Mummy knows best

I believe the reason we're more limited in those past color options, is because we're less limited now in specific color options, such as the track colors, etc. X2 was a drastic, and frankly, un-appealing change in default colors from X1, but included was an X1-Light preset, which was wonderful. I could regain the X1 color scheme, which was incredibly easy on my eyes and quite stylish, a separation from the norm. I'm sure there's many who want it to look more like PT or something else, but X1's color scheme was the final deciding factor for me vs. CuBase, Studio One, Reaper, and PT. I really didn't know a lot about these types DAW's having been a hardware guy for a while and using a Yamaha AW4416 for years. But yeah, the color scheme was the deicing fact, if you can believe that.
 
Today, if that were the deciding factor, I'd still likely choose Sonar. X3's waveform colors are MUCH less cartoony than X2, and the whole appearance is better. I still wish for X1's colors (with backgrounds lighter than waveforms), but I can live with X3's interface. I've gotten used to it. I haven't really paid attention to the latest Platinum colors yet.
 
I'm not a fan of attempting to use a 3rd-party tool like Duckbar, because it's not maintained by CW, and thus will be slower to adapt to changes. That, and the fact that I had no luck getting it installed correctly.

Take away my preferences, and I go elsewhere.  Plain and simple.  I know its do-able since it was once baked into the software.   

From The Man himself -

"UPDATE

Because so many people have requested this... Duckbar for SONAR 2015 is coming for the new SONAR in a week or two.
Believe or not but this is an enormous task; I have to edit 2500 images in PhotoShop (5 main themes, each require 500+ changes), update Mod Patcher, EXE Colors, SONAR detection system etc...

Delays are likely - I'm very busy just now but I understand Duckbar users can't be abandoned because using SONAR without Duckbar and/or mods is going to destroy people's creativity and ability to make good music. Eventually human race would be destroyed and Earth would get swallowed by the Moon. Universe would collapse.

Only Bruce Willis could save the world if I didn't update Duckbar. And he's always so tired I wouldn't count on him."

Gregmang
From The Man himself -

"UPDATE

Because so many people have requested this... Duckbar for SONAR 2015 is coming for the new SONAR in a week or two.
Believe or not but this is an enormous task; I have to edit 2500 images in PhotoShop (5 main themes, each require 500+ changes), update Mod Patcher, EXE Colors, SONAR detection system etc...

Delays are likely - I'm very busy just now but I understand Duckbar users can't be abandoned because using SONAR without Duckbar and/or mods is going to destroy people's creativity and ability to make good music. Eventually human race would be destroyed and Earth would get swallowed by the Moon. Universe would collapse.

Only Bruce Willis could save the world if I didn't update Duckbar. And he's always so tired I wouldn't count on him."

Get out!  Last time he said it won't be for a while.   This is great news.   However, Panu is actually hindering Sonar from doing the work themselves, as this creates less demand since the options are available through Duckbar.

Actually, the Clip Background color settings are still present in Sonar X3, just not in the settings dialog.  They can be accessed in the Windows Registry, however.  The location, on my installation, is:
 
Computer\HKEY_Current_User\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\Sonar Producer\X3\Colors

tlawhon
Actually, the Clip Background color settings are still present in Sonar X3, just not in the settings dialog.  They can be accessed in the Windows Registry, however.  The location, on my installation, is:
 
Computer\HKEY_Current_User\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\Sonar Producer\X3\Colors

 
WOAH!!!!  NOW WE ARE TALKING!!!!!!   Amazing... so its doable, and Cakewalk DELIBERATELY removed it.   I dont like that now from a business standpoint.

alewgro

tlawhon
Actually, the Clip Background color settings are still present in Sonar X3, just not in the settings dialog.  They can be accessed in the Windows Registry, however.  The location, on my installation, is:
 
Computer\HKEY_Current_User\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\Sonar Producer\X3\Colors

 
WOAH!!!!  NOW WE ARE TALKING!!!!!!   Amazing... so its doable, and Cakewalk DELIBERATELY removed it.   I dont like that now from a business standpoint.

The main thing I understand that could have happened was, to better support the aesthetics of the latest Sonar version was to remove some color options to keep you out of trouble, or supporting too many color options with no real reason to. Acura, a car company made this statement once: We make hard and solid decisions to find the best middle ground with all users and choose colors that, not only will give you the best looking cards on the road, but also to minimize the color options we have to produce.
 
Cakewalk likely ripped those previous options out to better support newer options, some of which they believe are the most attractive. Eye of the beholder, and I don't think a hard-fast, singular approach to the Skylight interface was the way to go, but I understand there's gravity and work behind it all.
 
But keep asking for more. That's the only way they know. Otherwise, they might continue taking the options they don't think are as important away.
 
Feedback is good, especially if constructive.

thank you!!!!
 

alewgro

tlawhon
Actually, the Clip Background color settings are still present in Sonar X3, just not in the settings dialog.  They can be accessed in the Windows Registry, however.  The location, on my installation, is:
 
Computer\HKEY_Current_User\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\Sonar Producer\X3\Colors

 
WOAH!!!!  NOW WE ARE TALKING!!!!!!   Amazing... so its doable, and Cakewalk DELIBERATELY removed it.   I dont like that now from a business standpoint.

Of course those registry keys have *always* been there for every version of Pro Audio, SONAR and SONAR X
 
It's just not a good idea for "normal" users to have to go hack the registry...