Cakewalk Sonar

Sonar 6.02 Producer
I use mostly VST's.
'Syth rack' updated and improved.
Only other DAW I've tried was ProTools LE, I found Sonar much easier, especially MIDI editing.

Many of the built-ins (sound, effects) are very good.
64 bit computing very good

Many options for expressiveness (envelop editing) but some users have complained about lack of copy/paste ability of track envelopes.

Use without backup? Never do anything without backup (any program/gear). Autoback up feature by time or by number of edits is available. Infrequent lock or crash but I suspect it is due to 3rd party plug-ins or inserts. I'm guessing no more that any other program like this.

Never used customer support. User forum has answered ALL of my questions and problems within hours. Best user forum in the industry!!

Bought as upgrade from Sonar 5 Producer.
I get every upgrade and will continue to do so.
MIDI editing capabilities could be slightly better.

Sonar 3

It's the best DAW I've ever used, I switched to pro tools 6 months ago, converted all my projects, but I really miss the super workflow, and I'm switching back.

It's the best sequencer out there, even has it's own programming language called CAL Script, and people have written a ton of programs for doing all kinds of midi editing. The audio is straight forward, pretty much the same as the other DAWs I've used. It has a very decent set of effects. Much more extensive than the pittance you're thrown with PTLE 6

I don't use the VSTs, I'm expressive and I make stuff that sounds good but I don't really think this catagory applies to my usage.

Good, not perfect, I'll say that it taught me the lesson to always always backup your stuff.

Haven't had the pleasure.

I love it, It is without a doubt the best DAW I've used. The sequencer is the best out there.

This software is really really optomized for workflow. If you use it you will spend more time being a musician, and less time being a frustrated engineer.

Sonar 1.3.
As for easy of use the Sonar is ok. It has many feature and I can't say I knows them all, but it will do all I need and if I need more I look up the manual and usually uit will do that too.

Has various effect plugins that come with it. Lot of people coplaint that those aren't any good and look for better plugins - most likely better looking plugins I'd say. There's nothing wrong with Cakewalk plugins, infact they're better than many out there. I guess people don't like Cakewalk plugins because 1-they don't look so nice, 2-they're rather subtle. But subtle is what a plug in should be. Learn to use them and you'll save money on buying some of the crappy plugins you don't really need.

How does it sound? You can get professionally sounding music out of it, same as from Protools or any other good proram. It's amatter how it's used, period.

It could use litle less CPU mainly for the diplay but it's something to get used to when loaded full of realtime plugins. Best of all it NEVER crashes even no matter what other programs I run ion the backround. They all might crash but Sonar stays up. Well I must say that I had it crashing for a few days but that was after Kazaa install (beware off Kazaa!). Once removed it was steady as a rock again.

Never needed

Sonar is like an old Wolksvagen Beetle. Good value and will do just sbout everything the big boys can. If you can't get it to sound like a pro than you don't know what you're doing.

I'm using 2.2 Sonar. It is quite difficult to use. For example - you may be used to right-clicking on an icon to get a selection of functions. You may be used to floating help under your mouse. Not with this - you get lots of big, ugly, confusing, dialog boxes. An improvement over earlier Cakewalk products, but still poor. It is like going back 5 years in terms of user-friendliness.

You have to give this thing credit for having lots of features. The problem is more figuring out what they are for.

Well, it has groove loop capability - not as good as Live, tho. It has a MIDI sequencer, harder to use than Cubase. It has audio recording - harder to use than SoundForge. It finally has ASIO. It has VST if you are willing to pay for it!

I used to have problems with GigaStudio - the latest upgrades fixed that. I used to have problems with my SBLIVE - Audigy works fine now. The only software I have that crashes is SONAR!

Don't know - my complaints have fallen on dear ears.

Try something else first.

I'm using Sonar 2.0 XL. This program is only going to be easy to use after you spend some time learning how it works. As with any professional tool, there is a learning curve. If you don't know anything about computers or sound engineering, you're screwed. This program has pissed off many users because of the fact that, if you don't know your stuff, it will expose your weaknesses! You HAVE to understand how pro gear works to use a program like this. But if you do get it, it's a great program with an incredible interface. The rewire support is seamless and nothing short of amazing.

