That plan was dropped by the people who ended up running Cakewalk, not by Gibson

 
So.....if it wasn't Gibson running Cakewalk, who was?

Craig already said Cakewalk.  Who in Cakewalk he ain't saying, which is probably a good thing.  But I'm sure everyone in the DAW-making community will know and not be too happy to have their person as their new boss. 

Busy doing intensive homework regarding a replacement DAW right now as, unfortunately, I HAVE to be sure that my next project and the one thereafter will work.. I can't be explaining to a client mid-album that there has been a slight problem...
 
So.. my point is, watching the tutorials, feature announcements etc of the "Big DAWS" out there, yet again I am amazed at how far ahead SPLAT actually was in so many areas. What some of these guys are now touting as 2017 innovations have been around for years and years in Sonar. ProTools just got Track freezing and Batch Freezing, for instance. PT still doesn't support 32bit and 64 VSTs natively.. And they just got batch fades as another example... Cubase is excited about more inserts.. I am actually astounded.

(Admittedly though, these DAWs also have some features that I was requesting for years on the Cakewalk forums - geeky stuff that make a pro's life a little easier such as very clever exporting options and advanced stem bouncing.)

I have a feeling these guys were all watching and often copying Cakewalk on a daily basis, with the benefit of much bigger developer muscle behind them.
 
I still maintain the downfall of Cakewalk was two simple things: lack of proper marketing. And lack of Mac.

You may have noticed that there's not been a single word from the CEO of Cakewalk. That's the man that should have the answers and bears the responsibility for the failure. You can have the best product in the world, but if you can't properly promote it and sell it profitably, there's no way it will survive.
 
I would not buy another copy of Sonar from a new owner. I bought the software, I bought CW branded hardware from the Roland days and I'm done sending them money. I'm on a retirement income now. There's plenty of pain to go around. My heart goes out to folks who won't have jobs this Christmas, not to software users. Sorry, but there's many options in the software world.
 
I hope the Cakewalk folks land on their feet. If Gibson goes under we'll see a huge domino effect right across the musical instrument industry. Right now it looks like the entire industry is a house of cards. Gibson is a symptom. Just look at the debt position of the big US music chain stores.  

AT
Craig already said Cakewalk.  Who in Cakewalk he ain't saying, which is probably a good thing.  But I'm sure everyone in the DAW-making community will know and not be too happy to have their person as their new boss. 

 
The reality is that in today's climate, any plans to secure a DAW's position in the market is going to be a gamble. It may be that Cakewalk was doomed and nothing could be done to fix it without, as LJB noted, proper marketing and a lack of Mac, which were factors as well in Cakewalk's demise. The people in charge were sincere in their desire to keep Cakewalk afloat. We just disagreed about how best to do it.

If it makes anybody feel better- I had someone consulting me today about building new Windows custom computer. He was planning to use Tascam and Sonar, and I told him- it is not viable option now. 

ampfixer
You may have noticed that there's not been a single word from the CEO of Cakewalk. That's the man that should have the answers and bears the responsibility for the failure. You can have the best product in the world, but if you can't properly promote it and sell it profitably, there's no way it will survive.
 
I would not buy another copy of Sonar from a new owner. I bought the software, I bought CW branded hardware from the Roland days and I'm done sending them money. I'm on a retirement income now. There's plenty of pain to go around. My heart goes out to folks who won't have jobs this Christmas, not to software users. Sorry, but there's many options in the software world.
 
I hope the Cakewalk folks land on their feet. If Gibson goes under we'll see a huge domino effect right across the musical instrument industry. Right now it looks like the entire industry is a house of cards. Gibson is a symptom. Just look at the debt position of the big US music chain stores.  

Well said, wise words, etc. *thumbs up*
 
Just wondering how long Gibson has been struggling? Is it because guitars won't sell anymore? These are weird times...

Anderton

AT
Craig already said Cakewalk.  Who in Cakewalk he ain't saying, which is probably a good thing.  But I'm sure everyone in the DAW-making community will know and not be too happy to have their person as their new boss. 

 
The reality is that in today's climate, any plans to secure a DAW's position in the market is going to be a gamble. It may be that Cakewalk was doomed and nothing could be done to fix it without, as LJB noted, proper marketing and a lack of Mac, which were factors as well in Cakewalk's demise. The people in charge were sincere in their desire to keep Cakewalk afloat. We just disagreed about how best to do it.

Yes, that came off a bit too harsh.  I should have added a " ;-) " after the last sentence.  I don't think someone inside Cakewalk was plotting and twirling their dastardly moustache.  The entire music business pie seems to be shrinking except for bands willing to play free gigs.  ;-)  So it doesn't take much to push one over the edge of profitability as a studio or a band or even DAW, and you don't have to try for it to happen.  
 
In the DAW market, I'm not too sure there is still room for a big-budget, PC-only, fully-featured DAW.  But there is room for several smaller boutique DAWs once you get past Abelton and probably cross-platform Cubase.  I just wish SONAR not been tagged "it."  And I hope someone picks it up before too long.  Meanwhile, I can use SONAR while checking out the rests of the DAWs on the beach.
@
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Jari
 
Just wondering how long Gibson has been struggling? Is it because guitars won't sell anymore? These are weird times...

Excellent read Jari .. 
 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/lifestyle/the-slow-secret-death-of-the-electric-guitar/?utm_term=.93eaa5208875
 
Two lines stuck out:

“What we need is guitar heroes,” he says.

 

“Our customers are getting older, and they’re going to be gone soon,” he says.

 
ALSO READ THE COMMENTS UNDER THE ARTICLE: Like:

Two reasons why the electric guitar is on the downside: 
1) It actually takes talent 
2) You have to practice.....a lot. 
 
So much easier just to make a YouTube video of you singing in your living room.

I just want to say that I personally am not ever leaving cakewalk it is my number one daw, I really hope someone buys this and takes it where it needs to go, it has so much that with the right direction could blow all other daws out of the way.

New owners , New management , New Coders.

Iam not sorry to say that either cakewalk needs to not be locked into a future where problems/bugs are second to anything, it is the law of nature fix what is broken or after a few more things break everything could collapse.
Also when major coding overhaul is needed to update engines or completely renew even the hardest most deepest daunting parts of sonar > then do it. There is no excuses to ignore or redirect sonar away from what must and should be done, sonar requires all coding to be fixed and be in a state of conscious perfection and for moving forward in “any” direction necessary.

Yes this requires resources be it extra coders stc but let’s face it the coding needs a major overhaul first and foremost and the community needs to be included in that overhaul and there needs to be fresh eyes and “open” minds on the overhaul and during the overhaul any staff who says no or I don’t think it can be done or is the an easier way around any of the issues regarding the overhaul of sonar should be immidately fired.

I hope Sonar survives but I want more than survival I want sonars blood to pump properly.