Wow. They took down the Steinberg sticky because a few didn't like it? 
 
For anyone thinking about Cubase... I purchased the Cubase Pro crossgrade $255 from Sweetwater Friday. Got a call from the sales rep same day. Asked me if I was aware that I purchased a crossgrade. I told him yes... from Sonar. He sent the receipts and download info the same day. I already have a eLicenser, as I was thinking about some getting software that required it, but ended up never purchasing it.
 
I installed the eLicenser and Control Center with no problems. Got the download link for Steinberg's Download Assistant. Downloaded the entire 11.5 GB Friday night... within a couple hours or so at 3MBps... with no problems. Installed and activated Saturday morning. Have my VST and VSTi menus set up. About ready to dive in with a first project.
 
Cubase Pro looks fairly easy to get into, but appears able to go quite deep if needed. Think I'll get the Streamworks Cubase 9 training to get a better handle on it. I stopped using Sonar VSTs and VSTi long ago because there's so much 3rd party stuff that's just better for what I want to do. So I was also able to install Cubase Pro with none of the extra instruments, as I just want a fully functioning DAW.
 
I'm glad Steinberg came on the forum, and the sticky was posted. Got Cubase Pro up and running within a couple days, with no problems whatsoever, and for a great crossgrade price. I'll use Sonar for the projects I had going. But plan to start delving into Cubase Pro post haste.
 
On Sonar, it's really developed into a great DAW, and is (was) working more flawlessly than ever (for me, since 2005). Hard to believe that somehow all the great work and code that went into its creation could just be dropped. But if it wasn't profitable, and couldn't get market share to keep it afloat... taking it offline for any length of time, and the uncertainty of future support, will just make it that much harder to get any market share in the future. I don't see it coming back. Would be nice for MS to fully pick it up and support it. But they either are or aren't... all the petition signing in the world won't make it so.
 
Good luck Sonar users!

cityrat

35mm
I have heard people saying that the crossgrade they got from Sweetwater is not a full package. The plugins are demo versions. So that maybe something to watch out for.

That doesn't sound right.
Can someone who bought from SW confirm or deny this?  Not something that should be guessed at.

No, it doesn't sound right. I saw this from a post on the Steinberg forums;
"...I am wondering if this cross-grade is going to be with all instruments (VST) full version? The one what I got from Sweetwater has only trial version of all VST. To buy full versions I'll pay all together as much as regular price."

cityrat
That doesn't sound right.
Can someone who bought from SW confirm or deny this?  Not something that should be guessed at.

Shouldn't be. Sweetwater advertises it as the complete product.

https://www.steinberg.net...cubase/comparison.html
 
"including HALion Sonic SE, Groove Agent SE, Padshop, Retrologue and LoopMash"
 
Halion and Groove Agent come as cut down versions of the their bigger siblings, but are far from a demo state. They both have huge libraries.
 
 

JohanSebatianGremlin
Though I rarely do this, once in a blue moon I will have a reason to mention to someone that I'm atheist.

Don't worry.  We won't tell anybody. :)
 
I know what you mean about SONAR's reputation.  It was the biggest secret in the DAW industry.  The big problem was that the X1/X2 stability was really poor for many users and Cakewalk never recovered from that- although they really did make a heroic effort.  Now that we have to assess other DAWs, I am coming to the conclusion that none of them are nearly as elegant as SONAR.
 
Cubase looks OK, but feels like a 1990s program to me -- a 1990s program that runs well and has a lot of function added recently.  Functionally, it has some very strong areas (notation, chord track and probably some other really strong areas).  And it has some  significant voids -- the poor Melodyne support being the biggest one I have come across. 
 
What troubles me most about the lack of ARA support is the fact that Steinberg seems to think their own pitch and time correction code is so good that they simply don't understand why anybody would want a seamless Melodyne implementation.  I'm not sure I want to get hooked up with a company that thinks that way.  I would like to see a clear statement of direction about industry standards.

cparmerlee
I know what you mean about SONAR's reputation.  It was the biggest secret in the DAW industry.  The big problem was that the X1/X2 stability was really poor for many users and Cakewalk never recovered from that- although they really did make a heroic effort.  Now that we have to assess other DAWs, I am coming to the conclusion that none of them are nearly as elegant as SONAR.
 
