I can feel the flack already, but this is a serious question. Here's what I have observed:
 
The recent Braintree release gave us acoustic amp sims but they are described as geared to Gibson guitar models.
We got bass loops, played by Gibson endorsers on Gibson bass guitars.
Craig created an Excellent library for synths, based on the Gibson EB5.
Craig has talked about Gibson wanting him to do Sonar video's but he also mentions that they will need to include Gibson mic's and monitors and Tascam interfaces.
The proposed road trip to Sonar that's heading for Nashville. Why not Boston?, why not Noel?
 
There is absolutely nothing wrong with any one of these items, but I feel that a pattern is developing that may close off some ideas. For example, is it ok to develop an amp sim (effect chain) optimized for Fender strats? Will Gibson take us down the road with Sonar the way Pro Tools went, optimized for gear the bankers sell?
 
Craig and Gibson are incredible resources that can push Sonar to the top, but I wonder if I'll recognise it once we get there.
 
Let the arrows fly folks, I'm expecting it, but please tell me if I'm the only one that's noticed this trend. Cheers.

I think the reason for the amp sims, eb5 bass library, and the videos using Gibson and Tascam stuff is mostly because Craig has access to those products, being a Gibson employee. As for the Nashville thing, the reason for that was because Craig lives in the area. I don't think Sonar will go the way of Pro Tools, at least I hope not.

The name of the game is money

Geared to Gibson by Gibson. 
 
I don't think that is really of great concern because its basically a reference point. So, if someone uses a Fender or whatever guitar of good build it should still sound good. With additional plugins -- that's a boatload of options to include for whatever sound one's heart desires. 
 
What would be cool right now if someone recorded an A/B (Gibson/Fender) comparison to see how it all sounds -- if both sound fine on their own then what the hey... its cool
 
 

Gibson makes microphones?

Not for nothing, but the addition of DSD I/O support in the new Sonar smells like "Tascam" more than "customer demand" to me.
 
But it's not like there weren't Roland tie-ins before and as long as they are only promoting Gibson and not slagging the competition it's not an issue for me.

Instead of a free copy of Sonar when you buy a Roland something, maybe we'll get a free Desert Burst Gibson LP Supreme when we buy Sonar Platinum.  
 

The name of this particular game is SYNERGY, a business buzzword that explains why Cakewalk has been purchased by companies that make audio gear and instruments a couple of times in the last decade, instead of by companies that actually produce baked goods. The idea is that the customers, and managers who are used to one way of transferring money from wannabe musicians to corporations will find it easy to pull off the same trick in a related business. 
 
Perhaps the best known example of synergy was the buyout of Time Warner by AOL in 2000 for 182 billion. How could an overvalued little company that had inflated its share price on the promise that everyone would be too dumb to find the internet without them, and a giant cable company that owned the wires they would undoubtedly have to use to get there be less than a money machine? 

The stuff I have seen is not a worry for me. When your company is purchased by a major corporation, expect to have to push their other products. It doesn't seem to be as bad as a NASCAR race car sponsorship (the "Craig Anderton Gibson bass guitar EB5 Tascam Sonar Platinum DAW feels good today and we think we have a shot a making this album a number 1 today."). There is also no lockout/lock-in (the "sorry, unless you purchase the Gibson USB interface Sonar won't work" or "We see you have Brand X synth installed, so certain features of SONAR are no longer available"). As long as we don't see this begin to creep in, it just seems business as usual.

I guess I can't see Gibson promoting Fender.....wouldn't that be a little odd?


I like Bob's idea.