I've been using this product since Sonar 4? 2? I forget. It's a sad day to see this product die. That's two major companies down in the span of two months (Cakewalk and Carvin). Maybe they'll move on to the "D" brands next?
But I have to say: When Gibson took over Cakewalk and offered the "lifetime updates", I knew this was coming. I purchased Platinum in August, 2016. I've enjoyed the updates, but knew that when they pulled the plug, that would be it. Nobody would buy a company in this position. Think about it: Would you buy a company, knowing full well you could never sell an upgrade to your existing client base? You could sell plug-ins or add-ons, but the core product updates had to be given away for free. Not much incentive to buy.
So I hope Gibson enjoyed the cash grab. The community will roll on until they shut down the forums. I know I will never trust anything owned by the Gibson company again.

igiwigi
Lifetime updates One year out of It!!
Someone knew about this all along as we all have been hoodwinked
Losing LoungeLizzard and True pianos and a host of other things is atrocious
If Cakewalk go down then our lifetime guarantees should apply to all the vst's from third parties and we should get the right to use them outside Cakewalk. It Is the least repayment that Gibson could do.
All the luvvies are SAD for what! "You all should be LIVID"
There is a lot of users on low budgets and they are the biggest losers out of all this especially the younger generation.

OK, I didn't want to say it, but glad you did igiwigi!  Someone at Gibson did know!  It wasn't a decision that Gibson made a few weeks ago, it was over a  period of time since Sept 2013.  I am livid!  Not for the money but for the way Gibson handled it.  I feel like I was duped when I bought the lifetime updates in July 2016!  I love the software.  As I said in a previous thread, this is what Voyetra did with DOP.  Gibson said they will leave the servers up.  Lets see now, they offered Lifetime updates and I do believe they knew all too well that in the end, Gibson was going to end Cakewalk.  Do you really think they will keep putting money into maintaining servers and keep an IT Dept in staff to maintain them?  At some point, the servers will go down, whether by wear and tear or Gibson will no longer want to finance them.  So let's say Gibson does that, and anyone of us needs to get a new PC or Laptop.  Now you have to do an install, if you are fortunate to have the CD.  After you install, you have to activate the software. If the servers are no longer up and running, you can't use the software anymore.  A few of the Voytera users reached out to Turtle Beach when they did this, and we asked if they would make it an open source code.  Turtle Beach said no that Voyetra owns the software and making it an open source was not going to happen.  I ended up throwing out the software.  If no one is going to buy the company from Gibson then we are all at their mercy until the day they decide to phase out the servers.  Trust me, Gibson didn't want to keep investing in Cakewalk, at some point, they will not want to keep investing in the servers. I hope I am wrong.

Gibson is  evil!!!

Veets
I read a few posts as to what would happen if Microsoft purchased Sonar and then I thought, what about Google or Apple?  I mean I know Apple has Garage Band but possibly integrate them both?  I don't know, I just don't want to see it go away or the developers lose their jobs.

If Apple were to purchase SONAR, they'd probably adapt it so it would become MAC only. They are only able to continue to explore musicians, video makers, and artists in general by offering mac-only softwares. This way, consumers become obliged to overpay whatever price Apple sets on their hardware. When Apple purchased Logic, it was a windows software as well, they changed it in a matter of months.

This is a crazy runaway Fred. Who is still reading all this? It makes the coffee house look reserved.

LJB
Wow..

Been using this DAW since Cakewalk 3.4 on one 1/4" stiffy, circa 1994-ish.

I'm a little shocked right now - being a professional engineer who runs my studio totally on Sonar for projects this now forces me to look at other DAWs, learning curves, decisions about how to transition to another DAW, never mind all the Sonar specific plugs that I know like the back of my hand.... wow... much to contemplate.
Is this a classic case of the Big Corporation agenda won out over the free-thinking smaller guy, I wonder?

Either way, the Bakers have made something special over the years - I thank you guys sincerely.

Hi LJB,
I've used Cakewalk DAW for many years like you have and wonder what DAW that you decided to transition to?
Thanks,
Steve

If Apple were to purchase SONAR, they'd probably adapt it so it would become MAC only. They are only able to continue to explore musicians, video makers, and artists in general by offering mac-only softwares. This way, consumers become obliged to overpay whatever price Apple sets on their hardware. When Apple purchased Logic, it was a windows software as well, they changed it in a matter of months.


Exactly my thoughts! Thank You.

A few days ago I put a set of Gibson strings on my guitar.  And that's the last money, time or energy I will put into a Gibson product.  Say what you will in their defense, but I'm pretty sure there was a way to keep a 30-year old iconic company like Cakewalk alive; but no, the almighty goddollar reigns supreme once again, with no regard for anyone else.

this is a waste of time

jyoung60
A few days ago I put a set of Gibson strings on my guitar.  And that's the last money, time or energy I will put into a Gibson product.  Say what you will in their defense, but I'm pretty sure there was a way to keep a 30-year old iconic company like Cakewalk alive; but no, the almighty goddollar reigns supreme once again, with no regard for anyone else.

Feel the same.