Two topics in one post, hope that's ok...
 
I work in tv/movie music production and have used Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 for the last 15 years.  This month, I upgraded to Sonar Pro.  What I relied on for audio editing was the "View Audio" option on PA9.  I do not see that option in Sonar.  You can still select "Piano Roll", "Staff View" and "Event List" views, but only Loop Construction seems to deal with audio.  I tried using Loop Construction to work on a vocal track, but the selected portion comes up blank.
 
Question: Is it possible to open a dedicated window that will show the audio on a selected track(s) for editing.  Tabbing between windows was super-fast!  (Why was this valuable option removed?)
 
Then there's Pitch Editing.  I need to adjust one syllable down a minor 3rd. In the Sonar manual, searching for "Pitch Editing" displays Roland's V-Vocal as a Region FX.  There's a colourful illustration explaining how it all works, and it's exactly what I need.  Except V-Vocal doesn't exist in Sonar Pro!  You have to use Melodyne.  So, opening that, Melodyne tells me that "Your DAW's buffer is too small...blah blah blah"  in addition, I have to go online and register etc. etc. 
 
I know there's a simple "Process - Transpose" in Sonar Pro but it's a little crude.
 
Question:  Aside from the Melodyne option, how can Sonar Pro transpose audio effectively?  I have no desire to alter the buffer, register a programme etc. to transpose audio in my projects.  Changing the pitch of audio is about 10% of my editing (solo vocals and horns mainly) Can anyone recommend another option, like how I can get V-Vocal (for free of course:->) 
 
Many thanks!! 
 

Hey there,
   You can use the pitch feature of the loop view to change pitch. But I don't love the results I get that way. Maybe that'll be sufficient for your needs in this case.
 
   As for melodyne, I get that buffer warning all the time, but you can ignore it. I've never had a problem. Registration only takes a second. You already paid for it!
 
EDIT:
   Regarding audio editing, I think Loop Construction and Track View are 'it'. There's not another place to edit that I'm aware of in the current version. I think folks who do a lot of editing of individual sound files plug in some kind of external editors like Wavelab. I'm curious: is there something you're accustomed to doing that can't be done in track view?
 
Mike
 
   

Audio editing was dropped in Sonar. PA9 had an audio editor. Sonar does not. The reason is Sonar became totally non destructive. If you need an audio editor I would opt for Sound Forged. It can be invoked from Sonar to edit a wave file. Audacity is another option and is free and can do most of what SF can.

^^ SONAR's utility menu is good for launching many programs (some are flaky). I do destructive edits with Audition. Not sure which video suite you are using, but all of the above are options.

+1 to using Melodyne. The version that comes with SONAR can handle monophonic material if the audio has no effects on it (usually).

Hey Mike - thanks for taking the time to reply.  Seems that Sonar dropped the "Edit Audio" option.  Ah well. I relied on it because it opened a separate window, so I could zoom in, edit, then tab back and forth between the tracks view and the audio view.  I believe you can achieve the same effect in Sonar (by zooming in on audio) in the track view, but the constant zooming in and out is not as convenient.  Furthermore, Cakewalk PA9 would save any open windows with the project file, so you could pick up next session.
 
Re. Melodyne, I shall follow your advice, register, and see how it goes...
 
Regards,
Richard
 

Sonar will also save all open views with the project just as you left them. You also have Screen Sets with Sonar. Worth looking into. 

I'm actually looking into Screenshots at this very moment John!  Does indeed look useful.


Also, I seem to be having trouble with my Melodyne activation.  I entered the serial number, registered, got the download, opened/installed it, yet when I try to use it, it asks for my serial number all over again.  What am I missing...?
 
Thnx

Melodyne may be one of those plugins that needs to be run as administrator to register. There are a few that require this.