Hello to all; I've recently acquired a virtually new 700R and 700C and am pretty excited about it.  Problem is that they were separate items and thus didn't include the "special proprietary connection cable" (hoping to still be able to get this after customer service returns from NAMM next week...) or any version of SONAR.  Last version of SONAR I used was SONAR 7, but that was quite a while ago.
 
In the set-up instructions for my new hardware, it seems to indicate that I need to have SONAR 8 installed in order to install the VS-700 software (or any updates)!  Do I actually have to find a copy of SONAR 8 to use this equipment or can I install a later version of SONAR (8.5, X, etc.) that will install the software?  I'm planning to have a new PC built in the near future exclusively for this, so interoperability isn't an issue.
 
Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom or advice; I didn't see this addressed elsewhere in the forums.
 
-John

Hi John

A later version will be just fine :)

Double post

Thanks, Norrie!

You are very welcome .
Just FYI if you connect both units to the computer via usb instead of the special proprietary connection cable you will not be able to make use of the monitor control, headphones and the input on the VS-700c

You should really try to find one of those cables, probably from Roland.

Then go buy yourself one nice fresh copy of X 3 producer.

WSS

Yes, contact Roland for the cable. From the Cakewalk support page:

The following hardware products are supported by Roland:

• V-Studio products
• Cakewalk Audio/MIDI Interfaces
• Cakewalk MIDI Controllers & Keyboards
• Cakewalk Desktop Monitors

Do I really need SONAR 8?
Welcome to the club John Bower. Sonar 8 was the first version of Sonar Producer that offered compatibility with the VS700 system. The best version for the VS700 was revision 8.5.3. Which everyone agreed worked the best with the system. I doubt you'll get a copy without Cakewalk specially sending you one. Sonar has changed so much since then with the Pro Channel and Expanded. X3 is your best bet. I'm still using X1d. X2 had a lot of problems, but I'm hearing good things about X3. Be sure to contact Cakewalk and Roland about what version of updates your VS700 is running. There have been several firmware and software updates to it since sonar 8.5.3., so make sure you get the update order from them. The special cable also.
 

Thanks to all for the info.  Just got off the phone with Roland customer service (I tried to call them two weeks ago, but they were at NAMM) and was informed that they don't support Cakewalk stuff anymore.  They gave me Cakewalk's number, and Cakewalk is closed today.  I'm getting a strong suspicion that I'm never going to be able to order the special cable.  I'm getting an even stronger suspicion that I've just wasted several thousand dollars on two rather large paperweights.

Why does the forum software edit the word with syllables sus, then -pic, then -ion?  So sad.