I've mostly been happy with my upgrade from Sonar 7 to X3. Most of the workflow changes are clear improvements, and I never want to go back to comping the old way again.
 
That being said, I wish there was a way to restore the old functionality when working with envelopes in the track view. If you remember, under the old regime you would double-click to add a node, and just a single-click and hold would allow you to drag a node or section of the envelope around.
 
Now I have to first click on either the button to open the envelope lanes or click twice on a pull-down menu to even be able to touch the envelopes. Then every single click when I'm in Smart Tool places a new node. The home position for my left hand is Ctrl-z! I can't find any way to work with envelopes now without constant changing of tools - and they moved the keys for that all the way to the top of the keyboard, which has slowed down my piano roll editing, too.
 
So, are there any modes, customizations or hacks that allow me to work with envelopes with a work flow at least similar to what I am used to?

First, you don't need to open the envelope lanes. If you hide them, you can specify an envelope to edit within your track using the track's Edit Filter.
 
Second, the Move tool works the way you want - double-click for node, click and drag to move.

Ahh, didn't know the move tool did that (of course, I hadn't tried double-clicking with that tool active).
 
As for the edit filter, that's what I was talking about with the pull-down menu in my original post. Is there a way to set the Edit Filter to "none" so that I can edit whatever my mouse is over without having to click something else first?
 
Thanks for the tip on the move tool, Craig, I'll definitely be using that!

raweber
As for the edit filter, that's what I was talking about with the pull-down menu in my original post. Is there a way to set the Edit Filter to "none" so that I can edit whatever my mouse is over without having to click something else first?

 
Not that I know of, but that's where opening up the lanes is handy. You can work on any envelope without being concerned that you're hitting a different envelope's nodes instead.
 
 

I have similar issues with the "Smart Tool". Editing in Sonar 8.53 gave you five distinct means of editing crossfaded clips depending on where you positioned the cursor:
 
1. Lengthen/shorten end of left clip.
2. Lengthen/shorten beginning of right clip.
3. Lengthen/shorten fade out of left clip.
4. Lengthen/shorten fade in of right clip.
5. Adjust crossfade point (end of left clip and beginning of right clip simultaneously).
 
X3 gives only the fade in/out cursors, and you have to remove the fades before the lengthen/shorten cursors appear. And the adjust crossfade point cursor is gone altogether. A huge waste of time and definitely NOT smart.
 
Also, I wish Cakewalk would quit trying to reinvent the mouse zoom feature and simple do what Sound Forge and Vegas do brilliantly. Again, another fiddly waste of time.
 

James, you can find the multi-functions of the smart tool here: http://www.cakewalk.com/D...amp;help=Tools.04.html

Atsuko
James, you can find the multi-functions of the smart tool here: http://www.cakewalk.com/D...amp;help=Tools.04.html

Yes indeed! You can do a whole lot when you know the hot spots, and if you learn the keyboard modifiers, it gets better...one of my favorite options (although I think this may have been available in 8.5) is being able to move the "insides" of the clip without changing the clip's start, end, or duration.

@ raweber
You may find some tips to help your workflow by reading post 14 and 16 here 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Select-Track-Envelopes-with-Clips-m3104624.aspx
 
hth

its tough switching to any new version when making jumps over versions, specially when jumping from sonar 7 to x3.
but for the love of technology, you will find so many hidden gems in the newer versions.
cakewalk has seriously stepped it up in newer versions.
old habits die hard but the amount of extras packed in with the new features, it will take a bit to get used to.
with that being said, the groove 3 videos will help you get up to date on new features (including smart tool)
it was tough for users when X1 came out because it was a total revamp. so jumping from 7 to x3 must be a little difficult.
sure you know the ins, and outs, but to anyone this would take a bit to get used to,
have faith and have fun ;-)

I have never made peace with the Smart Tool, but that's not the Smart Tool's fault.  It just seems confusing to me, but other people love it.  Anyway, there's NO downside because the individual dedicated tools are there.