Cakewalk Sonar XL

I am using Sonar 2.2 Xl to play back Midi files.Never used the audio features so cannot comment.Used Pro audio 9 before.

I have all tha parameters accessible in one screen now wich makes it very easy to use.The editing is so easy to do.One tof the features that I really love is the abillity to load the instrument definition for almost any gear out there.

We use it live all the time. We just have to create set lists and its ready to play any song.All you have to do is hit the space bar and there it goes.

Never dealt with the company.

It does everything I need. So far no complains.It evens does a lot more than I need.Very easy to use.I've tried Cubase and did not like it(not that it's not a good program but I am very familiar with Cakewalk).It helps remix midi files very quickly.All the sounds from the sound module are loaded so just select the instrument and voila.

While most people chaning over from this software's predecessor, Cakewalk Pro Audio undoubtedly be temporarily aggravated with the new GUI, the redesign clearly refocuses the interface on doing audio and midi. The complexity of the underlying tasks is very well handled by the interface, with a few idiosyncracies that you just have to expect in any audio+midi software.

Chock full loaded with features. Easily comparable its competitors, and while not all the features are documented in detail, there's plenty of extras to make this sucker scream for the advanced user.

The included softsynths and such are nice though not anything I'd die for. Good included effects, and the MIDI style templates are wonderfully helpful.

Ok, this is where the big problem is. The newest version 1.3.1, FINALLY fixes most of the bugs in this application, but it's taken me quite some time to trust it after the first 1.0x versions.

The 1.0x versions were the most buggy professional software I have ever seen released. Glaring bugs in almost every section and screen in the application. Couldn't manage to complete ANY project in Sonar until the 1.3.x version came out because there was always something going wrong (MIDI editor losing notes, audio envelopes stopped working after the 24th minute of audio, just too many to mention).

They were very nice and kind but clearly overloaded by the huge amount of bugs that were in their released software.

I'm sticking with Sonar XL for now because they've managed to repair the bugs of the early versions, and it looks as though they're finally able to spend time adding new features. If I hadn't been a previous Pro Audio user, no way I would've kept Sonar 1.0x. But as I said, the new 1.3.x versions are working very well and the UI and features are excellent. The 7 I'm giving it is totally based on the 1.3.x version

The program was kind of hard to figure out. My other band mates and I had trouble finding out how to record digital audio at first and then had trouble finding out how to mix down to single stereo tracks. But after a couple of snags, we were rolling along quickly. The help menu is very good.

There are WAY TOO MANY features to list that the program has. The best way to look at the features is by going to http://www.cakewalk.com You'll find all the features your heart desires there (if you want to know them that is.

Considering all I do is digital audio...I can't rate how the internal sounds are. Besides, they're all MIDI and I HATE MIDI WITH A PASSION. This program works well for ANY type of music if you're going the digital audio route. Look at it this way, it's like being in the studio, except you're not paying tons of money just for being there and you're also not using up expensive tape. I do have some advice though.....if you're recording acoustic, don't use a pre-amp! If you're recording electric, you might want to use some sort of tube pre-amp and whatever effects that you want because the onboard effects in the program for digital audio aren't very good.

I can definately depend on this program. Overall it exceeds my expectations...for the price, it better.

Never had to deal with them...

I am VERY impressed with this program. I use it with my band for recording. The sound quality is excellent. I don't use any of the MIDI features on it so I can't rate those. I only deal with digital audio. I'm disappointed in the fact that you can't use StudioWare with digital audio. For almost $750, I think it should have more digital audio tools...like modelers and junk like that. The extra features that I paid for to get the XL version wasn't really worth it. If I had any advice to give it would be don't get the XL version unless you'll be doing tons of MIDI work.