I'm sure this has been covered before but I haven't found the correct search words apparently.
 
I have Platinum which I use for my fairly basic recordings (usually a combination of audio and midi in every project), but with all the rapid-fire changes and additions it seems to be a gargantuan task to keep up with them all in order to utilize them with mastery. To me, the product and the frequent changes/additions seem to be a bit overwhelming.
 
This isn't a complaint, but rather I'm trying to see if there is an effective way to understand and master the frequent changes and still have time to make music. I love the software... it just seems so gigantic to me.
 
Sonar Platinum
Windows 10
Focusrite Scarlet

I can't keep up because I am a hobbyist and many of the features are beyond me. I do the monthly updates because the core application keeps getting stronger and faster. That's what I'm looking for and the new options will be there one day if I need them.

I would suggest that you read the ezine that is produced with each release and see if anything particular strikes you as something you would benefit from.  All the updates to the core product are accumulative so if you skip one or two you are not going to lose out on core fixes and additions.

Don't think of them as "changes" because for the most part nothing major has actually changed since last January (and even those changes were rather minor).
 
What the new stuff is is more "additions" so you don't have to learn the new stuff until you decide you'd like to use it.
 
Basically just keep doing what you are doing and you should be fine. Read the monthly eZines to keep an eye on what new goodies have been included though (they are a pretty light read). That way if you have a project that might benefit from the new features you are aware of them and can study them further as the need arises.
 
I do think Cake is being careful not to cause any massive disruptions with the new release cycle. Essentially it is X3... just more refined and with more tools/features.
 
If something weird DOES get in your way you can just ask us or re-read the eZines/manual entries to find out what's going on.
 
Cheers.

steambc
I'm sure this has been covered before but I haven't found the correct search words apparently.
 
I have Platinum which I use for my fairly basic recordings (usually a combination of audio and midi in every project), but with all the rapid-fire changes and additions it seems to be a gargantuan task to keep up with them all in order to utilize them with mastery. To me, the product and the frequent changes/additions seem to be a bit overwhelming.
 
This isn't a complaint, but rather I'm trying to see if there is an effective way to understand and master the frequent changes and still have time to make music. I love the software... it just seems so gigantic to me.
 
Sonar Platinum
Windows 10
Focusrite Scarlet

Some of the important changes do not require you to understand how they work or how to use them. Mainly stability fixes and speed increases. When I started with X1 I was alway getting audio drop outs (most likely due to my computer) and the white screen of death. As the new releases came out (X2, X3 and now Splat) stability improved and now it's rare that I get a crash.
 
As far as understanding the functional improvements, some don't take much time at all to master and others I just spend some time each day reading the tutorials, and of course this forum.
 
Walt

I'm waiting for the 30 minute video tutorial on Style Dials.....

 
Basically don't stress yourself to have to keep up. Because then it becomes pointless as the whole purpose is supposed to be to make Sonar more productive and at the same time more enjoyable to create music.
So I generally breeze through the updates, install them and use what I need. If I don't need a feature or goodie today, so be it. I may need it tomorrow, I'll have it then. And there's always the documentation to refer to and more so the forum to reach out to when stuck.
 
Happy music making 

charlyg
I'm waiting for the 30 minute video tutorial on Style Dials.....

Insert.
Turn up the dial.
Listen.
Decide.

I can see where these could be hard to keep up with.

I do what "ramscapri" suggests and just do not worry about new features.  I read the ezine and take note of new things that I might personally use, but it is not necessary to use any new features (except things like the start screen).  New additions are nice but you are not required to use them!  I say relax, learn what you immediately need for your music.  If you get stuck you have access to the best user forum in the world of DAWs.
   I always update my system to get the bug fixes and enhancements that I may or may not put into my work flow.  Once you get used to the basics of Sonar, the rest is easy.

As far as trying to keep up with everything in SONAR Platinum ? Not gonna happen in my life time or anytime soon ...
 
I march to the beat of a different drum machine and I have to use mental tools just to be able to keep my expectations in check . The reason for that is I may expect way more out of myself than I can ever possibly deliver .
 
Example , It would be foolish of me to think that I could learn every song that was ever written or learn how to spell and use every word in the dictionary , so I use that type of concept when it comes to learning my way around SONAR.
 
I'm currently learning what I can about some of the new features that come in SPlat by working SONAR cafeteria style .
 
The important thing for me is to always keep the music first .
 
Kenny