Would cake walk be kind enough to give a figure of your crossgrades, upgrades and new customers. if that is not too private a matter.

I switched to Sonar after Pro Audio 9

Moved to PA6 from Dr T's on a Mac LE. To be honest, back in the day, the promise of hard disk audio recording was a joke on Windows 95. I cursed the day I believed the hype and switched to PC. But now I wouldn't go back to a Mac even if I had all the money in the world. The best thing about Cakewalk and Sonar was the MANUAL. Was sorely disappointed with Sonar 6's manual (last version I had was Sonar 2).

I very much appreciate Cakewalk after sales - not that I've contacted you for many years - when I had a tech problem. Try getting a reply from Steinberg!! Terrible snobs they are.

I'd like to see a right click in midi pane open up a tools menu. But most of all, please PLEASE bring back Munch's "The Scream" as the panic button, á la Pro Audio 6, and the mad tips "Pizza goes well with beer."

Here is my evolution so far:

1987: Midimac sequencer (opcode)
1988-89ish: Opcode Vision
1993ish: Cubase 1.x on windows 3.1 (complete disaster)
later: Cubase 2.x on windows 95 (more disaster)

(period where I didn't do anything, my DAW didn't work)

2000: Digital Performer on Mac 9.x and later OSX (loved it, but decided to go back to PC's eventually)
2003: Emagic Logic 6 Platinum (tried it, but didn't like it)
2003-present: Sonar 3 through 6


Summary:

Due to experience in 90's will never buy another product from Steinberg again as a principle. Though I have seen SX3 in action and I am quite impressed with the feature set and GUI. I still read bad reports about midi timing on Cubase FWIW. Sonar works well, can't think of a good reason to switch, though lately I'm being enticed by Samplitude, mainly because of its superior Staff view and non-flat gui. If I ever go back to mac I will absolutely go back to Digital Performer which I loved. (I kept my license for it)

My first sequencer was one I wrote myself in C and assembler and ran on a Z80-based industrial computer with AD/DA cards cabled up to my ARPs, some time in the early 1980s. In 1988, I converted it to send and recieve MIDI on an Atari ST, but it was very primitive and keyboard command based. I looked at what it would take to put a GUI on the thing, looked at how much I could make using my programming skills elsewhere, and asked myself how long I'd have to work before I could afford the very best sequencing environment available for the ST. At that time, it was C-Lab Notator, and it was a whole lot less than I could make in the time it would have taken me to perfect a GUI. So I abandoned my home-brew and went C-Lab, who became part of E-Magic, and Notator, which was ultimately replaced by Logic.

I migrated from the Atari to the Mac, but had to start investing in PC hardware for other projects. At about the point where I had to declare my pre-PowerPC Mac truly obsolete and useless, Apple took over E-Magic and announced the end of support for Logic on a PC. So I had to change. Cruising various forums, looking at feature lists, and playing with demos, I came to the conclusion that Sonar was probably the next-best-thing to Logic on a PC. That was Sonar 2.2. I was pretty disappointed with the MIDI capabilities of Sonar in those days, and taught myself how to write MFX plugins ( see http://www.paralogos.com/music/ ) to get around some of the limitations. Sonar has continued improving over the years, to the point where it's much better than Logic in a number of regards. A pity it's still so awkward to do polyrhythms!

I bought Cakewalk for DOS in about 1991 (don't recall the version), and have been upgrading ever since. I'm currently on Sonar 6 Studio, and am considering the upgrade to Sonar 7 Producer. From about 1991 thru 2003 I used Cakewalk as a MIDI sequencer with a Tascam 38, using the SMTPE chase lock option. Around 2003 I dumped the 8-track and started recording digitally (Sonar 2, I think). The product has come a long way in 16 years.

Patrick
Urban Cheese Records
60 calories from fat. 100% cool.
http://urbancheese.com

I moved from sonar 6pe to 7pe, does this still count ?! :) I mean, I did not moved over to another app, so... :)

I've switched in recent weeks from Cubase. I was originally a Sonar user back in the Sonar 2/3 days but jumped shipped due to the Automation bug in one of those versions (I can't remember which one).

