Sonar 7 New Features - what's your favorite?

[Brian S]

So now that Sonar 7 has been released, what new feature(s) are you looking forward to most? Here are my top 5, in no particular order:

1. Smart MIDI Tools—The Inline Piano Roll in Sonar 6 was a big help, but you had to click around too much to switch between tools.
2. Multilane controller editing in Piano Roll view—Multiple controls can be viewed simultaneously, each in its own "lane" or combined.
3. Internal sidechaining!!!—For plug-ins that support it, including Sonar's and certain VSTs. This was arguably the biggest deficiency in Sonar's mix architecture.
4. External Insert Plug-in—This one won't have a big impact for me personally, but it's a big step forward for a lot of studios.
5. Shortcuts for assigning a series of audio inputs, and routing selected tracks/busses to the same input/output/main—This will save me time on every single project.

Check out the complete list at http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/English/Upgrade/features.asp.

Brian

[Chade]

Hi Jason - i love sonar with a passion - i haven't tried the audio to midi conversion yet but now you've mentioned it i will be eager to give it a go.
cheers Chade

[Escape Velocity]

I have to say the most handy element in the new Sonar release is the step sequencer for mine - although I'm sure I'll use the multiband compressor a bit more when I start using the software for something other than tinkering around with remixes. Z3TA+ is also a kick-arse inclusion. The one thing that could be REALLY impressive over time (especially as a composition tool) is V-Vocal's pitch to MIDI tool... hum the tune you want for a given part, snap the pitches to the nearest note, then run pitch-to-MIDI conversion on the track - apply a transposition MIDI filter to get it voiced for the instrument of choice and away you go. I mean... c'mon... am I the only person who thinks that has the ability to be INCREDIBLY cool?

I've used both Sonar 6.0 Producer and 7.0 Producer and the new version is definitely a step up in terms of completeness as an overall mixing and mastering tool. Keep in mind that Sonar 7.0 is also a quite stable VST/VSTi host, and it handles most of the free plugins I've found on the net pretty well.

The only other DAW system I might be tempted to purchase would be Reason, but that's because it has a VERY different workflow to Sonar... it's more about the connections than the tracking. Sonar's certainly the most powerful and value for money track-recording based system I've found to date for my computing platform (XP64 Pro).

Cheers

Jez

[jason gray]

yes! the v-vocal pitch to MIDI is great as i keep having to save midi to Audio a lot to save CPU, and then also being able to identify an extra layer needed , i can now easy convert that section to midi and add a extra part to the line in mind, really handy!

[DM]

I've just gone straight to sonar 7 after spending two years on the LE version and the difference, obviously, is major. I've just spent three months learning about the new tools and Rapture, Dimension Pro etc.

It's awesome and I just love it. No, I don't work for the company.

Some of the magazines seem to heavily promot other DAW's as being 'industry standards'. It makes me think that I could be missing something, but when I work on a PC anyway, it just suits me. Plus I like being a bit different and using a DAW that encourages my creativity.

I'm still getting to know some of the features, but I would say that V-vocal is a handy feature.

[Chade]

Hi Guys
sounds like we're all just over the moon with sonar 7. Hey DM i have tried Cubase and Digital Performer on Mac before - hated Cubase, Digital Performer was awesome but i hate Mac so i asked around for the best DAW for PC and thankfully someone suggested Cakewalk - that was 3 years ago - haven't looked back since. I dont' work for Cakewalk either and as far as tech support is concerned i haven't found them very helpful at all - once i had an issue with downloading an update and they didn't even respond to my email! Just as well i haven't had any real problems with it. Sonar is just the best around for my money and the easiest to get up and running - even for the beginner. Enjoy!
cheers Chade - check out this site guys www.soundclick.com

[Escape Velocity]

Yeah - it's rock solid. I was playing around with the step sequencer and Session Drummer 2 the other day... creating new beat templates is really easy!!! I now have A and B patterns done for a 5/4 groove and hope to get a few more variations done by the end of the weekend.

