A few years ago Cakewalk had an upgrade that allowed people to purchase the upgrade only and/or other 3rd party add-on's at special prices. I really enjoyed that because I didn't need or want the add-on's and it kept the Sonar price reasonable.
 
I wish they could afford to sell their product that way again. I also already have the full versions of almost every third party product mentioned in the Sweetwater ad. I really don't want this other stuff and I'm almost sure you couldn't sell the license... 

LANEY
$149 seems like a bit much, I have Melodyne don't need essentials.

I have essentials, so I don't need the program, but if its Melodyne integration that will be a big step forward.
 
Edit - Deep integration apparently " X3 has very deep ARA integration with Melodyne (or any other future plugins that support the ARA protocol). Both ARA and VVocal fall under the region FX umbrella and are equally supported"  http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2892447
 
 

Wondering if there is a Studio version without these additional VSTs available ?
 
Over the years of using X1 / 2, I've already collected a small group of essential VSTs suitable for my own usage (and some more that I rarely use), and most of them are the full version of once LE bundled of the Producer version.

carl

• Get authentic drums sounds with the full version of XLN Audio Addictive Drums

Intresting that this is the FULL version. I wonder where that leaves Session Drummer?

I'm on Sonar X1d cause it works since it was patched for what I do.  I bought the X2 upgrade when it was preorder mostly cause it had free string library and the proclub and I figured once it got patched and people were really happy with it I'd be safe to install and start using it.  I haven't yet.
 
I'm like others I have or have better alternative plugins I use.
 
X3 will be a wait for sale for me, install once patched thing. 
 
I'd much rather have a stripped DAW without the 3rd party stuff and let me pick my tools.  oh well, they are trying to be all in one package for a lot of people.
 
I'm leaning toward Reaper / FL Studio.
 
I really just want to make noise, not have a bunch of stuff I have to learn workarounds because it's included.
 
So far reading the specs I'm not that impressed with X3.  guess it's a wait and see.

Nothing new here. Just venting some frustration over the price and scope of the upgrade.
 
If you don't have any of these third party plugins, it might be a good deal.
 
My problem, just me alone is, I got all the Nomad stuff already. Got Addictive Drums. Got Lounge Lizzard. Don't have the lite melodyne version they added.
 
Got too many comps and saturators and eq's to make any difference whatever they threw in.
 
I was looking for core, washed in the blood improvements and progress in the program itself. This upgrade seems to be smoke and mirrored in a dump of third party inclusions that many of us already have. Little actual substance unless you can benefit from a garage sale discount of some arguably good third party trimmings.
 
Will wait for X4, or do a last minute $49 upgrade if I realize I can't live without the Melodyne lite plug.
 
Not knocking Sonar for all the powerful and good things it delivers. For me, like Robin Trower said, "I think I'll just sit this one out"
 
Best,
John

Regarding Melodyne, its not just the fact they are bundling Melodyne Essentials with producer, its the fact that they integrated ARA into Sonar which, for any melodyne user will be a huge workflow improvement.
 
I have Melodyne essentials already but I still think this is one of the key features that may persuade me to update to X3 and Melodyne editor. I was previously thinking of passing on this and waiting for X4.
 
As for the rest of the third party plugins, I dont have any of them, I will take as a bonus but they would not persuade me to upgrade if there are not feature upgrades.
 
VST 3 support, I don't need it yet, but if NI make Kontakt 6 VST3 etc...........
 
As for the rest we need to see the flesh on the bones. There are certainly hints that there is much more than you see in the Sweetwater bullet points.

ubuntu
Nomad plug-ins are not regarded highly at gearslutz.com
Cakewalk obviously have a different view, unless Nomad through them in for next to nothing. 

To be brutally fair & frank, most of the people on GS don't rate ANY form of plugin.
 
The clue is in the name of the site

LANEY
$149 seems like a bit much, I have Melodyne don't need essentials. Wonder if I can upgrade under $100!

Perhaps they should give it away, y'know, just to keep everyone happy.

^^^^^
 
I'm up for that. I don't have any X version so free would be tempting.
 
I'd like it for less though.