I recently returned to Sonar due to Steinberg not disclosing the omission of certain features that are critical to my workflow, in the new Cubase Studio 4 that I purchased. Now I have no problem with them removing what I would expect to be "standard features" (this includes the ability to pan sends and support external hardware) but this information was not detailed in their production comparison documents which I researched prior to purchasing. The upgrade cost to full Cubase 4 from CS4 is almost that of a full retail license. With resentment burning in the pits of my stomach...I duly bought a Sonar 6 + Sonar 7 package from Digital Village.

This is where the story twists again.....Having had this software installed for less than a week, I have had nothing but issues with both the external hardware support features in S7 and the audio engine itself. It simply does not seem to want to co-exist with my Fireface on any reliable basis, not does the External Insert function work properly when you assign the insert to FX bus. Not good news to someone who relies on parallel compression on a regular basis. The audio engine itself appears to be "unsettled" and buggy and in the last 24 hours crashes have developed on a regular basis.

I might add that while Steinberg aren't my favourite company right now, I've never had a single issue with either my external hardware or my audio interface in Cubase SX3.

In light of the above, I'll be re-installing Cubase and trying to get some work done.

ORIGINAL: KevinK

ORIGINAL: sparkyness
This is where the story twists again.....Having had this software installed for less than a week, I have had nothing but issues with both the external hardware support features in S7 and the audio engine itself. It simply does not seem to want to co-exist with my Fireface on any reliable basis, not does the External Insert function work properly when you assign the insert to FX bus. Not good news to someone who relies on parallel compression on a regular basis. The audio engine itself appears to be "unsettled" and buggy and in the last 24 hours crashes have developed on a regular basis.

I can't speak to the external insert function, as the only outboard effect I still use is a compressor I sometimes put in ahead of the A/D. But as someone who's been using RME gear (Multiface and 9632) with Sonar since Sonar 2.2, I'm somewhat surprised that you're having such problems with the FireFace. Which driver model are you using, ASIO or WDM/KS?

If you've already de-installed and gone back to Cubase, that's cool, but one of the things that really is different about Sonar is the collective will of Cakewalk and the user community to help people out. No guarantees, but I'd give you more than even odds that people here can help you solve your interface problems. As for the external insert, it's a new feature and I wouldn't be surprised if it had some limitations somewhere. But if it's flat-out non-functional on FX buses, it'll get fixed.

Well said Kevin.

SONAR 7 is rock solid in my studio. Lynx, RME, M-Audio interfaces... they all work great with SONAR 7. I'm loving the internal side-chain capability. Like others, I'm having issues with the External Insert functionality. Been requesting and waiting years for this... so I can wait a little while longer while Cake sorts it out. Based on past experience (read... Audiosnap)... they will get this right in the first or second FREE point release.

Hang in there Sparky. You'll see.

Commodore 64 with Passport midi interface > using Dr. T's software. Midi tIming was terrible.
Atari 1040 ST w/4MB Ram. > Hybrid Arts SMPTE Track, THe absolute best midi timing of any sequencer I ever tried.
IBM P/S 2 486SX COmputer > Cakewalk Pro 3.0

Been using Calkewalk products ever since, I am very satisfied with every release except for Pro Audio 5.

Recently added Pro Tools into the mix, but I still compose and do solo projects on Sonar. PTLE is great for recording bands and such, but not for composition or anything using midi.

CA

ORIGINAL: mytify

It's hardly understandable for me why Steinberg is still Nr. 1 in Europe and nobody seems to notice Sonar here.
Well I'm happy using Sonar and can produce much easier and better then others with Cubase, "Pro Tools" (I had experience in a studio where I recorded 3 songs) or Logic (which gets more unstable with every version according to that studio) so why worry ;-)

+1

My story:
Started in the 80s with Cubase on the Atari. Everything was recorded analog on a tape machine synched with the Atari via SMPTE.
Later in the middle 90s, when the PCs started getting fast enought for harddisk-recording and decent soundcards became available, I still used Cubase on the Atari as sequencer, but used the PC for recording the audio.
Then I tried Cubase VST on my PC, but was disappointed by the performace and the stability. The worst thing was, that the MIDI-timing was very unsteady. Maybe I was spoiled by the straight timing the Atari offered.
But I wanted to use that fancy new VST-stuff, so I synched the PC as MIDI-slave by the Atari. It was quite inconvenient, but it worked...

