I was able to get through all the hoops and downloads for the Cubase Elements demo. It will work when Sonar finally fails but it didn't blow my doors off. There seems to be a lot of legacy bloat, meaning that there are UI pieces that are there for no seemingly practical reason. Do I really care about the instrument preload memory?
 
16 instrument slots, really? The TTS-1 handles that in 1 instrument. What I have heard of the included instruments have not impressed either. Some sounded ok but most sound thin. Not crazy about the small type in the UI on 43" @ 3840x2160.
 
Meh, the trial works for 29 more days but I'm not as impressed as I was hoping. Maybe that will change.

Ehh.. DrLumen, do you not confuse instrument slots? You can have one multitimbral instument in one slot and (as an example Omnisphere 2) feeded by 8 MIDI channels/tracks and 8 audio outputs/tracks. So - for 8 MIDI-in and 8 Audio out tracks you only need one (rack) instrument slot.
 
The same goes for things like Native Instruments Kontakt. So - If you combine for instance Omnisphere 2 and Kontakt, You have a wealth of sounds and instruments with only two slots occupied.
 
Of course Cubase Elements has some limitations, but the program only cost a fraction of Sonar Platinum, or Cubase Pro. It's hardly fair to compare a inexpensive basic product to a full fledged expensive version.
 
And yes - You have to adapt to a new work flow, keys, and key-combo's, like you have to do with all new DAW's you start to use. Every program/DAW has it's own similarities and differences with other programs/DAW's. Once you have learned your way in a program (and that's true for any DAW like FL-Studio, Reason, Ableton Live, Bitwig, Reaper, Studio One... you name it), you will work very fluid and comfortable.
 
Finally there is personal taste. I use  several DAW's (FL-Studio, Cubase, Ableton Live, Sonar Plat), and each of them has their pro's and cons. Personally I am most comfortable with Cubase, but I have to admit there was a bit of a learning curve before I felt that comfortable, simply because there are so many things you can do with that program and it takes time to learn that.

JonD

JohnEgan
... but I dont think I need or want anything too complex or have to totally reprogram my brains thinking process. LOL.

John, have you checked out Mixcraft?  Solid set of features, no bloat.  MIDI is fairly basic (compared to Sonar/Cubase), but probably enough for most users. 
Also, the GUI could definitely use a face-lift compared to the cool, refined GUIs of the competition... Still, it's worth a tryout.

Yea Hi, I have checked it out I believe I had it installed and using it within 5 minutes, also you can drag and drop midi and audio from Sonar into MC tracks, and most all Sonar VI's and plugins work except those requiring unlock codes. Its definitely not Sonar, but like it, its geared to musicians to easily making and recording music, where Cubase to me is a somewhat of a complex machine geared to producing a product, not to say thats a bad thing if thats where your at.
I will say, while I find CuBase a bit intimidating as it represents for me reinventing the wheel, its also intriguing as it represents a challenge, just not sure I want to take my time away from making music to learn a new process.
If your into serious production and fully documenting your product and process CuBase may be the best alternative choice, albeit in that case you probably already have it. 
 
Cheers.    

I spent some time with Cubase  Elements 9 last night. I was able to import a midi file and  played it thru my Ivory II samples....after learning a few things it was fairly easy to use and sounded really nice. Still having problems accessing East West Symphonic Gold samples, but that's an East West problem. 

abacab

Amicus717
 
I'm actually quite surprised at how complete the midi toolset is in Elements. 

Exactly!  I took the Elements demo earlier this year, as soon as 9.0 arrived.  I was very impressed with the Cubase Elements composition toolset.  The Arranger track and the chord track alone blows Sonar Platinum away as far as MIDI composition is concerned!!! 

I've got the Cubase Elements 9.5 demo installed. Looks pretty good so far, however, in the chord track, I am only able to add one chord. After that, nada.

Also, it appears there is no way to zoom in the score editor.

I find the "Console" totally a mess.
You can't route, at least it's beyond me, your audio. No "add buss", is that what a "group channel" is.
So I get your frustration.
I'll fuss with it a bit each day, watch some more videos.
Not convinced yet.
Maybe its just me.
T

I think there are two major categories of DAWs out there today.  Of course, some cross over these lines, but here are my thoughts.  This is not intended to be a complete list, rather an example of my thought process as I look for a possible Sonar replacement. 
 
I either own, or have tried a demo version of, everything listed here except for Bitwig and Logic.
 
1. Traditional DAW - linear track timeline with a deep toolset for recording, mixing, & mastering a music project. Modeled on the traditional tape based recording studio and console workflow.
 
