the forum feel about this suggestion as a compromise given the dire situation?
 
EDIT: And one more important thing that no one seems to have picked up, what does this line mean from Noel's statement "A dedicated team has been established during this transition period to continue to serve the Cakewalk community" - transition to what is the question I think we need answering please?  Clearly someone knows the answer to that.

Just to let you know:
I am trying to obtain refund of my last purchase: 1 year of monthly updates.
I checked at the store, help, contact.
I described that last purchase.
I received an answer today, I'd have to follow a processing link within the next 7 days.
I did so. What I saw there made me slightly puzzled. See the rest of my posting, and you'll see.
To obtain refund.
Actually, if I only wish refund for the monthly updates paid in advance for 1 year, it appears not only slightly overdone to reques destruction of entire software. That would be illogic, because the refund will not cover the value of the entire software.
Just to let you know.
This is the comment I sent to them after accepting that "letter of destruction":
(Quote):
I am asking you for refund for the amout I paid to obtain 1 year annual updates, but I see you are asking me to accept a "letter of destruction". This seems odd, since I just wish to have my money returned for a service you are not able anymore to deliver.
Having stated this I declare herewith I accepted the "Letter of destruction" hoping it is limited to the original order, "1 year of monthly updates".
Please confirm to avoid further complications.
Best regards
Dr. Werner Linden
(unquote)
"Letter of destruction"
Customer has requested a refund from Digital River for the product(s) identified in the comments box at the bottom of this page. Customer understands and agrees that, prior to receiving a refund, Customer must take the necessary measures to delete and destroy the intellectual property licensed to Customer (for use under the terms of the Publisher's license agreement) for which Customer is seeking the refund.
By clicking the "I Agree" button at the bottom of this page, Customer represents and warrants that Customer has in fact rendered the product completely unusable by Customer, and that Customer has not made any copies of the product available to any other person. Customer further represents and warrants that Customer has not kept any back up or other copies of the product for any reason.
In reliance on Customer's representations and warranties, Digital River agrees it will refund the purchase price of the product to the Customer. Furthermore, Digital River will report the product as "destroyed" to the software vendor once this letter has been executed by the Customer and received at Digital River. Customer acknowledges that any continued use of the software product constitutes a willful copyright infringement on the part of Customer. By law, Customer may be liable for civil damages (including attorneys' fees) of up to 150,000 USD for each willful copyright infringement.
As I said, I just wish to let you know what happens.
I shall see, and report here. I expect next action from the other side to occur coming week.

Howling will this forum remain up and monitored 

The fact that CW reps are out here trying to articulate what is known (and what isn't) speaks volumes about this group. Very classy to keep caring about your customers even while you all face difficult and uncertain decisions.
A good reminder of what we all liked about this company in the first place.
Thanks for all you're trying to do!

Mad_Musicologist

Having stated this I declare herewith I accepted the "Letter of destruction" hoping it is limited to the original order, "1 year of monthly updates".

The "Letter of Destruction" looks like typical boilerplate. Considering most of this company's business revolves around handling point of sale for online software purchases for a multitude of vendors, it stands to reason that the vast majority of refunds would require the purchaser to surrender the usage rights for any purchase which is subsequently refunded.

However, you should never, ever, EVER, sign digitally or in person, any legal document that you do not fully understand and/or accept in its entirety unless you are prepared to be held accountable for any and all provisions of that document. It doesn't matter how many emails or letters you send after the fact because the document you signed will be the sole basis of any judgement against you.

I think you will be fine in this case because the amount refunded will match your receipt for the update contract and you will still have your original purchase receipts to show the purchase of the software. If you have actually downloaded and installed any updates that you would not have been entitled to outside of the update plan then the situation becomes messy but I think everyone involved in this has bigger fish to fry right now.

Thanks, "dnelson1971", as I said I shall report how things go on. 
I just wanted to let the community know what happens when you ask for any refund.
Presently things look to me as if they [Gibson] intend to frighten us to ask for any refund of whatsoever.
Which would be fitting to the rumours that the company Gibson is simply (short before) broke.
If so, it would be wiser for their managers to find someone who buys the entire product line Cakewalk with all its refined applications and smooth updating technology to a company that is willing also to employ the entire Cakewalk staff. I wouldn't go as far as to say Cakewalk products must stay an independent line for ever and ever, I could think of introducing all those nice VSt plugins from Dimension to Rapture, TTS and Z3TA+2 (they could also build a bridge for hosts which respond to RTAS) , and those helpful things like "mix recall", sooner or later into their own DAW.
But it would be an immense wasting of knowledge, and of peoples commitment just to shut everything down as it seems they are determined to. 
Gibson Managers, you lack of phantasy and creativity, and you are letting others bleed for your incompetence. Shame.

It seems inevitable Gibson will go into Receivership at $520 mil debt, they cannot pay back and the credit bubble is up. While closing some arteries not making money seems logical it is really an indicator the company is in or close enough to Receivership.
Closing Factories,  Cakewalk and the next is the sign of the end.
Cakewalk will be sold off for peanuts and will reemerge as something not tainted by a closure that will have to be paid for all over again.
The case action for breach of contract needs to go to Gibson very soon. LOL  Who cares!
I just bought  Sonar Pro outright on thew 30th Oct, and havent installed it as been busy and happy with X3 for so long. I have no customer support  nor updates which I signed up for. I don't even know if it is buggy or not.
I am only out of pocket $200AU 
Hardly a claim worth worrying about on it's own.
 

Thanks for the info and the straight up talk Mr Customer Support. Appreciated. I'm not moving onto anything else. I've backed up everything, copied all my activation codes and serial numbers into a spread sheet, and good to keep going. If we are given further support, then great, no big deal. I also would like to see updates in the FAQ. But in relation to some of your comments, I feel I have already got more than money's worth with the LTM. It wasn't never a great expense, particularly when compared to some other DAWS, and the cost of moving, and relearning etc, is just not worth it at this point. So, thanks again for the update. I wish you and everyone else all the best. If some ex-staff/ current users can keep us afloat for another year or so, awesome. cheers. Dave.