WDM drivers are a HUGE help. Zero latency on my setup. I noticed some people complained about latency before... UPGRADE YOUR MACHINE!!! You can't run a ton of digi audio and midi tracks using WDM drivers with zero latency on a machine that's NOT running with an AMD processor and a ton of ram! Being able to do the things that this software allows you to do literally replaces thousands of dollars of studio gear, so upgrading your computer is worth it, trust me! Nice sequencer, it's just like the same old cakewalk that i learned years ago, just with extra features. I really like the fx plugins, they're flexible enough for the pros, but the presets are so musical you probably already have a preset for anything you need. I don't use external effects anymore thanks to this program! Integrates with all of my software and external gear. This program is only as good as your machine and the gear in your studio!

I'm not nuts about the DXI soft synths, but i wasn't expecting to like them. Reason rules, and I prefer harware synths anyway (I'm a 'tweaker'). The fx, like i said before, are awesome, and your recordings will sound amazing only if your studio gear is good and you know what you're doing. I won't rate this because of the fact that amateurs will sound like crap and pros can make it sound as good as it gets.

This is the most stable program on my system! It amazes me...I've ALWAYS had crashes and bugs in my Windows apps, it's normal. But I haev NEVER even seen a single hiccup in sonar. It's SICK how stable it is. If it's not stable for you, then you need to get another copy (there ARE duds...) or UPGRADE YOUR RIG!!! You can't run it on a Pentium 2 and expect top performance. I'm running Windows 2000 Professional, and it's niiiiiice.

Haven't had to deal with customer support for any Cakewalk product, EVER. That's about 8 years of Cakewalk use with no problems. If something doesn't work right, get your hands dirty and figure it out. You HAVE to know how your gear works, and how to troubleshoot.

It's worth more than i paid, by far. My software is like life and death to me. It HAS to be able to help me get the sounds in my head out to our audience, and I am actually excited to sit and work with this program. It's almost like another member of the band. If you don't like this program, then you are either a TOP industry pro that prefers a $10,000+ ProTools HD rig (drools...) or you have NO idea what you're doing!!!

Getting a grip on this software really is a "Cakewalk". You can do a great deal of work from one window only.

It comes bundled with a good number of effects as well as a nice soft synth and drum editor.

The effects work well but are not as good as a top of the line package like Waves Gold...for the price they're a bargain though.

This is THE most stable sequencer for a Windows DAW! I'm a former Cubase 5.0 user and I know the nightmare that is Cubase in Windows. Sonar 2.0 + WinXP + WDM drivers = a VERY stable low latency setup.

This is without a doubt the easiest sequencer that i've ever worked with. The rock solid performance in WinXP is something to behold. If you like to use software that needs constant patching and tweaking to keep stable then this is NOT the software for you. If you're looking for an audio package that will give you worry free performance then Sonar is the way to go:)

I'm using version 2.0

I have tried demo versions of Logic and Cubase. Sonar is definetely the most "intuitive" to use soft-sequencer. If you are used to other standard Win programs you won't have difficulties to get into Sonar. There's also a fine "introductory" manual (ca. 100 pages) with good tutorials to learn the basic features. The "real" manual (ca. 1300 pages) is delivered as a pdf file on the installation CD.

Cakewalk is still the world's best MIDI sequencer. You can work quite fast with it. MAN ist the master of the SOFTWARE, not vice versa!
Sonar is also closing the gap to its competitors concerning the audio features. You can use standard effect plug-ins and there are many other nice features as time stretching etc.

Alas, Sonar is not compatible with the VST standard. A major drawback in my opinion!

There's a virtual GM instrument from Edirol (which I find quite boring), a very nice sample player and an easy to use virtual analogue. My advice is: get the XL version of Sonar 2.0 and you will be a lucky owner of FXpansion DR008, a very good drum module (sampler AND synthesizer!).

Sometimes it seems to hang a bit, e.g. when I'm using a demo plug-in of FXpansion. I hope this will be history after the next update.
Most of the time it really works very well!

Unfortunately, here in Germany Cakewalk's represantation, distribution and support seems not to be that good. I have never had a major problem with my software, but when I tried to get information BEFORE I bought Sonar the service seemed quite bad.

I definetely recommend Sonar and dont't regret at all having bought it! It's simply much better to use than Logic (my rating: 4) and Cubase (my rating: 6).
Here in Europe, especially in Germany, Sonar (only the German version!) is sold at "dumping" prices. I think that's Cakewalk's strategy to gain market share in Germany. As you know, both Logic and Cubase are from here.

