The way I look at it is:
a) I don't want/need Melodyne
b) I have Addictive Drums
c) Don't need want any more plugins - I have enough.  I want better WORKFLOW and things that make my work easier.  Not a bunch of plugins to play with (I GET that a lot of people will use these etc)
 
I DO want:  better stability, notation/staff updates, and bug fixes that I have submitted fixed.
 
To me I'm subsidizing more software plugins etc and it's not sure what's in it for me.  Now I could just not upgrade - and I'm actually ok with paying for some stuff like take lanes if they improve workflow etc.   Maybe they could/should have a 'base program update' only and a 'bundle' package?
 

Beepster

Bristol_Jonesey

Beepster

Bristol_Jonesey
Off Topic - have you seen the GUI of the soon-to-be-released BFD3?
 
http://www.gearslutz.com/...-soon.html#post9454820

Oh, crap. I didn't realize that was happening. Looks cool but I want to snag 2 on discount before it disappears (don't want to pay full price and once 3 is released you know it'll be full price for a looong time). Better start keeping an eye on their site. Cheers.
 
Huh. I don't suppose it's gonna go any lower than the $129 it's currently at. I wonder if I'll still be able to snag the upgrade after they release 3. No flow right now and I wanted to get my VRM box first.

Rumour has it that there will be NO discounted price for upgrades to BFD3.
 
Full price or nothing.
Think I'm going too pass on this one

 
Whoa. That's messed up. Do you happen to know if they sell boxed BFD2 upgrades for Eco? If I can't scrounge up the cash before the new release (which will most DEFINITELY not be possible if the Oct 7 rumor is true) then maybe I can snag an old stock box. Otherwise I guess I'll have to buy the full boxed version of BFD2. I should look into whether they do allow license transfers as well. Maybe ebay will have some deals.
 
Gawd I hate being broke. It makes things ever so complicated.

Don't know Beep. Steve would be the one to ask, but he's not been around for a while (he's a Beta tester for BFD)

Bristol_Jonesey
Don't know Beep. Steve would be the one to ask, but he's not been around for a while (he's a Beta tester for BFD)

Good idea. I did however take a peek on ebay and it does seem like there are some boxed upgrades for sale (whether they are legit or not IDK). Maybe I'll call my retailer and see what they can do for me. Maybe I'll put a box on layaway if they don't intend to keep the old stock around. Cheers.

Silicon Audio
So I am seeing some posts about X2a users upset about having to spend, say, $150 to upgrade.  I also purchased X2 and yes, I've had some issues with some features, but I feel I have gotten my money's worth out of the software anyway.  Maybe a mammoth company like Microsoft, with billions of copies of their S/W sold and millions of annually renewing corporate license agreements rolling over every year can afford lots of free patches.  But Cakewalk have just a tiny fraction of that market and they need income to keep making the software we love.
 
Let's put this into perspective...  What piece of audio gear in your studio could you upgrade for $150 and get similar bang for your buck?  You could maybe buy a very average microphone.  You could buy a super low-end junky mic pre.  Maybe a really nice mic stand and pop filter?  Does any of that compare with a bunch of enhanced features, fixes and plug-ins?  Most of you guys would drop $150 on a single plug-in and not bat an eyelid.
 
I work full time in IT and you should see the cost of the software assurance contracts we pay.  Believe me when I tell you that $150 per year to keep your software up to date is CHEAP!  You guys have no idea how good we've got it.
 
Just sayin'

In comparison to Reaper...which has FREE upgrades for 2 FULL versions...at less then HALF the price of this upgrade
for the FULL version, and FL Studio, which costs, on the street the same as this UPGRADE, and has FREE UPGRADES FOR LIFE....
And Mixcraft Pro Studio, which is highly underated, also costs the same as this UPGRADE for the full version...
It's HUGE....IT software is quite different then this...so, there is NO COMPARISON.  

This analogy FAILS in the fact these are TWO entirely different animals.  It's a nice try...but not the same...
by any stretch of the imagination. 

These companies have to realize that the COMPETITION out there is FIERCE...
Now take into account that Cubase 7 has had 6 updates since release to address customer concerns.
Studio One has been FREE for all updates since 2.0., and currently stands at 2.6.
Consider that, not only did we not get our bugs fixed with X2a, but were told WE CAN'T TELL YOU
ANYTHING, so carry on.

So, the way I see it, they are CHARGING me for plugins that I don't need, to get PAID for bug
fixes that SHOULD have been released in X2b.

MOST Producer users here already have most of the 3rd Party Plugins bundled in this deal, so 
we NOW have to pay again for plugins that we don't need to get fixes that we should have 
received for free, had the program been PROPERLY maintained.

I have no Problem with an X3 release, what I have a problem with is being CHARGED for things
that I already own, to get fixes for things that should have already been fixed...

AND, they NOW want to RAISE the upgrade price by 50% to boot...to cover the royalties
for plugins that I don't even need...

NOPE...not doing it...I'm waiting for a sale....

The junkies will STAND IN LINE TO BE THE FIRST TO GET IT....always have and always will.
Not me...not this time...

Had things been handled differently, maybe, but not like this....these companies KNOW
that the vast majority of you will CAVE because you have OCD, and JUST HAVE TO HAVE
IT!  They thrive on it on that mentality.  For once in your life, think about...what's in this that you can't
live without for $150 bucks? I really want to know....

