Feature Requests (View List n Submit)

Yeah I know, it's another wish list thread but what the heck. I wanted a more in depth discussion to weigh up what we all want most and hope others will contribute to this thread in a positive way. Thanks.

More workspace, enhanced workflow and technical assist for SONAR to help (especially newbies) ensure their system is setup/configured correctly.

Also, I would like to see CW continue to improve the stability of SONAR and to reduce the developers work by reducing the SONAR series (Editions) and basically keeping them all with the same GUI and core functionalities. And after reading several threads about P.5 into SONAR I think a few goodies from P.5 included would be OK.

Here are my suggestions and most of them are NOT my own ideas (when I say "New" I don't literally mean it NEW only that it would be new for SONAR). Also, some of the following ideas are from other DAW's. I don't expect everyone to agree with what I suggest for FR but FWIW here goes....




New Track View:
3 Quick View Modes by k/b commands or by double-clicking color side-bar (new), that toggles between (1)-Full View, (2)-Mid-View, (3)-Ultra-Compact View.

Ability to Adjust Pan and Volume controls directly on the numeric display > see pic displaying displays in green = pan) and vol = blue.

Right-Clicking on Color Side-Bar opens options to color gradient pallet for quick n easy changes (inlcu' presets and user-presets). Gradient Color-Bars are designed to take up less space as an alternative option to Track Icons.


------------------------------------------------------------------------




New Envelope Enhancements including New Nodes:
For anyone new to SONAR a Envelope Tool-Bar that also includes Off-Set (O = on/off) and Properties (P). Properties - Options to setup default settings for nodes. * more on this later.

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 (envelope)



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.

New Envelope Nodes added...

- 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.

------------------------------------------------------



New Clips View:
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.

--------------------------------

New Audio-Snap Editor (ASE):
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.

Having the ability to transpose would be awesome for creating harmonies. Copy/Paste section(s) or the entire clip then select and drag up/down to another key range. Done. Thus the new Audio-Snap Editor is fully polyphonic. Ability to edit mono or polyphonic material.



Enhanced PRV and Audio-Snap Editors: (See Pic)
The piano graphic should be much narrower! Currently IMHO I think it's way too wide, sure we can grab it and narrow the darn thing but for crying out loud it should be narrower by default and it can look a bit nicer too. The reason being... better appearance and more workspace.

--------------------------------------------------



New Tab-Selection Bar:
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.

--------------------------------------------------

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.

----------------------------------------

Perfect Sampler and Perfect Drummer (New SoftSynths):
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)

---------------->

New Perfect-Drummer same GUI design as Session Drummer2 but vastly improved: 24 pads, the usual tuning and width controls. Tab Interface options such as: 24 channel Mixer (24 i/o), multi-effects (that includes the mighty Transient Shaper) 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.

-------------------------------


OK, that's about it for now! I'm having breakfast and going out for a while. I probably left out a few details in my post and didn't explain it all too well, and there's probably grammer and typos everywhere. I hope there isn't any misunderstandings, I feel extreme anxiety when starting a topic so please go easy on me.

What features would you like to see included in SONAR 9.?....

Feature Requests - CW has stated they listen to their customers, sure I don't expect any of the suggestions above will be included in S9 because basically it's whatever CW final decisions are but it don't hurt submitting a FR and discussing it here.

Interesting ideas. Maybe sometime soon I'll do a mock-up of a new GUI design, too.

The Perfect Drummer is a neat idea, mostly because I'm so adamantly against Session Drummer 2. What might also be a good idea there, because they wouldn't be getting rid of SD2, for compatibility reasons I'm sure, but perhaps something like Velocity 2, or Velocity Pro, that'd be excellent. As Velocity is already leaps and bounds better than SD2.

Playlists would be nice, I often start a tune by coming up with sections, and trying to move them all round to try different arrangements is a pain in the butt.

I know this already exists in PT, Cubase and I think Live, it would be a nice addition.

They may already be a way of doing this in Sonar, if someone knows chime in.

Or at least when you mouse over close nodes, a selection box should be made available

Agree with you there Todd - very similar to the box you get in the Midi PRV for selecting which tracks you intend to work with.

I think this list is filled with great ideas. Everyone has made a real contribution to this in a highly thoughtful way. Good job all.

I would like to add one more thing to the list. 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.

Excellent thread!

