Introducing the new SONAR: New lineup, new features, plus membership

[BBFG#]

Last I looked, XLN installer had become an arcade game, with a troublesome boss

+1

[BBFG#]

Leaning towards a "buy the ticket, take the ride" on this...
Anyone know when the "intro" pricing ends?

[declan32001]

Leaning towards a "buy the ticket, take the ride" on this...
Anyone know when the "intro" pricing ends?

No info on how long the "intro" pricing the pricing will last, and I'd bet CW couldn't even guess. It will no doubt be influenced by sales.

But I agree with you that if you're still on this "ride" that is Sonar, this is probably the best time to stay on it there's ever been.

I already pre-ordered Platinum for $125.16 (JRR Shop) mainly be cause the AD2 Producer Bundle more than pays for it.

But that aside I firmly believe CW seriously has to deliver this year in terms of "membership status" to get anyone to re-up next year for $200. A tall order indeed.

I think this year's going to be great mainly because CW really needs it to be.

I wish them (and us) good luck.

[excessional]

Hmm..I think the conceptual issue is that with the current model they have to tempt you with new features and a genuine new release to get you to pay again. Here if they have you locked in under subscription the best cash model for them is just enough stuff to keep the subscribers on board. I suppose the real test is for those that buy 'outright' and then get to end of their 12 months. Do they buy again 'outright'? I suspect after 12 months it should be pretty stable so unless they are really pushing some great new features in that time frame the revenue will dry up.

They say 'we release a new model every 12 months so you aren't losing out' but that's not true.
X3 came out in September 2013. The new Sonar is coming out in January 2015. So that means a 16 month gap.
And they won't want to implement any great new features 10 or 11 months after launch if they can hold them back to 13,14 or 15 months will they? So that sort of gap will still continue or even get worse. So the argument that 'this model is better as we can implement features when they are ready rather than gearing up for a big new annual release' doesn't really wash - if they have any killer features they will implement them after the anniversary of the launch -not before - they are still effectively going to be stuck in a 14 month release model...but trying to make users fund the gap between 12 months and when they actually get around to the big update/new release


I am a Sonar user but for me X3 is stable and I don't need any of the new bells and whistles particularly so I won't be bothering to upgrade. I'll wait for a Steam sale or something...

[declan32001]

They say 'we release a new model every 12 months so you aren't losing out' but that's not true.
X3 came out in September 2013. The new Sonar is coming out in January 2015. So that means a 16 month gap.
And they won't want to implement any great new features 10 or 11 months after launch if they can hold them back to 13,14 or 15 months will they?

For me X3 is just great, I love it. The only thing I disagree with is that you think they'll start holding new features back 10 or 11 months this year.

I think that's when they'll start revving up to demonstrate why forking out $200 in 2016 makes sense. That's going to require a great chunk of faith for many of us diehard CW users.

It's hard for all of us to wrap our heads around this because it's all completely different now.

I never worried about skipping a Sonar release before, but I wouldn't be skipping this one even if I didn't want the AD2 stuff.

I'm going to be eating a lot of popcorn watching how all this shakes out, but we'll all see...

[sonicpowa]

They say 'we release a new model every 12 months so you aren't losing out' but that's not true.
X3 came out in September 2013. The new Sonar is coming out in January 2015. So that means a 16 month gap.
And they won't want to implement any great new features 10 or 11 months after launch if they can hold them back to 13,14 or 15 months will they? So that sort of gap will still continue or even get worse. So the argument that 'this model is better as we can implement features when they are ready rather than gearing up for a big new annual release' doesn't really wash - if they have any killer features they will implement them after the anniversary of the launch -not before - they are still effectively going to be stuck in a 14 month release model...but trying to make users fund the gap between 12 months and when they actually get around to the big update/new release

But there´s no such gaps and no big annual releases anymore..

[She Changed Her Mind]

'But there´s no such gaps and no big annual releases anymore..'
'What we are saying is that you can own this product after 12 months and pay monthly.'
So.. what 'product' are we tolkien about then? A minor release? Lol 12 months IS a year afaik.
'Support: We offer 12 months of support as part of the membership. Honestly, that's much better than most of are other DAW competitors. I think people need to do a little research. Most competitors offer limited time support and then you have to pay. And depending on the issue, if you call after a year, I don't think we'll be hanging up on you.'
First of all the majority doesn't HAVE a membership. Speaking of 'research'! Second the MAJORITY of DAW developers supplies support AFTER you've paid them! Again.. speaking of 'research!' You must have studied in the wrong school for jokerz! HONESTLY!!!!! SPEAKING OF LIMITED TIME SUPPORT: after you have paid that is -in Sonar's case- 31 days! If you are 'lucky'. That is!