Then I got remix-files from a friended band. After unpacking, it was a single file with a strange format "BUN". So I asked them, what progam I need to be able to open the file. Until then, I never heard a single word about "Cakewalk". Because time was short, I installed a (admitted ) warzed copy of Pro Audio. I think it must have been v9.
I was flatted by it! The plainness of the workflow, the rock-solid MIDI-timing... But I was a bit disappointed that one couldn't use VST instruments that days...
So after finishing that remix, I got back to Cubase - which after supplying the 100th update or so - at last had a half-decent MIDI-timing. So I lost sight of Cakewalk for many years.

Then some years later, a friend of mine called me on the phone and was frantic about "the new Cakewalk version", which was the 2nd release of Sonar. I tried to get a demo version somewhere, but didn't find any. So I again installed a warez copy of Sonar 2. I played around a bit with it and after a few days I decided that this is a "must have".
So I tried to find any dealer here in Germany that sells Cakewalk products. But had no luck...
I contacted CW sales and they told me I should get in touch with Edirol Europe. I did so, but somehow they also were not able to deliver. (I don't remember what the problem was, but I think it had something to do with the credit-cards).
A long time later, someone told me that "Thomann" now has Cakewalk products in stock, so I decided to order Sonar 3 there - which was the current version that days.
Right at the moment I wanted to order, Sonar 4 came up with even more exiting features. So in the end I waited until it was available at Thomann and then ordered Sonar 4 Studio Edition.

For a long time I did not upgrade Sonar, simply because v4 had all I needed and the only two things I was missing (better MIDI editor and sidechaining) were not addressed in the later versions.
This now has changed with S7, so ordered an upgrade to S7SE. I'm still waiting for my packet to arrive, but I'm already sure I won't be disappointed.

cheers,
Chris

I am an analog convert from the good 'ol Tascam days. I started with a 4 track cassette and eventually moved up to a Roland VS-1680 on which I recorded my first project, my own original band, 'Blindseven'. It was quite evident the wave of the future was DAW, but I was, honestly, a little gun-shy. Then came an opportunity to use a friend's PC set up with Cubase SX. They(Triplever) liked what I did with the Roland and I told them I would do it for pizza and beer so I could learn this new beast and hopefully get enough experience to finally make the jump with my own system. To make a long story short, Triplever went on to get signed from the recording I engineered and produced on an Indy label. It was a distribution deal, so they actually used my recording! Lucky me! I was now on the hunt for a PC and software for myself. I searched Craigslist often, and happened to run across an individual who was not only selling his decked out PC, but it had Sonar 5 PE already loaded!!! Along with Waves Platinum bundle and several other sweet plug-ins. All for a measley 300 bucks!!! The PC has XP Pro SP2, 4 GB RAM, Pentium 4 3.2Ghz and 120 GB Hard drive. All I needed now was an interface. I did some research and decided on the Phonic Helix 18 Firewire. I really liked the 16 tracks recordable at once feature. Drum tracks were now a cinch. I am recording my first band, 'Impulsive Aggression' and things are running smoothly except for ONE small detail. When I export audio to make a CD, the volume is much lower on the burnt disc than the playback volume. It is at least 3-6 Db's lower. I tried everything I can think of, including making sure all volume sliders on WMP were up. I tried all the different sources, ie., main outputs, buses, complete mix, and no difference. Other than that, I am completely satisfied with Sonar, especially the bounce to track option which Cubase didn't have......Sure hope I can figure out the volume to disc bug-a-boo.....

TK

Ha! I don't remember posting on this thread! Hehehe

I started out on Sonar Home Studio XL, never had any problems with it, hardly had to refer to the manual. I recorded 12 songs in 3 months. Sonar performed flawlessly on my old pc running Win'XP

I have also used Wavlab for mastering but I don't plan on using that anymore! I did thought about other apps such as Cubase, Live, Reaper, (perish the thought) (shock horror). No doubt I will never switch to anything other than Sonar 7PE.

At the moment my gear is in disarray! I sold all my Keyboards, guitar and h/ware, the rest is packed away in storage in Australia since moving to the USA (Legal Immigration through marriage = two years) UGH!! I feel like my life has been on hold for too long.