I had Cubase 3.5 for a while but found the hard track-count limitation a little painful.... Cakewalk has done unlimited track counts ever since Cakewalk Pro 8 at least (possibly even earlier). I've always thought Cakewalk had a more transparent workflow than Cubase too... with Cubase it's easier to get bogged down in how to do a particular task - with Sonar it's a matter of finding the right object to right-click on or app menu. The only gripe I have with Cakewalk is 7 major releases in as many years, with a fairly serious price tag ($200US plus or minus) for each upgrade. Guys.. we get the point. Great tools... but SLOW DOWN! :P

[Chade]

Yeah i agree EV - getting bogged down with cubase - who wants to spend creative time trying to figure out basic's. With cakewalk i got up and running in no time at all. And yes with the upgrades i went from sonar 5 studio, to sonar 6 producer, then sonar 7 producer in a very short time... Mmmmm. I love the new plug-ins - EQ, Comp & boost 11 - don't use the synths much - rarely actually - i just love the ease of use - and so i'll keep buying.

[jason gray]

The only thing that has been a downer for me after also using ableton, is the midi writing,/piano roll view, i find it hard to keep track on what section in the time line i am editing or needing to edit/write, as the only visual is the time ruler, but as far as i am aware you can not add markers to piano roll view, i think, this would make me use sonar always, but as i say becuase of getting used to abletons clips and midi per clip, which is easy to home in on what section i want.

sonar is far more cpu friendly as in ableton i am struggling and always having to save as audio, and i then loose the control i had with the midi automation - most annoying.
i also prefer the audio and mid clip view in sonar it just looks and feels wright, this and the fades, then the fact that i can put each group into a subgroup folder i.e drums, bass, lead, guitar, pads vocals etc and then close these folders to save on screen space, and save distraction when their is two much going on .
I really need to get back into sonar, i learned a lot with sonar in a few months but ableton's lazy way has taken me from some class tools and production possiblities, and left me with too many unfinnished pieces of work just not quite meeting with my satisfaction. had quite some dilehmas this weekend with this , after listening to the latest Adam freeland essential mix and the quality of these tracks, left me feeling some what amaturish, some amazing music played. Sonar has been a gut feeling for me to achieve such results it feels more competant than other Daws,
so guys/gals KEEP TALKING! give me some hope please.

[Escape Velocity]

Hi Jason,

I'll be honest - I don't use the piano roll view at all. If I get that pedantic about a given mix, I'll actually compose midi parts in the staff view. ;) A) I find it easier to read and B) it's more accurate. It's a pretty powerful technique and doesn't take as much time as you'd think, especially if you set the default note velocity at around 100 and use velocity envelopes after the notation side of it is complete to control expression. To speed things up I tend to cheat and use the grid select to write in the lengths of the notes I want, but doing all the whole notes at the same time across say an 8 bar loop, then all the minims, crotchets, quavers, semiquavers, etc. I'll then go back and fill in any other notation I need like triplets, stacatto, legato guides, etc.

You get the idea. I'm tempted to play with Ableton Live as a performance or a song "sketching" tool, but I think I'll keep working in Sonar once I've got past that initial sketch stage as it suits my workflow well. Ableton stuff has a habit of sounding very "loopy" - with Sonar you can add a lot more light and shade even to loop based music which I kinda dig.

HTH

Jez

[Chade]

Hi Jason - are you sure you can't use markers in the piano roll view? One thing i've learned is to stick to one sequencer and learn it well - (still got a way to go with sonar for sure) when i edit midi 99.9 percent of the time i do it in the staff view - i'm used to standard notation and it works quick and easy for me - as far as i know when i add markers they're viewable in all views.
cheers Chade

[jason gray]

I did make a big deal out of looking for the markers in the piano roll, i thought , i will take a closer look !

Also as you both mention, the notation/staff view or even the tracklist editor are powerfull tools but sadley something i just cant comprehend - being ablet to read and write music, or at least in reading books, i read over and over and can not lodge this in my brain, yet twice i watched some BBC4 music programmes about music theory, and for a lot of it i understood, but again once gone and a while later i can not recall much.
maybe one day - i hope .

Thanks for advice and your valid thoughts

[jason gray]

Yes i can add track markers in piano roll view, thanks Chade