Improvements to Sonar MIDI functions

MIDI EDITING IMPROVEMENTS WISH LIST FOR NEXT UPDATE/PATCH

1. PIANO ROLL: Separate the draw line tool and insert midi data tool functions to avoid the annoying hassle of accidently inserting note when you want to drag a note.

2. PIANO ROLL: When you put the arrow cursor over a note block make the corresponding note on the keyboard at the left hand side change to dark gray so you can instantly see what note you're on without any hassle. In Sonar it is really hard to see that info.

3. Make the vertical zoom smooth and continuous so that when you zoom in far enough for the note block to get big enough the note name appears on the note block itself, so you don't have to even move your eyes away to see it. In Sonar the zoom function is stepped and no note names appear.

4. In the controller window keep the CC# values all the way until the end of the song or until the next value change and and color code them (same as the track color) from zero to the value so that anywhere along the song you can look and immediately see what the controller value is. In Sonar if you use the controller pane it puts a single value (ie, a spike) which is valid until the next value change but if you are far enough along in the song to be past where that spike is and can no longer see it, then you don't know what that controller value is unless you go back and look or have a good enough memory to remember what it was.

5. For midi preferences there should be a "follow notes" feature so when you are playing back during editing in Piano Roll View it will pick up playing in the middle of a note block. In Sonar it will not play back until it comes to a new note, so if you have some long held notes it won't play back as long as the cursor is still on that note block.

6. Allow Fast Forward and Rewind buttons to scroll the piano roll underneath it so the Now Time is staionary. Also add a shutlle/jog feature to FF and rewind in one frame steps.

8. Make the first beat of the grid heavier and maker the other beaths easier to see.

Yes agreed. The only one that would be difficult is #8 since the notes get heavier as the velocity increases.

Joey

These are all excellent suggestions! Did anyone mention 'mute individual notes'? (Unless Sonar 5 already does this... I'm still on version 4)

ORIGINAL: Susan G
- Along the same line, a better way to select which CC controllers to display in the PRV. Once you've added a CC to the drop-down list there's no way to remove it that I can see, and in order to select or de-select them you have to keep dropping-down the list. At the very least there should be a "None" or "All Listed" option. Maybe better would be a dialog similar to what's in the Event List view, where you could check off common CCs and add your own "custom" ones.

Hi Susan,

You're suggestions are really great, but I'm a little confused by the one above. How would this be helpful / beneficial? I'm sure there's an excellent reason. I'm just a little brain dead today. I think I get the last two sentences about filtering out certain CCs. But the "none" or "All Listed" throws me. Thanks!

Did anyone mention 'mute individual notes'?

A bit of a workaround, I think, but couldn't you route it through a drum map and have the ability there to do the individual note solo/mute?

Hey Susan!

I get it now and it makes sense. I'm sure you were clear enough before. I'm just 1/2 cup short of a pint today

Great suggestion and thanks for clarifying!

Hi HG-

1 Drop the Synth Rack, in favor of a dropdown list of your Softsynths.

Can you elaborate a bit on this? There already is a drop-down of softsynths in the FX bin of any Audio track. I'm just not sure what you mean. I like the options available in the Synth Rack.

Thanks-

-Susan

Hi HG-

I guess I wish the synth rack had a home on the GUI. It always seems to get behind something when I'm working with it, and I have to move windows around to find the darned thing.

Ah, I see. I usually just "Enable tabbed" on the Synth Rack, and on the individual synth GUI once it comes up.

Thanks-

-Susan

Ah, I see. I usually just "Enable tabbed" on the Synth Rack, and on the individual synth GUI once it comes up.

Ok,, now you've stumped me.. "enable tabbed" ?? I'm not sure what that is...

In Project 5, you just click on a little box on the track, and your Softsynth opens. It saves a step from having to open and close the synth rack to get to your synth.

Actually, there are a bunch of things I like better about the midi implimentation in Project 5 than Sonar's,,, but I usually get flamed when I suggest combining the two programs,,,, so I'm baby stepping my wishes.

ORIGINAL: Susan G

Hi HG-

I usually get flamed when I suggest combining the two programs,,,, so I'm baby stepping my wishes.

Tell me about it -- try bringing up FL Studio's Piano Roll!

"Enable Tabbed" is a new option in 5.x. Whenever you open a new synth or FX window you can click in the upper left and check "Enable Tabbed". This puts its GUI in a tabbed window at the bottom of the Track View. Very nice!

-Susan

Thanks Susan,,, I'm still on Sonar 4. BTW, I didn't mention specifically that I liked your suggestions, but I do.

I get vapors thinking of what it would be like to have a super program with all these improvements.. lmao.

ROFLMAO, Steve! And you know why!

Every single one of those things were on the list I gave you when you asked on another forum why I now use Cubase SX-3 instead of Sonar 4/5 PE (I have both) for my midi sequencing and VSTi's.

I personally REALLY doubt you will get Cakewalk to add those things simply because if they do then they will be bombarded with people saying they copied/stole them from Cubase and they would look like they couldn't come up with things on their own.

HOWEVER, I told them the same things when they sent me an email questionair about what I thought/wanted in Sonar and they have never said a word about any of it to me. I will also say that IF they did do all that, then I would probably use Sonar again for my midi/VSTi sequencing because I prefer not to have a dongled software if I don't have to BUT I have so far not had a single problem with it, but I don't take it outside the studio and I don't have people coming into my studio that might make it evaporate on me.

Best of luck getting those things into Sonar X!

Tom

ORIGINAL: Susan G



The competition in this market is very healthy, I think, and I seriously doubt that a company would hesitate to add a feature just because another already has it. That makes no sense to me -- but maybe you were kidding?

-Susan

Yeah, I really think the competion is great; for us! I dislike it when people get all touchy about it. I think strong competion brings out the best.

I have a good feeling that Cakewalk is taking notes on these well written suggestions.

Hi Susan; I was only referring to the original list posted by Steve and not to the other things you and the other people added.

The rest is simply my personal opinion based on the fact that Cakewalk has known about these things for a long time and has not chosen to introduce them into Sonar, so I am not optimistic about it happening any time soon.

Tom

ORIGINAL: kstevege

MIDI EDITING IMPROVEMENTS WISH LIST FOR NEXT UPDATE/PATCH


5. For midi preferences there should be a "follow notes" feature so when you are playing back during editing in Piano Roll View it will pick up playing in the middle of a note block. In Sonar it will not play back until it comes to a new note, so if you have some long held notes it won't play back as long as the cursor is still on that note block.

YES!!!
.
I gotta go back to Cubase SX so I can finish my meditation/new age thingy...