I plan to start from scratch! I already got a new guitar and keyboard, been using them to write new songs! Soon I plan to purchase (custom build) a new PC, buy new hardware (audio/midi interface and mixer) and finally Sonar.7PE and by then it will include all the latest updates and run solid as a rock.

Sonar.7PE has all the right stuff (all in one solution) to produce fantastic high quality productions. My priority at this point in time is focusing on the "Songs" because to me that is most important.

All my old gear (Shure microphones, loads of cables, h/ware effects) will be passed on to family in Australia.

I tried to make a long story shory short but I couldn't. This is a summary of 20 years of switches.

I was a user of Steinberg PRO-16 on the commodore 64 in 80's. For the time it was a pretty good piece of equipment, very solid timing.

I then had to move to a new country and I switched to a hardware sequencer, the MMT-8 from Alesis. That was a fantastic piece of hardware which is still in my studio.

I then got a PC for writing my BA thesis and since MPU401 interfaces where sort of cheap at that point I got myself a copy of Master Track Pro, which I used for a while, but I don't really remember completing a single project with it, maybe because I had to write my thesis.

I then worked briefly with the Atari, to finally settle between Cakewalk (when the company was called twelve tone systems) and Master track pro. MTP got eventually ditched as Cakewalk had: Swing Quantize!!

For a long period I went into a swing between Cakewalk and Cubase 2.8, checking feature by feature, until I got over the years eventually got sold to Cubase which at the time was better featured than cakewalk (at that time I had to print lots of scores) and went on to become a pro user, knowing every possible shortcut and trick. Until Cubase VST... the software quality started to become flakey, I suffered from many lost projects, erratic clock, infinite crashes, and cubase support did not exist. I really spent little time recording music during that long period. I remember using most of the time the sequencer inside my Trinity Plus.

Next? somebody recommended to try out logic, and I fell in love. Man, I learnt that software inside out, I loved it, I could design my studio connections, the list editing was really good, the interface was fast, it didn't get in the way of making music, timing was super solid (I had an AMT-8 midi interface to go with it), it integrated with sounddiver which made my life with outboard gear really easy. Pretty much I was happy.

Then they pulled the plug.

Clearly it was time to move on, no way Apple was going to have my money. I started using Acid and again Cubase, SX this time, everyone else was, here in europe at least. But it sort of got too complicated at that point, the transition with previous version had not been smooth, and I found it too confusing, I used only the basic features. I had started toying as well with early version of Fruity Loops first and Reason later.

Eventually I couldn't handle the complexity of Cubase for the simple things I wanted to get done, so I was using my workstation sequencer and then recording only the audio into Cubase. I decided I could use something simpler if I had to do that, and what I really wanted were some clever creative tools without having to think to much... And I turned to: Fruity Loops when it became FL Studio.

FL Studio did at that point everything I needed for composing and coming up with ideas (controllers, chords, formulas, layers, etc..), I could always fire up another sequencer when required. I used it for a while, but there was one problem, I have quite a few outboard synths and FL Studio just doesn't play well with standard midi equipment, it doesn't recognize midi controllers (including sustain pedal) unless you set up a panel first where the controller gets mapped to an internal controller. It wasn't such a big issue but it's one of those things that slowly grows on you, and I saw it right there that it was complex to get a project completed totally in FL.

So, who else was left... Logic was gone, Steinberg had gone super complex with odd graphic interfaces, Live - I don't use that many loops...

Sonar started to get the features I needed besides being intuitive, stable, solid, fairly easy to use (but for a few things where the online help needs a serious overhaul), acidized audio, serious midi capabilities, the .cal language which I always liked... it was all there, and the things which weren't there could always be "rewired" in. As stupid as it may sound the tipping point for me was that it didn't require to stop the sequencer as much as it used to in order to get things done.

So at this point in my life, I'm with Sonar, that doesn't mean that I may not switch again in the future.

Cheers,
/R

I used cakewalk for a number of years but also a number of years ago. I gave up music because of bad company but I still love it. Finally I decided to start again after talking to a co-worker who explained how easy it is to record and edit without loosing the quality I want.

.

i switched from pro audio 9 back around the turn of the millenium...

before then, it was Pro Audio all versions, before that - DOS days.....

long live cakewalk!!



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