drewfx1
I'm currently looking at Live as something to run in parallel with Sonar.
 
My thinking is that since Sonar is in no known imminent danger of not functioning there's little upside to jumping to some other "same only different" platform that I will have to learn and will likely find less appealing than Sonar, which again, is still working fine. 
 
And if I switch now as a hedge against some point in the possibly distant future when Sonar won't run, how do I know that an alternative DAW I purchase today will still be in business then? 
 
IOW, what's the upside in switching now to a "same only different" DAW when Sonar is still good to go?
 
Instead, I'm looking at Live on the grounds that since it offers a different paradigm with different strengths I can run it in parallel, learn it and have it provide some tangible benefit while Sonar still runs fine.
 
After demoing it a bit last night, I can say it is currently sadly lacking in some areas we take for granted, so the jury is still out on whether it could be used as a competent traditional DAW replacement. But OTOH it does some other things very well, which is the whole point.

Take a look at Tracktion T6.  It has been released for free.  https://www.tracktion.com/products/t6-daw
 
Tracktion T7 can also be redeemed for free at the Tracktion site, if you register certain Behringer or Mackie devices on the manufacturer's site, you should receive a redemption code for T7.
 
Tracktion Waveform also has Melodyne integration.

I went with Studio One because of the integration with Melodyne and Vocalign are the same as SONAR. Also, Studio One, like SONAR, has the extra integration with Console One as well.
 
Pro Tools does not have that kind of integration so even though I already have Pro Tools 12, it was not a replacement for SONAR, so I had to purchase Studio One (which in my opinion is STILL not a replacement for the late great SONAR, but at least lets me use some important features and workflows that I am used to.)

Sylvan

Joe_A

Sylvan
This feels like a divorce...an unwanted one. With a heavy heart full of sorrow and reluctance, I just purchased Presonus Studio One 3 Professional. I feel like I have a concubine, but I miss my wife...SONAR.

Please post when convenient for you how's it going....I may purchase S1Pro tonight.

Hi Joe,
 
I have tested the following in Presonus Studio One Professional...
CA2A
LPEQ
LPMB
Percussion Strip
Vocal Strip
Transient Shaper
Tube Leveler
and they all work.
 
Adaptive Limiter and Breverb do not work.

I think Overloud TH3 Cakewalk should be on that list with Breverb.

Mixcraft also has Melodyne itegration.  Seems to be between Mixcraft and Studio One for me for now.  I'm already using Mixbus so have a plan C already...

I picked up Mixbus 4 on sale for $29 last night.  For that price I can experiment with it and should have plenty of time to decide what I think before it becomes a necessity.  I already have Mixbus 3 but it looks like 4 has some nice improvements. 

https://www.ableton.com/en/
 
I see that Ableton are giving 20% off either Ableton 9 new or upgrade AND a free upgrade to Ableton 10 ..
 
For me thats an upgrade as I have Ableton 8 which I tried way back but could not get on with it. Cost to me €127.
 
Funnily, even before this current situ with Cakewalk i was thinking of upgrading my Live 8 anyway and this up to 10 ( up 2 versions ) makes it attractive WHILE still working mainly with Sonar BTW. So theres a backup plan :D
 
 
 
 

Any one have a link to Cubase 9.5 demo? I would like to demo a few different DAWs at this point. Thanks!

how about Mixcraft 8?  anyone like that?

Been very happy with my studio one demo experiments so far. Also watched a lot of videos. Pretty clear they're going to have a cross grade deal next week. 95% set on getting it.

aidanodr
https://www.ableton.com/en/
 
I see that Ableton are giving 20% off either Ableton 9 new or upgrade AND a free upgrade to Ableton 10 ..
 
For me thats an upgrade as I have Ableton 8 which I tried way back but could not get on with it. Cost to me €127.
 
Funnily, even before this current situ with Cakewalk i was thinking of upgrading my Live 8 anyway and this up to 10 ( up 2 versions ) makes it attractive WHILE still working mainly with Sonar BTW. So theres a backup plan :D
 
 
 
 

I haven't decided on buying it yet, but I had a 10 year old copy of Live Lite that came bundled with something or other. After guessing the e-mail I used to register it correctly and doing the reset password thingy, I was able to log in.
 
In addition to the discount above, they are offering me an additional ~15% off just because I registered a 10 year old freebie!