I've got Sonar Professional  -  latest version - bought the software in Sept. 2015.
 
I midi assemble my arrangements using the Tyros 5 (Yamaha Keyboard arranger)   I examine my notation of my scores (via usb stick) using Sonar Pro.   I get by with it for editing double notes and changing notes in counter melodies.  I have no problem with Sonar Pro editing my notes and saving to midi file format 0.  My DEF file is configured nicely to use any of the Tyros 5 instruments.  I do not use any other 3rd party instruments or loops.  I create my 16 tracks live.  I see the lifetime upgrade to Platinum good til August 31st 2016.  If I knew the Notation or staff View of the software was going to developed more like what Sibelius offers, I'd get that Sonar Platinum lifetime upgrade for $299 in a flash.  This is what I'm pondering over.  BTW I am a registered owner of Sibelius 8.3.  Sibelius has no Soundset for the Tyros 5 which encouraged me to purchase Sonar Professional last year.  I need to hear my Tyros 5 instruments and make notation corrections hearing the results.  Can you offer any thoughts?
 
Alan Russell

There is no way on earth that SONAR's Staff View is ever going to be as complex or complete as Sibelius'. Ever. If that's your hope, you should find what you need elsewhere. The vast majority of those looking for improvements to staff view are hoping for resolution of long standing bugs and restoration of the core elements of the feature to their original design, with perhaps a few enhancements to MIDI workflow over-all.
 
Also - buy lifetime updates if SONAR suits your needs as a DAW (I did), even in consideration of the above. Definitely a great value and great software - just not one size fits all for certain tasks, including notation.

How about a more flexible screen resolution of the staff view..zoom in..zoom out..

Alan-Russell
How about a more flexible screen resolution of the staff view..zoom in..zoom out..

who knows what cakewalk has in store for staff view updates. it doesn't appear to be on their radar at the moment.
but in time they might make a few more updates.

The Tyros 5 Def with a workable Staff view is a nice facility for my work. At least I can hear the actual T5 instrument notation changes at any time with Sonar Pro open

You should be able to do what you want with Sonar and your keyboard. One thing that would increase the usage is a instrument definition for your Tyros. This will let you select patches within Sonar to control the Tyros.
 
 

I agree there is no way that Sonar staff view will ever compete with a package like Sibelius (or Finale). But I don't see why you can't use your Tyros instruments in Sibelius. You'll need to create a manual soundset I guess but there may even already be one that you can import. I haven't used this with Sibelius but it's a pretty standard feature to be able to define sound names and bank/program changes. A quick look online suggests it wouldn't be a problem. You should also be able to Rewire Sibelius into Sonar.

I am using the Def..patch file for the Tyros 5. This is what encouraged me to buy Sonar Pro

I don't really understand what you mean by that. You mean you don't want to create a manual soundset for Sibelius or that it's easier to use Sonar because it already has an instrument definition file?

A soundset for the Tyos 5 to use Sibelius v8.3 is very complicated to create.