A Complete Beginner's Adventures with Sonar X2

Hi, guys. Today is the day I install X2 and I figured I might as well do one of my real time "reviews". Some folks seem to like seeing the step by step descriptions I do and it helps me think as I go along. Also I usually get much needed insight from more knowledgeable users along the way and it really makes the process smoother and more pleasurable for me. Yanno... cause I like you guys. ;-) Anyway, I do not work for Cake (or anybody for that matter). I'm just a schmoe trying to fight my way through the DAW world. I guess I'm not a COMPLETE beginner anymore but I've only really been doing this since May and just completed my first song with X1 a couple of days ago so I most definitely am still a beginner. My general computer knowledge is decent but I'm self taught so my terminology and methods might seem a little unorthodox and some concepts still elude me. I have however managed to get every piece of gear and software I've purchased up and running relatively quickly. I hope this ends up helping some folks and at the very least provides a bit of entertainment for ya'll. Cheers.

As usual after every download finished I right clicked the file in the Firefox download window, selected "Open Containing Folder" and in the window that popped up the file was highlighted (if it isn't be sure for the next step you are selecting the correct file... it is easy to copy two of the same file and leave one out). So I right clicked the file > Copy. Then I went to the desktop, created a new folder named X2 and pasted the file in there. I do this to keep all the files accessible and organized and the added benefits are that you can use that folder to extract to and if you want to make a disc back or something you easily copy the folder and toss it where you want. So now I've got all the downloaded files in my X2 folder.

lol... Okay that page is just giving the download directions... which I've already done (and I actually read that page before my download) but anyone who hasn't downloaded yet really should take a look at it. At the bottom of the page there are links to what the download files of the various X2 versions contain. This can help you decide what you need and what you don't (for example if you already have Dim Pro and don't want to bother downloading it).

So I use Microsoft Security Essentials on my DAW system. When a program tells me I need to disable my AV I open MSE, go to the Settings tab and select Real Time Protection. Then I uncheck the box that says "Turn on real-time protection". I'm not sure if this qualifies as actually disabling MSE but I've never had any problems. MSE is however a pretty friendly and no intrusive AV for a DAW. Obviously different AVs have different methods of doing this but I've also done this on Avast in the past and again it's a setting somewhere called Real Time Protection (or something to that affect).

Hiya Beep,

Reading your blog :) So far, so good heh? I had a few little problems here and there, mainly with Rapture, but all sorted now. I didn't install DimPro either. And I use MSE like your good self. I used to use Norton but as good as it might purport to be it just takes over your pc and you can never turn the damn thing off.

I look forward to reading about the rest of your adventure :-D

One thing I realized I forgot to do was make a system image saved to my E drive. I should probably do that before going any further. This might take a while. If you don't know how to do this... in Win7 go to Start > Control Panel > Back Up and Restore. There you can back up all your files or create a system image that saves an exact duplicate of your current system settings, drivers, programs, files, etc. That way if something screws up you can just load the image and your computer will be exactly the way it was when you created the image. However it takes a LOT of disc space to do this. The image I am currently making is over 160GB and I really don't have much on this system. Fortunately I have 1TB E drive (internal) so there's room. It is usually preferable to send the image to an external drive but I don't have one yet. Just thought I'd mention it. The Windows help files have more detailed instructions and there are tons of vids on youtube doing it with Windows back up and various other programs such as Norton Ghost, Acronis or Macrium Reflect (Macrium has a free version).

Alright. The back up is complete and I've read the Installation section of the User guide. It pretty much says all the same stuff the other documents said except they mention that you need your Serial numbers and Registration codes. I doubt many people have bought X2 from a store yet but if you did they should be on the disc envelopes (if you ordered the disc box for your upgrade from Cake though you need to get them from your store account or the email they sent you... the box won't have them). I did the download upgrade so my SN and Reg codes are in my email and store account. I have them at the ready. So NOW I can install.

Alright... that took about ten minutes and now I have a pop up asking me to "Select the language to use during installation" with options for Deutsch, English, Espanol, Francais and Italiano. I obviously want English so I click "OK". Now a get a new pop up "Welcome to the SONAR X2 Producer Setup Wizard" Hooray! It prompts me to close all other applications. Click "Next" and now it's asking if I want the 32 bit or 64 bit application. I want the 64 bit one. Click Next. "Previous Cakewalk Product Detected" and it's telling me shared paths already been defined by a previous installation, uninstalling the previous product may require reinstallation of my Cakewalk plug ins. I am going to be running X2 alongside X1 for a while so I don't have to worry about this. It is also saying if I previously had a 32 bit version installed and I am installing a 64 bit version I may need to add an additional VST scan path to use my 32 bit plug ins. My X1 installation was 64 bit so again I don't need to worry about this. Click Next. Now I have the Software License Agreement page. I check off the appropriate portions (I can only install and use the software on one machine at a time, I understand I cannot transfer or sell the software and I accept the terms of the License agreement... the usual legal mumbo jumbo). Click Next (I'll continue in my next post).

