Long Time Cakewalk/Sonar User

zwatrif


Hi all, I'm a long time Cake Sonar User - From Cake 6 up till Sonar 8.3.1. I've been watching the SONAR X1 Producer, Studio & Essential forum from the sideline since they released X1. Wow! - Lots of posts about stability, crashes, and patches. It's because of these posts that I've chosen not to upgrade. I just can't see upgrading to a version with many problems when I've got allot of work that needs to get done. It would be a different story if this were a hobby for me. No big deal waiting on a program to get fixed when there's no deadlines. But that's not the case. Things need to be done "yesterday". And now I see Sonar X1 Expanded coming out soon. Question - Is X1 stable to a point where it makes sense to release Sonar X1 Expanded? I'd love to hear some opinions on this. Best, -Mike

zwatrif

Is X1 stable to a point where it makes sense to release Sonar X1 Expanded? I'd love to hear some opinions on this.

Tripecac


If you are on the fence, I recommend waiting until X2, or at least until Cakewalk has the "buy X1 and get X2 free" sale.

Save your money! 

mudgel


I think you should buy it. You'll have one of two experiences. a good one or a bad one.
This far into the release cycle though you benefit greatly from the work put into all the updates and with X1C you are more than likely to have a positive SONAR experience.

A few bugs are still around from previous versions - acknowledged by Cakewalk but fixes for many of these aren'tever likely.

a few bugs are difficult for Cakewalk and oithers to reproduce 'reliably' and that makes fixing them very hard.

The ProChannel bugs fit in the above category but even those bugs are acknowledged by Cakewalk.

For some (don't know the exact number) this release is reported as being the least stable ever while still others report their experience with X1 as positive from the date of release.

One thing is certain and that is that X1 has illicited an unprecedented wave of complaints on this forum and an ongoing battle  between the "it works on my system so your system is at fault" to fanbois who won't have a bad word said about cakewalk and then there are those who don't understand what the fuss is all about anyway. Did I mention the group who want it to work but are really struggling to get it to work reliably without locking up in the "white Screen" where SONAR becomes completely unresponsive. then there are those who don't like and won't
work with the new GUI and those that are working hard to get to grips with the changes and finding it difficult.

The noise on this board has made it difficult for that group to get any help because it always goes back to "your system's" at fault.

In the end I say go buy it; we did so you should too. Support Cakewalk but don't expect miracles.

I have a professionally spec'd DAW that is only about 18 months old and was built for SONAR 8.3 to 8.5 and X1 is the only software I have trouble with. X1C is working well enough that I can now at least work with it to get to know the new workflow imposed by the new GUI and menu structure. This far into the release cycle to only be at this stage is disappointing but my anger has long ago dissipated to a more resigned position. That is I'm resigned to continue using 8.5.3 until I'm have the same confidence in X1. that I can get my work done without lock ups and other inexplicable behaviour.

Never had any stability issues with any previous SONAR version and I've got them all and go back to Cakewalk 7 about 15 years ago. Still I seem to be in the minority

There is no denying though that X1a was a really dodgy release and Cakewalk could have held back about 3 months and maybe saved themselves and many of us a big headache.

All the best to you. Go for it.