Looking back through my meager post history here, I realized that it was one year ago that I made my first post on this forum. At that time, I had been looking at getting into home recording as a hobby, and made the following post, which started me on my quest.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com...Beginner-m3430421.aspx

I don't think I can adequately describe how little I knew (about anything) 12 months ago, and how much this forum has helped me over this past year. At the time, I had no concept about Midi, audio interfaces, virtual instruments, how to connect anything, or even what a DAW was. At the time, Sonar was not even on my radar - I was close to purchasing either Reaper or Studio One. The lifetime updates piqued my interest; however, it was this forum that convinced me to buy Sonar. The folks on this forum were (and continue to be) patient and helpful to an extreme newbie. Though many have helped - Chuck, Larry, Azslow3, Bitflipper, Fleer, Scook, and especially Abacab have been personally helpful to me. Thank you guys!

What a year it has been! Since last summer, I've got setup a fairly decent keyboard based system (pictured below), built a DAW computer, found out what GAS was (and succumbed to it), bought some modules, bought some VSTs and plugins, set everything up, learned about Midi routing, subscribed to a few recording magazines, and learned some very basic things about Sonar and recording. I still know very little (I'm a very poor musician), but I am having an absolute blast with all of this.
 
My goal for this upcoming year is to learn the basics of recording and Sonar. I've bought the Sonar series from Groove 3, and I have started going through it. My biggest challenge is that I have no background in recording, I don't even know what the terminology is. The videos seem to be good enough to explain where to find things in Sonar, but I'm missing the basics which would bring it all together. Comping, take lanes, echo, ripple editing, busses, etc. - it all all foreign to me. I'm humbled by the decades of experience that some forumites have here, and how they selflessly give time and energy to help new folks. I hope that continues with the string of very basic questions I will have soon.
 
Again, thank you.
 

Welcome to the Cakewalk forums where we all help each other out. I have to admit it's one of my favorite places on the web :)

Where's your lava lamp?

I deduce you are left-handed! Nice rig you have there husker :)

Nice setup, Michael! What kind of desk do you have there?

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://www.garrigus.com
* Cakewalk SONAR Video Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/u...gus?sub_confirmation=1
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Publisher of the DigiFreq music recording newsletter: http://www.digifreq.com/
* Publisher of the NewTechReview consumer tech newsletter: http://www.newtechreview.com/

Nice setup, husker.
Glad you're getting things done, and enjoying it 
All the best.

I like to think that in this forum this applies. You have questions we have answers!
 
I glanced at the thread you posted and my comment is that. Not every answer is appropriate or correct. Its up to the poster that starts a thread to weed out those answers that contain poor advice. One even suggested you go to Cubase.
I view that as bad advice. Not only is it inappropriate for this forum it is also singularly bad advice for a beginner.
 
Stick with Sonar and it will repay you for your efforts.
 
In the end though how far you get is up to you. There is a ton of tutorial material available plus we are here to help get over the humps that stop one from progressing.  
 
Welcome to the forum and ask away.  

Sincere thanks to each of you for helping me out over the past few days on my questions.  This has been BY FAR the most helpful forum I have visited.  Quite honestly, you guys are the reason I will probably pull the trigger on Sonar.  
 
Now, I just need to decide which interface to use, Gen2 Focusrite or the Tascam US 2x2.  The Focusrite is newer and seems to get a bit better reviews, but the Tascam includes a version of Sonar I could use to get a cheaper SPLAT upgrade, and can be powered either USB or wall plug.
 
Again, thank you. Husker.  
 
 
I copied this from the last page of your thread from a year ago. That was a great thread with a lot of very good back and forth and advice. I think everyone deserves a pat on the back because what you said is worth acknowledging, and I hope the Cakewalk people see this. This forum is a BIG reason to use Sonar. You would have had the opposite to say if you had chosen Cubase.  Their forum takes day's to get answers and there is no feeling of community there at all. 
 
 
When you getting your second monitor ? :) 

husker
 
Again, thank you.
 

You are certainly welcome, husker.  You have made some amazing progress.  And that is quite a rig you have built there! 
 
Kenny recently posted a thread about the Sonar learning curve, that had some great back and forth discussion.  Here it is, just in case you missed it.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com...-la-Cart-m3608415.aspx
 
I think that the consensus that I took away was that it is best to learn as the need arises, rather than trying to swallow the whole thing at once.

I read this forum daily.  Multiple times daily actually, though I understand little of it.  It is a blast learning about it all though.
 
I am left handed, though I can use a mouse either hand.  The desk is a Zaor Miza 88 XL.  They are stupid expensive, but I was fortunate enough to find one second hand online at a pretty good price.  Getting it to Alabama was an adventure itself.  Love the desk though, it seems to be made extremely well, and is perfect for my setup.  Of course, getting that desk necessitated moving our entire house around, much to the chagrin of the wife.
 
Not sure I will have room for the second monitor.  I'd like one, but right after I get an Integra 7.  And a Dave Smith Instruments Prophet 12.  And Komplete.  And the UVI Vintage Vault.  GAS is SO real - I know I have plenty, but I want ALL THE SYNTHS.