Jesse Jost Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 On behalf of BandLab Technologies and the Cakewalk team, I’m thrilled to announce the following updates and hope you share our excitement for what's to come! The brand Cakewalk by BandLab is now Cakewalk, standing as an independent brand within BandLab Technologies, focused on delivering the next generation of music production software for desktop. Since BandLab’s acquisition of Cakewalk in 2018, we made it our mission to prioritize stability and performance enhancements to make Cakewalk by BandLab the DAW of choice for Windows users. During that time, we’ve witnessed incredible adoption and an ever-growing user community. These forums remind us that one of the software’s best features is its community, and we’re supremely grateful for the positive engagement we see here daily. In order to build our community further, the Cakewalk brand now encompasses two key products. So we’d like to introduce you to the newest member of the family: Cakewalk Next. Next is a creation-focused DAW, built from the ground up to better address the needs of creators and meet the demands of tomorrow. It’s designed to be easy to use yet powerful, suitable for creators regardless of where they are in their musical journey. Learn more about Cakewalk Next and request participation in the public beta. We can’t wait for you to experience it and share your thoughts! Additionally, we’d like to announce a product with a name that is both familiar and new: Cakewalk Sonar. In deference to the audio production legacy that has been a critical tool of choice for so many over the years, this name reflects our continued commitment to serving core production workflows and providing the best all around audio solution on Windows. Cakewalk Sonar will bear a dramatic UI refresh and carry forward as a new product with ongoing improvements and features. Note that Cakewalk Sonar will install alongside Cakewalk by BandLab and any legacy editions of SONAR you may have installed in the past. New products will be available later this year. These changes also bring a new visual identity, which you’ll be seeing across our products, website and everywhere the Cakewalk brand is represented. Check out some examples of our new logos (below) and more at our redesigned website: www.cakewalk.com. So what lies ahead? Our roadmap is filled with some exciting updates, and we’re just getting started. But in short, our focus remains fixed on enhancing your productivity and joy of music creation. Stay tuned for more news to come! 19 13 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estolad Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 I wasn't expecting Cakewalk to be free forever, but hopefully not subscription only. Quote Will Next and Sonar be free like Cakewalk by BandLab? Next and Sonar will be offered at price points designed to meet the needs of different customers. More information will be provided as we approach the launch date for these new products. Will there be another Cakewalk by Bandlab release or is the next release Cakewalk Sonar? Is there a rough time estimate for the release? 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Barton Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 Just signed up for the Next beta. I'm curious to see how things go! What sort of timeline are we looking at for both products? 49 minutes ago, Lord Tim said: Wow. Not gonna lie, having the Sonar name back is giving me the warm and fuzzies I first bought Sonar X3 nearly 10 years ago and been a happy Cakewalk user since then. Seeing that name gave me some warm fuzzies too! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleStudios Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 (edited) Will they honor the lifetime licenses sold a few years back? Will they give Sonar to the people who purchased lifetime licenses? Edited June 6, 2023 by LittleStudios 13 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einstein R Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 7 minutes ago, Lord Tim said: That's an entirely different company who no longer exists, so I guess you need to ask Gibson about that rather than Bandlab. There's been a lot of good faith so far with Bandlab allowing compatibility with old products locked to the previous company, and access to old accounts and all of that stuff, so while I wouldn't expect any company to just give away a product that was sold by a completely different company, I'd expect whatever they do to be at least fair. I hope they will be fair to us previous licensees just to get the same functionality like we have today. I don't mind paying like they did in the past, $150 for an upgrade fee, but if they want to charge us $300 or more just to keep the same functionality....then I will be scratching my head for that move... 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Wynn Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 This is exciting stuff ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Borthwick Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 1 hour ago, estolad said: I wasn't expecting Cakewalk to be free forever, but hopefully not subscription only. Will there be another Cakewalk by Bandlab release or is the next release Cakewalk Sonar? Is there a rough time estimate for the release? There will be another final CbB release with bug fixes. We're wrapping up the details on that... 31 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Iglesias Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 Are these new versions free or paid? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Phillips Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 Thank you Bandlab and Cakewalk Team! Man, I can't wait to see both products! Unfortunately I'll have to wait. My DAW PC was apparently fatally injured by a failing power supply and I'm in the middle of deciding what to replace it with. Now, I've got even more motivation to get that done. