Yes. That's the thing. Sonar is indeed more finicky than (some) other platforms. You have to make SURE your system is configured in a way that won't make Sonar cranky. Also as you work (on large projects anyway) you have to do occasional upkeep on the project to keep resource consumption down/avoid "confusing" Sonar with too much intensive tasks on the go.
 
Example: I built my PC specifically for use with Sonar, did all the usual tweaks recommended, disabled/removed everything NOT related to my audio adventures and keep the system almost entirely for audio use. I do NOT unnecessarily leave open Region FX clips, unbounced stretches/pitch adjustments, etc and make sure tracks with excessive takes/splits/edits don't survice past their usefulness (comps get bounced/flattened and moved to fresh tracks and the originals archived).
 
I also avoid cramming the project early on with too many plugins that aren't necessary yet (like if I'm just tracking and editing I just use basic plugs for a general sound and save any fancy, multi phase sound shaping schemes for the final mix phase in a completely cleaned up project).
 
With a bit of extra diligence you can keep Splat running quite well. It's still not going to be as snappy as something like Reaper BUT you get access to everything Sonar has to offer which is quite a bit.
 
It should also be noted that I have seen quite a few people who switched to Studio1 then realize that there are things it simply does not do at all compared to Sonar. Seems to me like it might be a better "out of the box" type of program but not quite as in depth or feature rich.
 
So again... my answer is to say just use both for what YOU find they work best at. It's not a huge deal to shuffle files back and forth between programs if you are organized about it.
 
Cheers.

David.HoffmanWhy not both? Perhaps. But I don't see me keeping up with both products. I believe future Studio One releases are free, whereas Sonar works on a paid subscription type model.

So if I buy Studio One today I will never, ever have to pay for an updated version? Not even if/when it's Studio One 30 in ten year's time? Seems a strange business model if that's the case, one relying purely on new customers to keep the money rolling in.

And no. Sonar is not a "paid subscription type model." Cakewalk offer two ways to purchase it. Cash up-front and you own the software immediately plus a year's free updates and need pay no more. Or pay in installments at so much per month for a year. At the end of that year you now own that copy of Sonar. If you never pay Cakewalk for anything ever again that copy will continue to work until Windows, PC technology or global disaster renders it unusable. That is no more a "subscription model" than is paying for your new car or house at so much a month until you own it.

Come to that, Cakewalk have even done a "pay now once and get lifetime upgrades" deal. Which is the exact opposite of a "subscription type" anything.

Stay.  The end!

David.Hoffman
So the question is... any advice on whether the switch is worth it?

I have been using Sonar since Craig Anderton was 18: 
But reading your post I have to ask, can you not use both?

Honestly, I am not certain why I stayed with Cakewalk, I even stopped using the software for a few years but kept paying for upgrades, who does that? 

What I am asking is and as others may have stated, can you use both for their best parts? Like any product or relationship, there are things I hate about Sonar, some here tend to get worked up about it but in the end, it's about creativity, do what inspires you!.

I don't have any real issues with Sonar. I think for the overwhelming majority here, Sonar works fine. Granted we all may have some wish list but those will only change for any DAW.
 
So, the issues you are having are primarily with your system. Some hardware conflict or configuration that Sonar finds problematic. That leaves you two options:

1. Work on your system config and/or replace hardware to eliminate the issues you are having with Sonar.
2. Find another DAW that you think works better with your system.

No amount of comments or sales pitches here will change those facts and the decision is solely yours.

Stay.
 
You know you want to or you wouldn't ask.
 

Seems the stability is main factor for you. The occasional crashes I get these days are due to third party plugins only. If you already own Splat, getting Studio One would be an overkill, IMO, better spend money on some additional Fabfilters or PSPs.

Dear Cakewalk forum brethren,
 
I must confess that I too was unfaithful to Sonar with a younger DAW. Her name is Mixcraft. I started my Cakewalk journey with Guitar Tracks, decided that I needed more midi capability, and then upgraded to X1.  After finding the the skylight interface to be baffling and disorienting, I sought out a new love on the internet. And I found Mixcraft.
Her clean, easy, breezy interface made X1 look like a confused old lady wearing too much make up. While MC was so easy to use, Sonar seemed to be trying to be all things to all people. Every time I opened Sonar I felt overwhelmed and buried up to my neck in tech.
 
I mentioned Mixcraft's name on this board once and was justly and firmly shouted down by members of that legalistic sect the Sonarites. Mixcraft was ridiculed as a toy. But Mixcraft is a cool little program made by some innovative people, and is quite user friendly. Very lightweight compared to Sonar, but not without value.  And it had take lanes and automation lanes before Sonar did. So a measure of respect is in order. But Sonar added these features a couple of versions later, and implemented them quite well.
 
Then a few interesting things happened.
 
