Introducing Cakewalk Next and our new brand identity

[Jesse Jost]

6 minutes ago, LittleStudios said:

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. 

 

Next isn't browser based at all. Like many apps today, even CbB, Next will leverage web technology in some places - loops browser and project uploads for example. But the architecture is 100% native desktop code and not a javascript based core like Electron. 

[Light Grenade]

Interesting to see Cakewalk Next being offered on MacOS.  I can't see SONAR going MacOS any time soon, but it would make a big change to the user base. 

I wonder if this will see marketing efforts increase, as marketing for Cakewalk by Bandlab was virtually non-existent. It looked like a defunct product from the outside, despite multiple great updates being implemented. 

Pricing is key, especially when Reaper costs $60/$225. Definitely interested to see what happens. 

[User 905133]

Congratulations and best wishes for success with the new products.  Also, thanks for keeping SONAR/Cakewalk alive, for making improvements over the past several years, and for allowing older users to continue to use Cakewalk by Bandlab in case they cannot make the transition to the new products.

Edited June 6, 2023 by User 905133

[DeeringAmps]

50 minutes ago, michaelhanson said:

To be honest, the jury is out for me.

No, this is a no-brainer!

2 hours ago, Lord Tim said:

having the Sonar name back is giving me the warm and fuzzies

YEP!

t

[TerraSin]

20 minutes ago, Jesse Jost said:

Next isn't browser based at all. Like many apps today, even CbB, Next will leverage web technology in some places - loops browser and project uploads for example. But the architecture is 100% native desktop code and not a javascript based core like Electron. 

Any chance for a bundle deal? I work with both electronic music and traditional and I think I could use the tools from both for projects unless you're planning on putting the features from Next into Sonar as well, of course.

[User 905133]

Quote

Cakewalk Sonar will be able to open projects created in SONAR and Cakewalk by BandLab.

What about older file formats (esp. *.wrk files)?

[flangad]

Hi guys! This news is an earthquake!

On the first hand, it's wonderfull to see a great acceleration of Cakewalk developement,

On the other hand, "price points designed to meet the needs of different customers" is clearly the end of the "100% free AND 100% unlimited software" model! Of course , i understand a so great product, that need big investments cannot remain eternaly free. But I hope all the currently available features and caracteristics of CbB will remain proposed in a free version of Cakewalk Sonar, and the paid version will only bring new great features and instruments/plugin bundle. Ask to pay to have more is totally fair, but ask to pay to get what is currently free is clearly disapointing.

i also have one little question: i curently use a very beautifull skin for CbB. Is the new Cakewalk Sonar -and it's announced "UI enhancements"- compatible with CbB existing skins?

[Grebz]

2 minutes ago, User 905133 said:

What about older file formats (esp. *.wrk files)?

You can open them in CbB. In the worst case scenario (if wrk is no longer supported), open them in CbB, save them in the standard Cakewalk format, then in the new Sonar, I guess.

[Jesse Jost]

5 minutes ago, User 905133 said:

What about older file formats (esp. *.wrk files)?

Yes .wrk and all other Cakewalk extensions currently supported by CbB will continue to open in Cakewalk Sonar!

[lulalake]

When and how can we get these new babies?

 

[Grebz]

I like making themes.
Will the new Sonar allow us to customize the UI? Will it use the same Theme Editor? Did you fix such issues as one color used in several different places? Get rid of the old unused elements?

[Jesse Jost]

4 minutes ago, Grebz said:

I like making themes.
Will the new Sonar allow us to customize the UI? Will it use the same Theme Editor? Did you fix such issues as one color used in several different places? Get rid of the old unused elements?

Theming capabilities will change and there may be little to no customization in the first release of Sonar. That said, a tremendous amount of thought and effort have gone into this rework and we hope that the need for theming will be greatly diminished moving forward. 

The way that theming works in CbB is tortuous, so we're moving to a simpler, more elegant presentation idiom. The core customization capabilities that are needed most will likely be introduced in the future, but in a far more user friendly way than what's available in the current theme editor. 

[Light Grenade]

I wonder if Cakewalk NEXT projects will open in Sonar. This would be handy for those who collaborate between Mac & Windows. 

