ORIGINAL: THA REAPER

My first request

I would like a optional way to set tools only by one view. Some of the tools are not necessary in the PRV view, well for me at least. Stuff like scrub, microscope and a few others. Of course you can customize the toolbar and take out what you don't need and put in what you do need, but then that would also change them in the track view and other places, where the old tools could possibly been needed and the new ones don't. I only have one monitor and like more than 2 rows of tools kinda makes the workspace feel crowded, and makes more work minimizing and changing tools around.

Tool Bars are generally global, for your idea to work CW devs would need to add an additional Tool-Bar Panel that works independently depending on current view. I suppose that would work. Although I like John's idea; being able to remove Tool-Bars by keyboard shortcut (one click and it's gone)

ORIGINAL: THA REAPER

My second request

This is simple. A way to rename your midi controllers. I have 3 controllers that are not supported in sonars list. Its very confusing when I go to select one of them and they all say Act Midi Controller - 1, 2 or 3. To prevent confusion on what originally was named have like a tool tip when highlighted so you can see the actual name. I know about the color code thing but we only get 4 to choose from.

I had no idea you could not rename midi controllers, and since I don't use 'em could someone else please verify this? ..... John, CJ, where are you?

ORIGINAL: THA REAPER

My third request.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that finds this very annoying. When you go into loop explorer and you hit auto. It keeps repeating over and over. The option clicked is auto, not auto + loop so why should it behave that way? I know its called loop explorer but not only loops are used when selecting audio from there. Its a pain when trying to find something like a good snare, when your trying to just click them to preview but then you have it rapidly repeating.

I see, you want a Preview Queue, it basically allows you to hear a preview of the loop but played once - not continuosly played over and over, meanwhile allows you to highlight another patch and the Preview Queue will play that one next, and so on and so forth.

ORIGINAL: THA REAPER

My fourth request.

Can we please do something with the plugin manager? It always winds up mysteriously losing plugins in sonar that show up in the manager but not in fx bin. Also every since sonar 6 I could never get my custom menu layouts to show up. I get my plugins by bundles but I'm under 500. That would be very convenient for me to have my fx organized. There's sevel ppl from what I see around the forum that have had these two issues with the plugin manager for a long time.

I only came in here to do to request two initially but stuff that's been getting to me kept coming to mind lol. On another note im very happy with sonar especially with the last update.

Strange! I've never had issues with the Plugin Manager. If a plugin is installed in another vst directory usually under the actual program folder tree itself then what I do is 'ADD' that other vst directory to the Plugin Manager to include that in the scan for plugins. What SONAR does then is usually have it placed in it's own folder (another folder), this maybe why you can't see it listed when you add FX's from the FX-Bin.

ORIGINAL: SongCraft

Think I know what you mean.... Patch-Search within CW SoftSynths such as Dimension.Pro along with options for type of search (categories, type of sound), and as you type the first few letters it immediately starts to compile the Search Result List along with further options for Audio-Preview > and Load +

Patch searching, and preview, is just the kind of 'amenity' that Cakewalk never seems to include, or add, to their designs. The dialog boxes are all like that. That's why I described them as spartan in another thread... and Soviet-era in another one... it's the way they force you into workarounds.

I never liked seeing toolbars permanently sticking around taking up valuable workspace in the UI. Over a year ago (2007) I submitted a FR in regards to making the GUI far less cluttered by having a 'Main Properties Panel' to display toolbars and options that changes accordingly to the current view or whenever you select for example from clip editing to PRV editing in trk view the main properties panel will change accordingly! Another example is when you select a clip immediately options to bounce are there without having to dig into the main menu + options or go in right-click menu. Also the main properties panel can be undocked (floated) or redocked anywhere (top, bottom, left, right). The main properties panel has options to make it ultra compact or expanded in more than one way to display additional options such as mini transport control. The main properties panel can also be customized to show/hide tools.

I still like John's idea, just one click and BOOF!!! There all gone

ORIGINAL: SongCraft

I still like John's idea, just one click and BOOF!!! There all gone

Hmm... I thought that when he said that he was talking about me!

Another small one:

Waveform preview generator Cancel option

When Sonar is generating a waveform preview following recording/mixdown, there should be an option to cancel/resume that operation at the user's behest. Useful if you want to continue working on the project and are without a 15,000,000 RPM hard drive. ;)

ORIGINAL: John

Another small one:

Waveform preview generator Cancel option

When Sonar is generating a waveform preview following recording/mixdown, there should be an option to cancel/resume that operation at the user's behest. Useful if you want to continue working on the project and are without a 15,000,000 RPM hard drive. ;)

I have never had a problem with that on my old machine and I certainly have none now. Its not based on the HD's speed and its not that accurate anyway. If you have glitches it most likely due to graphics problems on your system. The redraw is not being able to keep up due to high CPU load. On low specked machine a fast graphics card would help.

