I can say, for the moment, other than having to kill Sonar after every use via Task Manager, it's been pretty solid. It's not that Sonar is unstable or full of bugs, but that there are probably limitations and mishaps with API's offered by Microsoft and other software integrated into Windows. With that said, still, there are probably some elements of testing left out due to time or budget constraint, and some ways of finding bugs that could stand improvement.
 
The issue I still have is that reporting potential bugs needs work. If a user experiences an issue, merely reporting it in a forum or dialogue, even at the basic level should be enough. The reason I say this is that, as these things accumulate, it may produce trends. For example, ANY issue reported for graphics or the GUI should be accumulated as a GUI/video issue. It shouldn't matter (yet) exactly what the issue is, but that there are "x" number of video/GUI issues. If this seems to be a problem area, then more detail should be requested from the user by Cakewalk to see if there's similarities and potential bugs. That's more proactive.
 
I still don't think the Bug Reporter tool is effective, because 1) there's no incentive to report bugs, and 2) it's not always possible to reproduce with specific steps. I came from an industry where my job was reporting bugs. A bug may be found in a result, not always a specific procedure. I've proven that theory many times with Adtran engineers. Intermittent bugs are hard to find, and the tools offered by CW don't fully encompass that variable, IMO.
 
Yes, there's multiple ways to report issues, but all of them have a challenge that prevents efficiency to some degree.
 
Otherwise, I work just fine with Sonar, although I still have some major gripes and issues. If X2a were the end, I could still use it for years to come. With the coming of X3, I think there was no better way with the current Cakewalk strategy to fix issues and implement new features. I just wish the two were disparate and not a package deal. 

robert_e_bone

joel77
I didn't get to see the list of features, as the Sweetwater ad was down before I had a chance to look. I'm taking a wait and see approach.
 
Sonar X2a has been mostly a pleasure for me. I'm not a super power user, but I've never had it crash either. There are, of course things that I would do differently, but I'm not the one designing the lay out of the program. It's taken some adjusting, but that is true of every new version of any program. Hell, it took most of a year before I finally figured out how to power down Windows 8!!  lol!  ...... not that I was looking that hard and I don't use that computer all that often.
 
I am excited to see what all they've changed/added/updated with X3. 

Hey Joel, and anyone else if it applies, here are some simple ways to shut down and restart Windows 8, using shortcuts.
 
1.  For Shutdown, set up a desktop shortcut with the following:
     Target: C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe /s /t 00
     Start In: C:\Windows\system32
 
2.  For Restart, set up a desktop shortcut with the following:
     Target: C:\Windows\System32\shutdown.exe /r /t 00
     Start In: C:\Windows\system32
 
For both of the above, I also hit the Change Icon button and found a couple of nice icons to make them stand out on my desktop, a red circle icon for shutdown, and a blue circle for restart.
 
I use these all the time, and they are super quick, rather than the goofy default way Windows 8 does it by default.
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks, Bob!! I'll give that a try.

I am not sure why a problem as to be a "show stopper" in order to be regarded as serious or real.  If a feature has not been well developed and causes the user to take more time and steps to overcome its shortcomings, then using the software is no longer a 'cakewalk'.  If the maker of such software makes a promise to its customers but fails to deliver the as-advertised product features, then customer(s) are justified in expressing disappoint, frustration, criticism, etc., particularly when manufacturer does not address the product's problem.
 
Well, I'm a sure you get the argument here.
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker

.
 

I'm going to take the "evaluate" and wait process this time...see how it goes..and 
then make a decision...rather then have to be the first on the block to have it...

It amazes me that anyone would do otherwise....

I don't see where Cakewalk is any different than any other software vendor.  I've been wainting for MS to fix the tcp/ip stack bug for over 20 years....
This is the nature of software.

MS TCP/IP stack bug? Not sure I've had any issues there. I have more issues with TCP/IP on my Macs than I do in Windows. Well, more Ethernet LAN-port issues, but more issues with Mac than Windows these days.

Gary McCoy
.
 

I'm going to take the "evaluate" and wait process this time...see how it goes..and 
then make a decision...rather then have to be the first on the block to have it...

It amazes me that anyone would do otherwise....
 

Well, somebody's gotta be the first one in the pool and I'll be cannon-balling off the high dive as soon as it's available.

cryophonik
 
Well, somebody's gotta be the first one in the pool and I'll be cannon-balling off the high dive as soon as it's available.

Strangely enough I might be in line behind you. I rarely upgrade early.
 
But I'm not in any real projects right now, X2 don't seem to be that happy on my machine (like X1d is) and I strongly suspect the Cakewalk staff has snooped around my hard drive to find precisely the stuff I might be interested in.
 
I do have my doubts on staying with Gibson/Tascam for different reasons, but I have reasons to stay as well. So I'll do that for now.
 

I've read already where Cakewalk has mentioned a free update in the works so we know, as always, there will be some issues.
 
I'll probably wait a week or two and watch. Then do the puchase but I'll keep X2a chugging right along.
 
Regards,
 

ekral

yevsterI don't know of any non-open-source software vendor with a public list of unresolved bugs. .

Steinberg Cubase 7 officially confirmed and logged issuesOfficial Reaper Issue Tracker

Wow! Mad props to Steinberg!