I typed in my Serial Number and it told me it was invalid... but I had just mistyped it. I tried again, clicked Next and now it is offering me a choice between Basic or Advanced installation. You would use the Advanced Installation if you only want to install certain components of the program (lets say you don't want the audio content or demo projects or plugs or whatever then you would use this... you would also use it if a component of Sonar became corrupt or you accidentally deleted it, etc... then you could use this to just install that one component and I think you can use it to set the install paths for all the goodies... at least I think that's how it works but I've never done it). I however want the full install so I'm gonna choose Basic and click Next. Now I've got the Ready to Install screen. This is listing all the components about to be installed and gives me an option to go back to the previous screen and choose Advanced if I want to change anything. It looks good to me and everything will be going on my C drive for this section. I do think I want audio content to be on my E drive but I don't think this includes that stuff. Click Install. And now it's installing. Hooray!

Okay that took about 5-10 minutes and now I've got the Rapture Setup Wizard. Click Next. 32 or 64 Bit? I choose 64 Bit. Click Next. Software License Agreement (same as before). Check off where appropriate. Click Next. Now it's asking for registration info... hmm I'm not sure if this serial number will be the same as my X2 number and my email doesn't contain anything in regards to Rapture. Ah but I did write down all the new numbers and codes from my store account right after I purchased the upgrade. Smart Beepster. It is in my notes which keep in my X1 Suite box (I bought it from a retailer) and yup... there it is. Rapture. So yes indeed it is a different serial number. Check your store accounts. I punch in my info same as I did with the X2 registration screen. Click Next and now it is giving me an option to use the default install location or browse for a different location. I want the default. Click Next. Select Start Menu Folder and again it's giving me an option to browse for a new location. The default location is in the Cakewalk folder (Cakewalk\Rapture). That's the one I want. Click next. Select VST folder (again I want the default). Click Next. Ready to Install. It's showing me the paths I have selected and an option to go back and change them. Click Install. It installed in ten seconds. Click Finish. Completing the SONAR X2 Producer Set Up Wizard "Setup has finished installing SONAR X2 Producer on your computer. The application may be launched by selecting the installed icons." What? Already? That was quick. It's giving me two options to launch the Read Me file and launch the application. Sure. Why not? Click Finish. "Sonar will now personalize your user settings by copying application data files." Click OK. "Migrate SONAR Preferences"... this is saying it's going to "locate my wave data folder, import any custom instrument definitions and import other custom settings in various Cakewalk menus and INI files". Well alrighty then. Click OK. Now it is showing my "most recent INI file" whatever the heck that is. "Press OK to migrate your old preferences". It lists one entry. I seriously have no idea what this is. Click OK. "All audio have been kept in [data path] with your previous Cakewalk Sequencer. Do not delete this directory". Sure thing. Click OK. It did a little scan and X2 is now open with the registration screen displayed. HOORAY!

Well if you check out the FX not all are installed.

Anyway... the registration thing is a little confusing. Not sure if I need to be hooked up to the internet for this. It's saying I must obtain a registration code from the website but I already have it. I'm gonna try it offline and see what happens. "Application is now registered and fully functional". Okay I guess I didn't need to go online. The Quick Start open dialog is detecting all my recent X1 projects so I guess I'm good to go. Opened a project and it looks like it's all there. Now I'm gonna register Rapture then I'll mess with this some more later.

I just opened an X1 project with a ton of effects and all seems well. The effects and Pro Channel setting seem to be correct. I thought maybe I was gonna have to do a bunch of scanning but so far so good. :-)

If you are looking in the Browser for FX plug ins and can't find one of your old plugs click the drop down menu on the Plug Ins tab at the top of the Browser and change it from "X2 Producer Effects" to Default All Plug-ins. I couldn't find GR5 at first even though it was working in my old project. I found it by doing that. That would have annoyed me if I hadn't figured it out so quickly. Also be sure to Save As BEFORE you start screwing around with any old projects so if you decide to go back to X1 for a while you don't screw up how X1 reads it. I read somewhere on the forum that even if you don't use any of the new effects the take and automation lanes in X2 can confuse X1. So just be careful. Cheers.

I'm about to plug in and play around with TH2 so decided to check my X2 in/out preferences. Click Edit > Preferences. As I look through Devices, Driver Settings, Playback and Recording it seems everything is set right where I left it in X1. Cool. No fuss, no muss.