My machine is not low spec'd and I have a standalone graphics card.

Problems can arise when Sonar is generating multiple waveform previews and you want to continue playing the project, which obviously requires data to be read simultaneously from multiple sources. At times, the disk meter has spiked and the project has dropped out.

Edited: Click Here

Here are mine:

1. Allow for tracks as busses/sends and feedback routing

2. A new arpeggiator (I hear the Project 5 one was good)

3. Auto assigning of multi-output VSTs with mixed mono/stereo outputs

4. Improve Mixer Worklfow With Shortcuts (these are all admittedly hijacked from BFD2's mixer, which is a pleasure to use):

A. Shift select should gang channel faders/pans/sends without me having to click to create a "quite group"
B. Alt As A Modifier on Ganged Channels: Alt key plus any movement on a fader should make that fader move where I wanted but ALSO have the opposite effect on other channels. Example: I have a bass and kick channel selected and ganged, if I move the kick up 1db the bass should also go down -1db)
C. Ctrl click to select channels in the mixer
D. Quick Bus creation (make a button for this on the mixer)
E. When channels are ganged and I click the new Bus Creation button while holding down Alt, all of those tracks should be routed to that bus

5. Multiple Freeze Layers - Freeze once, Freeze again, unfreeze the last one at a later time, make some changes, freeze again, unfreeze everything...

A optional way to fix the location in the loop explorer to selected locations on your hard drive.

Its kind of tedious when you have all your loops in sounds organized in specific folders already, and you need to go around in different locations within your your whole hard drive with + and - drop down directory's the start of each new project. Why not have the option to be where you want to be quick and easy instead of being forced to collapse a bunch of folders each project.



Kontakt is a good example of what I mean.

Hmmm.... I'll add to this. If mostly because it won't make Cakewalk's 500 character limit on feature requests, and because I've mentioned some of it before and I'll compile it a bit.

I have a little Photoshop document where I've been reimagining the SONAR interface, just for fun. So, a lot of this comes from that, and with how discussions of that type usually go, I won't blame anyone if I get shot down immediately.

Anyway, I think Staff View, PRV, Step Sequencer etc. could be done away with. Because all of them are merely different methods for composing note data to instruments, and moving from one to the other is just translation. So, I think that they could all be compiled into one "Compose View" where instead of going through different views to input MIDI data, you can just change your method for inputting data, and moving between the different methods you wouldn't lose any of your inputted data, because it could just be reinterpreted precisely with whatever method you've chosen. The only part where this becomes a problem is the current way that the Step Sequencer operates. Because you won't always have or want your data to line up exactly. This could be circumvented though, if you give things like the Step Sequencer's articulation control a bit more power, by something like having the articulation as a per-row/per-cell thing, instead of global.

Second, I think that the Synth Rack should be docked to the interface in the Track View on the right side, directly across from the strips themselves. With the rising popularity of laptops and widescreen monitors, horizontal screen real estate is easy to come by, vertical, not so much, so, it'd fit well right there, but it's mostly done for the other things I'm about to mention. From within the Synth Rack, there should be multiple tabbed views. For instance, the main Synth Rack that we all know already, with your project's synths all stacked up and automatible parameters exposed if you want them, etc. then a Plugin Explorer, which could couple capabilities from the Plugin Manager, and other things as well. The Plugin Browser could still contain your custom layouts that you've made with the Plugin Manager, but also, you should be able to reorganize your plugins right from that view, by just dragging them around, and save the updated layout right away. In the same way, maybe you could see your effect plugins in the same window, and put them on a track by just dragging them to that track. Or making a new instrument track by dragging an instrument to an empty part of the track view, or replacing a synth the same way. Or hold down Ctrl and select a bunch of synths to drag them all to your project and have them open in separate tracks, all in a very intuitive, as well as immediate way. Things like that.

Also, another tabbed view accessible from that new Synth Rack could be Routing View. With the Synth Rack right across from the Track Strips is easy to imagine how this could work out. In this view, the boundries of the Synth Rack extend to the boundries of the track strips, with hardware I/O either under the synths or at the bottom inbetween the strips and rack. Through this you could reroute your entire project by connecting "virtual cables" across the gap between the strips, rack and hardware I/O. Through this you could also pretty easily have things like, sending a MIDI track to multiple instruments, an "external instrument track" to complement the already implented software instrument track, an easy way to include multi-out instrument tracks, etc.