My biggest concern is that we pay for X3 then 2 months down the road we have to upgrade again to Tascam Pro. If there was a free upgrade to Tascam Pro included in the X3 upgrade deal, that would be much better.

Moving this from the other thread so I'm sh*tting all over the queue.
 
Since we still don't have any official word yet I think I'm just going to stop torturing myself and resign to my contingency plan. My main issues with X2 are mostly premix phase related. The tracking and editing is just too weird and unpredictable. Mixing seems to be fine and the processing effects and stuff is really where I dropped my money anyway when I bought the Suite.
 
I'll be digging deeper into the competitors base/entry level versions to see who provides the best/most stable editing tools (I have a pretty good idea which one I want but I'll do some window shopping first). I'll drop no more than $100 and then use that program for tracking and bulk editing. Once things are sliced and diced to the point where I'm ready to mix I'll dump it in Sonar and use the tools there to getting it sounding slick. Doing a few minor edits or overdubs in X2 should be alright. It's just trying to do loooong sessions where the bugs become a major hindrance.
 
The only thing I'm concerned about is how well X2 automation is going to work. I want to do some pretty wacky stuff and the little bits I've done so far have been a little problematic.
 
If by the next release cycle I see that X3 is the godsend we all hope it to be and I have some extra cash I'll go for it. If not then I'll probably start upgrading whatever DAW I've been using for editing and let X2 fade into the background of my studio.
 
There. Plan is in place. Now I can stop chewing at my wounds. Sorry bakers. I gave it a shot.

Beepster
Moving this from the other thread so I'm sh*tting all over the queue.
 
Since we still don't have any official word yet I think I'm just going to stop torturing myself and resign to my contingency plan. My main issues with X2 are mostly premix phase related. The tracking and editing is just too weird and unpredictable. Mixing seems to be fine and the processing effects and stuff is really where I dropped my money anyway when I bought the Suite.
 
I'll be digging deeper into the competitors base/entry level versions to see who provides the best/most stable editing tools (I have a pretty good idea which one I want but I'll do some window shopping first). I'll drop no more than $100 and then use that program for tracking and bulk editing. Once things are sliced and diced to the point where I'm ready to mix I'll dump it in Sonar and use the tools there to getting it sounding slick. Doing a few minor edits or overdubs in X2 should be alright. It's just trying to do loooong sessions where the bugs become a major hindrance.
 
The only thing I'm concerned about is how well X2 automation is going to work. I want to do some pretty wacky stuff and the little bits I've done so far have been a little problematic.
 
If by the next release cycle I see that X3 is the godsend we all hope it to be and I have some extra cash I'll go for it. If not then I'll probably start upgrading whatever DAW I've been using for editing and let X2 fade into the background of my studio.
 
There. Plan is in place. Now I can stop chewing at my wounds. Sorry bakers. I gave it a shot.

It's a good plan Beeps...
And will probably save you some cash in the long run...BOTH ways...

I don't know, before I spent money on anything else, I would wait a few months to see what the general reaction is for other X3 users...see what's been fixed or added to the program.  Then I would down load a trial version of X3 when it comes out and see how that reacts to your system.  I don't like to waste money either, but that is the way I would handle this if I was unsure of moving forward with X3.

cclarry

It's a good plan Beeps...
And will probably save you some cash in the long run...BOTH ways...

Yeah, I've been mulling it over for quite some time but was waiting to see how this all plays out. I really don't think the included tools in any of the other DAWs would get me near the sound quality the original base package of Sonar I've bought (Production Suite + X2) will. Also the Pro Channel is pretty darned slick and fun to use. It's just the darned editing that really gets me. I think this way I can have to best of both worlds and now that I have BFD Eco, TH2 full, GR5 full and the synths that came with Sonar (which I'm assuming will work in other programs... I'm referring to DimPro, Zeta, Rapture) I should have everything I need to get the songs together on another platform.
 
Also I've been getting ready to get into the Melda free stuff which is obviously independent and eventually the Izotope mastering stuff I should have a pretty well rounded/powerful studio.
 
The one thing about being broke is you learn to make VERY calculated decisions when it comes to purchases. I still really don't think I screwed up by buying Sonar. I've gotten a lot of tools and acquired a TON of knowledge I don't think I would have had access to otherwise but now my rig and mind have matured to the point I can start making more adventurous decisions.
 
You guys have been a major factor in all that. Really the most valuable part of my Cakewalk purchase/experience has been this forum. So if I haven't said it enough lately... thanks.

MakeShift
I don't know, before I spent money on anything else, I would wait a few months to see what the general reaction is for other X3 users...see what's been fixed or added to the program.  Then I would down load a trial version of X3 when it comes out and see how that reacts to your system.  I don't like to waste money either, but that is the way I would handle this if I was unsure of moving forward with X3.

This makes a lot of sense. I know I tend to get caught up in the storm of upgradeitis. This time though I'm taking a wait and see aproach.
 
That said I am really interested in the ARA implementation and the color customization. Regarding the colors I sure hope there is actually something that makes sense because at present I've never been able to get much of the current custom colors to work.
 
Regards,