Does Sonar X1 Reduce the need for a Dual Monitor Setup?

I'm kicking around the idea of getting a single 27" display, or a set of 20" dual monitors for my DAW.  I do plan on upgrading to X1.

My current single monitor is a 22" with 1680x1050 resolution.  The 27" would kick me up to 1920x1080.

Does X1 reduce (or eliminate) the need for dual monitors?  Are there things in Sonar where you just NEED (or it would be really NICE) to have a second monitor?


Appreciate any feedback and insight from experienced users!

Thanks!

- Glen

From my experience working with similar applications on my laptop, X1 should make it easier to work with a single monitor. I can't imagine working with Sonar on this baby. But X1, if it works as promised and as it seems designed to - no problem... Still, a dual monitor setup rules!  

I used to think a two-monitor setup would be ideal, so I bought two monitors. The biggest problem for me right now is all the plugin windows I keep open. Usually, I move these into the second monitor and keep looking back and forth: track view or piano roll view on monitor 1, plugins on monitor 2. I find having to shift my focus all the time actually brings me out of "the zone".  I'm really hoping that with screensets and the multidock, I can do more work on a single monitor. 

It's hard to figure our the ergonomics of something until you've used it, so maybe it makes sense to wait until you can try X1 before buying a new monitor. 

I recently moved from a dual 19" setup to a single 27" @ 1080p. I actually prefer the single monitor setup a bit, but having two or more large-ish monitors certianly has its appeal and this is relaly a matter of personal preference.

The fact is that X1 makes either situation better. It makes better use of multiple monitors (due to floating MultDock especially) but it also makes using a single monitor a hell of a lot better as well. I guess you could say it enhances the single monitor experience more drastically, but it definitely enhances either scenario depending on what you personally prefer. It's particularly well suited to high-res widescreen displays.

gtgarner


I suppose it also depends on how a person uses Sonar.  I believe that people respond to threads like this without providing an explanation of how they use Sonar. I sequence with tons of keyboard (midi) pluggins. The left most monitor contains my Piano Roll View - The middle monitor contains my primary track view.  My right most monitor contains all of my pluggins.   

When I master....I change the left piano roll view to the console view.  

If I were simply recording a guitar...then one monitor would be sufficient.  

Sometimes less is more, but in my setup:   "More is More" 

I guess we all have our own habits, even for those of us who perform similar tasks. Even w/ 2 or 3 monitors at my disposal, I tend to focus on one and it's almost as if I don't really take advantage of secondary monitors. 

I tend to prefer to keep the number of open windows to a minimum - having the inspector in the track view means that I rarely need to go to the console view before I am pretty much done w/ the arrangement and begin mixing per se. 


Otherwise, I spend the bulk of my time between the piano roll and the track view and I usually prefer to just double click on the clip, edit what I need to edit in the piano roll and close it.


I can imagine that the new browser will make things even easier. Logic has something similar - no need to switch windows or to scroll through menus to insert plug-ins, audition different softsynths and access patches - you just browse through all those goodies w/o ever leaving your main window. A single-click in the browser and you can access/audition/insert your favorite sound module patches complete w/ your custom plug-ins chain attached to it. All in one single step w/o the need to open extra windows.


Which is why X1 looks extremely promising to me - that browser thing is likely to speed things up quite a bit.

Switching back and forth between Track, Event and Staff is what I am doing. Since I had an unused monitor, I connected it to my laptop. I was hoping that I could have at least two of the views on at the same time and just walk over with my mouse between them. Now, reading some of your questions and answers, it looks that it is possible to do. However, if I set up in Windows7/64 to "extend" between the monitors, I can see only an extended original view, now on the laptop monitor track view from bar 1 to 10, on the monitor 11 to 20. Of course this is not what I was hoping for. How can I set it up that i can see two DIFFERENT views on the two monitors? Please forgive the ignorance.

I like multiple monitors.  I'll keep using them until I get a 3360 x 1050 resolution.

I'm just using one 22" monitor, but I have set up my screensets so that I can toggle back and forth between my main tracking page, and my mixer. One click of the mouse and I'm there.  Saving the personalized screenset is a Godsend once you know how to do it, and set it up the exact way you want it. You can even re-name your favorite screenset as you like.

djwayne


I'm just using one 22" monitor, but I have set up my screensets so that I can toggle back and forth between my main tracking page, and my mixer. One click of the mouse and I'm there.  Saving the personalized screenset is a Godsend once you know how to do it, and set it up the exact way you want it. You can even re-name your favorite screenset as you like.

Finally, a like minded individual.

I don't think I could ever argue that a single monitor is 'better' than dual, but I am confident in stating that a single monitor is far easier to work with in X1 than any previous incarnation of Sonar.

Why?

Do I really need to answer that?

I will ask you guys one question, do you have to scroll the screen up and down to see the whole mixing desk/screen..

With an 80cm job, I don't it's just like a mixing desk but this is just my opinion.

Neb

Dual monitors here ant for a very long time. They are more useful than not.  And not just for X1. CW was a pioneer in the use of dual monitors and have the over all best implantation of it.

Windows is a multi-tasking OS. One can use more than one program without having one on top of the other. Very handy.

Excelant example Colin!

Dude get the second monitor!way better!