Is sonar X2 hard to use?

what up guys; well just before i take the jump and buy Sonar X2 in preference to Studio One 2 and Cubase 7, can you please tell me how hard the learning curve is. I don't give a **** about this and that and whatever feature 70% of users don't use 90% of the time, my main aim is simplicity. can you inform me if there is a whole lot of superfluous crap that simply gets in the road of the interface and bogs down the menus and makes things generally more difficult to get used to, or is Sonar X2 actually surprisingly straightforward after a minor learning curve. Thanks.

Totally agree with Karl. All Daws require a lot of learning. Sonar is in my view easier than others by a long shot. I have used many Sonar is just as deep or deeper but far more accessible.

Honestly, I'd say it's not surprisingly straightforward. Any of the FULL featured DAWs are a **** to learn (initially). I'm trying to think what would be the most straightforward- they way garageband is. What about Sonar's Music Creator? The cheapest version of Sonar- Essentials? I've never used it. Anyone?

Sonar, I hate to say, is a bit of a bear to learn. Lots of weird menus with the same name strewn all over the place. Basic functions somewhat hidden. Tons of cool features but they tend to overshadow the simple stuff.

That said...

If you just want to do basic stuff work through the tuts in the user guide and pick up the soon to be released X2 Power and you'll be fine. It's just getting those fundamentals out of the way that's a bit of a pain but if you focus for a couple weeks you'll be up and running.

However I will say X2 is far more intuitive than X1 was... but that's just my opinion.

As has been mentioned already pretty much any DAW or any modern program in general has a learning curve so if you do choose something else it won't be much easier and you'll have less features for far more money. It's worth the extra effort. Put your head into, don't get frustrated and ask the forum for help when you need it.

Cheers.

According to another post, godp has been using Mixcraft 6 Pro Studio, so he should be able to at least grasp the basic concepts using any other DAW. otoh, he'll have to unlearn certain ways of doing things that he's become used to. I agree that trying the demos is really the only way to know for sure. Everyone approaches things differently, and what seems intuitive to one person can seem like a nightmare to someone else.

The three versions of SONAR are identical except for the features that they provide. So they work the same, but Essentials has less features available than Studio and Producer.

Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview

Yeah, seems silly to get Essentials because it's "easier". Looks like exactly the same thing except you have less tools to work with which to me would make creating music harder.

I think the basics of any DAW are pretty easy to learn, as long as you have some guidance in the form of a manual and/or tutorials. It's like learning any complicated system...if your initial goal is to learn the program in its entirety - how everything works and relates to everything else - then you're going to get overwhelmed and bogged down very quickly. However like most complex systems it can be broken down into smaller parts which are easier to understand in themselves. I'm pretty sure there's a "Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance" type point I'm trying to make here. 

In terms of getting up and running, all you need to know is how to set up your audio device, how to set inputs and outputs, then the basics of audio recording/playback. Then I guess how to work with synths and basic piano roll editing, as well as how to insert and use plugs, and the basics of the mixing console. All of that stuff will come to you very quickly.

When I first learned Pro Tools I took in as much as I needed to know to get some audio and MIDI into the program, and how to edit/mix it. Then I put the book down and started making music. I did exactly the same thing with Sonar. I find it helps to learn the program in conjunction with the creation of a experimental song. Once you have enough of the basics down to make a tune, you'll start to make one. And as soon as the creative juices are flowing, you're going to be led naturally into the other features of the program and learn how to use those too. In any case, that's how I generally learn how to use a program. Learn just enough to start being creative, and the rest will come in time out of necessity.

But that's me. Other people might prefer to sit down and read the whole manual back to back before they even start a project. I however am of the opinion that our brains are wired to learn by the practical method I've described above. 

Several folks included this - Sonar X2 is available for a free 30-day trial, and as it is fully-functional you can spend some time getting familiar with the different placement of things, along with the basic functionality.

I believe your own conclusions are the best ones reached, and you do have 30 days to reach them.

I will also say that there are quite a few folks here in the forum that will help you as you work through the learning process, and that's a nice thing to have.  We'll do our best to have your back, even if you are French (kidding - really just kidding).  :)

Good luck in any case with your quest to make music, 

Bob Bone

godparticle


can you please tell me how hard the learning curve is

What are you going to be doing with your DAW?


DAWs are so powerful nowdays and have grown, along with its aging user base. A lot of us here have grown up with what ever DAW we use and perhaps take it for granted at how much time we have spent learning about our marvellous tool.


So, will you be doing mainly audio tracking/mixing/mastering or MIDI stuff, or a mixture of the two?

My computer will be plenty powerful enough: My music goals are to compose mix edit and master all myself, seeing as i have already achieved that with my current DAW and it will all be done with romplers and softsynths so nothing will be recorded from outside like guitars trumpets etc.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, clearly there will be a learning curve, now all i have to ask is if anyone has both Studio One 2.5 and Sonar X2 and which they think has the least learning curve; i don't care too much about included plugins as i am happy to buy whatever i need on the net, so i was wondering if anyone is adamant that Studio One 2.5 is easier to learn and use than Sonar X2. Cheers.

yeah, thanks man, i think you just said it all. i don't think i can go too far wrong with Sonar as far as value for money and lots of included quality tools, plus the step sequencer is something i have a big need for and do not find in many DAW's. I think i will just bite the bullet and jump in the deep end and hopefully i don't run into too many stumbling-blocks along the way when trying to learn it's methodologies. The main reason i started the thread is because i don't plan on swapping between too many DAW's, i just want to make sure i have chosen 'one' the best, then commit to it for the long term and then i'm in it for the long haul. But if anyone is able to say contrariwise and give a good argument for Studio One 2.5 i'm still all ears at this point. Cheers.

I believe that a choice of DAW is a matter of personal preference. So it would be kind of hard to predict what you would prefer or like. One thing I liked about the professional version of Sonar is the software synths that come with it. The full version of Rapture, Dimension pro ect. Session Drummer 3 sounds great too. The loop collection and extra content is great for electronic music.

One thing I can say is there seems to be a learning curve when it comes to figuring out everything Sonar X2 can do. But now that I have been working with it for a while the work flow seems to be quicker for me. To me it seems quicker then other DAWs. That is just my personal opinion and that is why Sonar works for me.

I think it is wise to look at everything out there before you jump in. I have found that people in the forum provide a great support system. It is really kind of hard to say what is going to work best for you. People are different and I think only you can determine that.

I will probably get flamed.[font="sans-serif; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "]  for this but so be it.  Studio One is much easier over all to learn.  I own borh.  Sonar has a few more features but Studio One is catching up quickly.



Check my joined date before you beat me up too much guys.  Im not a newbie.  I love Sonar. I just love Studio One as well.

bigboi


I will probably get flamed.[font="sans-serif; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "]  for this but so be it.  Studio One is much easier over all to learn.  I own borh.  Sonar has a few more features but Studio One is catching up quickly.



Check my joined date before you beat me up too much guys.  Im not a newbie.  I love Sonar. I just love Studio One as well.

There is no need to beat you up. You are entitled to your own opinion. You have proved my point. What ever DAW you like is a matter of personal preference. The challenge is finding the one that is the most comfortable to you. I have tried 4 others. They did what they were meant to do. I just prefer Sonar.


My advice for any considering Sonar is to download the demo and see if it works for you.