This is my prediction based on past Cubase dot 5 releases:
It will be called C7.5.
The release will still be basically C7 in terms of look and feel with three or four rehashes of existing features touted as “new” or “improved” to create the illusion that these improvements are so compelling and revolutionary that you won’t feel all that burned for plunking down the usual $100+ upgrade fee.
Some current C7 bugs will be addressed….but at the same time, some new ones will be introduced.
The one item that has garnered the most traction on these boards begging an overhaul: the mixer, will basically remain unaddressed…until C8.
Within hours after release, the board will be filled with download speed and installation issues. Within days, a litany of complaints, bug reports and feature suggestions from the power users and gushing compliments from fan-boys, will take precedence.
Buyers remorse will set in for some…publicly announcing that they will roll back to C7.0.6 until C7.5 gets fixed and/or threaten to switch to some other DAW.
Others will dutifully pass through a 12 step program until reaching the last step:
Acceptance.
We’ll see…