Hi folks.  I am running X3 studio.   Its the basic version of sonar and i cant afford the price of the higher end versions like platinum.  Is it possible to buy better keyboard sounds or synth sounds for studio?  Im a member of Taxi and write country.  Todays country is a good rockin', guitar driven sound so no need for fancy synths.   But i recently wrote a good up tempo catchy song which has a One direction, Taylor swift pop vibe.   It could do with less heavy guitars and a bit more keyboard sound.   Any ideas if I could buy and install some better keyboard packages?    Thanks guys
Xave

Few of us can remember which instruments come w/ the studio version of an old sonar.  Please advise.
 
There is the sfz player
 
http://www.kvraudio.com/product/sfzand_by_cakewalk/details
 
which is free.  So are lots of sound fonts.

there's quite a few included with x3 studio already, that should cover the bread'n'butter sounds
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Plug-ins.4.html
be sure you check them all out before spending more money!

Yep will keep browsing trough them. I'm coming across a lot of "weird" sounds which would be great if your doing old pink floyd stuff.   But yeah i'll keep playing around with them. 
cheers guys

You can upgrade to Sonar Artist, which ships with Rapture Session. It has a basic set of sounds, but it can be expanded with DSF sound packs.
There are many free instruments as well. Check
IK Multimedia ST3 CS, and ST2.5, they both have nice sets of sounds.
Orion Sound module.
AAS Swatches
Sennheisehr Drum Mic'A
 

Thanks Alisa.  That was what I was wondering really. If you upgrade your Sonar do you just get extra functionality or do you also get extra "stuff"  :)
Thanks for the reply 
xave

Agentcalm
...Is it possible to buy better keyboard sounds...

 
If Hammond organ is one of the things that you are looking for, then check out this one:
http://www.genuinesoundware.com/?a=showproduct&b=24
It's great value.

The upgrades to newer versions of Sonar have been a bit of a balance between new features, bug fixes, new components (synths, sounds for existing synths, etc.), and these updates are currently being released about once every month.  Granted, there are sometimes a few new bugs that come with it, but overall this new way of procuring Sonar is providing what to me seems like some AMAZING new tools/enhancements/sounds/functionality/maitenance/, and with the new option to pay for it one month at a time (if you are able to make payments you can defer paying for a new version of Sonar.
 
Why not try out the demo of Platinum, and see the engine and user interface changes, and the new functionality.  (some things - like 3rd-party bundled in synths and effects - can't really come for the ride, but you get to whack away at the CORE Sonar engine and all that)  WELL worth it.
 
Bob Bone