Is Sonar Platinum Too Much for A Beginner?

Apologies for the length of this (my first) post, but I've been reading with interest the threads regarding the new lifetime updates of Sonar Platinum, and am soliciting opinions on my quest.
 
As a little background, I am about to "retire" from the majority of my volunteer work, and am looking for a hobby to take up the time.  I am an IT guy who is obsessed with music, and grew up playing the piano.  What better hobby than to marry my two interests (IT and music) together?   I'm a much better IT guy than I will ever be a musician, but I look forward to learning and tinkering over several years. Half the fun for me is learning how things work and generally "messing around."  
 
My plan is to buy a keyboard workstation (probably a Yamaha Mox8 or Roland FA-08), a NI Komplete Audio 6 interface, and a DAW.   I play no other instruments, and cannot sing; so, for me, I will be limited to the keyboard and DAW.  I've done a ton of research on DAWs, and understand that (for the most part) they all do more or less the same thing, and it basically comes down to personal preference.  As I said, I have no experience whatsoever with DAW or recording, so I have a "clean slate."   My original plan was to just use Reaper, mostly due to its cost, and the fact that there is a ton of great information and videos on how to use the product.   However, Reaper is "bundled" with very little (instruments and effects).  Instruments and effects interest me, because at some point the keyboard sounds will become passe to me.  As such, I started looking at other DAWS.  I've downloaded the trials for Reaper (not a trial I know), Cubase, Studio One, and Sonar.  I've played around a bit with them, but as I said, I know nothing, so I don't know which one I'm really interested in.  I don't like the USB lock for Cubase, so that is out for me (the online only Sonar does not bother me).  So it is down to Sonar, Reaper and Studio One.  
 
I would have never even thought about Sonar Platinum (I was looking at Artist or Pro), but am now with the lifetime updates.  On of my duties in my IT department is managing around 400 separate software packages - subscription based software is where everything is going, so I understand the business model.  I (personally) have bought lifetime subscriptions to software - sometimes it has worked out, and sometimes I've been burned.  I "get" the risk you take.  I am not wealthy by any means, but I have been saving for awhile, so I could fit the $500 Platinum lifetime in my budget.  My simple question is this - is Sonar Platinum simply too much for an absolute beginner?  I look at it this way if - I could buy Artist, and would pay for 5 years and have less features, instruments, and effects than I would at the beginning.  For Pro, that would be a tick over 2.5 years.  Are those extra instruments, effects, and features wasted on a total beginner?  Is it better to just buy Reaper or Sonar Artist?  I understand this is a Cakewalk forum, what are your thoughts on Reaper vs. Sonar vs. Studio One for a beginner?
 
Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

I would buy Platinum in your case since it comes with way more Synths to mess around with not to mention way more and better effects.  
 
It is really no more complex than Artist (it just has more plugin options).
 
You don't want Reaper, it isn't as intuitive and since it comes with virtually no instruments or effects you will end up spending an arm and a leg for them as add ons.
 
Watch these videos about Sonar X2, they virtually all apply to Platinum.  They will get you going
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKRYWdEpbc5PgUgvrNuSvVyfv5qkll0qj
 
Here are some of the features added in X3
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKRYWdEpbc5MtPslyvpY_tkunB34cvU75
 
 You could also probably get by with a cheaper keyboard if you really wanted to.  I find a lot of people just end up using MIDI and the synth instruments (which are many and very good sounding) with in the program.  Chances are you might not even use the internal sound of the keyboard at all, as that certainly would limit your ability to touch up and manipulate your takes.  

Welcome to the forum.  I would recommend Platinum because you can use just the basic functions while learning, and as you progress, you will have access to the whole program. 
 
I would also suggest you research videos on YouTube, the Cakewalk website, https://www.cakewalk.com/CakeTV, and there are several other videos out there by Fast Biker Boy, aka Karl Rose, and various other people, books by
 
Scott Garrigus, articles by Craig Anderton, Tip of the week http://forum.cakewalk.com/Fridays-Tip-of-the-Week-96-gLi-tC-H-Vocalsthe-Easy-Way-m3074655.aspx and of course Groove3.com    

I know this is slightly bad form but I'm going to suggest you revisit Cubase in spite of the dongle. It seems to me you're going to do 90 percent midi based stuff, as in very little audio multitracking etc.
At the moment, I personally feel Cubase has the edge on midi performance. There are several threads on this board on the current state of midi editing in Sonar. It isn't terrible and I get by fine, but Cubase handles it better. It even has some features Sonar has no equivalent for.

