How Much Time Till Cakewalk for Bandlab is Permanently Deactivated?

[Milton Sica]

My intention in commenting on this topic is not to create controversy or conflict. I do so to express my opinion, which I hope will be respected by all who have had access to it.

I have also been a user since the days of Cakewalk DOS. I used the free Cakewalk Bandlab for a long time and had serious reservations and participated in several topics about its approach.

With the release of the Cakewalk SONAR version with a free option, with some improvements that I think should be included in the features of the free version, which I think should include ALL OPTIONS in Cakewalk Bandlab, such as the dithering option, etc., I am fully in favor of discontinuing Cakewalk Bandlab.

I reaffirm and ratify the need for all those features that are included in Cakewalk Bandlab to be included in the free features of Cakewalk SONAR.

This is a way of ensuring continuity for all those who join as members of the new tool and also as a matter of honesty towards the users of the discontinued product.

I think this would be the most sensible and fair solution and the best argument for more people to adopt the new SONAR.

Until then, the question will always be: why do I have to pay for the ditherings I had in the old version now?

[Milton Sica]

5 hours ago, pwalpwal said:

looks like free tier is the new cbb, which makes sense technically, and if it's still free but with regular re-activations, what's really the difference?

The big difference and what is causing some noise for everyone to migrate to the free version of SONAR is that many things that exist in Cakewalk Bandlab are not free in the new SONAR.

I have already argued and I reaffirm: just leave ALL THE OPTIONS that were free in the previous one. That's it. Everything will be resolved. Whoever wants and needs more or new resources can pay for them.

[Mr No Name]

[Patrick Wichrowski]

Quote

 Cakewalk by BandLab will no longer offer activation renewal after 1 August 2025
 

 

Bye bye Windows 7 users.

[Bristol_Jonesey]

55 minutes ago, Mr No Name said:

That looks disgusting

[Mr No Name]

1 hour ago, Bristol_Jonesey said:

That looks disgusting

that's what my Cakewalk looks like. a thing of beauty imo.

[Jeremy Oakes]

3 hours ago, Milton Sica said:

My intention in commenting on this topic is not to create controversy or conflict. I do so to express my opinion, which I hope will be respected by all who have had access to it.

I have also been a user since the days of Cakewalk DOS. I used the free Cakewalk Bandlab for a long time and had serious reservations and participated in several topics about its approach.

With the release of the Cakewalk SONAR version with a free option, with some improvements that I think should be included in the features of the free version, which I think should include ALL OPTIONS in Cakewalk Bandlab, such as the dithering option, etc., I am fully in favor of discontinuing Cakewalk Bandlab.

I reaffirm and ratify the need for all those features that are included in Cakewalk Bandlab to be included in the free features of Cakewalk SONAR.

This is a way of ensuring continuity for all those who join as members of the new tool and also as a matter of honesty towards the users of the discontinued product.

I think this would be the most sensible and fair solution and the best argument for more people to adopt the new SONAR.

Until then, the question will always be: why do I have to pay for the ditherings I had in the old version now?

I seem to remember reading that the dithering algorithms are not proprietary,  so its normal they become paying.

J

[Brian Walton]

9 hours ago, Gary Carey said:

I

I certainly wouldn't argue with anyone over their decisions or preferences. However, I find that Sonar Free does everything I've been using in CbB, better optimised and fully supported. With no subscription.

Personally, I like the UI too! 

I think Bandlab have been extraordinarily generous over the years and as a free option this is a seriously good DAW.  Seems hash to criticise them for ending support for CbB when there's a great replacement with - as far as I can see - no snags. Or is there something I'm missing?

 

The free version of Sonar is a great "option" to work in from CbB but some/many of us running custom themes do not have an option in Sonar that checks all the boxes.  This isn't a  knock against the flat nature, which I for one like.  But just using my preferred theme as an example.  You will notice all the superfluous text I removed to clean up the interface, as well as a medium gray color choice that I find easier on the eyes and easier to navigate on/off things with green on  (red and darkened as off) than what we get with the dark themes or the light grey (which is closest) 

Yes, many of the custom themes were truly hideous, but some of them were actually well thought out.   A well done theme took many hours to create and tweak.  So the new version isn't exactly equal though it is appreciated to have both.  I think it is unfortunate they are simply going to disable this version instead of letting it live.

 

VS:  

 

VS

 

Edited 21 hours ago by Brian Walton

[sjoens]

Platinum may not be an option for some, but it will be the last "fully" customizable version.

