Wow,.....just effin wow. I've been using Cakewalk since the early 90's. Didn't see this coming but I guess that firing Craig should have been a clue that something was up. The loss money spent on the "lifetime" updates is a bit annoying too. Gibson will have to make something outta this world in order for me to buy another product from them. 
On another note, thanks to all the Cakewalk employees for their great service over the years and also thanks to everyone who has made this forum such a great learning tool. Hope it stays up a while longer. 
Now, guess I'm off to learning how to use Studio One 3.5 better. 
Best regards to all,
Al

Ron2112
 
Yeesh.  You should have read the whole thread.  Sounds like monthly subscribers are getting converted into "lifetime" accounts, with full functionality unlocked.
 
Cakewalk is apparently doing the right thing.  You guys panicking is not helping things at all.  Never seen more misinformation spread as I have in the last couple days.

Into a vacuum of no or little info comes a space for panic and misinformation. And will continue so until sense prevails and the customers are informed properly as surely is there right? The vacuum is being left there .. not by the customer but by the vendor and surely its up to the latter to correct this as soon as possible?? OR at minimum KEEP the customer informed regularly, even if its just to say we are dealing with this and will keep you posted?

This PARTICULARLY with a product that many are paying for monthly ONGOING ..
 
As you stated - "You should have read the whole thread" - I assume you are talking about a thread / post over at Facebook?

If such info about "Sounds like monthly subscribers are getting converted into "lifetime" accounts, with full functionality unlocked." is published as a reply to a post on Facebook somewhere BY a Cakewalk or Gibson staff member then why not update the forums here and the website with the same info? You said sounds like, so not definite?
 
For the record .. Im not "bailing" .. still lots of life in SPLAT yet once we get some sort of OFFLINE ACTIVATION. AND I do believe it will get bought out at some point ..
 
 
 
 

"Sonar now boasts a powerful new line up designed to meet the needs of any musician, regardless of skill level or budget. You always get the latest and greatest version no matter when you make your purchase. In addition, enjoy 12 months of rolling updates and keep everything you received - forever."
 
I enjoyed about 17 months - that's 5 months more than they promised. And I'll keep SPLAT on my desktop 'til my SDD drops dead.

I guess its time to choose a new DAW and bounce all my current projects' audio files, just in case.
 
Thanks, Cakewalk. I recorded and mixed some very nice albums on Sonar (7 to Platinum).

I would just like to say thanks for all the hard work and dedication of Cakewalk staff over the last couple of years.
 
You achieved great things and I really appreciate the direction you drove Sonar in, it's one of the most flexible and stable DAW's because of your vision.
 
Thank you!

So until today when I opened Sonar it would tell me that I needed to renew my membership or it will go in to Demo Mode. Today it was in 10 days.. I didn't renew though yet as I'm not sure what to do after what is happening. But now I open Sonar and it doesn't prompt me to renew the subscription.. If I go to cakewalk store to try to renew it shows the site is down. 
 
Now.. I go in to Help>About and it shows that it is valid until 6/15/2018.. So that is my deadline to find another DAW if nothing else positive happens with Cakewalk?

If you have completed either a 1 time payment or a 12 month payment cycle SONAR will continue to work into the future until OS/Hardware compatibility or whatever hits you and causes SONAR not to function correctly, you will be at the version that corresponds to your last full payment cycle.

kb420

Anderton


I can't really "recommend" anything, recording software programs are all so different and making music is so personal. Ableton Live is a great program, but it's not sonar. Actually, none of them are sonar. Pro Tools for me is a non-starter, but there are plenty of excellent programs. Samplitude is very deep, but Windows only and this time around, I want something cross platform. Acoustica Mixcraft is also a fine and cost-effective program, with very good video capabilities; it has a demo you can download. Cubase has very deep midi and staff view.

I am seriously looking at Studio One Pro for several reasons. One is the mastering page and being able to do projects, export to duplication, do analytics, etc. I've been using this in parallel with Sonarbfro years. I don't find the song writing process as fluid or complete as sonar, but I will be learning it because it can also do some things that sonar can't do. Reason is a dark horse in all this; it has really matured over the years and is ideal for certain types of users. So really what you need to do is download demos, spend some time, and find out what has the best chemistry for you. For me, that's Studio One Pro for the studio, and Ableton Live for live. But you aren't me and I'm not you so you have to find the program that really works for you. I will definitely miss sonar, big time, but that's the way it goes. Thanks again to a wonderful Community, you haven't just supported Cakewalk, you've supported my efforts as well.

I can highly recommend Ableton Live for Live performance,  and I really like Studio One 3 Pro.  Both are capable programs,  but I'm surprised you didn't mention Cubase.  I never really gave Steinberg a chance because of the dongle,  but two years ago,  I did,  and I have to say,  I was pleasantly surprised.  Cubase 9.5 Pro is by far my favorite DAW now when it comes to mixing.  There's definitely some things that Sonar has that it doesn't,  but for me personally,  it has everything that I need.  

Actually I did mention Cubase for the "very deep MIDI and staff view." Besides, they still have my Quadrafuzz in there, which they brought up to V 2 with my blessing...I always appreciated that, and they did a fine job on the update. My point is there are a lot of great DAWs out there, but they all excel at different things. So it's important to choose one that excels at what you need.
 
The reason SONAR served as my primary DAW since 2000 was because it was versatile enough to handle anything I threw at it - that's what made it excel at what I need.

Matron Landslide

dopderbeck
 
I'm a lawyer.  I think there could be a basis for a class action.  

I'm a Psychiatrist. I think there could be a good chance you're delusional.

 
I wouldn't be sure about that. If it could be shown that Gibson knew it would be shutting down Cakewalk before it instituted it's lifetime updates policy, there would be excellent cause for a lawsuit.
 

Ron2112
 
Yeesh.  You should have read the whole thread.  Sounds like monthly subscribers are getting converted into "lifetime" accounts, with full functionality unlocked.
 
Cakewalk is apparently doing the right thing.  You guys panicking is not helping things at all.  Never seen more misinformation spread as I have in the last couple days.

It isn't that simple. Many people paid quite a bit more for a lifetime subscription. Where are their refunds?

Lol, does this mean Clean Audio folder will never be made into an actual functional program?!