General Introduction and Thoughts on Sonar Platinum
Just introducing myself since I've been posting more frequently around here. I've played piano and wrote some songs for quite a few years. I'd say about 5 years ago I got into production and synthesis, etc. It's been a long road from the point where I started! I've read and watched as much as I could find on the subjects. Jumped back and forth between hardware sequencers (Korg M50, Korg Kronos, Yamaha MOX). I tried using DAW's just on a desktop setup and then switched to using a laptop with a portable controller, and back and forth again. I jumped in at Sonar X1, switched to Studio One, tried Reaper, back to Sonar X2, back to Studio One. . . etc etc etc. It's taken me a long time to learn a bit how synthesizers work and their various features. Learned about the various effects that can be used such as compression and EQ. Finally after much jumping around and sampling different things, I've settled on Sonar Platinum. I think, as an overall package, it's the best overall value for me.
Below are some general thoughts for those who are interested. These are just my opinion, and everyone has one of course.
I think that Sonar has the best interface overall from what I've seen. Once you get used to the "D", "B", "I", and "C" buttons and learn where things are, it's hard to switch to another DAW. The smart tool is pretty good overall, though I frequently find myself trying to remember if it's "Control + Click", "Alt+Scroll", do I need to have it at the top of the clip or the bottom, etc. As I study Sonar, I find that learning the keyboard shortcuts is really the key to super quick workflow. I'll have to watch the Sonar X3 Explained videos some more to fully get comfortable with that. Switching tools is very easy.
The new control bar is an improvement. Like the previewing abilities in the browser.
Good metering options and I like the faders. I like to see a lot of info in track view (Level, FX bin, etc etc etc" but I find that it takes up a lot of real-estate and I'm constantly re-sizing the tracks as a result. Auto-Zoom helps but sometimes it can be clunky. Having an option for a more compact presentation of those details would be nice. In fact, in general I'd say that it could be a little bit more efficient with the real estate when it comes to presenting info in the track and mixer views. I tried bumping up my resolution to full-HD but everything became unmanageably small, especially plugin windows. Overall it's very use-able though. . . I'm just nitpicking.
I use MIDI heavily and the pattern tool is a nice feature. Overall the PRV is good and has nice features. Much improved over Sonar X3.
The step sequencer is a really nice thing to have for drum programming. I love that you can convert back and forth between MIDI clips and step sequencer patterns. I'm really hoping they will give the interface an update since I think there's things that can be improved. The ability to zoom out to see more would be good. A timeline at the top of the step sequencer would be great so I can navigate the project. A "MIDI note row selection" menu similar to the track menu would be clutch to easily decide which MIDI note rows to show. Also right now, the first time I double click an existing step sequencer clip, it opens a blank 4-beat step sequencer. Then I have to double-click the same clip again and it loads it into the step sequencer correctly. This seems like a bug.
Folder tracks are OK in my opinion but they really should have the option of being a bus for the tracks they contain. Right now they just organize stuff but they could be more useful.
The jury is still out on drum maps for me. I can see where they could be very useful but they also are a bit clunky. When I tried Reaper, I just went into the PRV and renamed the notes and saved it as a text file to load in the future. Saved Addictive Drums as a track template with that loaded and I was done. In Sonar the drum map makes it necessary to use a separate track for MIDI and audio instead of a simple instrument track. Also creating a drum map file doesn't seem to be very simple. However, if I ever want to use more than one synth for a drum kit, I'll be singing the praises of drum maps I'm sure.
Love the ability to load an instrument definition for my MOX synth and search and audition the patches. . . that's the bomb.
The arpeggiator built into the MIDI tracks is way outdated. Could be super awesome and useful, but right now it's not. Should be able to load your own patterns and browse presets more easily and should have more options in general. Instead I'm using the free BlueArp plugin which is nice, but again I have to load separate MIDI and audio tracks instead of using a simple instrument track.
ProChannel is awesome. Would love more compact views of the plugins so I can fit it on my screen without scrolling. I'm torn between purchasing ProChannel plugins because I want them, but I don't like that they are proprietary format and can't be used in other programs if I should ever want to switch. If they came with VST's, that would make me more likely to buy.
The improvements to the effects bins and expandable sends really helps. FX Chains looks awesome but I haven't used them yet. . I'm sure I will though. But they should definitely include the ability to control the ProChannel plugins in the FX chain, though that would probably complicate matters since you have to select "Pre or Post FX bin" in the ProChannel. Just another reason why VST's would be good to have for ProChannel modules! :)
Studio One had a "Rename Project" function from the file menu. This was super useful. . . I'd love to see it in Sonar.
The included effects and instruments overall are great. Very good value and exclusive to Sonar. I love Addictive Drums and getting 3 additional kits with the upgrade is awesome. The only thing that sucks is the Boost11 limiter. I downloaded Vladg's Limiter #6 which is a million times better for free. Also filled in a gap with NastyDLA by VOS. Built-in Melodyne is awesome. Don't really care for Lounge Lizard or Strum Acoustic but I'm sure some people like them. Don't use or need the older bundled Cakewalk synths except for Dim Pro and Rapture.
I sat on the fence a while before upgrading and fully committing to Sonar. But what tipped it for me is the more frequent and meaningul updates, the developers and Craig being super-involved in the forums, and the forum community in general. I'm very happy with Sonar and look forward to getting to know the people on this forum better!
post edited by rlared - 2015/06/14 14:57:05