I was wondering if it was still possible to upgrade Sonar X1 Essential to X1 Producer or similar. I don't have a great need to do so, but some of the extra features looked like they might be a lot of fun. I have spent some time looking, but can't find any info. Cheers for any help.

No. The only way you are going to get X1 Producer at this point is to find someone who still has boxed, unregistered copies of X1 Producer or Production Suite available. That will be difficult to find.

However the price difference between what you would have paid for the upgrade when it was still available and the upgrade to X3 is pretty minimal considering all the extra stuff you'll get. It will however be $450 IIRC.

Thanks Beepster, that's helpful and you've given me something to think about. 
 
Cheers.

Right on. Personally I think the Pro Channel is one of the best things about Sonar. If you go for X3 or even boxed versions of X1/X2 perhaps take a look at the Studio versions. X3 Studio has the Prochannel and most of the modules (only things that seem to be missing from the PC are the new Tape Sim and Flyout Quad Curve but the regular Quad Curve which you don't currently have is still awesome). You still get all the editing features and Melodyne and a bunch of other cool crap.
 
If you seek out a boxed version of Studio or Producer though of an older version I would highly recommend getting a boxed version of X2 because you will get R-Mix and V-Vocal which are not included in X3 and you still get the upgrade path to X3 which will work out to the same price I think. I can't be arsed to do the confusing Cake math right now. They might even have the free upgrade to X3 from a freshly bought version of X2 but I haven't been paying attention.
 
Just know that there are at least two plugs missing in X3 over X2. One of which is extremely useful and unique (R-Mix) and get an upgrade path to the full version of R-Mix if you want by having X2.
 
Sorry if all that is confusing but Cakewalk upgrades and their marketing in general is confusing as all heck.

It's not possible but you can upgrade to SONAR X3 for $49. Pretty good deal for all the new features since X1. It's $99 for SONAR X3 Studio which is really a fantastic value.

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]
It's not possible but you can upgrade to SONAR X3 for $49. Pretty good deal for all the new features since X1. It's $99 for SONAR X3 Studio which is really a fantastic value.

He's on X1 Essential. Are you saying he can upgrade from X1 Essential to X3 Essential (which what the base version equates to) or X3 Studio for the exact same price I can to either of those versions as an X2 PRODUCER owner (and an X1 Production Suite owner)?
 
Because that would be messed up. Seriously.

WTH?! That IS the upgrade price for ALL Sonar customers. That is messed up, man. Basically if I had bought X1 Essentials instead of the X1 Production Suite I could get X3 studio for the exact same price.
 
Good lord. I'm shaking my head here, man.

Beepster
WTH?! That IS the upgrade price for ALL Sonar customers. That is messed up, man. Basically if I had bought X1 Essentials instead of the X1 Production Suite I could get X3 studio for the exact same price.
 
Good lord. I'm shaking my head here, man.

The product costs $199...what do you expect us to charge him? Our upgrade pricing is affordable. I don't think that's a bad thing.
 
Production Suite came with extras including ProChannel modules and Z3TA+2. 

It's not about what I expect you to charge HIM. It's what I expect you to charge ME.
 
$400 for X1 Producer (forget the Production Suite) + $100 for X2 Producer upgrade = $500
 
+ $100 for X3 Studio = $600
 
X1 Essentials = $200
 
+ $100 for X3 Studio = $300
 
That is a $300 difference!!! And I am leaving out all the promos and weird pricing schemes I just barely missed out on because of my crummy timing which if I add those in I lose an extra TWO HUNDRED BUCKS. Seriously I won't lay out the math for that but if I held off for a couple months I'd have the exact same package for $200 less!
 
It does not make sense that your highest paying customers have to pay the same price as those who are not nearly as heavily invested.
 
It is a great deal for people on those versions but what about us Producer users?!