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wetdentist Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 just out of curiosity, will the Cakewalk by Bandlab software continue working after the Sonar/Next release? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Barton Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 Just now, wetdentist said: just out of curiosity, will the Cakewalk by Bandlab software continue working after the Sonar/Next release? Reading between the lines, it sounds like they're sunsetting Cakewalk by Bandlab and replacing it with Next and Sonar. You should still be able to use it after they release, it just won't receive any updates. 5 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelhanson Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 To be honest, the jury is out for me. I have been a Cakewalk/ Sonar faithful user since the first days of release. I've been through all the buy outs, the ups and downs. When Cakewalk was sold by Gibson and in limbo, I purchased Studio One to ensure that I had a platform to work from. Also started replacing all plug ins with 3rd party. I was not going to get caught with my pants down in the future and had to ensure that I had a platform and tools to work with. I still use Cakewalk the majority of the time, but I decided not to put all of my eggs in one basket. Depending on where this goes, I will have some decisions to make. I don't want 3 platforms on my hard drive taking up all my SSD space, not to mention the financial aspect of keeping up with 3 platforms; that is if Cakewalk comes in 2 formats. I'm not real keen to putting money into a platform that left me hanging the last time. I understand not honoring the "Lifetime" commitment made through Gibson ownership, completely. I'm just not sure how much loyalty I need to dish out. Sounds like some major decisions may be on the horizon for many of us, or at least for myself. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asato Maa Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 (edited) Colleagues, if I understand info from the new site: 1. Cakewalk Next is the desktop version of the browser version of Bandlab 2. Cakewalk Sonar is a continuation of Cakewalk by Bandlab. I think that the paid version and monetization are a logical continuation of the free product. Developing a good product costs money, and someone has to pay for it. It is clear that the new product will be further developed. I think it's a very cool start! Good marketing))) The product is evolving, and it's cool! I want to be a beta tester!!!@Jesse Jost I want to join the team as a project / product manager! I sent you a private message. Edited June 6, 2023 by Asato Maa 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Iglesias Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 Won't they fall into the subscription error again? with Gibson it did not work. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerraSin Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 I'm excited for this. I'm also curious if this means they will be expanding the development team. They have said a few times that the team working on Cakewalk is pretty small. I noticed they were asking about platforms in the questionnaire... is Cakewalk getting a Mac release again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Carr Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 1 minute ago, michaelhanson said: To be honest, the jury is out for me. Probably a common sentiment. I want to stay with Cakewalk Sonar as it's what I'm familiar with.. but it really does depend on the pricing. The free updates and new features were lovely while they lasted, but obviously couldn't continue forever... so now we'll need to see how Bandlab value Cakewalk against the competition, and if us old timers who have paid for the product previously get any kind of accommodation. I totally understand the comments about being two different companies, and it would be completely justifiable to start from scratch, but if that happens then personally I'd have a good look round at some of the competition... Having said that, we have to be thankful that Bandlab kept Cakewalk alive, and has continued to invest in it... and has one of the best DAW forums around (which, actually, counts for a lot!) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleStudios Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 My guess is Next will be web browser based, you know, running through Chrome or Firefox or whatever web browser you use. This way they can reach more people. I think Sonar will be the version that runs as it's own application installed on your machine. Next will be free and Sonar will be paid. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scook Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 59 minutes ago, TerraSin said: I noticed they were asking about platforms in the questionnaire... is Cakewalk getting a Mac release again? Cakewalk Next Beta is available on Mac and Windows Cakewalk Sonar is Windows only (just like the CbB it replaces) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerraSin Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 5 minutes ago, scook said: Cakewalk Next Beta is available Mac and Windows Cakewalk Sonar is Windows only (just like the CbB it replaces) This is good. Trying to change the code for Sonar was a disaster to say the least last time it was tried. Better to keep the focus for it on PC. I wonder if Next will have more in common with alternative workflows of Bitwig and Ableton for electronic beat makers then? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grebz Posted June 6, 2023 Share Posted June 6, 2023 My hopes: - no subscription. - that there will still be a basic free version of this new Sonar, with very little effects, no instruments, but not other limitations, so that people can still use Sonar as an entry point to the world of DAWs. And then more complete versions bundled with more effects and virtual instruments. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts