Oh yeah, if color customization is heavily your thing you might consider Panup's SONAR Mods.
 

Stump, your mistake was using the word "serious" n the thread title. I'm surprised bapu even stopped by to read it.
 
I'm still using 8.5, and right up until my audio interface bit the dust, music was still coming out of it. 8.5, that is. Anything bad that comes out is my own fault. If I thought X3 would make better music come out, I'd snag it in a minute, credit-card balance be damned. But as long as 8.5 keeps doing what I tell it to do, and stays out of the way, I see no reason to upgrade. 

Dave,
 
Noble position to take.
 
I know of at least three people I collaborate with that are still on 8.x. Doesn't even cause a blip on the radar (except that Juan guy that can only take a .cwb @ 48/44/1 due to his interface limitations, he knows who he is). 

If you think you need it, buy it.
I don't see much of a need myself.
I don't like ProChannel or it's add ons. I prefer the sonitus EQ to anything in PC.
The only compelling reason for me to get X3 would be if I didn't have Melodyne.
 
I got X1 and I think X2. (I forget). 
- What can it do better than 8.5? nothing.
- what does it screw up that I have in 8.5? lots.
 
I think X3 is targeted at those that don't have all the extra software toys that go with making music these days.
If you don't have that stuff independently then maybe it's a good buy. I would say buy the quality extras you need instead and stick with 8.5. But then, time goes by, and with it any upgrade curves and falling out of the loop per se.
 
Just some random incomprehensible thoughts.

He sounds stumped...

craigb
He sounds stumped...

Punny!

We upgrade-refuseniks think we've beaten the system, but just wait...ST3 will only install on Windows 10, but SONAR 8.x won't even run on it. Plus you're gonna need 128GB just to check your email.

bapu
Dave,
 
Noble position to take.
 
I know of at least three people I collaborate with that are still on 8.x. Doesn't even cause a blip on the radar (except that Juan guy that can only take a .cwb @ 48/44/1 due to his interface limitations, he knows who he is). 

Is that me? I don't know who I am...

jamesg1213

bapu
Dave,
 
Noble position to take.
 
I know of at least three people I collaborate with that are still on 8.x. Doesn't even cause a blip on the radar (except that Juan guy that can only take a .cwb @ 48/44/1 due to his interface limitations, he knows who he is). 

Is that me? I don't know who I am...

Glad to help out.

I got X3a in December for $29. That was $49 - a $20 coupon.
I got it mainly as future-proofing; my XP music machine is now 9 years old and it could bite the dust at any time... and $29 was a steal, I think.
I haven't worked with it a lot, yet, because my Win 7 box has no audio interface, just the RealTek. Everything I've done with it so far has worked.
I'll miss the keyboard shortcuts when working in Staff view when the time comes, though.