Yes! Nice ideas Candlesayshi, will add those to the list soon :)

The purpose of this thread is not only for sharing ideas, discussing them and compiling them into one list, but to include a link to that list when submitting FR, currently the link to that list is: http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.asp?m=1668892 ...another alternative is to print it out and post it the old fashion way LOL!!


Post Edit: Updated FR List: http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.asp?m=1668892

ORIGINAL: InstrEd

Also, thanks Songcraft for starting this thread, and for the majority of users for thinking outside of the box and being civil.
Ed

Thanks Ed

ORIGINAL: Willy Jones [Cakewalk]

Don't stop submitting your feature requests to us here:
http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/FeatureRequest.asp

Feature Request:
http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/FeatureRequest.asp

Include This Post Link to FR:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.asp?m=1677893

Support the following FR List by submitting it to Cakewalk, include the link to this post

Feature Request List
updated: March 24


01: Key Toggle 3 Track Views:
"F" key toggles between three views (user-settings) for 1: Fully Expanded, 2: Mid-Way, 3: Ultra-Compact View. [SongCraft]


02: Color Side-Bars in Track and Mixer Views:
(See Pic, page one 1st post, Trk View). Not to replace Track-icons but as an alternative option to use color gradient bars that are more compact and include presets and user-presets in right-click menu along with custom color gradient pallet for creating new user-presets. [SongCraft]


03: Envelope Enhancements, Auto-Zoom:
New Node-Shapes and depending on zoom-level the Nodes will increase in size as you zoom in making it easier to click-n-edit. [SongCraft]


04: Envelope Enhancement, New Nodes Shapes:
(See page one 1st post). By having different shapes makes it easier see and grab nodes. [SongCraft]


05: Envelope Enhancement, New Nodes:

- Character Node - which is like a Transient Shaper and BBE combined! For example: the ability to add definition anywhere in a track, or reduce harsh transients anywhere in a track.

- Noise Removal Node - that can clean up tracks with ease! Remove guitar hum, buzz, noises

- Peak Node - pinpoint accuracy on peaks with the option of using just one node....

....Singular Mode: the ability to use just one Env Node, thereby making it much more easier and faster to work with envelopes. More accuracy! Pinpoint precision edits. Includes Time Range defined by milliseconds, seconds, minutes, bars or measures. Including various curve options.

* All nodes can be setup with default options in Envelope Properties including time-range. [SongCraft]


06: New Clips View:
(See pic page one 1st post). Transparent background with black border edges, colored wavs (foreground). And as usual with SONAR the view (colors) are fully customizable, don't like the dark-gray background? change it to whatever color you prefer. Don't like the pascal wav colors? change them all to whatever color you prefer. Just as you can do now with SONAR. :-)

A timeline or should I say, Tick-Line (no numeric values, since those values can be seen on the main timeline and because it would take up more space adding those numeric values) runs between all clips making it easier to do precision edits. See pic

Having a transparent background gives the clips a clearer, neater appearance without the need of unsightly vertical lines. Reducing eye-strain. [SongCraft]

07: Envelope Tool-Bar:
(See pic page one 1st post). Making it easier for anyone new to SONAR, an Envelope Tool-Bar that also includes Off-Set (O = on/off) and Properties (P). Properties - Options to setup default settings for nodes particularly singular mode. Ability to Show/Hide any of the various different nodes (also by key-commands) Including the ability to select one or more tracks and simply click a node or right-click on clip or use k/b short-cut commands to insert nodes. [SongCraft]


08: New Audio-Snap Editor - View (ASE or ASV):
Looks very much like the current PRV except you're editing audio real easy like you would edit midi, yes it's much like using Melodyne. This is a feature request I submitted long before Cubase.5 was release with their version of VariAudio. By integrating V-Vocal and Audio-Snap features into the one editor (Audio-Snap-Editor). For example: ability to ctrl+A then quantize, correct pitch and/or transpose. Easy and Advance editing such as being able to micro-edit pitch, and/or move timing slightly ahead or behind the beat. Add Swing or copy timing from existing track then apply, and with the option to save custom presets. [SongCraft]


09: Enhanced PRV and Audio-Snap Editors:
(See pic page one 1st post). The piano graphic should be much narrower by default, it can look a bit nicer too. The reason being... better appearance and more workspace. [SongCraft]


10: New Tab-Selection Bar:
(See pic page one 1st post). Especially to help Newbies! Displaying various buttons to switch from different views: Track, Main Mixer, Mixer Only, Busses Only, Audio Snap Editor, PRV, MusicStaff, Customize. (see pic) The New GUI new Tab Selection View (like the tabs currently already used in SONAR) But these tabs makes it easier for newbies to navigate various views (or via keyboard shortcuts for us experienced users) and by default when you hover over any of the tabs there's a roll-over keyboard shortcut info that tells you what the keyboard shortcut is (this hover option can be turned off).

