Have You Driven a Matrix View...Lately?

Cool.  Sounds great.  Thanks John.  And Craig.

It's an advertising classic - and it must still work, it got your attention!

Anderton
It's an advertising classic - and it must still work, it got your attention!

Sounds like you know your target audience.
 

ampfixer
I think if Matrix view mattered to me I'd likely be using Ableton stuff. I'm more into a console based paradigm.

What I like about Matrix View integration in SONAR is that it can "feed" other elements of the program - for example, lay down an improvised bass+drums rhythm track super-fast for songwriting, and have the results show up in Track View (after which point I don't need the Matrix View any more). The "clips parking" aspect is also handy, as is partial drags to cells. In SONAR, I treat it more as a Track View accessory than an entity unto itself. If I want the full-frontal groove experience for live performance, then I boot up Live.
 
However it just occurred to me that my familiarity with Live is probably an advantage in terms of getting the most out of the Matrix View in SONAR.

Yeah, if Cakewalk or JJ really wants to promote Matrix View, put together a convincing demo.

Great Matrix view is being looked at - I find it very useful for creativity similar to Live but staying in Sonar. Automapping to Launchpad ala Ableton would be great and a timesaver.

I would love to use it more but Omnisphere has stuck notes when moving to the next set of cells.

From memory Brandon Ryan did a video some years back where he demo'd writing a song on the fly using the matrix. It was quite impressive from what I remember. I had a quick search but couldn't find it - I'll have another look see if I can dig it up when I get a chance.   

I found this old chestnut, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KgqhKQDywc
 
And a blog entry that tells you what it covers.
 
http://blog.cakewalk.com/...-a-sonar-master-class/
 
 
 
 

boblettnoe
Craig,
 
While we are talking Matrix View changes something I have been puzzling over and haven't looked into to deeply yet...but seemed to change with a recent update...
 
There used to be a small triangle on the lower right corner of the trigger on/off button on the top right in the MV, that would let you choose the midi channel that would be used to trigger cell via midi (useful for using a control surface's pads) 
 
Since a recent update has changed/linked the association of tracks/clips and Matrix cells perhaps the triggering midi channel is now a function of the cell's track midi input? Which is adding an extra level of complexity.
 
 
 

 
Yes, me too.  I remember fiddling around with the Matrix in prior versions of Sonar and there was a separate button for changing the channels, now gone.    I've been spending more time with the matrix this past several months.  I got a Launchpad mini to trigger cells and changing the Matrix channel was important to me because I was using different midi keyboards to play different instruments and they were all trying to trigger matrix cells.  The Launchpad mini transmits on channel 1 so I could select that and screen out other midi inputs.  With Sonar Platinum I clicked numerous times on the midi input button in the upper right corner of MV and finally got it to show a channel select dropdown menu.  Please Cakewalk put the button back!!!  Another thing, I realize Sonar probably won't ever have the Ableton Live ability to light the buttons of Launchpad showing which cells are playing, but couldn't you make the matrix cells that are playing more obvious.  I can stare at the Matrix screen that has several cells playing and I have a hard time seeing what cells are playing.  Give the active cells more color or brightness, blink or something!  That would make it easier for me to use it with the Launchpad.  I might be a little color blind so maybe not everyone has a problem seeing which cells are playing.
 
If the Matrix could be developed more I think it could rival Ableton Live.  I find that I use it more than Live because I can access all the powerful features of Sonar.  Live is a ton of fun to play with, but it seems more like a toy.  But I am still learning how to use it.