Over the course of time I realized that while Mixcraft was a great scratchpad for me, with it's ease of use and all, when it came time to roll up your sleeves and really get to work, it was time to fire up Sonar. Then Cakewalk offered me lifetime updates. I'd have to be a fool to pass that up.  And over the course of various updates the Cakewalk interface has become much more adaptable. With the new Sonar lenses feature I can now configure it to be as easy (or even easier) to use as Mixcraft. But when there is heavy lifting to be done I can still pull out the big Sonar toolbox if desired. Best of both worlds.
 
So I still play around with Mixcraft a little here and there, and am a registered beta tester for them. The beta tester discount allows me to upgrade to each new version for about the cost of a pizza, so why not?
 
But barring anything unexpected happening, Sonar is my DAW of choice from this point forward. Lifetime updates! What a concept! 
 
Thanks Bakers for continuing to take Sonar in a positive direction.
 
 

TPayton
Dear Cakewalk forum brethren,
 
I must confess that I too was unfaithful to Sonar with a younger DAW. Her name is Mixcraft. I started my Cakewalk journey with Guitar Tracks, decided that I needed more midi capability, and then upgraded to X1.  After finding the the skylight interface to be baffling and disorienting, I sought out a new love on the internet. And I found Mixcraft.
Her clean, easy, breezy interface made X1 look like a confused old lady wearing too much make up. While MC was so easy to use, Sonar seemed to be trying to be all things to all people. Every time I opened Sonar I felt overwhelmed and buried up to my neck in tech.
 
I mentioned Mixcraft's name on this board once and was justly and firmly shouted down by members of that legalistic sect the Sonarites. Mixcraft was ridiculed as a toy. But Mixcraft is a cool little program made by some innovative people, and is quite user friendly. Very lightweight compared to Sonar, but not without value.  And it had take lanes and automation lanes before Sonar did. So a measure of respect is in order. But Sonar added these features a couple of versions later, and implemented them quite well.
 
Then a few interesting things happened.
 
Over the course of time I realized that while Mixcraft was a great scratchpad for me, with it's ease of use and all, when it came time to roll up your sleeves and really get to work, it was time to fire up Sonar. Then Cakewalk offered me lifetime updates. I'd have to be a fool to pass that up.  And over the course of various updates the Cakewalk interface has become much more adaptable. With the new Sonar lenses feature I can now configure it to be as easy (or even easier) to use as Mixcraft. But when there is heavy lifting to be done I can still pull out the big Sonar toolbox if desired. Best of both worlds.
 
So I still play around with Mixcraft a little here and there, and am a registered beta tester for them. The beta tester discount allows me to upgrade to each new version for about the cost of a pizza, so why not?
 
But barring anything unexpected happening, Sonar is my DAW of choice from this point forward. Lifetime updates! What a concept! 
 
Thanks Bakers for continuing to take Sonar in a positive direction.
 
 

Mr. Payton . . . thank you, this is a hilarious, yet poignant poem you have posted here . . . so creative, makes me want to hear some of your music !
 
I've only always used Cakewalk for a DAW, now it's lifetime for me . . . however, I have felt some industry pressures to become familiar with other DAWS, and have to consider them to make a living. Though, somehow I always know to get things done quickly and efficiently, I will have to move projects back into Sonar, as it's where I will actually get things done, ya' familiarity breeds efficiency.
 
PS . . . my vote is STAY

David.Hoffman
 
 So the question is... any advice on whether the switch is worth it?

i agree with beepster that this isn't the right place to be asking this question and  expect to get a balanced response, so i'll throw my hat into the ring for a bit of balance.
 
i made the switch about 2 and a half years ago (used sonar on and off since pro audio 9), never looked back, love it, it's everything you say and much more. i still keep an eye on sonar, being a lifetime member, but there would have to be some major feature adding and bug fixing (get rid of all the required cumbersome, convoluted workarounds for many things that don't work as they should) to get me to even think of switching back, but if that did happen and i thought sonar was the better choice, or another daw popped up which i thought was better i'd of course switch to that, i have no loyalty to a company or product as such, and don't find switching to another daw which i feel is better, or suits me better to be very daunting. studio one just clicked with me, very intuitive, love the features, the work flow, the look, the speed, pretty much everything, there is nothing i miss from sonar (apart from the software and deals sub forums ) but as things stand now if i switched back there would be heaps i would miss from studio one. it's come to the stage that i only briefly check out the new updates for sonar, and find that i really don't like being in its environment, everything just seems slower to do, and i have grown to dislike the look of it's gui, to be honest can't stand it, the theme editor and custom themes don't really change that, as it's just the same thing with different colors. having said that, sonar is quite capable of doing the job for you, just depends on if the workflow, the look, the features etc suit what you want. doesn't really matter what you use, as long as you are happy using it.