The tabs are positioned on the lower bottom border of the main workspace windows, Options to move the Tabs Navigation Bar above in the main menu bar up top OR remove the Tab Navigation Bar entirely from the workspace but still being able to access via keyboard shortcuts. [SongCraft]


11: Perfect Sampler:
Consolidate, integrate all the Best of CW Softsynths into a new all in one Mega-Sampler which I'll dub the Perfect Sampler.....

with the ability to load any file format, up to 64 chn mixer (i/o) with multi-effects directly accessible in Perfect Sampler. Inlcu' separate outputs (various options). Content sound library manager browser with search fully integrated in the Perfect Sampler (no separate popup window). Ability to layer sounds (by assigning same midi channel). Advanced and Easy modes for editing sounds (ADSR, Filters, Env, LFO and Velocity) Onboard fully customizable and flexible Arpeggiator.

Perfect Sampler content sound library consisting of the best sounds from Rapture and Dimension Pro plus Roland Juno, GrooveSynth and Fantom. Larger sound library for Producer Edition including incredibly realistic rock guitar + bass sounds that includes amp and speak simulators effects (extra FX additions for Producer Edition) [SongCraft]


12: Perfect-Drummer:
Same GUI design as Session Drummer2 but vastly improved: A little more compact! 24 pads, the usual tuning and width controls. Tab Interface options such as: 24 channel Mixer (24 i/o), multi-effects all directly accessible within the Perfect Drummer GUI (8 effects inserts per channel). Inlcu' separate outputs (various options) Content sound library manager browser with search that is fully integrated in the Perfect Drummer GUI (no separate popup window). Ability to layer sounds (simply by assigning same midi channel). Advanced and Easy modes for editing sounds (ADSR filters, Env, LFO and Velocity controls)

Onboard fully customizable Arpeggiator and the new Perfect Beat Creator fully integrated into Perfect Drummer. The new Perfect Beat Creator is like having a smart drummer onboard that turns a few hits into a complete midi-drum pattern (per-measure of either 2, 4, 8, or specify user amount in options inclu' key signature), save user-presets settings. Other tools in Perfect

Beat Creator includes various swings, grooves, time signatures, intros, fills and breaks. Beats created are in perfect sync to the current project tempo automatically. Large content sound library include all the classic Roland TR-series, 808, 707, 909. Also include new better sounding rides, cymbals and accoustic kits. Add more percussion sounds including world/ethnic and other sounds such as one shot vocals and movie-FX. Include a much larger sound and midi pattern library for Producer Edition. [SongCraft]

* Three Additional Suggestions for Perfect Drummer:

* 13 Add Cakewalk's Velocity features to Perfect Drummer. [CandleSayshi]

* 13.B Have 25 Pads:
Regard 12 perfect drummer. Can we make it 25 pads rather than 24, small thing, but 2 octave keyboards have 3 C's ie 25 keys. Also if a Trigger pad is developed bigger than the likes of the Trigger finger and legendary MPC of 5 by 5 pads, it's covered. [Scoot]

* 13.C: Beatscape May Be a Better Starting Point:
Beatscape may be a better starting point for the Perfect Drummer, not Session Drummer. I don't think the Cakes have finished with Beatscape anyway - it hasn't replaced all the functionality of Cyclone, and I don't see the point of two 16-pad instruments within Sonar...

Anyway, 16-pad hardware controllers are pretty much standard, so I don't see the advantage of moving to a 24- or 25-pad GUI in terms of external control. I think it would be preferable to keep the Beatscape GUI more-or-less as is, but expand the instrument so that it consists of 128-ish pads, for example, like Ableton Drum Racks/NI Battery- 16 pads being visible at any one time, or have the ability to open multiple instances of it, each separate instance having its own step sequencer synced to the host tempo, like Fxpansion Guru. I think they are the apps to beat now. I'd love to be able to drag and drop single hits, layered or otherwise, or loops, in any format, from your Perfect Sampler onto any of the 16 visible pads and go from there. Of course, all the loop manipulation functionality of Beatscape, Cyclone, Phatmatik, Recycle, etc, would come as standard, plus the usual library of acoustic and electronic hits, and loops. [Prunesquallor]


14: Enhanced Track Inspector:
Needs to show all widgets of the selected MIDI track.The compact view you have would be far more useful if this were so. [John]


