So by lifetime updates, you meant Cakewalk's lifetime? 

Paying extra for that turns out to be 17 months?  And while you're saying here that your servers will be open and our software will be available to us but what guarantee is there for that at this point?

It's not that my life is altered because of this money, but it seems to me that Gibson had this planned long ago and was trying to bilk cash out of people until the death knell rang.  It's odd that Cakewalk isn't a viable enough entity to be sold or merged with another brand as well.  Why?

I like SONAR now that I've sorted it out and not only have I bought it as outlined above, I also (in good faith) bought Rapture Pro, Z3ta+ and all of the Pro Channel modules so if you're keeping score, I have a LOT invested in this platform.  If you shutter everything (after telling me I could NEVER sell my software BTW) I guess I'm just eff'd.  And yes, I've read the claims you will keep things working but *newsflash*, I don't believe you anymore.  Holy **** does this ever reek.

In any event, I would also like to thank the developers who gave us some really good software to use and the folks in this forum who have been helpful to me over the few years I've been here.  To Gibson brands, you suck.  Out loud.  In staticky monaural.  I think you cheated us and I'd wager a bunch (like this now worthless software you foisted on me) you knew way back when the ship was sinking and you bilked as many unsuspecting people as you could on your way to the bottom.  I've been in the business world far too long to think otherwise.

Is it possible that Gibson forced the team SONAR must run on a MAC?
And this doesn't work?

There are a number of less than wonderful options, i’m trying to figure the best one. I wrote sound on sound about what they want to do with the column, but said i at least wanted to do one more about how to transfer to other daws.

BTW other companies recognize Cakewalk has some serious talent. People like Ryan, Noel, Keith, Willy, Ben, and Bob will have no problems getting gigs so hopefully if a putchase is in the wings, it will happen soon before they disperse..

I do have to remind myself that at least Sonar will keep running until i get up to speed on something else. But i loved that program, it was my instrument just as much as a guitar. I feel kind of like I’ve been told guitar strings will no longer be made, so i should learn saxophone 🙂

I'd support that. 

Maybe Camel Audio can buy Sonar?
 
Um, wait a second...nevermind.

A few thoughts:

1) Feel bad for the bakers, but like Craig said, there's a lot of talent there and I'm confident they'll land on their feet.

2) Gibson did the same thing with Opcode in the late '90s. I'm even more unhappy now.

3) I've literally got hundreds of these forum threads bookmarked. If this forum goes down, I'd lose so much incredible info. Not looking forward to saving all these pages as offline viewable HTML pages.

4). I wonder if Izotope would be a viable option to purchase Cakewalk. Both in/near Boston, the Dan Gonzalez connection (I believe), Izotope getting into recording with their Spire system, etc... I like to think it makes sense.

Maybe it's time for a Kickstarter? I used to play The Bard's Tale on my Commodore 64 when I was 12. A Kickstarter campaign raised $1.5million in a few weeks to launch a sequel. This software might be a bit more useful.

"The decision was made to better align with the company’s acquisition strategy that is heavily focused on growth in the global consumer electronics audio business under the Philips brand."
 
Huh?!?
 
Did Gibson buy Philips?
Or did Philips buy Gibson? (In which case, it's Philips that's doing the acquiring).
 
Gibson in consumer audio electronics?
A Philips Les Paul? A Gibson branded TV?
 
 

panup
If this forum is closed, I could provide a new forum for the Cakewalk community with no cost to the users.

Panup, that's very generous of you, but the burden shouldn't fall entirely on one person -- like you said, it's a community.  Something like a crowdfund, I think, would be appropriate. I doubt we'd have any problem getting 100 people to pony up, say, $10 a year for the upkeep.  (The forum would be open to anyone, regardless of if they could pay or not).

Bloody hell! This is absolutely devastating! I’m not a user any more - but that has NOTHING to do with cakewalk and Sonar.i have missed it everyday since I moved over to a different DAW. All the hours i’ve Spent with Sonar over the years pretty much made me do what I do and put me where I am today. Really sad news. I certainly hope someone buy the whole thing and let it live and evolve for decades to come. If not, it’s an absolute shame.

My most humble thanks to the Cakewalk team and also you users whom been a source of inspiration, techniques, laughter and friendship over the years.