[User 905133]

7 minutes ago, Jesse Jost said:

Theming capabilities will change and there may be little to no customization in the first release of Sonar. That said, a tremendous amount of thought and effort have gone into this rework and we hope that the need for theming will be greatly diminished moving forward. 

The way that theming works in CbB is tortuous, so we're moving to a simpler, more elegant presentation idiom. The core customization capabilities that are needed most will likely be introduced in the future, but in a far more user friendly way than what's available in the current theme editor. 

Does this hold true for Workspaces (formerly Lenses) as well? I know Workspaces has a steeper learning curve than many people choose to navigate; however, I have found it to be a highly effective workflow productivity tool, even with about a 20-30% understanding of how to use it.  If it will not be in the first released version but will be re-tooled to be simpler, that would be good to know.

[Grebz]

1 minute ago, Jesse Jost said:

Theming capabilities will change and there may be little to no customization in the first release of Sonar. That said, a tremendous amount of thought and effort have gone into this rework and we hope that the need for theming will be greatly diminished moving forward. 

The way that theming works in CbB is tortuous, so we're moving to a simpler, more elegant presentation idiom. The core customization capabilities that are needed most will likely be introduced in the future, but in a far more user friendly way than what's available in the current theme editor. 

OK. I hope that we'll still be able to make full customizations as we currently can (with whatever improvements you're adding), because this is something that I really enjoy doing, along with other people. There may not be a lot of us making themes, but we are very dedicated.
For instance, I recreated more than 600 graphic elements from the Theme Editor with Blender 3D, you see. Waste of time for some, actual pleasure for me and I sincerely hope I can continue to do so. Changing every single icon and color is satisfying, on top of making music, of course.

[Jesse Jost]

13 minutes ago, User 905133 said:

Does this hold true for Workspaces (formerly Lenses) as well?

Workspaces will remain intact for Sonar.

[Matthew White]

41 minutes ago, Grebz said:

I like making themes.
Will the new Sonar allow us to customize the UI? Will it use the same Theme Editor? Did you fix such issues as one color used in several different places? Get rid of the old unused elements?

16 minutes ago, Jesse Jost said:

Theming capabilities will change and there may be little to no customization in the first release of Sonar. That said, a tremendous amount of thought and effort have gone into this rework and we hope that the need for theming will be greatly diminished moving forward. 

The way that theming works in CbB is tortuous, so we're moving to a simpler, more elegant presentation idiom. The core customization capabilities that are needed most will likely be introduced in the future, but in a far more user friendly way than what's available in the current theme editor. 

I guess what will be, will be, and I respect the decisions of the team, but this doesn't sound so good to someone such as myself (and no doubt you also @Grebz) who likes deeply changing the look of every item, the same goes for those who also like using a Theme which looks entirely different to the originals, this makes it sound like customization will be very limited rather than comprehensive, I do hope not and I know I don't speak for the majority but keeping full customization possibilities would certainly be a great thing! (To some of us at least lol)

 

 

[Matthew White]

18 minutes ago, Grebz said:

I hope that we'll still be able to make full customizations as we currently can (with whatever improvements you're adding), because this is something that I really enjoy doing, along with other people. There may not be a lot of us making themes, but we are very dedicated.  Waste of time for some, actual pleasure for me and I sincerely hope I can continue to do so. Changing every single icon and color is satisfying, on top of making music, of course.

Absolutely!

[marcL]

1 hour ago, User 905133 said:

and for allowing older users to continue to use Cakewalk by Bandlab in case they cannot make the transition to the new products.

The only question here is how long will we be able to authorize CbB if we do not jump on the new Sonar?

[IgoRr]

1 hour ago, flangad said:

i also have one little question: i curently use a very beautifull skin for CbB. Is the new Cakewalk Sonar -and it's announced "UI enhancements"- compatible with CbB existing skins?

So far, there is not even a rough interface for the new Sonar anywhere, but I am almost completely sure that for editing/creating custom skins, a new Theme Editor will be offered, as it is now for Cakewalk, or the current version will work for the new Sonar.