This time my upgrade was via internet - pretty fast and efficient. If you don't need the drive then give it a try. I also opted for the DVD disk to be mailed just in case I need them eventually.

Program seems to load real tracks faster and may actually sound better? I feel like my old HP XP got faster and may surivive for a while longer.

I expected the mixer to be a gimmick since you can accomplish the same tasks with the old interface. It is not a gimmick - adjusting all the tracks while viewing them simultaneously is a big deal. You can easily and quickly tweak any song and greatly improve the mix. This will greatly improve your final mixes.

I did not intend to do the upgrade this summer because money is tight etc. The seventies soul tracks sold me because I have been working on a Marvin Gaye tune that never felt right with the old styles. Within minutes I nailed it with this new real track style.

Finally separating the jazz organs without bass pedals makes them a desireable and usable feature. The old rock styles were heavily distorted and the jazz organ could not be used without the pedals. Now you can have great jazz organ without distortion and funky pedal bass.

As good as it is,instrument and track selection needs to be addressed and each addition makes this more apparent. I have noticed that the latest new styles appear at the bottom of the style picker. Is this available or should it be available for all the RT styles? This would be a simple fix. I found my desired style for the 70s soul style quickly because it was listed at the bottom of the list with all the new styles..