15: Auto zoom for a Selected Track:
This would automatically zoom the track to a preconfigured zoom level just by activating the track. When another track is active the last track goes back to the default zoom and the new one zooms in to the zoom that setting. [John]


16: CV Highlight Active Track:
This is for a CS but would be useful no matter what. Selecting a track that the CV isn't showing via a CS will jump that track to be seen and hi-lighted. [John]


17: Track templates can be applied to existing tracks: [John]


18: Fully Maximize View ~ Clear Tool Bars Button:
By turning off all tool bars. Pressing the button again will restore them to the state they were in before they were turned off. This could be user configurable to also minimize track headers and so on. The idea would be to 'Fully Maximize Workspace', things such as the track inspector could also be turned off with this button. The tabs and such all non needed stuff would be turned off with this single button. Maybe even the window title bar for Sonar too. This idea 'Fully Maximize View ~ Clear Tool Bars Button' would be consistent across all views such as Trk View, PRV, Mixer View, Music Staff. [John]


19: Play Order Track:
The ability to rearrange a project with sections playing according to their order in a play order track. This is done without moving or editing any track. Cubase SX 3 had this and it is a great tool. I see Gorden has this under play lists it should be "play order tracks". Not that the name is all that important. [John]


20: True instrument tracks:
Not a workaround-like MIDI and audio combo, a real different kind of track that won't misbehave and be buggy. Preferably one that can accept both audio and MIDI FX inserts. [Vuterly]


21: Better synchronisation between synth rack and track view:
If you delete something from the synth rack, its associated instrument track will become orphaned. Equally, if you delete an instrument track, you would somewhat expect the associated synth to disappear as well. I just don't find the present setup very intuitive. [Vuterly]


22: Envelopes automatically copied within groove clips:
That is, if you have a groove clip and use some automation on it, the envelope should automatically be copied when you drag out the clip and create further instances of its material. [Vuterly]


23: Transport no longer disrupted by saving or insertion of new softsynths:
This really annoys me, partially because I compose using loops and add instruments on the fly, but the saving thing must surely get to everyone. [Vuterly]


--[# 24 removed]--


25: Better Marker System:
Including regions and smooth, realtime marker transitions (not a substitute for a 'playlist', but still useful for some playlist purposes.) [Marah]


26: Better Plugin Management:
Not just at the install-and-scan level, but at the choose-insert-and-use level. [Marah]


27: Better Automation Presentation and Management: [Marah]


28: More Flexible, less linear, Multi-Destination Routing:
Including a less strict track/bus/folder split. [Marah]


29: Fewer Dialogs:
Especially modal ones, and more functionality on those dialogs that are necessary. [Marah]


30: More Customization:
And a better customization system and interface, including better integration of toolbars (which need to be way more flexible than at present), menus, and keybinding, with full-command availability. [Marah]


31: More command (and visual) consistency across modes and views: [Marah]


32: Better Project and Asset Management:
including a per-project-folder-based 'clean audio folder' tool that doesn't require a brute-force system-wide trawl through a terabyte+ of cheap hard drive space. (Though ironically, cheap hard drive space makes an improved CAF less pressing. But still.) [Marah]


33: Realtime, transport-integrated play rate control ('varispeed'):
That is optionally pitch-independent. I've been using this in another host and it's impossible to overstate its day to day usefulness. I really can't imagine working without it. [Marah]


34: Sonar - Less Yearly Update Driven Development: [Marah]


35: Sonar Stage Performer:
Mode in sonar that works perfectly for live use with the ability to trigger lighting, projections & live audio without issue. [TheBigLongy]


36: Not requiring a name for each new project started:
Sometimes I just want to jam! Not everything I create has a specific name to begin with! Etc. [Vuterly]


37: Plugin Chains: [Wicked]


38: PlayLists - Performance Sections:
Play Order or whatever everyone else is calling them (because they all have them). We need the ability to define sections of our linear sequencer and more flexibly cut/copy/paste/re-combine/sequence/loop/and trigger. The grouping tools intro'd last version were so very inadequate for all but the simplest editing tasks. [Wicked]


39: Plugins input Selectable:
At the very least make all plugins input selectable so we can route a separate audio track to it. [Wicked]


40: Revamp Drum Maps:
Revamp DRUM MAPS (which lets face it, are 1999 technology) it might actually become way more usable. [Wicked]


41: Node Thinner:
No I don't think John is referring to a SlimFast drink LOL!!
The Node Thinner is when we use a CS for automation. [John]


42: New Technical Assist:
A program (optional separate application especially handy for newbies) specifically for Cakewalk DAW products that scans for issues and assist with plugins, audio, midi, controllers setups and troubleshooting. Log Report with additional option for direct Email to Cakewalk Technical Support. Diagnostics Scan specifically designed to ensure SONAR DAW apps are installed correctly and kept in excellent condition and includes clean up tools to remove unused files from within the new Technical Assist program. Technical Assist is like having your own personal technical support and is especially ideal for users who are new to SONAR and needs assistance in setting up and troubleshooting. Help Assistant that displays clear diagrams with step by step guides and recommendations to help assist in setting up audio, midi controllers and ACT. Searchable Assistant also includes direct accessed to SONAR operations help manual. Therefor once Technical Assist is installed it will overwrite and install an update for SONAR help operations manual which can then be accessed via the new Technical Assist program.

