Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]
I think our approach to development would be the same for lifetime updates as it would for membership. The difference is there is no cut off for lifetime updates. We'll still deliver new features for SONAR, in fact we have some cool ones planned. We say core features to distinguish between features that are core to the program and other products we develop at Cakewalk. For example. we develop Z3TA+ 2 and that's not included in SONAR. Any future products including effects and plugins may not be included in SONAR (like Rapture Pro, Expansion Packs). And this certainly will allow us to focus on core improvements and enhancements, which honestly is what people have asked us to do. 

 
Good to hear that regular membership will not differ from lifetime. That makes it easier to compare the Lifetime fee against the monthly/yearly ones.
However, still confused about that 'core features' thing. In the past, the top tier of Sonar always came with extra goodies, and future releases always came with newer goodies. E.g. my X1 came with Dimension Pro, True Pianos,... which I didn't have with my older versions of Sonar (8 or the pre-Sonar releases). Upgrading from X1 to Platinum now gave me ProChannel stuff (Breverb, Tape Emu...), Melodyne... The examples you give are not relevant since they were always stand-alone releases never included. Actually they are relevant, because X1 also came with Z3TA+ 1.5 which I then could upgrade to 2 at a discount.
If the regular membership will never have any of these new goodies anymore, we are clearly getting less for our money, unless the regular membership gets cheaper. $149 a year for Platinum just purely for new features and fixes would definitely be a step down from what we got with upgrades before Platinum or the membership during Platinum. Just looking at the Update history for SPlat until now, I see several additions thrown in after the Platinum launch that I would consider goodies and not core features: TH3, Rapture Session, EDM Percussion Loops, Drum Replacer, etc.... If all of that stops happening in the future, then I would hope that the membership fee is lowered significantly.
 
 

Carl Posz

skitch_84

Carl Posz
Oh, the only thing that puzzles me is that statement which said the renewal was only valid through December 25, 2037. Does that mean that they expect us all to be dead in 21 years or that is how long they expect to be in business? Till death do us part!!! 

 
Thanks for that. I'd hate to think I was only going be alive for only 21 more years.

 
I'll be quite chuffed if I'm still around using Sonar in 21 years' time!

Brian Walton

ampfixer
As usual I'm confused. I just spent $200 on my Platinum renewal in Feb. and now I have to pay another $200??
 
It seems that Cakewalk needs to generate a lump of cash on short notice. No emails here, just a sense of "WTF NOW". How will the rules change next month?
 
This takes me back to X1 and then X1 Producer and then X1 Producer plus. Just continuous change that feels like you guys just make it up as you go along. If you are going to change the rules just get on with it. Don't tease, don't release little bits of the big picture. 
 
The last year has been great but I'm getting tired of Cakewalk showing up with their hands out asking if I've any change to spare.
 
Perhaps I'll get the memo one day and understand what everyone is so happy about. Right now, not so much.

This is exactly what I don't get.  The amount of money it seems that had to be shelled out to get to this point seems awfully steep.
 
Logic - a full DAW that I think most would put on the Platinum scale in terms of the package = $200
Fruity Loops = lifetime updates for FREE
 
Curious what the announcement will be, but a bit surprised by those happy to shell out so much money with so little detail, and don't get me wrong, there isn't another DAW I'd prefer to use.  But this lifetime updates announcement, the documentation looks like a Fruity Loops kind of model, but for a lot more money.  

What I don't get is people reacting as though Cakewalk has a gun pointed at their heads saying "YOU MUST PAY THIS OR ELSE"
 
For a one-off fee we now have the CHOICE to receive lifetime membership & updates. How can this be anything other than a great deal for existing members?
 
If you think it's too much then your decision is simple - DON'T PAY IT!
 
And you have until August 31st to make your decision.

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]
Also, if you anyone here is not receiving emails, they should opt in to our newsletters on that announcement page. You might want to make sure you are opted in to get the latest news. 

Let's see if it works this time. I've lost count of the number of times I've subscribed. I have yet to get one.

I still have not received any email...Just got the announcement. could you please fix it for me too?
By the Way I have purchased renewal before the end of the year at 2-29-2016 and paid $119 CA.    
Thanks in advance

My Cakewalk thing says it's gonna cost me $579.
 
But perhaps there's some confusion because earlier this year I switched my Platinum subscription from monthly to annual?

I got nothing at all, I just subscribed to the newsletter again (I already did when I created my account) but got nothing about all this...

I received the email about the announcement but not any about membership?

rontarrant

myronn369
 
Available now: Introducing lifetime updates for SONAR Platinum   Dear SONAR Platinum customer, 

No more paying for future upgrades, updates, fixes or renewalsContinue to enjoy our Rolling UpdatesPay only for optional add-ons and content
As a valued customer, we wanted to share this exclusive news with you before the rest of the world hears about it on June 1st, 2016. And starting today, you can buy lifetime updates through a special link on our webstore.

I don't get it.
 
With this move, Cakewalk is, in effect, cutting off a revenue stream. Four years of revenue in one lump and then... nothing. Or is Sonar's life expectancy mapped out to less than four years?
 
I'm not trying to cause problems or make negative comments. If a company is trying to live a long and happy life, why make a move like this? Are there really that many new users coming on board every year? If so, that's great. But if not...?
 
I once bought a lifetime membership in a gym. Two years later, they declared bankruptcy... and reopened six months later under a new name. Of course my membership was no longer valid at the new gym even though it was at the same address and they bought all that used gym equipment from their bankrupt selves at a nice discount.
 
And somehow, this sounds kind of like that.
 
Can anyone explain how this makes good business sense?
 

First, remember that we don't know the whole story yet and this is just the first part of the June 1st announcement. Second, this offer for a lifetime membership is only for current Platinum owners and is only for a limited time. I'm thinking of it as a way of saying thank you to the most loyal of Cakewalk's customers.

I agree with you though. It is in effect cutting off some almost guaranteed revenue coming from all of us. I'm sure it'll all make sense once we hear the rest of the news in a couple of weeks.

 
First off, many thanks to Andrew for the PM and details therein. 'Above and beyond' as others have mentioned, and very much appreciated 
 
Secondly, I do need a little clarification on what exactly is on offer here .....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ..... is this deal for a lifetime membership, or a lifetime subscription
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PS - feel free to mark this post Best Answer