Winstonhulley88

Cool, I cant wait and I am greatful for Mr Meng's kndness, Noel Borthwick and the crew for Keeping Sonar alive and for letting us the use of a still Great DAW for 5 years

Meng's Announcement (2018.04) Hi Everyone, Today is the day! Let’s dive straight in with a TL:DR version: Today we’re launching Cakewalk by BandLab – a free, streamlined version of SONAR Platinum There is only one version, with full authentication and the advanced feature set for free Cakewalk by BandLab is available via BandLab Assistant for Windows (sign in with your BandLab account) No matter what plug-ins or bundles you’ve bought in the past – anything that worked with SONAR before will work with Cakewalk by BandLab and should integrate seamlessly. This is just the beginning, we have an aggressive feature roadmap ahead Firstly, thank you to everybody here for your incredible support in the last month (and a bit!). As you might have guessed, it’s been a busy few weeks for us at BandLab. On top of maintaining the steady flow of feature releases that we consistently do on BandLab every week, the whole team has been working tirelessly to pull together the new flagship, streamlined version of SONAR so that we could get it to you ASAP. We have an aggressive vision here at BandLab – and that is a world in which there are no barriers, physical, geographical or technical to the making and sharing of music. For the millions of creators already on BandLab in more than 180 countries around the world – this vision continues to develop every time we push a new release. For the professional musicians who use our platform, access to a complete toolset is a key part of this vision and this release is one of our biggest yet. The big news is a business model change that is only possible because of our ecosystem – we’re releasing the entire feature set of SONAR Platinum (sans certain 3rd party plugins and content) in its new form of Cakewalk by BandLab completely free. We want anyone to have access to the highest level of professional music production tools in the same way that we empower musicians to make and share their music around the world with BandLab’s creation, collaboration and social tools. Cakewalk by BandLab has all the premium features of SONAR Platinum that you know and love but we’ve also added some small new features for now: you now have the ability to replace Track Templates and enjoy a theme-capable Piano Roll View (easier on the eyes for those late nights). These are just two quick additions – there’s a lot more coming based on your feedback and I’m confident you’ll be excited about what’s on the horizon. Existing Platinum users: all previously purchased third party bundles, plug-ins and instruments already installed on your system should automatically integrate with Cakewalk by BandLab. If you have all your third party products and plug-ins previously downloaded from the Command Center, everything should work seamlessly. People who are downloading Cakewalk by BandLab or experiencing SONAR Platinum’s features for the first time (not relevant to many people in this forum, but still including it to cover all bases!): we have removed certain 3rd party plug-ins and content that we felt were unnecessary and/or not feasible to be released in this first version. Updates will come and more features and content will be available in the core pack. For now, check out the Sounds tab on BandLab Assistant - there are thousands of loops available there - just drag and drop. ;-) For anyone concerned that downloading Cakewalk by BandLab via BandLab Assistant might mess with your system or existing software – we’ve put a lot of effort into making sure that it doesn’t affect previous SONAR installations - Cakewalk by BandLab and previous versions of SONAR can run on the same machine with no issues. That said, there will be no more updates released for legacy SONAR products. As always, keep in mind that if you make changes to your operating system, this could affect performance of any legacy products as updates won’t happen in the future. Many thanks to everyone who has already signed up for a BandLab account. As mentioned before, it will be necessary for tagging other purchases you have made in the past - for example, the next iteration of Rapture will not be released for free when it is ready unless you are an existing owner and eligible for a crossgrade. Having your obsolete Cakewalk ID linked to your BandLab Account ensures that we can verify your previous purchases, and any future upgrade or cross grade opportunities are available to you. For those who haven’t signed up yet, you’ll also need a BandLab account to install and authenticate Cakewalk, as well as to receive future updates and new releases. On a side note, we’ve also been busy organising some Cakewalk swag (featuring new and vintage looks) to celebrate the launch and offer something fun for some of you lifetime Cakewalk fans. We’ve souped up our Tip Jar and released an early version of our upcoming Rewards feature, and you’ll visit this page once your install has started. A reissued version of Noel’s famous Cakewalk mug is there as well as some other swag - I'll add the link in a second, we're just updating some photos! There is no obligation to send a tip. I want to thank all of you for your support, your encouragement, your feedback and suggestions. We are constantly humbled by the passion and wealth of knowledge among the Cakewalk community. We are so proud to be able to continue development of SONAR’s core feature set as Cakewalk by BandLab and are committed to investing in this excellent product - we will continue to innovate to ship new and improved features as we do with all the products we develop. We hope that you, the dedicated core of long-term SONAR users, will be able to keep creating music with your preferred workflow for decades to come – and that a whole new generation of music creators, artists and producers will be introduced to this fantastic professional music software. I hope you’re as excited about the future as we are. Please jump in and explore Cakewalk by BandLab – for existing SPLAT users, you’ll find it very comfortable and I hope we’ve alleviated some of your worst nightmares. For those of you that never could justify spending on an upgrade – welcome to the real deal :-) In the coming days and weeks, there’s much more I will share and I’m sure you’ll discover some of the other things you can do with BandLab Assistant and maybe try out BandLab too, if you haven’t already!Happy downloading and music making! Long Live Cakewalk! With love, Meng p.s I meant it when I said we were baking something special up for you! p.p.s RIP the runner up names of TDFKAS, BONAR, LabraDAWr and BADASS post edited by Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk] - December 11, 18 6:35 PM

