The only way I can learn a complex program like SONAR is on an "installment plan." I use the tools I know, but often dive into the Help when performing a specific task and pick up more info about how something works. From time to time, I'll scan the Help index and click on something that looks interesting, or which I haven't used much. I'll read up on that and see if it relates to what I do.
 
I'm always learning new things with SONAR but then again, I'm always learning new things about recording, sound, playing guitar, etc. Learning is something that is never complete. I will never know everything about SONAR any more than I will ever know everything about recording, but I already know enough to make the music I want to make. From here on out, it's just a question of becoming more and more efficient at the process.
 
But seriously, treat the Help files as potential gold mines of information. Take one subject at a time, and you may be surprised how much you learn, and how fast you can learn it.
 
Also FWIW, you've given me some ideas for articles that are less about describing how something works and more about what tools to use for specific projects. I think there would be some merit there...like what tools will help you create the best vocal parts - procedures, plug-ins, and mixing techniques.

easyjoey
Thanks guys.... I think part of my point was missed.  The key here is, you might have 1000 tools in your tool box but only are familiar with 50 of them.  You use those 50 over and over and have them mastered.  Because you don't understand or are totally oblivious to the other 950, you may not be aware of what your options are.  You may not even make a connection that there is a solution to a potential problem or technique if you have no idea that a solution potentially exists...  If you eat bologna every day, you have no idea what steak tastes like.
 
The Sonar manuals are decent but they don't provide practical advice.  That's why I love the Sonar Power books but I am looking for more.  I own several Moog synths and was at the factory recently.  The rep was showing what all of these features would do.  I asked "why would I use that feature?" and the guy looked at me and said, no one has ever asked that.  He then explained HOW and WHY the feature could be used and the conversation was much more helpful. 
 
So my thoughts are just a simple discussion of various options Sonar offers and with an explanation of HOW and WHY.  I hope this makes more sense.
 
Thanks
 
Joe

Honestly the best and most complete tutorial series I've seen are the Karl Rose SWA vids. I reference them all the time (in total they add up to something crazy like 20 hours).
 
For Sonar itself there is the "SWA Sonar X2/X3 Complete" series. These are about the core program and shows almost everything in every area (almost). Pretty much all if it is still relevant in the latest versions of Sonar.
 
For the Effects there is the "SWA X2 Producer FX" (I may have gotten the name wrong but something like that). This goes through EVERY effect that came with X2 Producer. Of course some have been removed and new things added but I'd say it's probably 90%+ current and applicable (the effects covered have not changed).
 
For the synths and instruments there is the "SWA Sonar Virtual Instruments" (again probably mangling the name). This is again a little older but not mauch has been added, changed or removed (probably 95% still relevant).
 
All those vids are no nonsense, straight forward and easy to understand without any fluff or "opinions". Just explanations of all the controls in every feature presented.
 
I usually watch them on my laptop, pause the vids then try the stuff being shown out on my DAW (a separate computer). Very helpful.
 
They go on sale from time to time in the store so if you really want to expand your Sonar horizons pick them up.
 
For the newer features that come down the pipe every month just read the monthly eZine and check the CakeTV area for new vids about the related features. For more in depth detail just do a google search of the online manual.
 
Cheers.

Craig's "installment plan" is a good mindset. Honestly to "master" everything is an impossible goal on changing terrain, but mastering the tools which fit your workflow is semi-doable. To me, mastering a tool I will never use is not going to help me... creativity comes from optimized tools and proficiency for the tasks you use most.
 
There are many threads where folks have always done things a certain way, but it bothered them, so they asked how others did it, and the feedback on those types of threads is golden. I have even started threads where I wanted to do something and had no clue it even existed... just described what I wanted to achieve and got amazing feedback. Some of the funnier (but effective) ones are the one-line responses to point me in the right direction.

Kine 321, I never meant to imply he WAS a beginner. I read his post and empathize with it wholeheartedly, as I'm sure most of us do. I was merely offering some analogies to encourage. I'm sorry if this was not the way my post read.

orangesporanges
Kine 321, I never meant to imply he WAS a beginner. I read his post and empathize with it wholeheartedly, as I'm sure most of us do. I was merely offering some analogies to encourage. I'm sorry if this was not the way my post read.

LOL... no need to apologize when no harm was done. I don't take these forums to heart or have a thin skin about topics. Initially, it look like you were describing a beginners process,that's all. Have a nice one.
 

Well,  I can certainly understand the reason for this topic and thread .Yep, been wrestling with this one for a while .
 
I'm somewhat of a mental guy or a mental case depending on who you ask , so I use mental tools .
It's a given that my approach may not work for anyone else here on the forum , yet I will offer it anyway…..
 