Cubase looks OK, but feels like a 1990s program to me -- a 1990s program that runs well and has a lot of function added recently.  Functionally, it has some very strong areas (notation, chord track and probably some other really strong areas).  And it has some  significant voids -- the poor Melodyne support being the biggest one I have come across. 
 
What troubles me most about the lack of ARA support is the fact that Steinberg seems to think their own pitch and time correction code is so good that they simply don't understand why anybody would want a seamless Melodyne implementation.  I'm not sure I want to get hooked up with a company that thinks that way.  I would like to see a clear statement of direction about industry standards.

Funny as I've never had Sonar X1 or X2 crashing with all the updates applied.  However, another producer friend of mine was forever battling with Cubase because it frequently bombed out and this was evident to me from what I saw being posted by their users in forums.
 
I also can't stomach having a hardware dongle and having to pay for it too!  My PCs USB ports are full to the brim because I use a lot of hardware so Cubase has some way to go before I'll use it, even though I've been playing with a trial version.

cparmerlee

JohanSebatianGremlin
Though I rarely do this, once in a blue moon I will have a reason to mention to someone that I'm atheist.

Don't worry.  We won't tell anybody. :)
 
I know what you mean about SONAR's reputation.  It was the biggest secret in the DAW industry.  The big problem was that the X1/X2 stability was really poor for many users and Cakewalk never recovered from that- although they really did make a heroic effort.  Now that we have to assess other DAWs, I am coming to the conclusion that none of them are nearly as elegant as SONAR.
 
Cubase looks OK, but feels like a 1990s program to me -- a 1990s program that runs well and has a lot of function added recently.  Functionally, it has some very strong areas (notation, chord track and probably some other really strong areas).  And it has some  significant voids -- the poor Melodyne support being the biggest one I have come across. 
 
What troubles me most about the lack of ARA support is the fact that Steinberg seems to think their own pitch and time correction code is so good that they simply don't understand why anybody would want a seamless Melodyne implementation.  I'm not sure I want to get hooked up with a company that thinks that way.  I would like to see a clear statement of direction about industry standards.

It supports Rewire. I need to test Melodyne. 

cityrat
Cubase 9.5 pro looks pretty amazing... still considering it.
The big negative for me seems to be the Steinberg forums.  Not a really warm, welcoming place compared to here.

And all the posts have to be pre-approved which seems a wee bit officious.

The Steinberg forums are just like here. Lots of really cool & helpful people. At no point have my posts ever been pre approved.

this is nuts
 

I went with the crossgrade on Steinbergs own shop. They verified that it was ok to crossgrade within an hour (on a Sunday!). 
 
I felt it was time to move on, deciding where to go was harder. The natural choice would have been Presonus Studio one V3, I had it since before and actually like a lot of things about it but I don't seem to be able to get really fluent with it for some weird reason. Reaper is impressive, and there are some brilliant solutions in there, but I would get confused by it all the time. Mixcraft was interesting and probably would be easiest to change to, but there's a couple of (just about) dealbreakers for me. So boldly/stupidly making the choice based on youtube and info on the web I got Cubase. I realise it's behind Sonar in some features (and better at some stuff) but the ara/melodyne-issue doesn't bother me that much, even though I have melodyne studio. If need be I can work melodyne as standalone, as a VST, rewire or even in Studio one, and if they add a couple of features to the Cubase solution I might actually never need melodyne. 
 
Really sad day for me. I've used Cakewalk since dos version 2 (have the box still). But it really feels like whatever will happen with Cakewalk and Sonar in the future I would anyway want to change my main DAW, so might as well do it now when this crossgrade is offered - and I will try to change my feelings towards anticipation to give Cubase a fair chance. Last time I tried it was over ten years ago...
 

Thank you Resonant Serpent. If we can colour the faders, I think it will be OK!
 
Hangdog Cat: Sonar Refugee is a funny name :-)

ebibault51
Thank you Resonant Serpent. If we can colour the faders, I think it will be OK!
 
Hangdog Cat: Sonar Refugee is a funny name :-)

I have to admit I didn't originate that term. Someone used it in an earlier post, probably on a different thread.
 

cohenville1
Does anyone know (Greg?) for how long the $255 Cubase crossgrade offer will be offered?  It's a little difficult to make such a decision in one weekend with all that has transpired.  Thanks... 

^^^^^^^^^^^this +1