Corrections for OP:

1. It's not called "X4"
2. Well, it's actually "X4" + "X5" all rolled into one, if you believe the hype
3. It's just called "SONAR"
4. Or rather, SONAR ~
   • Platinum
   • Not quite as Professional
   • Bog Standard

Please keep up.
 
Thankee

I'm completely broke, so maybe this summer.....

musicman100
I love how, when after we participated in the survey, the question about subscription based models was discussed.
The talking hats denied that was an option,Many forumites hated the idea.
 
Now what? We have subscription(although they deny its a subscription based model, but it quacks like a duck), and the support camp is coming out in droves supporting the new model.
 
Those will be the first to biotch when something isnt right, as in updates/fixs coming "fast enough" or responses to complaints.
 
So supposedly CWs hands will NOT be tied to an arbitrary cycle to fix things and make the world a better place because of the new model.
 
Tyme will tell.I may try the $149 pop only if I see a new X4 with rainbows and unicorns included.Some comment was posted about receiving X4 and X5 in the same year, but probably only if ine waits late to "subscribe". I cant see both platforms in one subscription year.

I'm not a fan of subscriptions and would be out if it was a traditional subscription, but:
 
1. If you pay up front (or subscribe monthly for 12 consecutive months) you get to keep everything. You don't lose what you paid for as long as you subscribe for 12 consecutive months. So if you pay upfront it's really not much different than before.
 
2. If you pay upfront right now (or subscribe for a year) you get all the current new features plus everything released over the coming year for $149. So that's good and is effectively 2 years for $149, but the big question is in 1 year when you either would only be paying for future stuff or would wait for something and buy/subscribe again. To me, that's where it will get dicey and they will likely have to make it appealing. 

drewfx1

musicman100
I love how, when after we participated in the survey, the question about subscription based models was discussed.
The talking hats denied that was an option,Many forumites hated the idea.
 
Now what? We have subscription(although they deny its a subscription based model, but it quacks like a duck), and the support camp is coming out in droves supporting the new model.
 
Those will be the first to biotch when something isnt right, as in updates/fixs coming "fast enough" or responses to complaints.
 
So supposedly CWs hands will NOT be tied to an arbitrary cycle to fix things and make the world a better place because of the new model.
 
Tyme will tell.I may try the $149 pop only if I see a new X4 with rainbows and unicorns included.Some comment was posted about receiving X4 and X5 in the same year, but probably only if ine waits late to "subscribe". I cant see both platforms in one subscription year.

I'm not a fan of subscriptions and would be out if it was a traditional subscription, but:
 
1. If you pay up front (or subscribe monthly for 12 consecutive months) you get to keep everything. You don't lose what you paid for as long as you subscribe for 12 consecutive months. So if you pay upfront it's really not much different than before.
 
2. If you pay upfront right now (or subscribe for a year) you get all the current new features plus everything released over the coming year for $149. So that's good and is effectively 2 years for $149, but the big question is in 1 year when you either would only be paying for future stuff or would wait for something and buy/subscribe again. To me, that's where it will get dicey and they will likely have to make it appealing. 

'Zactly... and unless they change something (as the paranoid weirdo I am I always smell doom and defeat on the horizon) I've already figured out a way to game this to get two version upgrades for the price of one in perpetuity (basically skipping a year so you get a cumulative update for the previous year AND the next years worth of improvements). So even though the upgrade price goes up, if it is indeed cumulative and nothing gets left off, this ends up being cheaper in the long run than the previous model provided one is patient enough.
 
Makes me feel a little scuzzy thinking that way but hey... poverty is as poverty does. If I were cash flush I'd keep a perpetual membership (and own all the other major DAWs on the market... and a pile of sweet ass guitars... and have liquor and chicks stacked to the ceiling in my apartment... and a unicorn that farts rainbows and caviar) but in the meantime this may work out MUCH better for a broke arsed turd burglar like myself.
 
Problem is... I REALLY want that Mix Recall thingie NOW DAMMIT!!!
 
lulz...
 
and now back to your regularly scheduled CH programming....

IMO it's only subscription if you use an analogy like magazines. When your subscription runs out you still have the past issues (if you are a hoarder like me).
 
