I'm thinking about upgrading to (getting ready to) upgrade

from 8.3 pro to X1?
 
How bad will this hurt?
 
Also, I'm currently XP 32 bit, and I'm looking at a new DAW, and thinking Windoze 7/ 64 bit?
 
Any horror stories? Or recommendations?

X1D Expanded is running like a dream on my system.

Why wait?

Thanks, that's pretty much what I thought it would be, the plugs will be a battle. I don't have to UG yet, so if Windoze 8 is better, I may stand down and go Windoze 8/64 bit.

I appreciate the feedback folks. .

P.S. So the X1 UI will be easy for me to navigate haveing experience w/Sonar 5, 7, and 8? no huge changes?

Do it! 

bandontherun19

So the X1 UI will be easy for me to navigate haveing experience w/Sonar 5, 7, and 8? no huge changes?

*wHiLe BaNjO's PlAy ThE tHeMe FrOm DeLiVeReNcE iN tHe BaCkGrOuNd BuB sAy'S*, "You ain't from around here are you boy?"

Seriously though ... It really depends on how deeply you delved in to Sonar 5 ~ 8. If you used those versions as the worlds biggest multi-track recorder and never got in to midi editing, envelopes, used all 3rd party plugs, etc, you'll love it, maybe.


If you really got in to the nuts and bolts of Sonar 5 ~ 8, there's going to be some long nights. A lot has changed.


I have a lot of problems with X1. I think it's a lot more pickier on which computer it likes to run on than Cakewalk will admit ... so be prepared for that too. Do your research, or buy it from someone who specializes in DAW's so you have someone who knows what they are doing to go back and complain to. 


As for it running better on Windows 8, I don't believe it. They said it ran better on Windows 7 compared to XP and I saw no difference. Yeah yeah, we all know about the RAM thing, but honestly, I saw no improvement speed wise, project size wise, or anything else.


As usual, one thing gets fixed, and something else gets broke with the patches. They seriously need to release an E patch, but they've been super quiet about their plans and I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it.


The best advice I can give is to download the demo.

As for Jbridge and Bitbridge ... they really need to fix Bitbridge, you know, before 32bit VST's are a thing of the past and we need Bitbridge 2 to port 64bit VST's to 128bit.

Bub =  "never got in to midi editing, envelopes, used all 3rd party plugs, etc, you'll love it, maybe."

Well, I do a lot of MIDI editing, and envelopes? But I also use a lot of 3rd party plugs. So I guess this will be interesting... But I'm not shy w/figuring things out? I'm just really familiar w/the UI on 8.3? Which seemed to stay the same from 5, to 7, to 8? And we all like what we know? And what we are familiar with.

However, I know time marches on... And my DAW is like 3 or 4 years old now? So I want to get a new machine, and order it with the new OS, and with X1 preloaded? (maybe studiocat?) And then I'll fight with all of the projects and plugs getting transferred over. I just don't want to fight with the UI? I want to dive in to it and say, yes, yes, this new PC is sweet, and the new OS/DAW makes me "rigid..." I don't want to say, OMG, I spent all of this cash, and I'm less happy than I was? I push 8.3 to it's limit on my 4 year old quad core, so I think I'll just be happy with a new DAW. But if I upgrade the machine, I want to upgrade the SW too, and just "jump in." I've decided I'm going to do it, so this is more cathardic than anything else I guess.

I'm a long time Sonar user from V2 onwards. I didn't think there was much wrong with previous versions - how wrong I was.

There was a bit of a learning curve but once I 'got' the new UI I felt liberated in my workflow. I never realised how constraining the old set up was. YMMV of course. More customisation will be good but it's not something that I'm personally bothered about.

Have a look at some of my vids (link in my sig) many focus on uses for screensets which are a revelation IMHO.

I jumped from Pro Audio 9 (used only for midi) to X1 to Expanded. I still have PA9 installed but rarely open it up anymore. At first I was quite overwhelmed by the total change in look and feel....but now that I'm starting to learn my way around...it's a pretty awesome program.

I do very simple audio work sometimes with EZ Drummer.  I have had absolutely no problem with X1.  I have had to set up some custom key bindings for things that were preset in 7.xx, but that has been no problem.

I like X1 a lot.

To,

 If you're looking for a little push here it is- DO IT!

  I recently jumped out of an airplane at 10,000 feet. I had to sign all kinds of papers saying that if I ended up dead because my chute didn't open. It wasn't their problem. I signed the papers and got on with the jump...why am I mentioning this here?  Because everything you do involves some kind of a risk. Some risks are more calculated and sure but others not so much.

 In the case of  a computer upgrade. You are light years ahead simply by having access to more memory in Win7 64. The risk is minimal. Sonar X1d expanded is a fine piece of software. Future upgrades to Win8 will be less expensive than a full replacement of software if you decide to make an upgrade now to Win7 64.

 "IF" you make sure the new machine is tweaked for audio work and get it set up properly,"IF" you have an audio interface with a good reputation for playing well with 64 bit drivers. "IF" you don't mind learning a new way to do things. I see no reason why you should have any significant problems.

 My recommendations would be JMO and they would be this-I would avoid laptops in general. I would build only a system based on intel chipsets if possible. 7200 rpm HDD or decent SSD . At least two drives. One for programs and the other for content.Dedicate the computer as a DAW,although I go online with mine with no problems. At least 8gb of system memory.

 Off the shelf computers loaded with bloatware are usually the beginnings of trouble. Having a system built or building your own with higher standard parts help assure a better system. Dual rail power supplies,faster memory and better MOBOs are a few advantages IMHO.

 Jim Roseberry can help you if you don't want to build your own system.

 

Just to add some balance here... you might also find the UI changes frustrating and wonder why you "upgraded" to something that may not give you anything you don't already have in 8.5. 

It seems very subjective. My advice: try the demo. Give it a thorough test before you make your mind up.

Get some good speakers first.

I moved to X1 essentials.   I'm liking it pretty good at this point.... did one upgrade ...have not applied the "D" upgrade as of yet. 

The big thing with the upgrade you are considering will be the 32 bit plugs you currently run.  Check to see if there are free 64 bit upgrades for the plugs you own, or if you'll need to spring some jing for the new 64 bit plugs. 

You know me. I opted to build a new DAW and keep it at 32 bits.  Life is good. Until the DAW either crashes and burns or there is some new fangled plug that is 64 bit and it is one of those must have sort of things, I'll be plugging along with XP at 32 bits for a long time. 

At some future point, I'm sure, if I live long enough (hopefully so) there will come a need to update the old XP to whatever is current at the time..... and I'll probably need to update the plugs and software at the same time....... but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.... probably kicking and screaming.