I'm using SONAR2

The easiest sequencer. Follows steps of Cakewalk Pro Audio, best piano roll ever made, no problems with latency, all features are useful, easy configurable and accessed without problems (I haven't had to read doc). As there's nothing better, I give 10 here

All necessary features are there. There isn't much choice in routing channels though groups, etc. But since I never used that, I can set 9 here

With custom LiveSynth Pro or Jeskola installed on, it's unbeatable. SONAR is ready for high quality mixes. here's example of mix made in SONAR with LiveSynth Pro: http://www.oss3d.com/mp3/higher2.mp3

Never crashed by itself (unlike cubase, which crashes all the time). There were crashes because of Waves and Timeworks plugins, but SONAR never crashed by itself. In case of loading broken projects, there's 'safe mode' option. I believe, it's one of the most reliable ones.

Customer support is excellent for both user's and developer's side, once you know what do you need to ask. I got responses immediately, and they were very clever and useful.

Before SONAR was out, I've been forced to use Cubase (which I'm sick and tired of), and it was a great phewwww for me, when I bought SONAR. I couldn't dream of a better piece of software in this class.

I use Sonar v1 XL and it is very intuitive to use. Some things I didn't know I found quickly in the manual. It is definitely easier to use than Logic or Cubase.

The added Roland VSC DXi is not bad at all, it replaces a mid-range sound-card-synthesizer. The DSP-FX effects (Flanger, Chorus, Studioverb, EQ) are fine, but for really useful Reverb there is nothing that can touch a real RVerb from Natives. However, the expansion capabilites are limitied, since SONAR does not support generic VST plugins. Yet, the increasing number of genuine DirectX-plugins will satisfy amost all needs. What is really a shame for a professional product like SONAR is that it does not support ASIO. With all the other features (MIDI, Audio-recording, mixing, automation) I am very satisfied, since this is the most important point a recording software should provide.

As mentioned before, the included effects are really nice, but in part they are not sufficient when it comes to professional demands. Maybe its my fault, but i couldn't get SONAR reacting fast with my SB Audigy under WIn ME. When using any Soft-Synth it takes around 0.3-0.5 s(!!!) to react on keayboard action. Maybe I didnt install the WDM-drivers. But are there any for WinME? This is why I am so angry, because the Audigy has some working ASIO drivers but SONAR can not use them. GRRRR!

Sometimes it crashes, but I blame my system (Athlon 850Mhz, ABit KT7Raid) in first line fo this. My next system will definitely be an INtel-based.

I have never dealt with them so far.

The intuitive and easy use, the amount of plenty of features makes it in my eyes to date the program with the highest "bang for your bucks"-factor. If you find suitable WDM drivers and all plugins you need run under DirctX than you will definitely be very happy with SONAR.

I is easy to use when it works I'm using 1.3.1 which cost me $200.00 then I almost spent an extra $50.00 on the 2.0 upgrade until I found out that I could have upgraded from pro 8 to Sonar 2 for $149.00. Cakewalk wouldn't budge on that one. Poor salesmenship. Other than that adding MIDI FX is not intuitive and manuverability in the timeline is cumbersome at best. You can't just grab the timeline and drag it back and forth in the track view but you can in the Piano Roll view? What the heck is that all about.

There are a lot of features that I believe that most people won't use. Also there is a long latency when you are doing an audio scrub and the system lacks any real manuverability in the timeline. They give you many options on how to move around in the TL but all are agavating at best. People want to be able to drag the position locator to where they want it not try to click or go to a marker that is just plain poor programing.

Again this is another catagory where external hardware is better. It takes forever to find what you are looking for and when you do the latency is terable for just about anything. The manual is pretty much usless and the system tends to bug out if you try to work it too much. It is a toy compared to outboard gear.

Poor. If you plan on doing anything involving a lot of MIDI combined with several layers of digital audio forget it spend the money on a Digi 001 with Pro-Tools LE.

Absolutly horendus. If they get back to you at all they give you answers that are lame at best. They do not take the time to really listen to your problems and they come off as pretencious with attitue. You will get far better results just joining a user group. They will have far more experience than any Cakewalk employee and will have the real answers to clames that Cakewalk makes that just aren't true.

I am bitter in that cakewalk was trying to charge me $250.00 for an upgrade that a month later they are charging $149.00 for. Also they make promices that there system works perfectly with everyting when if fact it does not. Their tech support is one of the worst I have come across in the technology industry, an industry I have been involved in dealing with high end A/V systems for the past 10 years and finaly it is not meant for the pro user. This is really only usefull for home and play use. I could not imaging a deadline needing to be met and having to rely on this software.