I wouldn't go with Reaper, as was said it comes with very little and while it's powerful, the workflow can be a bit obscure (in my opinion) and again midi editing isn't necessarily its strongest suit. Presonus I believe is also stronger in the audio department. Does it do SysEx now, does anybody know?

If you're set on Sonar then the lifetime upgrades sound like a good deal because you get a reasonable amount of content for the money and basically like you said you'll earn it back sooner or later. I would probably still expect you to buy a product like OmniSphere or Komplete or some a la carte third party stuff later on to flesh out your sounds but Platinum will get you started. Don't go all out on a hardware synth. If you'd still like something with sounds, look for a decent quality older one. But I second the idea of putting the money into a midi controller and a good set of VSTs. It's a bit more effort to set up but if you can manage the "delayed inspiration" you'll have better quality sounds.

As been said already, you probably wont learn all that SPLAT has to offer. But it has some really good features for a beginner.

On a side note, if you choose the FA-08 you wont have to buy a separate audio interface. It has got great low latency ASIO drivers already.

Best 
Ludvig

I started from scratch with an earlier version and no DAW experience some years ago (Cakewalk 8.5) and kept upgrading through Sonar Platinum with no regrets. Highly recommend a one year subscription to Groove3 training videos. They have quite a few courses directly focused on versions of Sonar as well as many on recording, mixing, mastering, synthesizers, musical theory, and specific instruments. Might even still be on sale right now. Comments from others familiar with the competition indicate that one of the big advantages of Sonar is this forum, which is active, full of incredible expertise, and very useful. My advice with no hesitation: get Sonar Platinum and get started enjoying all it has to offer.

Hi husker and welcome to the forum!  I am a hobbyist and also consider myself a beginner (due mainly to lack of time).  I've used Cakewalk software since Pro Audio 9 and kept upgrading to stay current but also to support what I believe to be one of the best companies around.  You will most likely never use all the features of SONAR - I certainly don't - but they are there if you need them.  While I don't post often, this forum is amazing and full of helpful, kind and knowledgable folks and one of the best parts of the SONAR experience.  And ditto to what was said before - to purchase all of the added instruments and effects included would easily double the price it is now.  Go for Platinum - you won't regret it!

Everything expressed so far is good advice. I was originally a school band geek, then I was an IT guy, too.  I bought my first keyboard synth because I wanted to learn to create sounds and see what MIDI could do. 
 
I have owned a Korg workstation, but sold it once I had a computer and DAW software, as the keyboard workstation seemed redundant.  But there were a few more reasons I was beginning to re-think the hardware keyboards. I have a few rack modules and a couple of decent external rompler keyboards now, but they are mostly retired.  To edit the sound in a rack module from the front panel, or even a keyboard workstation from a tiny LCD screen is an exercise in patience.  I had to buy a program called MIDI Quest to do remote editing on my external synth modules.  Then I had to learn about MIDI sysex, for backing up patch data and sound banks via MIDI to capture all of my current changes.
 
With Sonar and virtual instruments, you now have a GUI to edit your virtual instrument sounds (features depend on the VST program). Then when done editing, just save the project. The sounds you were last working with in a VST plugin will open right back up with the project where you were at before.  You can save your entire virtual studio with the click of a button!
 
To help with the budget, I would just emphasize prioritizing a good audio interface module and an affordable MIDI controller.
 
The awesome thing about Sonar Platinum is the included virtual instruments.  You get a good package of virtual instruments & effects, which you can expand (for example: NI Kontakt) as your needs and budget permit!  The last several PC hardware upgrades I have done were with the goal of running virtual instruments and effects.  I am simply amazed at what can be accomplished with a home studio DAW now.  And that's coming from a mostly MIDI guy, that occasionally records his guitar buddy's tracks :-)

If I were starting from scratch I would buy Artist, and Kontakt 5 along with a workstation/ keyboard. I wouldn't be out much for Artist if I hated it, Kontakt gives me a lot of good quality instruments and the workstation allows me to  play without all the computer stuff and a way to play live with others if I choose. Kontakt gives you one GUI to learn, another plus.
You can always upgrade the DAW or effects  if you see the need. You will have  enough to keep you busy.
This forum is a big reason to buy Sonar whatever version you might choose.

