declan


I'm not really sure what the OP is really asking here.  So many people have other DAWS because they're inexpensive compared to what most musicians shell out for... well you name it.  I don't have any problems with X2a that make me cringe.
 
Right now I think I'll probably skip a couple of upgrade cycles.   $99 these days is about a third of some of the best software out there.

In broad strokes, I'm simply inquiring about whether or not the new (hypothetical) standard of amount of updates (1 instead of 3 or 4 as we have been used to in previous versions) would change people's minds about upgrading their Sonar.

Nope. It's enough already. Cakewalk, even pre-Roland, has been kinda flaky with the follow-thru of their products...I've been waiting since Sonar 6 for some significant, useful product maturation. Feels like they've plateau- ed. Saving up for Cubase 7.

I am of two minds on this.

I hate a lot of the bugs and stupid workflow issues (take lanes? who thought up that booger of code?) that have plagued both X1 and X2. Stability has always been an issue, but the quirky things that make the program bomb out these days has to be seen to be believed.

I like some of the improvements. Maybe not all the execution of the improvements, but that is mostly a matter of taste.

But like others, I do see one of CW's biggest selling points, its sense of community, rapidly eroding. Mods are gone. Company interaction at a nadir. What once were topical arguments between members are now full blown fights. Name calling and condescending behavior are way too frequent. Brutal manifestations of solipsism (ie. if I didn't experience, I doubt it when you say it happened to you). I won't even get into this antiquated and thoroughly awful forum software....

I was a very active member of the Songs forum, often offering advice and encouragement. I find it, too, has kinda devolved.  Not enough new blood and a bunch of the same bad actors playing out their ridiculous psychodrama in textual format.

So in conclusion (since ya asked!), I dunno about continuing down the Sonar path. It might be the right time for me to find something new.

Again....I  loving Cubase.  And check out my sig....im not.some young Sonar whipper snapper.  I have used it as my main Daw forever

  You may well be right - maybe touch is the future. Most users want as much information on screen at the same time (one of the main criticisms of the X series in fact) - touch forces you to 'supersize' everything so it can be interacted with - physically. The more touch friendly the less use of screen real estate. When I say massive screen - I mean - really massive -same dimensions as the actual mixing desks it replaces. The UI designer will have to abandon skeuomorphism too as the paradigm won't work. I don't see evidence of either... yet.

The speculation in this thread is a little confusing. Has someone seen something from Cakewalk stating that X3 is right around the corner... and that there definitely will not be an X2b before its release... and that X2 owners will definitely have to pay for it? Or are people just running with rumors? The idea of a three page thread based on "what ifs" seems a bit premature to me.  If somebody knows something concrete about Cake's intentions, please chime in.

Best,
Rob


EDIT: I really don't mean to sound critical, sorry if I do.  I'm just really interested in what people have heard... if I've missed something.

To answer the OP... I am pretty happy with X2a, so I will wait and see what I'm offered and how much..

Yes I probably would.

I've had a bad go with X2a and computers so I sure wouldn't mind putting a few things
behind me. I would be hoping that it would be better than having to start over.

Of course X version was just upgrade price for me so it seems like a small amount to
help keep Cake moving forward and by reading how it's worked out alright for others I hate to completely blame Cake for a bad run that I've had.

So, yes I'll keep riding with Cakewalk. It's been a great ride and I'm not jumping out just
because the road got a little ruff....of course I may get thrown out. Always that.

spacey


Yes I probably would.

I've had a bad go with X2a and computers so I sure wouldn't mind putting a few things
behind me. I would be hoping that it would be better than having to start over.

Of course X version was just upgrade price for me so it seems like a small amount to
help keep Cake moving forward and by reading how it's worked out alright for others I hate to completely blame Cake for a bad run that I've had.

So, yes I'll keep riding with Cakewalk. It's been a great ride and I'm not jumping out just
because the road got a little ruff....of course I may get thrown out. Always that.

I've been a user since Windows 3.1 and I've finally given up. It took all these years.

vintagevibe

spacey


Yes I probably would.

I've had a bad go with X2a and computers so I sure wouldn't mind putting a few things
behind me. I would be hoping that it would be better than having to start over.

Of course X version was just upgrade price for me so it seems like a small amount to
help keep Cake moving forward and by reading how it's worked out alright for others I hate to completely blame Cake for a bad run that I've had.

So, yes I'll keep riding with Cakewalk. It's been a great ride and I'm not jumping out just
because the road got a little ruff....of course I may get thrown out. Always that.

I've been a user since Windows 3.1 and I've finally given up. It took all these years.

I can understand. I came very close a few times but it's always been for more reasons than just the software.
To me the whole digital world marketing can be very testy.

I'd be amazed if there was X3 by the simple fact that the code in sonar now seems so old and out of date to what the competition are doing that it would take a major rewrite of the entire platform to get the audio engine working in a way that is comparable to the competiton.

I don't believe Roland / Cakewalk have the market share to justify that investment and have given up on Sonar.  Their complete lack of input to all the concerns in their user base speaks volumes as does sacking the core developers.

The show is in the very final act and whilst the fat lass isn't singing just yet she is certainly going through her scales