I would never turn down new plugins like those described. They'd be great to have. Would I like to have Dimension Pro, the channel tool, Beatscape, and the other goodies that are "included with" Sonar 8? Sure. But I really don't need them. And that's not what Sonar needs to offer to stay competitive as a creative production environment, I don't think.

Sonar needs a better marker system, including regions and smooth, realtime marker transitions (not a substitute for a 'playlist', but still useful for some playlist purposes.)

Better plugin management, not just at the install-and-scan level, but at the choose-insert-and-use level.

Better automation presentation and management.

More flexible, less linear, multi-destination routing, including a less strict track/bus/folder split.

Fewer dialogs, especially modal ones, and more functionality on those dialogs that are necessary.

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.

More command (and visual) consistency across modes and views.

Sonar needs 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.)

Sonar needs a 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.

Sonar needs less yearly-update-driven development.

Sonar needs less yearly-update-driven development.

I agree with this too. More thoughtful TLC and less rushing to create "new stuff" would benefit Sonar greatly, IMHO.

Something else important:

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.

ORIGINAL: Richard Fey

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!

Ctrl-N

You got me there. ;)

But why should the New button and menu option not behave like that? Why should it be bound to a keyboard shortcut? Doesn't make sense to me.

But new(ish) users such as myself will not necessarily know to use CTRL + N. We will reach for the menu option and assume it provides all of the new project creation functionality.

Not a major issue, I fully realise, but I don't find it very intuitive.

The grass is always greener. :) Oh, and thanks, btw.

My way around this is create a folder with a project called empty. This project is used to start anything I wish. If I wish to save it I make a new folder and project with a name that is appropriate using the save as function. The folder for this project also has a name of 1 a empty. That way that folder will be the first one in the projects folder. BTW if any audio is in the project then simply check move audio data when you save as.

I'd like to see special forums for feature requests; one per program. The sticky notes at the top could be the features that CW is taking seriously. If there was a way to get the users to "Vote" for the feature requests in the forum that would be slick. The current web page submission feels like a black hole sometimes ... Maybe the feature request forums could be restricted to registered users? Maybe I'm dreaming ...

A little dreaming can go along way though. :-) Way back when I had just received PA9 and I wasn't married and had no resposibilities, I had a dream for Pro Audio 10. I sat down one weekend and wrote a rather large software requirements document for PA-10 (I write SW requirements for a living) and sent it to CW. The Program Manager at the time (Morton Saether) actually printed it out and took it to meetings in a binder. The next thing I knew we had a new program coming out about a year later called "SONAR" that rolled in a lot of my ideas. Call me delusional if you will, but I'd like to think I influenced things a bit.

Vuterly suggestion: add Ctrl+N to the File Menu, making it easier for newbies to know this feature exist.

Marah - Plugin Chains. +1

Also, could you elaborate on the inconsistencies between modes/views?

In regards to CW yearly releases, although some people look forward it I think a compromise should suffice = release every 18 months. I suppose CW is a smaller company compared to others and I don't expect them to work around the clock 24/7, as it is they probably work intensively over long hours it's a wonder they have time to scratch themselves, and I suppose they get disappointed when too many issues occur, then the crazy aftermath for updates 1, 2 and 3 which seem to be a yearly occurrence.

Eric_Peterson - Yes! There isn't a Poll (vote) options for these forums and I also agree it would be useful especially for topic/threads like this. Hmmm I guess the next best thing is to vote by adding this +1.

I will compile a list and post all our FR suggestions and I hope more people will contribute to to effort since CW does read these forums and they say they do listen to their customers.

I appreciate all you guys contributing to this thread! I'm sure CW appreciates customer feedback.


Wicked - +1.... I agree with what you said.

Luckily for those who prefer the old way of Midi+Audio tracks setup that option remains and I hope CW continues to keep that option available.

I agree with define selections and improved group editing + more flexibility. Definitely would enhance/speed up workflow. Yes! The same should also apply to other improvements such as... playlists and editing song arrangements.

Trk View: John's suggestion for auto-zoom as an option with predefined user settings would be nice, along with an additional option for the 'F' key command which toggles between various views = Fully expanded, Mid-Way View and Ultra-Compact View, (which could also be predefined in user settings.


I'm in a rush at the moment, sorry if I missed something! My wife and I are about to go out.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Post edited: Click here