[She Changed Her Mind]

I could go on and on.. nothing has changed. Welluh if you are in debt we will 'help' you! Yessir, I can boogie, boogiewoogie, all nite long! Then.. you pay -exactly- 20% more! And that regarded to a time limit of 12 months.. Because aww you guys are so poor! Ha ha ha why not kill the poor IMMEDIATELY!? How much debt has the average Mericun already? Isn't it time to start up World War Three? Now... wait...

[lfm]

'SPEAKING OF LIMITED TIME SUPPORT: after you have paid that is -in Sonar's case- 31 days! If you are 'lucky'. That is!

I've been there too.

And I asked their support now if the new policy comes with a comitment of some sort - 48 hours response, a week - what?

I ditched X3 15 months ago over this and told them that I was willing to pay $100 annually for a weeks responsetime, and $200 annually for 24 hours response time.

So we will see how they respond now.

Now they probably have a peak with this announcement and all, so I can wait a bit.

Their feedback line nicely put all my products into my account, 10 years back - so that impresses a bit. It took them three weeks or something - but they get there and they try hard.

[Burillo]

They say 'we release a new model every 12 months so you aren't losing out' but that's not true.
X3 came out in September 2013. The new Sonar is coming out in January 2015. So that means a 16 month gap.
And they won't want to implement any great new features 10 or 11 months after launch if they can hold them back to 13,14 or 15 months will they? So that sort of gap will still continue or even get worse. So the argument that 'this model is better as we can implement features when they are ready rather than gearing up for a big new annual release' doesn't really wash - if they have any killer features they will implement them after the anniversary of the launch -not before - they are still effectively going to be stuck in a 14 month release model...but trying to make users fund the gap between 12 months and when they actually get around to the big update/new release

you misunderstood the model.

first of all, they do away with major releases completely. there are no more X3, X4, X5, whatever versions - it's just Sonar, continually developed. there are no "annual releases" or "new releases" as such. it's all one big release.

second of all, major release took 16 months, but not all features in that release took 16 months to implement. some was done early on and could have been released after 1 month. some was done at 5 month point, some - at 9 month, etc. it's just you had to wait for everything to be completed to get even something that was finished very early on.

third of all, "after the launch" of what? it's not like you're only allowed to subscribe on certain dates. so your 14 months would be different to everyone else's. if you're mentally stuck in a major release model, your argument does make sense, but there are no more major releases - it's just a continually updated rolling release.

[beltrom]

first of all, they do away with major releases completely. there are no more X3, X4, X5, whatever versions - it's just Sonar, continually developed. there are no "annual releases" as such.

It would be kind of hard for Cakewalk to optimize the cycle from a feature release point as every customer will have their own cycle depending on when they purchased or started membership. Granted probably late January will be most users start/stop for a few years as it was the release date for the model.

[Burillo]

first of all, they do away with major releases completely. there are no more X3, X4, X5, whatever versions - it's just Sonar, continually developed. there are no "annual releases" as such.

It would be kind of hard for Cakewalk to optimize the cycle from a feature release point as every customer will have their own cycle depending on when they purchased or started membership.

exactly. i don't get why is it so hard to understand.

[Ameyah Audio]

Last I looked, XLN installer had become an arcade game, with a troublesome boss

+1

[Beardedone]

This doesn't work for me. I'll stick with X3 Producer.

[deastman]

Here's the part that concerns me. Say I pay outright for a year now, just like I always did. Instead of holding new features back for the next big release, I'll get them throughout the year. Then, one year from now, I'll be expected to pay another $149. But for what? There won't be a big new release, because they won't have been holding back features. Maybe they'll announce one or two new things to coincide with the anniversary, but there just won't be the same incentive to pay for another year. Pay another $149 in hopes that they trickle out some features later on, not knowing what those features might be?

And don't forget that members can quit or join at any time, so it really isn't like everyone will be in sync with their one year memberships/annual upgrades. That destroys the incentive for CW to plan major releases or hold back features.

No, this only makes sense for this first year's initial launch. After that the whole scheme falls apart from a customer motivation perspective.