2. Music making DAW - a toolset that inspires music creation on the computer, often with a non-traditional UI and workflow that does not necessarily have the steep learning curve of a traditional DAW.  Very friendly to in the box production.  But you may still need a full DAW to finish a professional project.  I don't think you will likely find a fully satisfactory replacement for Platinum in this group.  But there is nothing wrong with using more that one DAW in your workflow.  And I'm sure some folks are very happy with only one of these, rather than the other type!
 
Category #1 examples: Sonar Professional/Platinum, Cubase Pro, Studio One Pro, Reaper, Logic, etc.
 
Category #2 examples: Cubase Elements, FL-Studio, Reason, Ableton Live, Bitwig, Tracktion, Mixcraft, etc.
 
So what I suggest as you demo other products, realize that it is a short list of full Sonar replacements.  And none of them are likely to have a 100% workflow that you are used to with Sonar.  Switching DAWs, or adding secondary DAWs, always requires an investment in time and frustrations as you climb the learning curve.  Don't blame the product for being different from what you are used to.  Blame Gibson! 

JClosed
You can have one multitimbral instument in one slot and (as an example Omnisphere 2) feeded by 8 MIDI channels/tracks and 8 audio outputs/tracks. So - for 8 MIDI-in and 8 Audio out tracks you only need one (rack) instrument slot.
 
The same goes for things like Native Instruments Kontakt. So - If you combine for instance Omnisphere 2 and Kontakt, You have a wealth of sounds and instruments with only two slots occupied.
 

+1
 
Excellent point!!!

JClosed
The same goes for things like Native Instruments Kontakt. So - If you combine for instance Omnisphere 2 and Kontakt, You have a wealth of sounds and instruments with only two slots occupied.

 
That's good to know. I'm really just surprised there was a limit. One could probably do same with the same synth and a bunch of in-track program changes. What a mess that would be. Geez, I haven't used a program change in years. From what I have seen I would have to go the pro version so no real cost savings - particularly if I have to go a buy some $500 virtual synths.
 

abacab
I think there are two major categories of DAWs out there today.  Of course, some cross over these lines, but here are my thoughts.  This is not intended to be a complete list, rather an example of my thought process as I look for a possible Sonar replacement. 
 
I either own, or have tried a demo version of, everything listed here except for Bitwig and Logic.
 
1. Traditional DAW - linear track timeline with a deep toolset for recording, mixing, & mastering a music project. Modeled on the traditional tape based recording studio and console workflow.
 
2. Music making DAW - a toolset that inspires music creation on the computer, often with a non-traditional UI and workflow that does not necessarily have the steep learning curve of a traditional DAW.  Very friendly to in the box production.  But you may still need a full DAW to finish a professional project.  I don't think you will likely find a fully satisfactory replacement for Platinum in this group.  But there is nothing wrong with using more that one DAW in your workflow.  And I'm sure some folks are very happy with only one of these, rather than the other type!
 
Category #1 examples: Sonar Professional/Platinum, Cubase Pro, Studio One Pro, Reaper, Logic, etc.
 
Category #2 examples: Cubase Elements, FL-Studio, Reason, Ableton Live, Bitwig, Tracktion, Mixcraft, etc.
 
So what I suggest as you demo other products, realize that it is a short list of full Sonar replacements.  And none of them are likely to have a 100% workflow that you are used to with Sonar.  Switching DAWs, or adding secondary DAWs, always requires an investment in time and frustrations as you climb the learning curve.  Don't blame the product for being different from what you are used to.  Blame Gibson! 

Abacab, I have tried some other DAWs over the years and I was thinking about a similar issue. Maybe, perhaps, people like me that are used to the more linear layout DAWs are dinosaurs. When the various website polls are published on the use of the various music software programs show the likes of Ableton or Fruity Loops as the most used, I have to think that maybe my workflow may be outdated. Maybe I'm too much of a control freak and need to re-examine my paradigm. While I have never been one to play or try to compose EDM like stuff, maybe that is my real problem. In essence, PDQ Bach having an iphone instead of pen and paper.

DrLumen
 
Abacab, I have tried some other DAWs over the years and I was thinking about a similar issue. Maybe, perhaps, people like me that are used to the more linear layout DAWs are dinosaurs. When the various website polls are published on the use of the various music software programs show the likes of Ableton or Fruity Loops as the most used, I have to think that maybe my workflow may be outdated. Maybe I'm too much of a control freak and need to re-examine my paradigm. While I have never been one to play or try to compose EDM like stuff, maybe that is my real problem. In essence, PDQ Bach having an iphone instead of pen and paper.

I just grabbed the "sonar50" ($50) special for Overture 5, and I am liking it.  It's a good notation program with VST instrument support, linear track view, mixer, and a MIDI editor.  No audio yet, though ... but it's a great way to channel your "Bach"! 
 
**Message from Don Williams - Overture 5 - Updated**
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3699129