This is rough. I was seriously hoping that Cakewalk would outlive me (I know that's an odd way to put it, but I found the idea comforting).
 
I've been using with Cakewalk since Cakewalk 3 for DOS. While I certainly echo Craig's comments about old copies running for a long time, I'm not sure how long this will be viable with Win10 updating itself at regular intervals (perhaps it's a really good time to turn off that, er, um, "feature" of Win10).
 
Like everyone else, I'm hoping that some company comes in to purchase Sonar and save it. Microsoft might be the best solution and they certainly have deep enough pockets for that. Does anyone know anyone at Microsoft to suggest this?
 
I wish the best to all of Cakewalk's employees. I've appreciated their work over the years and hope that none are inevitably left "high and dry" by this move.
 

I am thinking I may have to give Reaper another look or maybe Mixcraft or something like that.
 
In a way though, I am glad that I didn't take them up on the Lifetime updates offer because apparently it appears everyone who took that offer last year around this time got around 1 year of updates. I feel really bad for those of you who got the lifetime updates offer only now to find out there will be no more updates. 
 
Either way, my Sonar Pro since resolving a few issues "On my side" has worked flawlessly lately, so I guess I need to take extra care in keeping an image backup copy of my PC with Sonar Pro already activated "JUST INCASE", maybe even 2 image backups just in case.
 
Sad news indeed. 
 
 

FCCfirstclass
Read the last paragraph of Noel's post.  Everything works, just no more development on Sonar or any other product.

Until they turn the lights out on Command Center server. Anybody who owned Native Instruments plugins before they moved to their current authorization method (around 2008?) knows what will happen when we try to install on a new computer.

Noel and Gang,
 
Hope to run into face-to-face one day to personally thank you for your efforts in running the Sonar (and products) line.  Was just composing the other night and thinking, man, I should tell these guys what an awesome product this is and what good it has brought to my life.  Might have had a bit too much whiskey at the time, but the feelings are still there when sober!  Ha.
I wish you all the best of luck!
Jim

Sad news indeed.

jamesg1213

chuckebaby

azslow3

jamesg1213

synkrotron

chuckebaby
I love this forum and would be willing to kick in some money to keep it going.

ditto

Me too.

Forum software: $400 one time + $16 per month after one year
Hosting (guessed): $50 per month (or more)
 
Still willing?

400 split between 400 people=1 dollar
Still interested ? Yes.

 
Again, me too. There are hundreds of regulars here, I'm sure a fundraiser could be put in place.

Me too.

Bad news for us lifetimers , but personally not surprised at all. I read up a bit on Gibson after I bought a Garrison guitar. They bought the factory, ran it for a year and closed it laying off a talented group of dedicated employees.
Boycotting them won't change a thing as by next Summer they will also be out of business because they are too far gone now.
 
For those worrying about the CCC , just run it and bring everything up to date and then make a back up of the CCC download folder.
 
You can do offline installations but the catch will be someday they will pull the plug and even offline activation requires contact with Cake.
 
So best to run out and build a brand new machine right now and install Sonar and then you should get 10 years out of that.
 
And if it really goes off line bet someone will make a hack to keep us going. I won't consider that as piracy until after 2033.

Stunned.

Best future wishes to those who work or worked for Cakewalk and have put in so much time and effort to make Sonar what it is today. You can be proud of a wonderful product with a loyal fanbase.
 
This might not be the end. This move lets them off the hook for the monthly updates and the lifetime memberships.
These were decisions made by shirts that didn't understand the DAW business or the software business for that matter. I would be willing to wager that most here would be willing to buy Sonar re branded using the same code for a reasonable price. 
 
I had the lifetime updates. Even though I benefited from that, I will be more than willing to put up money for future copies of this software if someone else buys Cakewalk and supports it.
 
Acid Pro sat for years with no major updates under Sony yet still had a loyal following. Things looked up for them when Magix stepped in and bought them. Studio One was developed by engineers from Cubase who left.....so what I'm saying is don't give up on this just yet. Cake still has the code which valuable. The last thing you want to do is give that code away for free IMHO. Unless a disgruntled employee ruins access to it, the software can come back under someone else.
 
I have long speculated about a relationship between Microsoft and Cakewalk. Whoever is in the drivers seat, stop talking about it and find email/phone number to ask them. Talking about it won't make it happen. Somebody pick up a phone and make a few calls.Schedule a meeting or something, like NOW or even YESTERDAY. 

IMHO with Windows and misc (across all manufacturers) hardware models with driver updates and tweaks needed....Even those with rock solid systems will soon find Sonar faltering then becoming unusable as time goes on.

Most of all as has been said already this sucks in a most serious manner for Cake employees. And during the holidays. I won't buy a Gibson anything anymore. I had high hopes.