I like V-vocal.  i use V-vocal whenever i need precise tuning or positioning control, and it gives you that control at the surgical level.  Does V-vocal come standard with the New Sonar?

No not with Platinum. I have it from X-2. I used it the other day because I for got to retune my guitar on a punch in. I used  V-vocal for the easy fix. 

From the X3 online documentation...

Note: V-Vocal has been replaced with Celemony Melodyne essential (see Melodyne (Producer and Studio only)) in SONAR X3 and later. However, if you also have a previous version of SONAR Producer or Studio installed that supports V-Vocal, then V-Vocal will also be exposed in SONAR X3 and later.

No, it is no longer bundled with Sonar. Now we get a lite version of Melodyne.... But if you have V-Vocal from an earlier purchase, it will still run just fine in SPlat but without any shortcuts to enable disable... So a touch more action to engage it... That parts sad for me too. Use the menu to create a region for your selected clip.

I know everyone claims that Melodyne is so much "better" and maybe with the full version (I believe called Editor) it is, but I continue to use VV as I find it very versatile and mostly get excellent results. The VV toolset is more complete than the light version of Melodyne...

Maybe one day I'll be able to afford upgrading to Melodyne Editor and learn for myself if I can do the things I do with VV, but right now it seems a lot of money to have what VV already gives me...

Keni

I decided to upgrade my Melodyne from Essential to Assistant.
 
This does everything that Editor does apart from the polyphonic DNA Direct Note Access and certain additional functions of Melodyne editor.
 
And it's a whole lot less expensive!

Bristol_Jonesey
I decided to upgrade my Melodyne from Essential to Assistant.
 
This does everything that Editor does apart from the polyphonic DNA Direct Note Access and certain additional functions of Melodyne editor.
 
And it's a whole lot less expensive!

I don't know offhand which tools are included in each version, but it always seems to me that at least one major tool I use is only in the full versions of each program... I am always trapped as part of the sales plan

Keni

I have tried using Melodyne a few times and always end up just using V Vocal. The basic version of Melodyne seems useless to me. But I just never have time to figure it out. V Vocal was so bloddy easy the first time I used it and did what I wanted. I think it's still a great tool. I didn't even realize it was not included! That sucks. I guess we''l all have it until our older versions won't install anymore. 
 
While we are on the topic, with V Vocal I have always used a bunch of very short clips fixing only the little places that needed it. I then bounce that track when finished and archive the original. 
Is this still necessary with Melodyne? 
 

I have used Melodyne Editor on whole vocal tracks before and not bounce them.  They come out fine when I do my mix.  I normally split the tracks into smaller regions and rarely use it on a whole track...but have done so without problems.

V-Vocal indeed has more functionality than Melodyne Essential, however Melodyne Editor is superior to V-Vocal in many ways AFAIC. Regardless, those who use V-Vocal should consider weaning themselves off of it...it's Roland software, not Cakewalk, will most likely never be updated and at some point, may cease to be compatible with future versions of Windows and/or SONAR.

Cactus Music
I have tried using Melodyne a few times and always end up just using V Vocal. The basic version of Melodyne seems useless to me. But I just never have time to figure it out. V Vocal was so bloddy easy the first time I used it and did what I wanted. I think it's still a great tool. I didn't even realize it was not included! That sucks. I guess we''l all have it until our older versions won't install anymore. 
 
While we are on the topic, with V Vocal I have always used a bunch of very short clips fixing only the little places that needed it. I then bounce that track when finished and archive the original. 
Is this still necessary with Melodyne? 
 

Yeah... That's similar with me too. I have since learned to use Melodyne better and my problem repeatedly becomes that it doesn't have a tool I use constantly in VV... IThey does allow a touch of it, but far from enough... I'm told that editor has it but it's far too costly for me...
I've trued sung Melodyne differently too see if that might help but in the end I go back to VV and get it done in seconds...

Vv was a full version, not a lite version. I know it was Roland who were foster home for Cajewalk at he time whereas Melidyne is from Celemony, a completely separate company... But this is a flagship DAW and this is currently a must have tool to such...

My opinion? Cakewalk should have the full version (editor) in Platinum and Essential in Studio even if it meant readjusting the cost structure a bit...

I'm currently paying the monthly and to have that a few dollars more/month would most likely have been realistic while adding another $150 or so flat out is not currently in my reach... Especially considering I'm not 100% certain it will do/have the one tool I need (missing in essential is the tool to tighten areas of pitch which is simple in VV - Meldyne Essential allows a touch of this, but not enough to do what I do)...

Keni