How can you not like Sonar X3 ??

I did some demo recordings tonight, just me and my guitar thru the Roland Micro Cube direct in to the Fast Track then into Sonar X3...It was so easy, not one glitch and using the Pro Channel's eq and Breverb 2 and Concrete Limiter, got a excellent mix. I was able to make the recording and mix it in just a few minutes.
 
This program is wonderful !!

I think a friend of mine said it best...after using [ahem, two other programs considered "standards"] and getting super-frustrated trying to put out a new single every month or so, I suggested he try Sonar. He called me up a few days later and said that Sonar had "put the fun back into recording."
 
That's the way I feel. Let's face it, there are some fine programs out there (and yes, I still use Ableton Live for live performance). But there's something about Sonar that just plain makes it easier and more fluid to create music, and that's the bottom line for me.
 
I used to take a huge amount of time between music projects. I don't think it's coincidence that my recent relatively productive music creation coincides with X2's introduction, and has ramped up with X3.
 
Sure, Sonar isn't perfect. But the harsh truth is that I've used pretty much everything out there, and nothing is perfect...and the Windows platform is certainly far from perfect. But it is what it is. We exist at the whim of Microsoft and Apple. I think Cakewalk has done an amazing job of making a program that accommodates Windows so well for the vast majority of users.
 
I again, I have to say that one of Sonar's best "features" is this forum. I've learned a lot from you, and the few oddballs notwithstanding, there are a lot of good people here.
 
 
 
 

Perhaps it's the way you're recording. If I record a track I don't like, I delete it right then and there. And start over. Takes about 2 seconds to delete a track. If I were recording three tracks, and didn't like my take, I'd delete all three and start over, takes about 10 seconds. I don't mess around with take lanes.
 
 
 
.

Last week did 10 tracks of vox on one song. Spent 5 hours comping it into a lead vocal. A pain but it was worth it. As I was using X2 (where take lanes suck) I used track templates instead and had ten vox tracks. Looking forward to changing my workflow with X3 (I hope it is better). 

That's my way of doing it too. Maybe I'm just too lazy to learn the ins and outs of using take lanes.

+1
 
I used take lanes rarely, but am finding them useful with the new comping tool. For me, every discreet input is its own track, "takes" are multiple versions of the same input (where the comping tool comes in very handy).

Saxon1066
  If I audition takes by keeping lanes open and the main track lane closed (for the extra space), it requires three clicks to close up the entire track when I'm done.

It is a small thing but you can bind this function (Area = Track View, Function = Show/Hide lanes) to a keyboard shortcut and eliminate the mouse clicks completely.

Saxon1066

Anderton

Saxon1066
I don't want a "main" track lane in addition to the takes.  It takes up valuable screen space.

Well, this is a "to each his own"...I find it really handy to be able to see a unified, visual representation of the various clips I've selected. Then again, I seldom go above four takes when doing a part. If I don't get it right in four takes, I re-think the part and start over.

That's because you're a real musician.

So are you!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're making music with Sonar. Sounds like a musician to me.
 
Our strategies for recording takes might be different, but so what? And FWIW, there are plenty of times I don't get what I want in four takes...and I find it's a lot easier to impose limitations on myself, hence the limit. For some reason if I limit the number of takes, it's more likely I'll get what I want sooner.
 
Some of the musicians who've had the most impact weren't "good" by conventional standards. Is David Byrne of Talking Heads a great singer? Lou Reed? Bob Dylan? Was Syd Barrett or Joni Mitchell a virtuoso guitarist?
 
Emotional impact is what it's all about. Be yourself and you are automatically a "real" musician.
 

...and don't overestimate what it takes to make a great performance. I'd rather listen to someone expressing real emotions, no matter how unpolished, than something that sounds perfect but is devoid of meaning.

Anderton
...and don't overestimate what it takes to make a great performance. I'd rather listen to someone expressing real emotions, no matter how unpolished, than something that sounds perfect but is devoid of meaning.

Finally some sanity..... Exactly.

Anderton
 
Emotional impact is what it's all about. Be yourself and you are automatically a "real" musician.
 

You don't even need a good instrument ...  though talent helps.
 

I think what Saxon is talking about is not four separate takes, but four takes taken at the same time. Like three different mics, a 57 straight on, a 57 off axis, another mic a foot or two away or perhaps in the room, and a direct in, all recorded on different tracks at the same time recording the same performance. And do four or five takes like that.

