It's a good point. I think Slate Virtual Tape is closer to $200

brian brock
Is it correct that there are no core functionality differences between Studio and Producer?  Everything extra in Producer is effects and synths?  Coupled with the persistence of previous versions' effects showing up in X3 I'm not seeing as compelling a reason to choose Producer. 
 
I believe it used to be that things like Audiosnap were Producer only.  Now it looks like you're paying 50 dollars for the drum sampler, tape effect, electric piano, fake guitar thing, and one Nomad Factory effect.  Not a bad bundle for fifty bucks, if you want those particular sorts of tools and don't have similar tools already, I guess, although these in particular don't strike me as long-term reliable tools, rather as perhaps stepping stones to more robust implementations.
 
Is a new (non-upgrade) copy of Producer really 300 dollars more expensive than Studio?  That seems quite high for that effects bundle, especially given that there are in some cases multiple redundancies in capability in the rest of the Sonar X3 Studio package.
 
What's the cost likely to be for upgrading from X3 studio to X3 producer? 

Customers buying new often don't have anything so you have to really evaluate the entire package and what you get for the additional $300. You start totaling it up and it's way way more than $300. Tremendous value. Compare it to other competitors who ask for $200 or more to go up to the next version and see what they offer? Unlimited tracks, 64-bit? You need to pay for that? 
 
We spent a lot of time looking at each version of SONAR X3 and seeing how we could make it better for new and existing customers. I think we significantly raised the bar for each version.
 
I don't want to try and market here to you because this a peer-to-peer forum but do the research and you'll see what a great package each version offers in the SONAR X3 lineup.

Beepster
I'm mostly interested in the fact that have now decided to maintain the product. I said it in the other thread... give Producer users a stripped out version of X3 Pro (without all the new plugs and PC modules) for $50 to act as the missing X2b patch. $100 for a version with Melodyne and the PC modules. Now THAT would be worth it and I would happily starve myself to pony up the cash... provided it actually works of course but it should, eventually, with regular maintenance.
 
 

Slippery slope. What you are asking is to start building custom versions. And what you want will be different than what another customer wants. And pretty soon we have 30 different flavors. We have to try and offer as much value as we can at each price point. We know some people will own 1 or 2 things but seriously start adding up the value and you'll see that $150 is a bargain. And if you have all the plugins, you can go to Studio which is also a great value. 
 
We still have some of the most affordable upgrades in the industry. We stand by our pricing and think we put together a package that is fair for all. There are a lot of options and the fact that we put ProChannel in Studio offers the $99 price point still for those that just want the features and Melodyne (and Blue Tubes).

The question I basically want answered is will the ProChannel stuff in X2 Producer work in the X3 Studio installation? - assuming I don't uninstall X2. I've already got just about everything else and can live without a tape emulator.

Yes the PC modules from X2 Producer all work in X3 studio.

groverken
The question I basically want answered is will the ProChannel stuff in X2 Producer work in the X3 Studio installation? - assuming I don't uninstall X2. I've already got just about everything else and can live without a tape emulator.

Yes. Sounds like we may need to put up an FAQ for the questions as they have been asked quite a bit. We'll get working on that.

Since I have Kramer Master Tape and a plethora of other plugs, perhaps Studio is the way to go.
 
Still, I've never been able to use X2 because of the crashes, so that experience still stings.

I appreciate the input, Andrew but believe me... I've done the math and weighed my options. I don't think a base producer package to simply get the bug fixes, core refinements (like the Take Lanes) and access to your new found maintenance commitment (X2 just needed that one last fix to make it golden for me) is such a wild idea.
 
Seriously, I get it and I TRULY appreciate you even taking the time to respond to a somewhat negative post/request. I just really would like to be able to have the foundation of my DAW solid. It is the only thing I truly need right now and $600 in I think it's not such a crazy desire.
 
Anyway, if the decision has been made and that is the final answer I can base my decisions from there. That is the most important thing for me. Knowing (knowledge is half the battle donchyaknow? ;-p). I've been doing a lot of cost/benefit analysis throughout all of this and $150 is just a little too much when I look through my options. Studio MAY be in the cards but I would hate to lose my Producer status and at $100... well without the Quad Curve improvement at the very least it's a hard pill for me to swallow.
 
As always this is not meant to bash, hate or berate but to hopefully give some insight into the mind of a relatively recent adopter who has kind of lost his enthusiasm.
 
Thank you again and I wish you all the luck in the future. Cheers.

Beepster
I appreciate the input, Andrew but believe me... I've done the math and weighed my options. I don't think a base producer package to simply get the bug fixes, core refinements (like the Take Lanes) and access to your new found maintenance commitment (X2 just needed that one last fix to make it golden for me) is such a wild idea.
 
Seriously, I get it and I TRULY appreciate you even taking the time to respond to a somewhat negative post/request. I just really would like to be able to have the foundation of my DAW solid. It is the only thing I truly need right now and $600 in I think it's not such a crazy desire.
 
Anyway, if the decision has been made and that is the final answer I can base my decisions from there. That is the most important thing for me. Knowing (knowledge is half the battle donchyaknow? ;-p). I've been doing a lot of cost/benefit analysis throughout all of this and $150 is just a little too much when I look through my options. Studio MAY be in the cards but I would hate to lose my Producer status and at $100... well without the Quad Curve improvement at the very least it's a hard pill for me to swallow.
 
As always this is not meant to bash, hate or berate but to hopefully give some insight into the mind of a relatively recent adopter who has kind of lost his enthusiasm.
 
Thank you again and I wish you all the luck in the future. Cheers.

Great, good luck with your decision.

Thanks for the response Andrew. Looks like the Studio option is going to be the one for me. Been using the Producer edition since Sonar 6 but this time I think I'll resist. I'm at my download limit for the month, so maybe I'll have changed my mind by tomorrow!