Am I overwhelmed with all the features in SONAR that I don't know how to use ? YES
Does it get me down and make me feel stupid sometimes , or even all the time ? YES
Do I get any sort of comfort in knowing that I have the tools on hand even if I don't know how to use them yet ?
YES , knowing  that I have the tools on hand does give me a sense of accomplishment for having acquired them ….
Am I gonna let all the pent up frustration I feel make me want to give up and quit Music ?
Hell effing NO , I didn't come this far to let that happen ..  
 
What can I do ? …take baby steps 
Why baby steps ? because people don't harass and beat up babies when they are trying to learn how to walk …
Are you serious ? Yes I am  ….
What do you actually mean by baby steps ?
By taking baby steps it means I have to put myself in a state of mind where  I willingly have to parent myself on one level,  by putting myself in that state of mind I no longer have the need to beat myself up or hold it against myself that I'm gonna crash , burn and make a lot of mistakes as I learn my way around all the new features I don't have the slightest clue on how to use ….or learn .
 
OK , that sounds " suspiciously "  reasonable , give me some examples of what you consider baby steps …. 
Sure , to go there means we have to define a few characteristics and differences of the mind set between a baby and an adult …
A baby (and a young child )  possess a very clear mindset that is unencumbered by any number of learned bias's when they are young …they only know the moment , everything is pretty much new and exciting to them …
They have the capacity to soak up everything with each unfolding moment and their imaginations are not jaded by the world .Also they do not feel the boundaries of separation and everything is fresh and new to them …
except when they soil a diaper …
An Adult on the other hand may indeed have many resources and experiences that a baby may not have .
When it comes to learning new things an adult has to navigate around a couple of obstacles that may have imprisoned the adult ….
What the heck do you mean by that ?
As people mature and become adults , they develop some very strong opinions about things they may or may not like
( preferences / bias's ) , in many cases they rely more and more on filters they may have put in place when it comes to their ability to cope and learn new things in life … When confronted with learning something new Adults can be like a time traveler who is jumping across time comparing the new information they are trying to learn up against  the accumulated knowledge they have stored over the years …
This can create a conflict of interest because what ends up happing is an adult may find it hard to shut off his or her   coping and discernment filters when confronted with learning something new ….
 
What ends up happening in that scenario is the new knowledge can be there right under their nose , yet they do not have the capacity to learn it because they are no longer present in the moment ( like a baby would be )……
The adult ends up struggling because they are caught up in a multitude of distractions …
 
OK, What are some of these distractions you speak of ?
 
In my case I have had to do a little soul searching and I have found a number of sticking points that have hindered me in my process of learning the new features I'm looking to learn ….
A big stumbling block for me comes from the standpoint of my Ego . I can honestly admit that I don't know a whole lot about computers and recording using a DAW , but man , the old Ego want's to throw down a fight when I'm trying to learn something from somebody that my Ego has determined to be a threat to it …
Silly I know ,but thats a big one for me , it brings up the whole I thought I knew something and now I find out I didn't know squat about it at all ……for that one I have to practice principles over personalities / humble pie …
Another one is , I may have unreasonable expectations when it comes to learning something new regarding how long it may take to learn how to do it ….That one still keeps tripping me up . I just have to give time , time …
 
Yeah , theres more …I'm gonna stop for now …
Oddly enough , I learned how to do this sort of thing on guitar …
The bottom line for me is , I have to clear my head to forget what I think it is that I know and just try to emulate the ability to be like a baby to be able to soak up everything I can when I can find myself in that mind set …
 
 
Kenny 
 
PS , Yeah ,  I know this one is coming from the Far Side 
What's the point of trying to watch a video or read a tutorial if my body is there , yet my mind isn't ? …

Most DAWs are very complex these days.

Anderton
  
Also FWIW, you've given me some ideas for articles that are less about describing how something works and more about what tools to use for specific projects. I think there would be some merit there...like what tools will help you create the best vocal parts - procedures, plug-ins, and mixing techniques.

I, for one, would like that a lot, please do.  I think that your tip about using noise to understand the QuadCurve EQ is a very good example of that approach and was very helpful.

There are lots a videos on learning the tools in Sonar you would like to learn more about.  I spent a lot of time watching YouTube videos from the wonderful Sonar users who have taken the time to preset the Sonar features in depth via YouTube
 
Also there are sites like Groove3.com,  Cake TV, again YouTube and even Lynda.com which has Sonar training (I get access to Lynda.com free though my educational employer).
 
One can learn all about Sonar if they are willing to view some good instructional video tutorials.

I use about 5% of SONAR's functionality and I am as happy as a clam; whatever that means ... :-) It bugs me that I don't know any of the advanced features, but then I have four kids, a busy day job and a mortgage to pay. I am just happy when the core functionality works for the few hours a week I get to play in the studio.