Sonic Solutions Reviews

Pros

All positive only
good work life balance
good growth

Cons

please let us know inadvance of acuistions

Advice to Senior Management

none

Pros

Sonic has led so many technology innovations which has meant a lot of change at the company. Even in that ever changing technologies market, I felt that sr. management always demonstrated that they care about their employees. I was able to grow my career through promotions and learning opportunities. I feel that my salary was certainly mostly in-line with what I could have earned from other companies, but the opportunities for learning and growth was what kept me at Sonic. Overall, my experience at Sonic has been invaluable in positioning me for success in my future endeavors.

Cons

The only real negative things to say about Sonic are just about things that a company like Sonic didn't really have much control over. The massive efforts and expense to comply with changing Federal reporting regulations, industry-wide technology confusion, and a terrible economy, were all things that Sonic had to combat. I personally feel that they did the best they could have done.

Advice to Senior Management

Thank you for many great years!

Pros

Great products. Reasonable schedules and projects.
Products are well established and very well known. Opportunities to learn a lot and work with some great people.

Cons

More than half of engineers are in Asia. Lot of phone conferencing.
product releases have improved but there is still a lot of guesswork as far as details lat in projects.

Pros

Personality of management, team work by corporate management team

Cons

Sonic name is not always known while its some brands are known.

Advice to Senior Management

I respect the corporate history and continuous growth.

Pros

Covers studio advanced tools to comsumer retail products, the advantages be reused for consumer product with user friendly look and feel. Knowing the edge of technologies, this is a best place than much more huge companies.

Cons

Everyone is nice like a family, still like a startup venture company.

Advice to Senior Management

Prduct direction to the most desired features like 3D is good, however there will be a question the new company can carry on this movement of the product heading direction...

Pros

1. Good people at the worker bee level.
2. Interesting space to work in.
3. Rovi acquisition may help make it a better environment and have better structure and common goals. We'll see though.

Cons

1. Each divisions is a separate business unit within the company, which makes it difficult because they each have their own agenda.

2. Management seems to have its own politics across divisions. Its pretty well known that certain upper management don't get along well at all, which hinders any integration between divisions. Hopefully Rovi will fix this.

3. Benefits are not that great as compared to other companies I have worked in.

4. The company takes on way too many projects with little resources. Its one thing not to turn away business, but its another to overwork your employees.

5. Only directors and above get bonuses or stock options. That is extremely lame and thus offers no incentive for anyone to exceed expectations in their job if you are below director level.

Advice to Senior Management

There is no point now in giving feedback because the main guys like Habiger and Ely have sold up to Rovi and are (hopefully) on their way out. I say good riddance. Lets see what Rovi is like. Hopefully they fire some of the remaining upper management as well.

Pros

Sonic is a really innovative company in the digital media business. Over my time at Sonic, we've been involved in lots of different areas of content creation - from pro authoring application to consumers software, and now video services. Sonic isn't afraid to take risks and move into new areas of digital media and gives its employees lots of room to innovate.

Cons

The downside of Sonic has been that management is sometimes too hands-off, where more direct management might be required. Sonic also stopped giving out stock options to the general employee population, reserving them instead for Dir. level and up.

Pros

Very people friendly & supportive

Cons

No proper process in place

Pros

Sonic creates/develops interesting applications and Management was not afraid to take chances and enter new markets. The employee base is largely enthusiastic and passionate about the work. Management is respectful and understanding

Cons

Given the nature of Sonic's businesses, there are hard deadlines that need to be met. The result is long hours at certain times of the year. In recent years there has been a reduction in some of the perks (i.e. 401K matching), but I suppose that's the norm at many companies.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to make smart business decisions and take risks. When profits rise, make sure you the benefits trickle down to staff.

Pros

You can create a liitle cacoon for yourself and pretty much focus on what you want

Cons

No support for innovation - very limited career growth

Advice to Senior Management

Start having a long term vision