Hi, 
 
Sorry if this question was answered somewhere already. But, I bought Sonar X2 about two weeks ago. I did ask tech support if X3 was close to being released and they said they didn't know.
 
I haven't installed X2 yet as I need to uninstall 8.5 first.
 
I want to buy X3 now for the comping features, so, do I have to install my X2 first if I want to install the X3 Upgrade? Or is the X3 upgrade the complete program?
 
Thanks.

No need to install X2, you can start right away with X3 if you wish. All upgrades are complete versions with an "upgrade" price.
 
BTW, I would leave 8.5 installed as a backup. Just in case you have problems opening an older project or want to test something in another version.

..just remember that there are some things not included in x3 that were in x2..

Yes, an advanced install of X2 after installing X3 can add the plug-ins unique to X2.

scook All upgrades are complete versions with an "upgrade" price.

You seem to be in the know here and I'm not saying you are wrong, but I always thought that was only true of the boxed versions and that downloads of upgrades required the earlier version to be installed. Pretty sure that was the case with 8.0 to 8.5 which was IIRC the first downloadable version.

WRT 8.5 you are correct. Being the first version available for download 8.5 it was unique requiring 8.0 to be installed. That was an attempt to make it easier for slower connections to upgrade. Since then, all downloads have been complete versions just like the physical media. Something new with X3 is the download is a more current release than the disks. The X3 download version is already patched to X3a.

scook
WRT 8.5 you are correct. Being the first version available for download was 8.5 it was unique requiring 8.0 to be installed. That was an attempt to make it easier for slower connections to upgrade. Since then, all downloads have been complete versions just like the physical media. Something new with X3 is the download is a more current release than the disks. The X3 download version is already patched to X3a.

Ok, thanks for clarifying that. So if I buy a boxed version I will then have to download a patch  ?

This page explains the difference between the download and disks and what to do about it

what programs did we lose from X2 to X3? 
 I am on the fence about upgrading to X3 I want to install a new SSD HD via a new install but I dont wanna lose features plugins that I had , what that means is any older work will inevitably not load up the same as it did . 
 $150 to me for X3 is sad!!  I already have Blue tube plugin bundle and Celemony,The quad eq who cares... there's enough EQ's out there that are better and I'm sure most of us already have a slew of Eq's and most professionals have melodyne already.
 What are we getting colors woopie, take lanes the way they should of been form the paid version of x2. Fixes that should of been added through out the year.  I see this version as the weakest version of Sonar to date and for a price that IMO is $50 to much for an Upgrade.. Where as Logic for new users is only $199.00. 
 The money part isn't important as much as what were getting for it .What we got is other programmers scrappy do's . There is nothing in this version that makes me wanna jump in and buy it right now.. 
 And with Gibson taking over and there track record with Studio Vision , I am nervous about staying with Sonar. I dont think CW will be around in 2 years if Roland can't help em out what can a company that already abandons the best Daw can do, Im jus saying !!  
 what to do!!!

scook
This page explains the difference between the download and disks and what to do about it

Thanks.