John
I've been using automation from back in the Pro Audio days. I used the Studio Mix back then. I can't say the W and R buttons have been even a slight problem. Actually for me its been rather convenient having them.
I am unsure of a reason for this thread. If we look back at the OP it is my understanding that Dave didn't know what R was for. That was answered. Now its about something entirely different in that some few seem bothered that by default reading automation is on.  Really! Is that a real problem? 
 
BTW Dave could have avoided this thread if he had just read the manual. Now there is a constant help showing what everything does. Apparently Dave can't be bother to have that on either.
 
I have always thought of the automation in Sonar as being one of its strengths.    

 
Dave, don't let this discourage you from future questions, we like to help.
 
Rocky
 
Rocky

I just unblocked Dave yesterday so I could answer his OP
Totally serious. it was in the "UGLY UI" thread.
 
ahhh, you know.. He rubbed me the wrong way.

John
I've been using automation from back in the Pro Audio days. I used the Studio Mix back then. I can't say the W and R buttons have been even a slight problem. Actually for me its been rather convenient having them.
I am unsure of a reason for this thread. If we look back at the OP it is my understanding that Dave didn't know what R was for. That was answered. Now its about something entirely different in that some few seem bothered that by default reading automation is on.  Really! Is that a real problem? 
 
BTW Dave could have avoided this thread if he had just read the manual. Now there is a constant help showing what everything does. Apparently Dave can't be bother to have that on either.
 
I have always thought of the automation in Sonar as being one of its strengths.    

John, the help is SO helpful...
lol

I think that the reasoning behind why it is set to default on is illogical.
Why would a new track with NO data in it need to be automated?
 
No offence, it’s just how I see it.

Dave000
I think that the reasoning behind why it is set to default on is illogical.
Why would a new track with NO data in it need to be automated?
 
No offence, it’s just how I see it.

I think the point is that it doesn't hurt anything to be enabled in the absence of automation data.  The most common case for disabling it would come later after automation data has been added and the user wants to disable for comparison without having to delete data.
 
So having the default being enabled makes it the fewest steps for the most users in the most common use cases.
 
 

BobF

Dave000
I think that the reasoning behind why it is set to default on is illogical.
Why would a new track with NO data in it need to be automated?
 
No offence, it’s just how I see it.

I think the point is that it doesn't hurt anything to be enabled in the absence of automation data.  The most common case for disabling it would come later after automation data has been added and the user wants to disable for comparison without having to delete data.
 
So having the default being enabled makes it the fewest steps for the most users in the most common use cases.
 
 

+1
this is exactly how I would have said it as well.
 
Dave, if you don't need or use Automation then I can see your point.
however this is something used by probably 90% of users. it really is a helpful feature.
if you have no interest in it, I can respect that but when you have a second, just watch a video or 2 on it.
 
sometimes its those hidden features, those things we don't use often that become the real gems.
for me it was the Piano Roll View. I jumped on it late (only a few years ago).
I insisted on using a Drum machine through Midi to score my samples. it took a long time doing it that way.
what I came to realize is the drum machine and the PRV are almost identical with the exception of in the PRV... I can actually see what im doing vs just listening.
Good Luck

John
I've been using automation from back in the Pro Audio days. I used the Studio Mix back then. I can't say the W and R buttons have been even a slight problem.
 
.....
 
Now its about something entirely different in that some few seem bothered that by default reading automation is on.  Really! Is that a real problem? 

 
I'm sure you'll understand this, but I only wanted to let Keith (and OP) know that having automation on by default isn't helpful for everyone, and that the current behavior could be changed in order to make SONAR an even more user-friendly DAW. As for the potential user confusion (which actually happened to me) I mentioned in the second half of my first post, it comes from the inconsistency between the state of the track's R button and the state of the lane's R button. I don't know how the track's R button behaved during the period between Pro Audio and X1 (since the only versions I owned during the period were version 2 and X1, and I didn't really use the latter), but at least the automation lanes introduced in X2 confused me when I started re-learning automation in SONAR a year or so ago. The videos below will help people reading this thread understand why it's confusing (at first at least). 
 
1. As you can see, for those who prefer to disable automation read by default (for easy identification of automation written tracks), the inconsistency between the R buttons is confusing. (In this example, volume and pan are the only automation envelopes/lanes I created)

 

2. I removed the default EQ from the ProChannel module sometime ago, so the track only contains three automation parameters (volume, pan and automated mute) by default. Notice that the track's R button is still half lit after I removed the envelope/deleted the lane (this could be a bug, though).

 
 
So I suggested the improvement that would make some of us happy, without hurting the workflow of majority of users.

Dave000

John
I've been using automation from back in the Pro Audio days. I used the Studio Mix back then. I can't say the W and R buttons have been even a slight problem. Actually for me its been rather convenient having them.
I am unsure of a reason for this thread. If we look back at the OP it is my understanding that Dave didn't know what R was for. That was answered. Now its about something entirely different in that some few seem bothered that by default reading automation is on.  Really! Is that a real problem? 
 
BTW Dave could have avoided this thread if he had just read the manual. Now there is a constant help showing what everything does. Apparently Dave can't be bother to have that on either.
 
I have always thought of the automation in Sonar as being one of its strengths.    

John, the help is SO helpful...
lol

 
I think it is. If you want to know more there is help and the manual. These would have explained what the R button is all about. 

I would prefer to think for myself... the way it seems here... I should say “I record everyday” I want the record buttons ON as default and ready to record when I setup a new track…
Truly I prefer a clean slate…  “Nothing on”
So I guess it’s ok that I keep turning the R off if some need the help figuring out how to setup Splat for their own needs… I’m Sorry, I did forget who I was dealing with… lol

John

Dave000

John
I've been using automation from back in the Pro Audio days. I used the Studio Mix back then. I can't say the W and R buttons have been even a slight problem. Actually for me its been rather convenient having them.
I am unsure of a reason for this thread. If we look back at the OP it is my understanding that Dave didn't know what R was for. That was answered. Now its about something entirely different in that some few seem bothered that by default reading automation is on.  Really! Is that a real problem? 
 
BTW Dave could have avoided this thread if he had just read the manual. Now there is a constant help showing what everything does. Apparently Dave can't be bother to have that on either.
 
I have always thought of the automation in Sonar as being one of its strengths.    

John, the help is SO helpful...
lol

 
I think it is. If you want to know more there is help and the manual. These would have explained what the R button is all about. 

 
I think the Bakers should at least add the Learn More button.