As Willy (CW) explained (see his post: page 2. post 35).


42.B Technical Assist PDF Manual:
in the form of revamped PDF, an improved searchable Knowledge Base to compliment the existing help manual (not as a replacement) that's based on troubleshooting (a basic check-list) and setup guides from the help manual based on the first chapters of SONAR Power book together in one clearer to understand diagrams, step by step guides, (as a guide only). [SongCraft]



43: Some of the best Features from P.5:
Either as a plugin, or whatever best to smoothly integrate. [SongCraft]


44: Option for Envelope Lanes:
To track view, optional meaning you could view envelopes also the old way or toggle the lanes on and pick which evelopes are viewed in the lanes. I think everyone has experienced the frustration of constantly having to show/hide envelopes when the nodes are aligned one on top of the other. Often various envelopes share the same paremeters and it makes it difficult to work with them, one on top of the other. Or at least when you mouse over close nodes, a selection box should be made available for nodes in close proximity allowing for the selection of nodes not on the top level, or both. Also, it would be nice if you could multi select envelopes across the lanes to modify several envelopes at once.

Also, it would be very helpful if node data showed up in the event inspector and could be modified from there. The event inspector is already kinda the global place to modify event data, enelopes should also be editable from this global tool. [WDI]


45: Node Selection Box:
A selection box should be made available for nodes in close proximity allowing for the selection of nodes not on the top level, or both. Also, it would be nice if you could multi select envelopes across the lanes to modify several envelopes at once. [WDI]


46: Node Selection (included in Inspector):
Also, it would be very helpful if node data showed up in the event inspector and could be modified from there. The event inspector is already kinda the global place to modify event data, enelopes should also be editable from this global tool. [WDI]


47: Midi Chord Creator:
simply select the chord shape to be triggered from one note. additional to this, the hord shape could also be manipulated in different ways. midi signal such as controller of key in a different range to change to Minor, with another trigger to change Inversions and chord shapes. [Scoot]


48: Midi FX Split:
Allow 2 seperate chains of effects to run off the one input. allowing for more complicated routings. Midi output and channel selector, to allow the output and channel to be selected from an effect. One stays normal, the other through the 'Midi Out' to select another synth for intant layering, ('Chord Creator' of 'Echodelay' (1 mili second delay and Pitch Offeset) could then be used to play the second synth at octaves of other intervals. [Scoot]


49: Option to Remove the Faders in the Console View:
For those of us with large control surfaces and Monitors , An option to remove the faders in the console view , Like a Meter Bridge that I could position right above my control surface on my monitor. There are already all of the options there to reduce the clutter with the exception of the faders. I don't need on screen faders as I have real faders sitting right in front of me. [Tcaster]


50: Auto-Portamento:
It would be great if sonar could include an 'auto-portamento' note tool whereby notes that overlap will experience portamento for the amount of time that they overlap. This was a feature present in fruity loops so I assume Cakewalk should be able to implement something similar.

This is convenient for times when you want a portamento slide to last for a crotchet, or quaver, or what have you without having to worry about the exact time it should last in milliseconds and without having to create an envelope that is constantly being readjusted to change the synths properties. [Russell.87]

50.B: Similar Auto-Portamento:
Similar to what Russel.87 just posted... I've often wished it was possible (is it??) to easily add,. with just a click, things like mod wheel or pitch wheel 0-values, so that those controllers can be precisely zeroed out. I suppose it can be done by drawing it in the contoller lane, but a button or command that would just insert the event at the current now time would be easir and more precise and reproduceable. When I need these, I usually just record one in realtime and then just slice slip edit everything but the return to zero and move the clip to where I need it. Is there an easier way? [Marah]


51: Effects Rack Option for Mixer and Trk Views:
Ability to expand the Effect Bin View (Opens another window/view similar to the Synth Rack). Selecting another track will change the Effects List accordingly.


