Thanks again for everyone's help.  I installed 8.5 and it seems to be working OK (can play some old .cwp files I recorded).  Some programs seem to load but I'm not sure if they work (Add. Drums, Rapture). Dimension Pro works as does Vocal Strip, etc.  None of the Blue Tubes work - I get a message saying they're only licensed for X3 and above.
 
I can't get 8.5 to even recognize Melodyne... will I have to export a single track as a .wav file, import to Melodyne, modify and save the .wav file then import it back into 8.5?  
 
 
M.G.
Back In The Day
http://www.reverbnation.com/bitd
 
 
 
 

I believe that is the process if your host doesn't have ARA (8.5 doesn't).

You may use Melodyne like you would any other wav editor adding it to the Tools section of the Utility menu. It is also possible to add the VST to the FX bin and use the transfer function in Melodyne to load the track into the plug-in.
 
Addictive Drums and Rapture are full retail versions; they will work in any DAW, just like DPro and Melodyne.

scook - I'm not sure how to add it to Tools section of the Utility menu... would that be through the Menu Editor?

I wrote a tool to make the process a little easier. It is called SONARToolsEditor. A download link for it may be found in this post.  If you prefer, here are the instructions for directly editing the registry.

Thanks I appreciate it!
 

It took me a few weeks to figure out my basic tasks when jumping from 8 to X3. However, once I got up to speed, I hope to never have to use 8 again.

I use Plat now which is basically a suped up X3. X3e is still a great platform. 8 just looks and feels dated.

Brian Walton

I use Plat now which is basically a suped up X3. X3e is still a great platform. 8 just looks and feels dated.

LOL!  Even Project5 looks better than 8. 

I don't see why one couldn't save a project in 8.5,, open it in X3  save it and re open in 8.5. 
you'll get a nag screen warning about opening in an older version but it should still work. 
I still have 8.5 installed and if I get a chance I'll see what's up. 
 
But really, you should take the time to come up to date. The new stuff is miles ahead once you just get the hang of it. We all did this. I stayed with 8.5 for a long time but would never go back now. 
Example- Drag and drop an audio bass track to a midi track and bingo- a midi bass track. ( well not bingo,, but after 15 minutes or so of editing it works) 
My list of features I now use would make returning to even x3 hard. 

while some habits die hard and old habits are hard to break, I believe Sonar 8.5 was made to run on Windows XP. That's a long time ago and even though it may work on Windows 7. Im not sure Melodyne will. Newer versions of Melodyne were never intended to be run on DAW's like 8.5. so if you run in to issues, you'll know why.
 
If you can find an older version of Melodyne you might be better off.