Now try and comp that!!

Saxon1066
Here's how:  I do many takes of guitar on three tracks (two different mics and one DI).  Take lanes are still very cumbersome to use and take up too much screen space, even if they work better than in X2.  I don't want a "main" track lane in addition to the takes.  It takes up valuable screen space.  If I audition takes by keeping lanes open and the main track lane closed (for the extra space), it requires three clicks to close up the entire track when I'm done.  A clip still will not paste into a selected take lane:  it goes wherever it wants, sometimes erasing the clip it lands on.  The new comping system is not as easy to me as just slicing bits of clips in the old layers system.  Layers were better, more streamlined to work with.  There are no advantages with take lanes.  Since the way the tracks look and function during tracking and editing is the most important aspect to me of any DAW, X2 and X3 went in the wrong direction.  I bought X3, used it, and I am on the verge of going back to 8.5 . . . again.  Whoever thought takes lanes were a good idea never did many takes of multiple audio tracks.

Hi Saxon1066
 
Your OP gives me the impression that your way of working on a track/song needs to change. What I cant believe is that your screen space takes precedent to working on your music/comping. You can do only one thing at a time and if what you are doing at the time should have enough screen space as not to make mistakes.
 
That you then have to click a mouse three times and move it around a bit tells me that as far as mixing/comping goes that you are very lazy. You want everything automatical done for you and dont want to pay for it. You should go to a studio and let them mix it for you.
 
The simple truth is that no DAW is a HOLY GRAIL and yes you will have to work in order to get the song you want. Comping is being looked into by CAKE as we speak (so to say). Some people are never happy with what they have.
 
Suggestion: Buy a tape recorder and then mix and splice all your comping there. You wont have to use a mouse and wont have to click either. Wouldn't that be nice.
 
BTW. Learn how to play Guitar. Less comping.

cowboydan
That you then have to click a mouse three times and move it around a bit tells me that as far as mixing/comping goes that you are very lazy. You want everything automatical done for you and dont want to pay for it.

I paid for it already with Sonar 8.5.  Then I paid for it three more times in X1, X2, X3, but they had taken it away.  It was called layers, and it worked perfectly for me.  I never had a complaint about layers.  And yes, I should learn how to play guitar, but after 20 years of trying, I may have hit my talent ceiling.  Lazy I am not.  I work for hours and hours tracking and comping.
 
@Jlien X:  I was expecting others maybe to offer other examples.  Maybe everyone else just loves X3.  I have to admit, I love the Pro Channel with its EQ and compressor and other goodies.  The CPU performance is far better than 8.5.3.
 
Hey Cake, if it were possible to run a setup to choose either lanes or layers, that would make some of us really really happy with X3.  Is that at all possible?

Saxon1066

Grem
I think what Saxon is talking about is not four separate takes, but four takes taken at the same time. Like three different mics, a 57 straight on, a 57 off axis, another mic a foot or two away or perhaps in the room, and a direct in, all recorded on different tracks at the same time recording the same performance. And do four or five takes like that.

Now try and comp that!!

Exactly, Grem!  Usually two mics on a guitar cab plus a DI track--but sometimes also the room mic.  So, I am recording three or four tracks simultaneously for one guitar part--and doing many takes of that guitar part.  I'm an imperfect player, so up to 20 takes--I've gone to 75 takes in fits of madness--sometimes selecting one good note from a take when comping.  The screen was comprehensible with layers, but with all those main track lanes and the small-sizing limit on take lanes, it's difficult in X3.  Watsamatter?  don't you guys seek utter perfection in your recordings?  Bwah hah hah!  Ah hah hah hah HAH!

I record a bit like this especially acoustic guitar. I usually have a DI from the guitar and three mikes, one on the body, one on the neck and a room mic.
 
I then do as many takes as needed which is usually at least 4 or 5, often more. Either way I end up with several tracks and takes. If you use clip grouping you don't need to worry about anything more than one track while comping. Expose the lanes in on track and comp that, the rest will follow. I can't envisage wanting different takes on the same track. In that scenario I'd use different tracks in the first place rather than takes.
 
I do quite often use a second comp from the same set of takes and that's even easier now in X3. Do the first comp then flatten it then do the second and then flatten that. Move them out in separate tracks.
 
I'm sure I find layers in the earlier versions as insane as you  do takes.YMMV of course.