52: Larger Display for Names/Titles in Trk View:
(See pic, page one. Track View). Allows more space for better naming/description of tracks yet still keeping the trk view ultra compact.... this may seem like a minor FR but it certainly would be nice! For example: currently if I wanted to name a track; [Very_Nice_Ricky_Bass] .... it would display something like this .... [VryNicIckyBss]. [SongCraft]

53: Keybindings Dialog Search Function:
Also the ability to print out the Keybindings. [John]


54: Macro Recorder and Player [John]


55: Envelope Latch Mode (For CS) [John]


56: Upgrade Music Staff. [John]


57: Track Templates can be Applied to Existing Tracks [John]


58: Midi Output Selector:
To allow the output and channel to be selected from an effect. [Scoot]


--[ # 59 removed]--


60: Instrument Tracks? Bah!
DOA to me. I personally never cared about having them separate but for one major thing: When you select a Midi track connected to a Softsynth SONAR should recongnize that. Not just for mute/solo/etc (which it does) but for Bouncing and Exporting. [Wicked]


--[# 61 removed]--


62: Vertical Sizable; Fader/Meter, Sends, Fx Pane Views:
Here's my thing. Look at the console view. The original screen size is 1680x1050 (22" monitors). Note the wasted space above the input field. And this is on a widescreen monitor. Meanwhile there's only room to see 2 sends at a time.

My solution is get rid of that empty space above the input field and make the following horizontal rows vertically sizeable (stretchy): fader/meter, send pane, fx pane. [agincourtdb]


63: Option to Rotate PRV 90 degrees:
Ability to rotate the PRV view 90 degrees. So that the keyboard note indicator on the left side is now on TOP, aligned to how one would be sitting at a real keyboard. [Wicked]


64: Multi-Veiw Options ~ Console:
What's needed is the ability to have multiple independent instances of Console View, each able to have a different view. That alone would be a good improvement, and I suspect quite an easy one to implement. (PRV already allows multiple independent instances, and it's super useful.)

Also, the ability of each Console View to wrap channel strips into two (or more) rows. And to not require that all strips show the same control sets. And to be able to change the order of the strips independent of thier order in Track View. [Marah]


65: SONAR Display Confirmation for Either 32.Bit or 64.Bit Versions:
I wish Cakewalk would consider making some sort of Visible distinction in the Taskbar or somewhere to tell the User whether they are using Sonar 32 or Sonar 64. I use both and find myself forgetting which version I'm using and loading a Plug in like Hypersonic into the 64Bit version and crashing or Freezing Sonar 64. Man it doesn't even tell you in the Help | About section. C'mon guys this is really obvious, one little line in the splash file saying 64bit version?? or a Line in all that wasted space next to the DROPOUT area? [Desparate Dan]


66: SONAR Portable Edition (Music Production Sketch Pad):
Specifically designed to run very effectively on NetBooks (mini Laptops), ideal for anyone on the road. Include SONAR PE audio and midi editing features/capabilities.

SONAR Portable Edition being very lean it will run off a USB Stick but being so small a person may misplace it (lose it) LOL!!, therefor once a customer purchases SONAR Portable Edition and then registers it at CW have it always available for download in the customer-registered-area online.

Specially designed Plugins for SONAR Portable Edition, optimized for excellent CPU efficiency in particularly 3 new VSTi and/or DXi Softsynths and also the currently available Sonutis FX suite or a new more CPU efficient FX Suite.

Make it possible to easily install and run smoothly on NetBooks using onboard sound-card! Although depending on the NetBook one can add an external interface. Point is, the idea being 'Total Portability' for anyone on the road. [SongCraft]

> Alternative Marketing ideas:
* ASUS NetBook Bundle. --- CW adds SONAR Portable Edition pre-installed and configured on Asus NetBooks. Perfect solution for anyone new to DAW's or wants a 'No fuss setup, ready to fly' (not including Air-Flight tickets LOL!!) --- Include SONAR SE and PE info' offering generous discounts for example: SONAR Producer and Studio Editions. [SongCraft]

* Bundle SONAR Portable Edition with Producer Edition as an extra bonus [John]


67: Track Bundles:
The user could select one or more tracks and then use the Tracks-->Bundle option that would bring up a dialog box asking them to pick an export format, say Full Resolution, Draft Resolution MP3, etc. and then SONAR would create the smallest bundle file possible for the given format (sending only visible portions of clips - stripping off the rest) The user could specify if they want track FX applied or left as plug-in references. On the import side of the fence the user would import the track bundle into an existing project.