If I were outfitting my studio from scratch I'd go with:
 
Sonar Platinum
Wait a few months and get a new MacBook Pro to run the Mac version of Sonar. Platinum has everything you'd ever need in a complete software studio. It's well worth the modest up-charge relative to the other Sonar versions. ...and I think it's gonna be killer on the new MBP.
 
Native Instruments Komplete
Arturia V Collection
Native Instruments Kontrol 49 midi-keyboard
Kontrol is built to work with Komplete and The stuff in the V-Collection right out of the box. You can have all three of these for much less than a workstation keyboard. Your really don't need the workstation keyboard if your going to be using it in front of Sonar all the time. If you are going to play live or don't want to work within a DAW, workstations are great.
 
Focusrite Scarlett Interface
I have the 18i20 and its the best interface I've ever used. The second generation of the series that Focusrite just announced makes me want to get another one (6i6) for my mobile rig.
 
Keith McMillen QuNexus
Amazing device for travel. Works perfectly with both my MBP and my iPads.
 
The only other DAW I would seriously consider is Logic. I think Sonar has a far superior workflow, but the Logic Remote app on the iPad is friggin' unbelievable.  ...and Logic is the only way you are going to get your hands on what is left of Camel Audio's Alchemy.

Sanderxpander
I love Sonar but I would never recommend a beginner get an Alpha version of any software as his main investment.

I agree with this

I would say buy it. If you get a simple, stripped down version of Reaper or StudioOne or whatever, you could find yourself running into limitations. Yes, simpler DAW's can be less of a learning curve to some extent but with the simplicity comes limitations. I tried the others along with Acid and found myself getting frustrated.
 
I will echo what Mr. Anderton said, you can use as little as you feel comfortable with but still have the option for more advanced features as you grow into it.
 
As a hobbyist and long time CW user, I found Pro was a good (re)entry. However, I'm also looking to upgrade for the additional instruments - not that I need them but I want them. I just have to justify the additional cost strictly for an occasional hobby.

husker
As a little background, I am about to "retire" from the majority of my volunteer work, and am looking for a hobby to take up the time.  I am an IT guy who is obsessed with music, and grew up playing the piano.  What better hobby than to marry my two interests (IT and music) together?   I'm a much better IT guy than I will ever be a musician, but I look forward to learning and tinkering over several years. Half the fun for me is learning how things work and generally "messing around."  
 
My plan is to buy a keyboard workstation (probably a Yamaha Mox8 or Roland FA-08), a NI Komplete Audio 6 interface, and a DAW.   I play no other instruments, and cannot sing; so, for me, I will be limited to the keyboard and DAW.

Since I have almost the same background (well, I think I can sing, but everyone else, including my family, has different opinion), let me make several comments.
 
* If you have real acoustic piano and want record it, you probably want to use full version of Melodyne for correction. Once you register the version which comes with Sonar, you get time limited offer to upgrade. Not cheap but worse it, and it will be hard to get the same price once the offer expire.
* if you do not have real piano, think about Digital Piano. Some of them have workstation like capabilities. But the point is the keyboard. There are DPs with good piano like feeling (Kawai VPC-1, CS), other with "acceptable". Try to find a store where you can test many. Note that Sonar has no good Piano VST.
* Platinum is great for testing/learning audio effects and the difference between them (significantly more then lower versions), has several extra instruments in limited edition, 3packs of AD2 (full version of good drum instrument) and a set of sound samples to make fun with. Lifetime updates. I have joined the train back in X3 time and while I have probably not used big part of that huge package, I have never thought that saving some money with simpler version could be a better option for me.
* if you do not plan to record analog sound with processing (guitar, mic), the sound interface is not so important. All interfaces with own ASIO drivers have reasonable for MIDI latency. But do not forget about Monitors and Headphones. You will be unable to understand what all these EQ and Compressors are doing throw PC/Workstations speakers nor throw a phone headset. Several instruments mixed together will sound "wrong", but the problem is to understand how to fix that.
 
 

Though this is a little dated (It is for Sonar X3), this video for $9.99 covers a LOT of MIDI with SONAR.  The techniques remain the same with the current version of SONAR.  I also am an IT guy that has a passion for music.  I cannot play keyboard, so I just got a MIDI guitar!  At any rate the below video has at least got me making sounds with it in SONAR:
https://shop.cakewalk.com/1244/catalog/product.151198/language.en/currency.USD/?id=KytbcDlxWS