ampfixer
2. Whatever Bapu wants
 

World Peas?

I'm going to cheat somewhat by grouping features together, and also I think mention things no-one else has:

1 - Better plug-in compatability.
- A DirectX BitBridge or equivalent to help people (me!) migrate to 64 bit more easily
- Versioning the VST Scanner so that an update to the scanner doesn't break existing plug-ins with older versions of SONAR
- Better VST compatability across the board (SONAR isn't the best in this department)
- Proper mono support (good for UADs etc)

2 - Performance. Although I don't think it's as critical as it used to be, SONAR does not perform well compared with other DAWs, especially at low latency. In particular, almost all have some kind of way of improving performance when low latency is not required (eg. For input monitoring) - ASIO Guard, Hybrid Engine etc.

3 - GUI improvments. For me, there are 2 big ones needed: smaller widgets (we've been losing track data space for multiple versions) and a revisiting of the customisability of tools as we had in 8.x (the PRV tool customisation was unbelievably good and knocked any other customisation I've seen in any application for six*).

* Obligatory English reference :-)

Great input and suggestions.  As great as Sonar is (and I truly believe the best is yet to come) let's not forget that it's nearly impossible for one piece of software - no matter how great, that does so much on so many different levels, to be all things to all people.  
 
Very easy to see that we all use Sonar differently.  Some see a glaring need for improvement in many different areas while others are more than content with the product as is.  
 
However, from what I'm reading, it looks like most users would like to see...
 
1.)  Improvements (or a complete overhaul) to Audio Snap
2.)  A suite of mastering tools
3.)  Greater stability and/or reliability
4.)  Improved to audio editing functionality
5.)  Improvements/changes to the staff view
6.)  Greater control over UI customization
 
etc., etc., etc.,
 
Please keep 'em coming.

1. Overhaul the plugin manager - It's been the same since the days when most of us just had a few of them to organize (maybe break them down by manufacturer, if SONAR has a way of reading that info from the code), and adding multiple plugins to a layout has always been clunky.
2. ProChannel-ize the VX64 and DX64 strips in modular format - I love these things, and I think it would be just awesome to be able to stick 1 or 2 modules from them (say, De-Esser and Doubler) into a ProChannel chain. I would use the Transient Shaper on every single drum track!
3. Integrate 3rd party plugins into the ProChannel chain - Obviously, a manufacturer has to make a dedicated PC version of whatever for true integration (thanks Overloud, Softube, DB), but I envision a button to call up the normal GUI slotted into the PC, graphically similar to a minimized PC module. If that makes sense ...
 
3.5. Teach the PRV to remember my window size settings when reopening a project.

1. Improved Piano Roll/Drum Maps/Midi editing. I mean it should be ideal. Not just good or OK. No one should say that he don't like something of that.
2. Improved routing/sidechain abilities. I understand that there is backward compatibility that must be considered. But if some features can be added, it must be added. Other DAWs went far ahead in this field.
3. Improved GUI. More colors, buttons and widgets should be customizable. All users are different, they use software in different ways, with different purposes, on the different hardware, so why not give them ability to set up their working tool to make it more efficient.

bapu

ampfixer
2. Whatever Bapu wants
 

World Peas?

Thought it was Whirled Peas

Pearled Wheeze: A rare affliction suffered by those who inhale copious amounts of pearl dust.
 
sorry

SF_Green

bapu

ampfixer
2. Whatever Bapu wants
 

World Peas?

Thought it was Whirled Peas

Yesh. I was a bit mixed up on that.

Would love to have something like expression maps.
 
I know.  I am a broken record.  I will keep posting this every time a features question is asked until one of these two things happens:
 
1.  Cakewalk succumbs to my persistence.
 
or
 
2.  I abandon Sonar for that other product (don't want to do it) that has them.

Interesting thread! I hope the bakers are taking notes...
 
Here's my three:
x) Browser Overhaul - It boggles my mind that the Browser can only audition 20 or so seconds before looping. Hence I cannot stream audio through my studio template (reference tracks, practice playlists, auditioning short clips from my library of ideas etc. I have to use VLC media player which is not ideal as it does not route through my Sonar setup and as such is not level matched or able to be sent to multiple headphone mixes etc.
 
x) Expression Maps - Not for myself but for the folks that need it, have experimented with the 'competition' with this feature and it is truly a game-changer from what I can see.
 
x) Score - To facilitate the feature above the score would need improving. I dont tend to use notation much unless collaborating with a random classical player. Saying that, being able to export MIDI as a rough score would be a convenient time saver.
 
Wish ya all a productive musical week!