I have done online collaborating the hard way, so I know it can be done using what we already have, but something like this would be a real workflow enhancement. [eric_peterson]


68: Allow for tracks as busses/sends and feedback routing [Funkybot]


69: A new arpeggiator (I hear the Project 5 one was good) [Funkybot]
(also see listed # 43: Some of the best Features from P.5) [SongCraft]


70: Auto assigning of multi-output VSTs with mixed mono/stereo outputs [Funkybot]


71: Improve Mixer Worklfow With Shortcuts (these are all admittedly hijacked from BFD2's mixer, which is a pleasure to use):

A. Shift select should gang channel faders/pans/sends without me having to click to create a "quite group"
B. Alt As A Modifier on Ganged Channels: Alt key plus any movement on a fader should make that fader move where I wanted but ALSO have the opposite effect on other channels. Example: I have a bass and kick channel selected and ganged, if I move the kick up 1db the bass should also go down -1db)
C. Ctrl click to select channels in the mixer
D. Quick Bus creation (make a button for this on the mixer)
E. When channels are ganged and I click the new Bus Creation button while holding down Alt, all of those tracks should be routed to that bus [Funkybot]


72: Multiple Freeze Layers:
Freeze once, Freeze again, unfreeze the last one at a later time, make some changes, freeze again, unfreeze everything. [Funkybot]


73: Preview Queue for Loop Explorer:
I'm sure I'm not the only one that finds this very annoying. When you go into loop explorer and you hit auto. It keeps repeating over and over. The option clicked is auto, not auto + loop so why should it behave that way? I know its called loop explorer but not only loops are used when selecting audio from there. Its a pain when trying to find something like a good snare, when your trying to just click them to preview but then you have it rapidly repeating. [THA REAPER]


74: Option for Loop Explorer:
Optional way to fix the location in the loop explorer to selected locations on your hard drive.

Its kind of tedious when you have all your loops in sounds organized in specific folders already, and you need to go around in different locations within your your whole hard drive with + and - drop down directory's the start of each new project. Why not have the option to be where you want to be quick and easy instead of being forced to collapse a bunch of folders each project.

Kontakt is a good example of what I mean: See Pic [THA REAPER]


75: Compose View:
I think Staff View, PRV, Step Sequencer etc. could be done away with. Because all of them are merely different methods for composing note data to instruments, and moving from one to the other is just translation. So, I think that they could all be compiled into one "Compose View" where instead of going through different views to input MIDI data, you can just change your method for inputting data, and moving between the different methods you wouldn't lose any of your inputted data, because it could just be reinterpreted precisely with whatever method you've chosen. The only part where this becomes a problem is the current way that the Step Sequencer operates. Because you won't always have or want your data to line up exactly. This could be circumvented though, if you give things like the Step Sequencer's articulation control a bit more power, by something like having the articulation as a per-row/per-cell thing, instead of global. [Candlesayshi]


76: Synth Rack n Plugin Explorer:
I think that the Synth Rack should be docked to the interface in the Track View on the right side, directly across from the strips themselves. With the rising popularity of laptops and widescreen monitors, horizontal screen real estate is easy to come by, vertical, not so much, so, it'd fit well right there, but it's mostly done for the other things I'm about to mention. From within the Synth Rack, there should be multiple tabbed views. For instance, the main Synth Rack that we all know already, with your project's synths all stacked up and automatible parameters exposed if you want them, etc. then a Plugin Explorer, which could couple capabilities from the Plugin Manager, and other things as well. The Plugin Browser could still contain your custom layouts that you've made with the Plugin Manager, but also, you should be able to reorganize your plugins right from that view, by just dragging them around, and save the updated layout right away. In the same way, maybe you could see your effect plugins in the same window, and put them on a track by just dragging them to that track. Or making a new instrument track by dragging an instrument to an empty part of the track view, or replacing a synth the same way. Or hold down Ctrl and select a bunch of synths to drag them all to your project and have them open in separate tracks, all in a very intuitive, as well as immediate way. Things like that.

Also, another tabbed view accessible from that new Synth Rack could be Routing View. With the Synth Rack right across from the Track Strips is easy to imagine how this could work out. In this view, the boundries of the Synth Rack extend to the boundries of the track strips, with hardware I/O either under the synths or at the bottom inbetween the strips and rack. Through this you could reroute your entire project by connecting "virtual cables" across the gap between the strips, rack and hardware I/O. Through this you could also pretty easily have things like, sending a MIDI track to multiple instruments, an "external instrument track" to complement the already implented software instrument track, an easy way to include multi-out instrument tracks, etc. [Candlesayshi]

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* Thanks to everyone who contributed to the above list

.

for me I'd like to see a more advanced cakewalk publisher integrated into the next producer version which allows redbook audio format, inputting ISRC codes and arranging the tracks in the manner that Pyro does.

I'd also love to see a K-metering option if it was at all possible