This IS NOT the Adobe model. With the Adobe model (as I've been corrected) you do not get to keep anything once you stop monthly payments. Period. No matte how many payments you make.
 
In the new SONAR we have options.
 
Pay upfront for SONAR and you get what you get like you did for your last version (if you're an upgrade customer) plus any updates for the next 12 months.
OR
Pay monthly (+vig) and you are renting. Stop before 12 months of payments and you return your rental.
 
But here is the bonus (vs. Adobe). Pay monthly for 12 consecutive months and you EVERYTHING (updates etc.) to THAT POINT IN TIME and it will never expire. You simply paid just a little more (the vig) but your SONAR is no different than the person who paid up front on the same day as you started month 1.
 
Now that seems simple to me.
 
Where everyone upstairs is confused or trying to mangle the issue is over the monthly plan.
1) What if I "rent" for two months, why don't I get what it was at day 1?
2) What if I "rent" for two months, stay away for three, why can't my previous two months be part of my next 12 consecutive?
3) ad nausea
 
 
 

bapu
IMO it's only subscription if you use an analogy like magazines. When your subscription runs out you still have the past issues (if you are a hoarder like me).
 
This IS NOT the Adobe model. With the Adobe model (as I've been corrected) you do not get to keep anything once you stop monthly payments. Period. No matte how many payments you make.
 
In the new SONAR we have options.
 

Ya.
 
It's not a "traditional" SW subscription model but more of a hybrid, which makes it confusing to understand and easy to get upset about at first glance.
 
The real question is how the Bakers will do with releasing new content/bug fixes/testing/stability.
 
It requires some discipline. Can you say "version control"?

drewfx1
Can you say "version control"?

Version control.
 
Now what?

@ed...
 
Yeah, I think a whole pile of folks are simply not taking an even precursory look at the actual details about how this works and jumping to conclusions. My first reaction when seeing "Membership" was "Nope... ain't gonna happen but mayhaps I should read up on this before freaking out". After checking it out, and I was extremely tired and brainfrazzled last night when I did, it made sense and I saw nothing substantial had changed if I didn't want it to. I only had the extra option of just paying for a month to try it out or as I needed it (which I'm too cheap to do).
 
This morning I went through all the info properly and came to the conclusions I posted above. Seriously this could be a WAY better deal for some folks if they are smart about it... at least as it is currently being presented.
 
I've been trying my best to explain it to those just experiencing the initial shock I did but really at this point all the info is there and I'm getting a little burnt out on it so I'm just gonna go work on my mix for a while.

drewfx1

bapu
IMO it's only subscription if you use an analogy like magazines. When your subscription runs out you still have the past issues (if you are a hoarder like me).
 
This IS NOT the Adobe model. With the Adobe model (as I've been corrected) you do not get to keep anything once you stop monthly payments. Period. No matte how many payments you make.
 
In the new SONAR we have options.
 

Ya.
 
It's not a "traditional" SW subscription model but more of a hybrid, which makes it confusing to understand and easy to get upset about at first glance.
 
The real question is how the Bakers will do with releasing new content/bug fixes/testing/stability.
 
It requires some discipline. Can you say "version control"?

This is a serious problem but I'm going to assume we will start referring to things by Build #s as opposed to version numbers.
 
So if I have a question about Audiosnap for the forum or tech support I would say "I suxxors at Audiosnap Build #blah... HALP!" instead of "I suxxors at Audiosnap in X3".
 
It'll still likely get a little messy but most functions should remain more or less the same (in fact I think the reason why this is all being rolled out now is because X3 seems to be the most likeable version so it will be merely expanded upn) and if new features are introduced they will have their own names and old stuff with enhancements will have point or build numbers.
 
It will be a paradigm shift as far as communication but in general Sonar users seem to be an intelligent lot.

Beepster
This is a serious problem but I'm going to assume we will start referring to things by Build #s as opposed to version numbers.
 
So if I have a question about Audiosnap for the forum or tech support I would say "I suxxors at Audiosnap Build #blah... HALP!" instead of "I suxxors at Audiosnap in X3".

Well put Beeps.
 
Build X makes perfect sense and in about 18 months from now that will be de rigure and everyone will have forgotten about Version Control (as in X#) when reporting a SONAR problem.