X2 : My impressions so far

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rodreb
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2013/04/28 14:18:04 (permalink)

X2 : My impressions so far

Not that it really matters but, gonna post it anyway. Ha ha!
Having come from Sonar Producer 8 (And having been a Sonar user from the beginning of Sonar), to me, this is the worst GUI ever! Things that I had gotten accustomed to just clicking are now only available in menus or by having to learn keyboard shortcuts. I hate keyboard shortcuts!
Really like the Pro Channel, it's probably the only thing keeping me from just going back to Sonar 8 and forgetting X2.
Haven't really noticed any better performance from X2 as opposed to Sonar 8.
Take lanes / automation lanes are frustrating so far but, I'll probably get used to them. Gotta say though, for me, it seemed quicker and more intuitive to just work on automation right there on the clip instead of having to open up a lane to work on it.
Tried to go 64 bit but, a few of my most favorite, go-to plugs just refuse to work in 64 bit. If I can find something new to replace those, I'll try again
Disappointed that so many things cannot have their color changed but, learning to live with that. Don't like that the Control Bar takes up so much space and is pretty limited in what all can be customized in it.
So, overall, I guess, I miss Sonar 8 but, want to move forward so, I'll force myself to use X2 and hope it just gets better with time and updates.



ROD

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    mmorgan
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    Re:X2 : My impressions so far 2013/04/28 14:26:04 (permalink)
    Rod: for sure some folks had a hard time making the transition from pre X to X. Personally I'm glad I took the time, for me the X series is better but that could be because I much prefer docked windows, less clutter and I'm an old hand keyboard shortcuts - so it was all a bonus. I was very excited about X2 and specifically Take Lanes, not so thrilled about them at the moment but many things seem more transparent to my workflow.

    Hope that your experience improves, I know it can be frustrated when you have a musical idea and you can't figure out where some command got put...

    Regards,


    Mike

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    Jay Tee 4303
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    Re:X2 : My impressions so far 2013/04/28 14:30:17 (permalink)
    Run thru the vids at Sonar U. Only a few minutes long. Do a couple three a day then play with the interface. If I can pick it upin bout a week after being DAWless since MC4, a Producer 8 muse oughta be winnin Grammies and AMAs by the end of April!

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    rodreb
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    Re:X2 : My impressions so far 2013/04/28 14:33:02 (permalink)
    I'm sure some of it is just that I'm SOOOO accustomed to the way I've been doing things for so long and change is not easy for me. I'm sure I'll get used to it in time. The only one that is really hard is having to learn a bunch of keyboard shortcuts to do things that were so simple and easy to do with the single click of a mouse previously. Wish Cakewalk would at least give us the option of being able to do it the old way.



    ROD

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    scook
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    Re:X2 : My impressions so far 2013/04/28 14:45:28 (permalink)
    Duckbar http://www.sonarmods.com/forum/index.php adds a toolbar that might have some of the functions you miss, settings to remove bits of the GUI and other customizations.
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    mmorgan
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    Re:X2 : My impressions so far 2013/04/28 15:30:06 (permalink)
    One thing that I've always been curious about and that is the Control Bar. It seems in some ways that it is mimicing MS Office apps Strip but MS also implemented a Quick Access Toolbar in addition to the Strip. The QAT is user configurable so it would seem that if Cakewalk had done this it would have alleviated much suffering for some customers (always a good thing).

    +1 to Duckbar (not a user myself but many sing its praises)

    Regards,


    Mike

    Win8(64), Sonar X3e(64) w/ RME Fireface UFX.
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    jimusic
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    Re:X2 : My impressions so far 2013/04/29 01:56:53 (permalink)
    Hey Rod, 
    I was never one much for keyboard short cuts while on Sonar 8.5.3 & earlier, but they really do speed things up with X1 & X2. 
    I only use about a dozen, but now I use them all the time, and really like them.

    Like 'C' for the big-ass Control Bar; 'M' to add markers; and 'D' to show & hide the Console View, & 'B' for the browser.

    And I really like the option of docking plugs & other things into the Console just by drag & drop. Then they all show/hide together simply by pressing 'D'   

    Myself, any break from continual mouse clicks is more than welcome.

    A simple key press is faster than moving the mouse up & over & aiming for that little tiny 'x' somewhere. 

    Hit a key once - hit it again - too easy!

    The ability to undock things to other monitors is even more handy, since I use 3 monitors now.

    As much as we all have a natural resistance to change once we get comfortable with something, I 'm really glad I've gone up to X1 & then X2. 

    And I think you'll feel the same way in a very short while.

    Honestly speaking, within just a few days to a week, I had already learned my new way around X1 & X2.  
    In fact when I first installed them, I just cruised around first before doing any work, just clicking around, learning the ropes.


    Once you're use to it, the work flow is definitely enhanced by the new layout. 

    Go for it!




     
     
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