Hi guys.  I'll cut to the chase!  I'm not going anywhere yet, BUT I always like to have a Plan B!!!
 
At the moment, I'm very nervous that I might not be able to finish my next project because something might break my Sonar install and I won't be able to re-install it due to not having access to the activation servers.
 
Therefore, I want something in the bank for that rainy day so via their Facebook page, I've been in discussion with Harrison over transition deals for Sonar users because having run a demo of PreSonus and currently running Cubase Elements as an alternative (mainly for looking at other producer's projects and extracting what I need), having now had a look at Mixbus32C, I believe that this DAW is the natural alternative for how I work within a studio environment because it seems to have the look and feel of Sonar and it also seems to have a natural workflow for me, being from a more traditional studio environment, ie, having used Mackie mixers, etc.
 
So you'll now find two offers for us here, which at my suggestion has been extended until January: https://harrisonconsoles.lpages.co/cakewalk-offer/
 
Also, the discussion I'm having with Harrison is here (but it seems you might need to log-in to Facebook to see my dialogue with Mike from Harrison on this post): https://www.facebook.com/HarrisonMixbus/posts/10159606793145153
 
If it helps, I might copy and paste that dialogue within this thread later.
 
Take a look and make your own minds up!
 
Hope this helps with a way forward for you guys, if all else fails.
 
Cheers!  :-)
 
EDIT: Things I like over other DAWS so far; full MIDI support, no USB Dongle required, they're a hardware (mixer) manufacturer which means they know a thing or two about audio and they're not reliant on one business stream for income (important in leu of what has happened here) and they don't want our Sonar licence keys which means we can carry on using Sonar for as long as it'll work!

I already bought Mixbus V4 with the 4 free plugins.
The sound quality is really good and setup is easy.
There is a learning curve but it doesn't take long to get to grips
 with everything.
 
Try the demo I don't think you will be disappointed.
 

My only issue with Mixbus was that it doesn't have the same features as Platinum in that I use the ProChannel 4-band EQ quite a lot, especially the low and high cut.  Mixbus only has 3-band and 1 filter, hence why I asked them to extended their offer to 32C because that has an EQ which matches the ProChannels.
 
Thanks for the feedback as that's great to know.  I will try the demo for sure.  So far I've just watched their tutorials and looked at the specs.
 
For me Studio One without MIDI is a no because I use MIDI quite extensively and I know it inside out so I can get it to work with any piece of hardware and software.  Having to learn someone's proprietary way of doing things when there is an established protocol which has been around for more than 30 years tells you something important.  Its lasted longer than a lot of companies and their ideas!
 
It's proven to work and look, how amazing is it that a 2017 computer running Sonar, can communicate with a synth from 1985, no problem, no special protocols to learn, period!  Recently a few developers got together and updated the MIDI spec to bring it into this decade so now, I can get Sonar to do anything in MIDI that you can do with a modern VSTi so how cool is that?
 
Cubase and that annoying dongle puts me off and why should I pay for it too!  They're imposing that on their users so no thanks! 
 
Ableton, I don't like the Lego Land interface and the workflow just isn't conducive to how I work!  I think there's something else I found it didn't have which I didn't like too but that interface I just couldn't get on with personally, sorry!

I bought a few DAWS over Black Friday. hehe Lots of other stuff too.
Harrison 32C is one of them. It does sound good and has plenty to like but I just cannot wrap my head around a piece of software that touts the Harrison sound because of the buses and eq and then has those two things so jacked up in the console view.

I have 2-22" monitors and I cannot read the knobs on the EQ because the text is so small. If you enlarge or whatever then other elements of the mixer are too large or disappear. I have the 1200 resolution they require.
 
They really need a pop for both the EQ and buses. They can take the bus selectors right off the channel and make it one button that does the flyout. I know they want to be different but they are going to have to address the interface IMO.
 
Still, it does sound good. I enjoy it. I am liking Studio One just a bit better. I can see everything and I like the layout of everything.
 
*EDIT*As to the busses on the board....for me once I have chosen which busses the track is going to and set those levels etc.. I am not going to need to go back to the bus selectors often if at all. Therefore, make the bus selection a drop down or something and free that space up on the mixer for better EQ visibility.

Also, there is poor scrolling when you're looking at the channels and busses in the mixer. You can flip channels on and off from view using the VCA but it doesnt scroll. That is not a good thing IMO.

Dickie Fredericks
...but I just cannot wrap my head around a piece of software that touts the Harrison sound because of the buses and eq and then has those two things so jacked up in the console view.

I have 2-22" monitors and I cannot read the knobs on the EQ because the text is so small. If you enlarge or whatever then other elements of the mixer are too large or disappear. I have the 1200 resolution they require.
 
They really need a pop for both the EQ and buses. They can take the bus selectors right off the channel and make it one button that does the flyout. I know they want to be different but they are going to have to address the interface IMO.
 

Dickie, thanks for that very useful feedback and I'll note that for when I try it out!  I'm trying to keep an open dialogue with Harrison so if they're really interested in helping Sonar users to migrate, then they should be open to suggestions for improvements, especially if it relates to usability right?  :-)

Thanks for sharing this.
All the best.

Could you clarify something I'm reading:
Is it really true that it colors the sound - by design and you cannot turn it off?

jpetersen
Could you clarify something I'm reading:
Is it really true that it colors the sound - by design and you cannot turn it off?

IIRC, the EQ is always in the circuit, and gives it "its sound".

https://harrisonconsoles.lpages.co/black-friday-17-shr2-copy/
 
Harrison Black Friday sale looks even better than the crossgrade if anyone is interested in this -

Mixbus is awesome! I’ve been using it for a while before Sonar went down. I bought Studio One but will keep using Mixbus as a second mixdown DAW.