Just received some news from Cakewalk that they will be providing lifetime updates to all Sonar Platinum users:

You spoke, we listened, and now when you purchase SONAR Platinum (with Lifetime Updates), you’ll receive updates to all future versions of SONAR. You read that right. Purchase SONAR Platinum (with Lifetime Updates), and enjoy benefits like:

• No more paying for fixes, workflow enhancements, and core feature updates
• Always have access to the latest version of SONAR
• Continue to enjoy our Rolling Updates

While I'm not a Sonar user, I hope this compels other daw developers to do the same with customers that purchase the full versions of their software. I've been a loyal Steinberg guy for years and while I love Cubase, lifetime updates would definitely be a nice thing to have.

 

That's a pretty good deal, especially as Sonar is adding some interesting features recently like the vocal offset correction thing etc.

 

Sonar is a great DAW been using it for 15 years ... i use Pro Tools aswell but sonar is main DAW ...Cakewalk has been around long time good stuff from them

 

@Guillermo Navarrete
Perhaps you guys at Steinberg should seriously reconsider your company policies,this is a serious,we could say a revolutionary step in the right direction.
I tip my hat off to Sonar,that is how you handle your costumers.

What will happen?This will spread out trough the music community and people will migrate to their DAW.
Why not?Pro daw,excelent features and it will only get better with more and more loyal costumers.
Its a war out there and only the strongest and fittest will survive.
You have to act quick,or you are history.

 

And dare I say it, though under the radar and one of the 'underdog' DAWs, in terms of feature-set and workflow, SOnar isn't actually that far behind the likes of Cubase!

 

Sonar may not be the coolest to the Eye to look at for some. I liked sonar 8 better in terms of aesthetics , but cakewalk is a very mature company and i know it better than any other DAW so thats why ive stayed with it so many years... +10 for their new direction \m/

 

Some additional news... including Sonar for MAC:

 

hmmm.. I've just heard the promise too many times. sorry. I was a hardcore sonar fan since 08' and have stood up for them many times. but always more promises and sales pitch when I wanted real points addressed. boy who cried wolf too many times with them, I just don't think giving them more money again will change that. sorry

 

Knowing how Cakewalk has operated over the years, this means 'lifetime members' will only get bug fixes and trivial features and enhancements - great new features will be sold as "premium content".

 

I'm about to delve in! I'm honestly really impressed at how awesome the UI looks without looking cluttered. One thing that I feel kind of iffy about is in regards to the piano roll, is that is there anyway to change it from its default white? I spend a lot of time in the piano roll of any DAW I use and I can see that putting a lot of stress on my eyes.

 

Sonar is great, but I noticed that when I upgraded to Professional from X2 adding CC data in the piano roll slows everything down. But yeah, great UI, I've used a lot of different DAWS some of their UI's and layouts are horrid.

 

The new black GUI is sexy as hell. Sonar looks way better now, I'll give it a try.

 

Actually yes the new Gui look is pretty kick ass, very Sexy Eye Candy a great Daw to use ......

 

I'm trying it ATM. It's AMAZING.

 

Wow something positive from Von_Steyr. Glad to see you woke up and smelled the coffee LOL.
Totally agree with this Steinberg needs to learn from this and Reaper.
Both Offer many updates and most importantly bug fixes that people should not pay for..
Plus 1 cakewalk Minus 1 for Steinberg.

 

Sweet Jesus. Sonar is the most CPU hungry DAW I've ever used. My current song project uses 2.3 GB of ram on S1, 2.6GB of RAM on Digital Performer 9.2 and... 5+gb of RAM on Sonar.

 

Last edited: Jul 1, 2016