I have not posted here in the past, but Noel (if you are still reading): My father bought me Cakewalk 1.2 on a generic PC when I was 13 years old, back in 1988.  At least I think that was the year.  I ran it on a monochrome monitor with a resolution of, what, 280x400?  The program functionality was pretty basic, but controlling a keyboard via a computer interface was the most incredible thing I had ever seen.  And making my first midi recording with that software is one of my greatest childhood memories.  I can still see the "Cakewalk" splash screen in my head, in blocky, low-res, amber text.
 
I was a weekend hobbyist then, and I am weekend hobbyist now (I ended up going into law rather than music).  But I continued to buy Cakewalk programs through the years, updating whenever I could afford it.  And I loved all of them.  And I have so many pleasant memories of my time with this DAW that I wanted to reach out and thank you and everyone else on the Cakewalk team for all of your work.  It was a privilege to dig into the program and the VST's and discover all of the new ways that each iteration could manipulate sound.  It must have taken an incredible body of talent to put it all together, and you should all be very, very proud.
 
I had not played much music in the past year and I only discovered that Cakewalk had ceased operations earlier this evening when I was doing a clean computer install.  And honestly, it left me depressed (strange as that sounds).  The software has been such a big part of my life that I am truly saddened to see it go.  I wanted to reach out and thank the people responsible for it while I still have the chance.
 
Thank you all.  I wish you nothing but the best.   
 
--Hank

Well that was yet another possitive sign. At least my reading between the lines is that something is actually happening and that good or bad something will either come to an end or be re born. As Noel said be patient and don't go flying off in a million direction just yet. The servers are still working, this forum is still here, Sonar is still working just like always, DON"T PANIC....  

Noel, why can’t you put such comment in a sticky so it doesn’t become buried in the rest of the stuff here. Sick of reading the same question over and over again.

mudgel
Noel, why can’t you put such comment in a sticky so it doesn’t become buried in the rest of the stuff here. Sick of reading the same question over and over again.

 
Yes, a sticky with any information at all would be useful.
 
Preferably one that's locked to us and only updated by Noel or someone who knows what's happening.
 
The 'cakewalk announcement' thread is now locked because people can't help but argue with each other.
 
 

Thank goodness.

Cactus Music
Well that was yet another possitive sign. At least my reading between the lines is that something is actually happening and that good or bad something will either come to an end or be re born. As Noel said be patient and don't go flying off in a million direction just yet. The servers are still working, this forum is still here, Sonar is still working just like always, DON"T PANIC....  

To me "there is a good chance there could be a positive outcome" is no more than a definite maybe...
 
Whilst I appreciate that this is all down to the lawyers and process nothing here is really helping the users or motivating them to stay. The users are an important asset but at this rate there will be very few left when the final decision is announced. 

Ian Ferrin
 
I just re-up'd for a 'lifetime' renewal.  How laughable is that?

How did you "just re-up for a 'lifetime renewal" ?
They haven't offered Lifetime updates in almost 16 months.

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
As far as lifetime updates go Cakewalk hadn't offered them since they were discontinued a long time ago since they were a one time promotion. Users who got it when they first came out in 2016 got about 20 monthly updates that more than justified the cost they paid for it.

 
I'm long time loyal Cakewalk customer. Been in more than 99% happy of it, small or some esoteric bugs don't bother me much, many of them were issued over time. Love this software since Cakewalk Professional 3 through Pro Tracks, Home Studio 6, X1 and now Platinum, that's decades of time. Lot's of work done on it and been huge fan of it's workflow. Now I'm glad to read the Noel's updates on Cakewalk's future, that it may end up somehow positive, there's nothing I wish more, I can wait no problem. Hope everything goes fine in the end, for Cakewalk and for us.
 
Happy to read any uplifting or calming news from Noel, but thins one sentence in bold I just can't agree. Regardless the financial aspect, those were lifetime updates, not just updates or upgrade. If in future we'll see Cakewalk come back in any form (really hope to see that), that won't be offering any continuity for us lifetime owners, it will be the key of dissapointment. It was "lifetime", there's no way to justify it's loss with any amount of monthly updates. Even if I agree they justified the cost we paid, they won't justify the loss of years of Sonar maintainance, years of working on an up-to-date DAW that we love. That's what we paid for, mainly, when choosing lifetime offer.

chris.r
Regardless the financial aspect, those were lifetime updates, not just updates or upgrade. If in future we'll see Cakewalk come back in any form (really hope to see that), that won't be offering any continuity for us lifetime owners, it will be the key of dissapointment. It was "lifetime", there's no way to justify it's loss with any amount of monthly updates. Even if I agree they justified the cost we paid, they won't justify the loss of years of Sonar maintainance, years of working on an up-to-date DAW that we love. That's what we paid for, mainly, when choosing lifetime offer.

I'm still completely and utterly blown away by the number of people who actually believe that "lifetime updates" means for their lifetime instead of the lifetime of the program. It's completely baffling and ignores the most basic common sense. I didn't read the small print when I signed up, but I would quite honestly bet a whole year's earnings on there having been some very precise legal language which specified, unambiguously, what "lifetime updates" meant. Prediction: there was no minimum time frame given, and certainly no mention of the customer's biological lifespan. Get a grip people. 

i remember when lifetime updates showed up in accounts as lasting through till 2038 or some other random number (apparently a y2k type computer anomaly) and people were worried about that. They need not have worried :)