HI Noel, hope you are well! I just wanted to add a differant take on this situation that is presented by all the other Bandlabbers and Cakewalkers here on the forum, and this is going to go against the grain.... Grab your Popcorn after this post.... Bandlabbers= Users that got a Free Fulley Featured DAW as an extended Demo, or Beta Testing ( jip we were all beta testers for Bandlab whether you like it or not Guys) and have not spent any money on the supporting development of the core code which shaped Cakewalk to be SONAR for what is the product that Bandlabbers use today. Cakewalkers= Former CakeWalk and SONAR users that spent endless money on updates, upgrades, lifetime failed promises etc essentially Users that were dropped in the Muck by Cakewalk and then Roland/ Gibson and was offerd a life line with a vague promise by a company called Bandlab. What a great life line that was... my old cakewalk accounts was seamlessly transferrd to Bandlab servers (with all my user data of course). AND then a month thereafter we ( Calkwalkers ) we enlighted that we are priviledged by the kindness of Mr Meng that we will have a "version" of Cakewalk aka Sonar Plat with out third party software FREE FOREVER!!!!! And I was wondering... wait, where's the catch.. the hook???? I thought no freakin way... this is to good to be true!! So I installed my copy and thought... well this is awesome... moved all my old and existing work seamlessly across and started right away... until after 15days... "thank you for using the trial version of Sonar, please activate it to use it after the trial period" popped up.......then It asked me to activate my copy of Cakewalk or Sonar so to speak..... So under a differant user name I asked in the forum why is this happening? One of the offical staff members replied " sorry for the inconvience, it was an oversight and assured me that Cakewalk by Bandlab is indeed FREE.... THAT was my undertaking in using the product. So I asked.. but will it be FREE FOREVER and the Staffer Said that Bandlab by Cakewalk would be FREE forever but in the future extra additions would be charged for. So I said ok fine but will the Core program be free FOREVER and HE Said YES! Even the original pop up under the now "Legacy" Website still states the following " Cakewalk by BandLab is free. Get the award-winning DAW now. Following the acquisition of certain assets and the complete set of intellectual property of Cakewalk Inc. from Gibson Brands on 2/23/18, BandLab Technologies announced the relaunch of SONAR as Cakewalk by BandLab - available free-to-download to all BandLab users worldwide. so this is my understanding, as the end user and owner of a PAID for and upgraded 4 TIMES Of SONAR or now Sonar (For semantics sake) that from the time that my user accounts with my data which coincidentally also formed part of GIbsons intellectual property that was purchsed by Bandlab actually automatically entitles me to a FREE upgrade to the new Sonar... as It was told to me that the Core Program under Bandlabs Aquisition would be FREE FOREVER... so there is that... However then I realised that when I had to reactivate my Bandlab product actually "SONAR" every 6 month i realised that I smell a RAT in the bakers kitchen and that I have possibly be lied to... as freeware NEVER HAS TO BE ACTIVATED!!! So was Cakewalk by Bandlab Free???? NO!!! What was the cost to us as users... TO be spied upon and telemetrics recorded (sound similar to microsoft does it not?) So yes we did pay for Cakewalk by Bandlab, we did beta testing for them by using it for thousands of hours under a false pretence of that it will be free, and we actually SOLD our user data to build their data base so that they could sell it to "investors" and now they RICK ROLLED THE LEGITIMATE CAKEWALK USERS... I cannot open my Cakewalk by Bandlab user projects under any of my former SONAR programs which i Paid for because the "newer"cakewalk makes the files INCOMPATIBLE to the previous versions of Sonar. So what Bandlab has effectively done was give Bandlabbers a demo version of Sonar under the false pretense that it was free.... And gave use Cakewalkers big fat stinking LIE when we were given options at Gibsons demise to Crossgrade to other DAWs. Remember Noel... when you and your team was with Cakewalk, whether it was with Cakewalk, Roland, Gibson all the monies we paid for SONAR and all the subsequent Upgrades and UPdates was used to invest in your salaries and in the development of SONAR, Cakewalk by Bandlab and Sonar... so technically we THE FORMER USER BASE of Cakewalk are also INVESTORS!!! However.. I understand that salaries must be paid for, return on investments must be accounted for etc.... so my proposal is this... Release the last version of Cakewalk by Bandlab for free to your existing database of users completely with no strings (no activations) attached to honour your FREE commitment by MR MENG and then charge a crossgrade for those who want to "migrate" to the new Sonar... Idon't support subscriptions but I fully support THE RENT TO OWN perpetual licence holder. Meaning to those that pay monthly installments and after 12 months actually will own a fully perpetuall licence of the NEW Sonar. In all honesty the new rquirements for the new Sonar will destroy my studio as I have been managing The Bandlab Cakewalk just fine on my machines which are medium spec.. the new version will kill my system and no i dont need any visual upgrades.. everything is working great as it is currently thanks! BEFORE you first worlders jump on my case... I am from Africa where we are not as affluent as the Europeans and Americans where we can just PAY IT UP where we have used a product that was offer FOR Forever FREE! Consider all scenarios please... there are Third World Countries and our Producers that have also adopted and adapted to the Cakewalk free Ecosysytem!! Thanks for reading and great appreciation for an excellent product!