I'm very excited by the upcoming update. Pop out quad curve with analzyer, VST3, ARA, tape sim in prochannel, colors and improved comping (a couple of the Cakewalk guys are saying the comping is a BIG improvement).
 
Apart from the tape sim I don't think I'll install the plugins- I even have the full melodyne for instance.
 
About the Ad copy- it places too much emphasis on the new instruments/effects I feel. They should have had a bullet point- new instruments include.... and another bullet point new effects include.....
 
Can't believe I can still get so excited about software!

Looks like Sweetwater has pulled it off the shelf......
 
I'm with JohnKenn on this and probably will wait for a last min. $49 deal.....(considering I just got X2 a few months back)........I also have many of the plugins included in X3, but new software is always tempting.
 
At the moment, Orange Tree's group buy is on top of my list.......

I'm confounded by the degree of animosity and skepticism surrounding this release, especially on Gearslutz and KVR. As soon as X3 became public knowledge, but before any real details were known, comments came in like "it'll be overpriced",  "what a joke", and the prediction that "it will be an unstable mess". Has CW really pissed so many people off? Even the new guy in this soap opera, Craig Anderton, got attacked as "another empty suit". And he had nothing to do with X1.
 
As for me, it's been liberating to get off the upgrade bus. SONAR 8.5, Ozone 4, Kontakt 4 - and guess what? I'm still making music with all this outdated software! Come September 28th I plan on having fun with my new OTS Rickenbacker library while everyone else is trying to figure out what ARA is.

I'm with Bit on this, as I stated upstairs...

They just pulled a Benjamin out of my wallet 12 months ago..
now they want another Benjamin and half..

I'm going to wait it out...see how it is...and hope for a sale..
I'm not paying $149...I don't need AD, Melodyne, Blue Tubes,
Tape Emulator, etc...I already have those...for those that don't
it's a better deal...but, for me, I want SUBSTANCE...

VST 3 is a good thing...Better Comping, good...there
are some good things on the list...but I'll wait to see
if there is a bugfest, as I KNOW this required a rewrite 
to include VST 3....so I'm going to wait it out... evaluate
it, and make my decision then...

bitflipper
everyone else is trying to figure out what ARA is.

This?

I'm watching carefully and will make my decisions after the Cakewalk announcement and hopefully some videos. Trying to make any kind of a decision at this point is based purely on speculation and/or emotion. 
 
I also was surprised to see some of the attacks on Craig Anderton. As I recall, he has always been a Sonar supporter and participant on these forums.
 
 

bitflipper
I'm confounded by the degree of animosity and skepticism surrounding this release, especially on Gearslutz and KVR. As soon as X3 became public knowledge, but before any real details were known, comments came in like "it'll be overpriced",  "what a joke", and the prediction that "it will be an unstable mess". Has CW really pissed so many people off? Even the new guy in this soap opera, Craig Anderton, got attacked as "another empty suit". And he had nothing to do with X1.
 
As for me, it's been liberating to get off the upgrade bus. SONAR 8.5, Ozone 4, Kontakt 4 - and guess what? I'm still making music with all this outdated software! Come September 28th I plan on having fun with my new OTS Rickenbacker library while everyone else is trying to figure out what ARA is.

Assuming CW implemented the Melodyne/ARA integration as well as PreSonus did with Studio One, I think it'll be one of X3's most popular features.  At least for anyone who ever needs to adjust the pitch and/or timing of notes in a vocal or instrument track.  You guys who have struggled with V-Vocal will surely appreciate this!
 
With regard to the other announced enhancements, most of the grousing seems to be from those who already have a full complement of third-party plugins and haven't much use for the new additions.  There are only a few actual improvements to the core software listed -- they're nice but not exactly transformative, and IMHO not worth the upgrade cost.  And it remains to be seen if stability has improved. 
 
Here's hoping that the esteemed Mr. Anderton will have some input into future Sonar improvements, making it something special among the variety of options we have these days.
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

bitflipper
As for me, it's been liberating to get off the upgrade bus. SONAR 8.5, Ozone 4, Kontakt 4 - and guess what? I'm still making music with all this outdated software! Come September 28th I plan on having fun with my new OTS Rickenbacker library while everyone else is trying to figure out what ARA is.

Craig had a really good article in Electronic Musician years ago about "getting by with older gear".

I'll wait until the smoke (& mirrors) clears then try the demo.
That's the only way to find out what's really happening without blowing any money.

I've already been making music using ARA for over a year, VST3 for 5 months- those feature improvements are no-brainers.

My interest is stability & how much the engine & overall performance has been improved over previous versions.
That's crucial for my use, the rest is just fluff.

(And of course with all the complaints I'm sure they've re-vamped those horrible Take Lanes)

I think I'll wait until CW at least, you know, actually announces it and puts up the web page before passing judgment.
 
They're always going to throw bundled stuff in to entice more people to upgrade, given that they're only being able to produce so much new code every year. I, like many here, certainly don't lack for plugins, but I also don't have to upgrade if the total package isn't attractive. And the trick for them is to try to make the total package attractive to the largest number of users.