Hi Friends,
I appreciate the feedback. I personally have nothing to do with the actual design and implementation of the VS-700 other than relaying what I'm hearing from customers and my personal opinions about the state of things. I'd like to take off my "Cakewalk hat" (it's actually a Bruins hat) for a moment only because I am curious about something and I wanted to risk sharing my personal thoughts.
Let's forget about SONAR X1 Producer
Expanded for a moment. ProChannel modularity is new to Expanded and the VS-700 doesn't deal with it correctly. We know about this, so for a moment let's just ignore that aspect.
With that being said, in regards to SONAR X1 versus SONAR 8.5, what is not working in X1 for VS-700 users? Why are statements being made that the VS-700 doesn't work with SONAR X1, can't be made to work with X1, and that it did work better with SONAR 8.5? Do VS-700 owners using SONAR X1 feel this way? Aside from a few labels (which only made sense in a very small context of the application) what about the VS-700 doesn't match or jive with X1? I'm just curious. You guys can tell me.
We've gotten some feature requests and the occasional bug report, but if people feel the VS-700 and SONAR X1 are not functional together, they're certainly not telling us about it via our web forms nor in the countless conversations we've had over the phone directly with users. Even
this thread doesn't specifically list things not working in X1 (other then what I already hit on with Expanded). From what I can discern, all but one of these suggestions have nothing to do with the unique version of SONAR you are using.
Initially with the release of SONAR X1, the biggest problem was that the Channel Strip Control section, specifically when put into EQ mode, was originally mapped to Sonitus: EQ in SONAR 8.5's channel strips. Obviously SONAR X1 replaced the channel EQ with ProChannel EQ. The other big problem was the ProChannel couldn't be ACT learned, so you really
couldn't manipulate ProChannel from the VS-700C. This was a loss of control and at the time it totally made sense why X1 users felt they lost some functionality. It really was a bummer because everything else could be controlled via ACT but the new ProChannel. Aside from that, some new features such as the MultiDock weren't mapped to the surface so there was no gestures for controlling them.
So, while some new features (ProChannel, MultiDock) weren't mapped to the surface, the rest of the functionality from SONAR 8.5 was still there in SONAR X1 and for the most part on track.
In any case, we wanted people to be able to control the ProChannel EQ, Compressors and Tube Saturation from the surface as well as some of the new functionality.
SONAR X1b, allows you to do that. SONAR X1b introduced quite a lot of functionality for X1 users with VS-700Cs. The ProChannel is mapped to the surface, and can be re-mapped using ACT if you desire. If you don't like our chosen layouts for the controls, you can even create your own arrangements for the controls. Some devices do not even allow that much. ACT is a really powerful tool, and the VS-700C does some cool things with it. Backward compatibility was also kept for controlling the Sonitus: EQ.
My honest, personal opinion is that after spending a little bit of real, hands-on time with the X1b document explaining the new functionality, I feel it is implemented quite well considering the complexity of SONAR and the size of the surface and limited number of physical controls. I don't find myself wanting to return to SONAR 8.5 because I can't do something with the VS-700C in SONAR X1 that I used to be able to in SONAR 8.5. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like to see some more integration as well, but my thoughts have nothing to do with "I can't do this in X1 but I could in 8.5".
Also, the LCD screen can be programmed, and has been, to deal with differences in labels between different plug-ins. Even in SONAR 8.5, the Channel Strip Control section is only sometimes used to control an EQ. In 8.5, outside of controlling an EQ, the printed labels mean nothing and the LCD means everything. If you are using ACT to control a different plug-in, you cannot rely on the printed labels. This is the same in 8.5 with any plug other than Sonitus: EQ as it is in SONAR X1. The only way the VS-700 could correctly label every control in SONAR 8.5 or SONAR X1, would be if it was a LOT larger. Personally, I'd rather look at an LCD then across a 15 foot desk.
In any case, I'm really not sure where the statements suggesting SONAR X1 has been abandoned came from other then the sound of a few crickets since Samara's last post regarding X1 Expanded. A big part of SONAR X1b was updates and enhancements specific to the VS-700. Our support team is still here and we still speak daily with customers using the VS-700 with SONAR.
Expanded is new, and we're aware of some things we would like to address. I understand that the VS-700 isn't perfect and that there is ALWAYS room for improvement in everything we do.
What I don't understand is after X1b, and now a hint at a future update to Expanded, the opinion that the VS-700 can't be made to work with SONAR X1. We're talking about a few labels for physical encoders that were printed to match 8.5's EQ section that also had multiple purposes. SONAR 8.5 and SONAR X1 have much more to them then an in-line EQ, so if that is all the opinion is based off I have to respectfully disagree.
Anyhow, I'm not trying to convince anyone to upgrade to X1 or a VS-700 but rather just trying to figure out why some people are reluctant to go from 8.5 - > X1. What specifically are you basing your opinion on that makes X1 seem scary? Aside from some of the new functions of Expanded, the implementation is already there.
Anyhow, thanks for reading if you made the time. You folks are always a pleasure to work with and I always appreciate the feedback you give.