I own the vs system, think of the VS-700C as the hardware translation of Sonar 8.0.

This was the golden age really. This was fast, intuitive and awesome.

Then came 8.5, (also awesome) and X1...

Understand that X1 was nice also. We had some problems with the EQ layout (which don't line up with the labels on the console, still today) but that was not a real problem, just a deception for us who though we got the ultimate in Sonar integration. Other bugs were related to the new software codes and were not vs specific problem for the major part.

Then Prochannel modularity (X1D) introduced a latency on the display when banking through channels/busses, not the end of the world but a general "not again" reaction from users.

Some others bugs/functionnalities were still not adressed since Sonar 8 (like x64 Fatom editor and some others) and we, users, started to feel like an after-thought, a dead weight on Cakewalk shoulders and continued to try to convinced ourselves that we didn't invested that much money on a sinking flagship.

Some of us became less prone to wait and the tension raised on the VS forum, asking more and more for Cake's attention. 

Then came X2. Ouch. If you try to control the Prochannel with the VS-c channel strip, 2-3 moves on the knobs and the C display will freeze and act funky, the snap button freeze with the 2nd press and I successfully freeze Sonar when using a combination of the above while banking through tracks and busses 100% of the time. It's the first time the channel strip/prochannel is that much broken. And, no improvement/feedback on the features we wished since Sonar 8.  Also, if you press the automation button to write one, all, I mean ALL availible parameters will apear on an automation lane, that mean around 25-30 lanes are created just to write a volume automation...

Now, some of the users feel rubbed, so if you took a look on the VS forum, you'll understand why the general tone is somewhat harsh...

THAT being said, Ryan Munnis is very kind and pop on the forum here and there to do what he can to explain what is going on and what they are investigating. I believe that Cakewalk will do what they can to keep the VS afloat but the update will always go in this order (according to what we experienced so far).

New version of Sonar/patch -> some month waiting -> VS-700 update patching what the hardware permit

I would like both beign done and released at the same time but it's not the case right now.

Note that once the Channel strip section/snap setting are fixed, there's still A LOT going on in this surface that goes WAY beyong the Mackie/ Protools functions. A quick look at the manual will show you this.

I would say wait for X2A and make your decision once there.  If you decide to get it even if the support is not yet availible, then watch the used market since there will probably be some VS system on ebay for cheap lol.

Beside all those drawback, the VS combined with the VS-R is still an awesome sound machine that compare favorably to higher priced soltution. Also, controlling the VS-R gain and etc with the faders is very a addictive feature and it's limited direct monitoring functions can be cured by adding the octa-capture for a serious amount of I/O. By the way, I use the Fantom and the ARX-01 x64 on every project and they sound perfect. Patch selection in the Fantom is tedious though and the bit bridged editor sometime screw the automations.

RME is very nice, but so is the complete VS-700 package.

Dyonight

Note that once the Channel strip section/snap setting are fixed, there's still A LOT going on in this surface that goes WAY beyong the Mackie/ Protools functions. A quick look at the manual will show you this.

Actually, take a good long look. There's a lot ... and although VS-700C is a lot more intuitive than M1 to M4 shift functions on the Mackie, I still can't memorize all the functions that are accessible from the surface ...
 

Beside all those drawback, the VS combined with the VS-R is still an awesome sound machine that compare favorably to higher priced soltution. Also, controlling the VS-R gain and etc with the faders is very a addictive feature and it's limited direct monitoring functions can be cured by adding the octa-capture for a serious amount of I/O.

Combined with Octa-Capture the VS-700 set really is a killer. If needed, you could do up to 5 different (zero latency) direct head phone mixes of up to 18 input channels (actually 26 IN if counting ADAT but that you can only pass but not fully mix on the Octa-Capture) ... add a seriously spec'ed workstation and you get down to latencies in the range of the RMEs, either ...
 
Well, it's your choice. I'm happy, quite a few others don't seem to be and might be willing to sell it cheap (which they won't anymore once we get the update in Sonar that we are all waiting for)
 
 

Reading over these posts, I have to say they're really perceptive and accurate. There are some truly helpful people on this forum. 

Anyway, I forgot to mention that the VS-700C is Mackie-compatible. I also use it as a controller for Vegas, Reason, and other Mackie-compatible programs.

