terrybritton wrote:I guess I am the only Windows person here, and I use Cakewalk's Sonar Platinum once in a while for specific things, and their synths and samplers (especially Dimension Pro). They have optimized the code base tremendously, and add something new or update something every month. (A few things, actually.) They are on a roll, and the Gibson acquisition has been very, very good for them. Perhaps they used to be a very expensive DAW, but they have regular super-sales, and I picked up the entire Platinum suite for only $150, which is truly insane. However, I do not use it very often. Even though it does look fantastic now (no old "Windows" look anymore, though there are many who miss that for some reason...) I just cannot get my head into it like I can my two main DAWS - those being Samplitude Pro X2 Suite and, more recently and totally in love - DP9.
My first DAW was Samplitude (audio-only) and first sequencer was MOTU Performer (3.2 I think) run on a Mac Plus I souped up to 25MHz and 16 megs of RAM with a then $500 (used!) accelerator card I had to solder in! So, I have long history with both and familiarity.
DP has entirely blown me away - I am totally in sync with its workflow! Complete love! Haven't been in the camp long enough to notice its failings whatsoever. The Windows version is flawless, and nothing in the Mac version is missing from the PC version, according to Nick at MOTU tech support, and I believe that.
Samplitude is getting long in the tooth and rarely updates or adds features, but the object model is fantastic. I am concerned how much longer Magix will support it, but if they never did anything, it has many features I will use for years, especially for mastering. (Harrison Mixbus 3.3 pulls me in once in a while, I admit, but the tools in Samplitude are genuinely first class.)
On the topic of whether they will succeed or fail going to Mac, I do wonder why Cakewalk's folks are going that route. Sonar's code-base audio-wise has just seen a total overhaul (the speeds are amazing with batch jobs!), so perhaps it is easier for them to port over now (perhaps employing more machine-language level code involving Intel chip capabilities? Dunno...) Those deep-cut sales of theirs ensure new folks with low funds will be jumping on board, as they have already demonstrated in rising sales on PC. The prices are so low that even their subscription model seems like a bargain, and the software doesn't "die" if you do not continue the subscription, it merely ceases to get updates (which you can resume at any time by picking up a new subscription at a later date).
So, there is a perspective from an actual Windows user, anyway!
Loving DP - glad they ported to Windows!!!
Terry
I'll be honest, I hate Mirosoft and Windows but I also have one hell of a machine I built for the family system (Wife needed Office on a PC) and I'm VERY tempted at times to try out DP on it. All my plugs are cross platform VST as well now.