[Jan Deeben]

So, in short (people don't seem to read long answers anyway):
After August 1st CbB can't be re-activated. So, it wil run as long as your existing activation period lasts.
So whether you keep a backup or GHOST image of the drive containing a running CbB installation, it will require re-activation at some point too, if you start using it again.

So now the thing to do is (at least, my workflow will be):
- In stall Sonar (free tier to start with), get any instruments & plugins to work and see if existing CbB projects can be edited & worked on from there.
- Next, decide whether the free tier is enough for you, or if you'd be needing a Membership.

Although I'm a long-time user (I started using Cakewalk somewhere in the 90s) , I'm no fan of the software subscription model. I'd rather pay one time for a software license. There are parties in the marktet who offer their DAW for a one-time fee with 'lifetime updates' (whatever limitations that 'lifetime' will actually bring).
Also, if you're a creative person and possibly have more projects (other than music) going one, it's become too easy to dwon yourself in monthly subscriptions. But that's just my thought.

[Sidney Earl Goodroe]

No one has touched on the point that if you still have legacy versions of Sonar, as in X1,2,or3 or Platinum, etc., ProChannel and all those features are scanned and in CbB and Sonar Free!

Both CbB and Sonar Free are chockful of all my features I  had in the legacy versions over all those years!

The Colors debate is valid. Sonar Free is butt ugly to look at, especially on my tired old eyes.

But, because of keeping my older versions around, I am able to use all those features I have grown to depend on all those years!

The dithering feature does not bother me as I do use a mastering program outside of Free that allows me to dither to my hearts content!

[mannmusic]

On 6/29/2025 at 12:30 AM, Helios.G said:

I have a serious issue with the color schemes in the UI.  Beyond how it affects my eyes and eventually my head when the migraines flare up, what I don't understand is, if the product is being made "better" why are you deprecating the ability for people to easily modify color schemes.  I know I can't be alone in this, cause I've seen other people chime up in the past.  I for one would love to jump into sonar and not leave the platform,  and it truly did seem to work "better", resource wise on my 2 systems, but I literally can't look at the UI's as is.   

This is also my issue. I had a conversation with the team about this but they haven't addressed the issue. Important parameters have been removed making it impossible to set up a  bespoke accessible colour set. I really like Cakewalk but I'm going to have to ditch it if they don't re-introduce the customisations.

[pedant]

maybe the team could invite a sight-impaired person into the office for a day (including free lunch) for some advice?

/citizensadvicebureau

[Keith Marriott]

Until very recently Bandlab maintained existing users of Cakewalk could continue to use it, it is only recently they have announced that the ongoing activation will end on 1st August. So for those saying we have had plenty of notice - no we haven't! I, like many, believed the old Cakewalk would remain active for the current users.

As for the free version of Sonar. I didn't like the new UI. I'm sure it was harder to see what plugins are inserted on a track and on my PC the writing looked fuzzy compared to Cakewalk. I also don't like the nag screen before you can use the software.  And regarding Sonar being less crippled than most free DAWs, try Waveform free and you will see that's not true.

When I tried the free version of Sonar I seemed to lose some plugins, possible ones that are a legacy from when I owned a paid for version of Sonar before Gibson purchased it.

Might be time to jump ship!

 

[Canopus]

20 minutes ago, Keith Marriott said:

As for the free version of Sonar. I didn't like the new UI.

You are not alone. Many users have had objections to how it looks. However, unless you've already seen it, there are nine different color schemes to choose from in Preferences > Customization > Colors | UI. I'm pretty sure a new Theme Editor will emerge at some point, and I hope that it will mostly match the features found in Cakewalk Theme Editor. But nobody knows.

19 minutes ago, Keith Marriott said:

When I tried the free version of Sonar I seemed to lose some plugins, possible ones that are a legacy from when I owned a paid for version of Sonar before Gibson purchased it.

Rest assured that the installation of Sonar has not removed any existing plugins. What you had is still there, but maybe you need to update your VST Scan Paths in Sonar to reflect those that you have in CbB. 

24 minutes ago, Keith Marriott said:

Might be time to jump ship!

Of course you can do that. Just make sure you do it for the right reasons, and not due to possible misconceptions.

[sjoens]

18 minutes ago, Canopus said:

I'm pretty sure a new Theme Editor will emerge at some point, and I hope that it will mostly match the features found in Cakewalk Theme Editor. But nobody knows.

Noel knows . . .

[TearOfTheStar]

Why no permanent offline activation for CbB tho? That seemed like a nobrainer. There is no constant online connection or advanced drm, just make it drm free.

 

New features and active development will make people who need them, move to new Sonar anyway. Killing a perfectly working product to force people into a freemium deal is quite a bit meh. Good thing Reaper exists.