I'm keenly watching developments, and hope those with the VS-700 or VS-100 won't get stuck with an expensive time capsule. Anyone remember the Yamaha DSPF or Korg Oasys PCI?

I'd only come back to using Cakewalk software after Roland joined the party, having been burned by Cakewalk before, and hoped with Roland in charge it would be a different and better outfit. 

If Roland/Cake drop the ball on supporting the VS-20 I'm fine with it being frozen in time as long as it still works, and if it doesn't I'm only out a few bills. Wouldn't feel that way if I'd splurged for a VS-700 instead last year.

I have the complete system, currently I'm running 8.5.3 64 bit and I'm going to drop X1 Expanded in the DAW shortly. The main problems with V 700 C that you want are updates with the new features and plugins in X2. As of X1d and Expanded, stability and control were supposed to be restored. X2 lost some features of control on some functions. I haven't been able to get a total list out of anyone.
The V700C is a complex surface, you can make ACT perameters with it to control things, it can get real complex. What's needed is detailed problem reporting about what it doesn't do in X2. I don't think you'll find a better control surface for Sonar X2, but apparently, right now it's not perfect.

Hmm, wonder how people who sprang for one of those $100+ dedicated X1 keyboards earlier this year like the new jazz in X2...

We live in hope of the X2 update... this may be a game changer... but it has been some time.

The 700 set is obviously killer enough for us to maintain patience however particularly for those of us who have had it a while before the 8.5.3 release and can appreciate the game changer that it truly was at that time.

'If' Cake get this thing right again, we once more have a giant slayer.

Cheers.

Thanks again everyone for your voices, I do have one question and its regard to performance and the technology used to get that performance.  So, I hear some of you saying that the VS700R is in it's own right comparable to the RME interfaces.   Now has anyone experienced the performance difference (latency) between a USB driven VS700R vs a PCIe HDSP AIO?  I would think that PCIe would always outperform a USB interface, but are these differences extremely minor?  

Speaking to the future....Does anyone see CW releasing a proper update that benefits all users as well as a redesigned VS700 product release simultaneously like NI did with their new Maschine? As it seems that VS700 was designed for Sonar 8 and X1\X2 is a departure from that design & workflow?

At the end of the day, I think I will invest in VS700 studio, praying that my 3k won't go to waste because CW doesn't devote time to updating the flagship hardware meant to operate its flagship software.   I recently watched a few ARX-01 videos and I couldn't contain the drool.  The lost in functionality worries me, but my bday is in April...more than enough time to save and buy, while CW addresses the problems, hoping things are truly addressed by then.

I'm not sure why CW would address their products this way, again the best example of how to do it is still NI.  I do understand that by addressing Sonar you are fixing issues for a broader consumer base, but I would think making sure that the software & the hardware always worked together before anything else doesn't seem to forward thinking.  Yes, NI has it's own issues with its software\hardware marriage, but doesn't seem to be to the extent that VS700 users have experienced and that prochannel issue has to sting, because Prochannel is such a big deal for X1\X2.   

However, I've been in love with this device since they released it, never could afford it, until now and since I'm sticking with Sonar, I'm going marry it with the only hardware I know that is truly designed to be used with it.  Just hope CW can get their R&D team to put those issues to bed and soon.

I own a Roland SI24 as part of the Roland Studio Package II. And what interested me in the VS700 is the handle it has. So you can mix with stereo tracks in surround. Wich is something wich to this date is very innovative and a true Roland idea. (Maybe a Cakewalk idea.... but Roland has had some clever ideas...through the years... ). It hasn't been followed by other manufacturers. It will make mixing in surround with high trackcounts a breeze...

My wife gave me the look when I started about this... U know... She is right. I do have a great setup... But it is still a great kit...

Hey Muziekschuur,

I'm currious to know how much time did Roland took to release this expansion unit (SI-24) after the launch of the original vs-2400?

Actually that's exactly the kind of unit we are dreaming of to expand faders and provide a costum prochannel controller... can we expect Roland to ever release that kind of expansion unit 4 years after the launch of the VS-700?

Of course fixing the VS and providing users such a surface which could be used in standalone or to expand the VS-700C would both make VS-700 users extremely happy as well as other Sonar users who could use it without owning a VS-C.

My bet is they would sell a TON of these...