My alternative mindmap 8.5.3- > 9.0 (And my open letter to Cakewalk;))

- AudioSnap that works properly with multi-tracked drums
- Keyboard shortcuts for Create Track/Bus/Clip Envelope
- Ability to turn Audio Metronome on/off with bind shortcut key
- Clone bus, copy/move automation
- Enter ISRC codes in CD Burner
- Separate default folders for imported and exported audio
- Ability to edit clip boundaries and fades during recording and playback (in theory possible during playback but with danger of dropouts and rude noises)
- Save last used project (in File pulldown menu) immediately after project opened (so that last project is shown in the list after a crash)
- Floating Project Info window
- Updated V-Vocal
- Export Audio / Tracks: Track channels: mono/stereo/SAME AS SOURCE. This way it would be possible to export all track at once if there are both mono and stereo tracks.
- Separate Lock functions for time and position.
- Ability to move clip to another track if it is locked in time. (Not possible because "Lock in time" locks clip to the track.)
- Project Info: support for RTF text.
- Larger dialog window for shortcut key degining so that descriptions can be read in full without extra mouse effort.
- Function to list all plugins used in the project. Optionally list & save their presets in preset files.
- Enhancements for video support. This has been discussed in dozens of threads, so I don't go in details.
- Audio metronome that works properly even if project has tempo changes.
- Dragging clip to new track: copy all track properties, not just some random ones.
- Prevent Guitar Rig changing stereo track to mono in some cases. Especially Guitar Rig because it is bundled.
- Rewire support for 64 bit system. Wrapper? Somehow?
- Freeze All & Melt all plug-ins and/or soft synths with one command.
- Fix track recording preview (Good news: in X1 preview seems to be fixed!)
- More robust looping.
- Sandboxes for plugins so that they can not crash Sonar.
- External Insert: Support for stereo in if send is mono.
- External Insert: allow use all I/O if user wants
- Sublist for input and output lists. Separate sections for mono and stereo I/O.
- Booster plugin: default setting to 0 dB boost. Current 6 dB default setting can do bad things if you add this plugin during playback and happen to listen loud.
- Linear Phase EQ & Compressor: tweaking without output muting (X1 fixed this!).
- Fade in/out editing: if fading unselected clip, selected clips should not be affected.
- Command to reset clip fade.
- Option to name tracks automatically after track name.
- Option to lock tracks automatically in time after recording.
- Ability to use bus output as track input.
- Ability to resample whole project.
- Friendly track names: ability to give names for mono inputs.
- Ability to set user defined inputs and outputs as mono/stereo only (to be removed from mono/stereo i/o lists).
- PDC: existing data on the track should not follow PDC settings.
- Silence: when adding soft synth, audio engine should mute output until synth is completely ready. Currently playback may continue and get muted again for a short while.
- Ability to copy track icon to another track by dragging it.
- Import all mp3 files (some mp3 encoders do files that make sonar give "Out of memory" error).
- Beatscape: follow tempo map.
- Track view grid lines under clips' 'meat' area.
- Nudge tool that does not dropout during playback.
- Separate built-in pan knobs for left and right channel of a stereo track. Actually built-in Channel Tools in more compact form.
- Delete synth: option to remove tracks, too.
- Nested folders. Btw, X1 folder looks is worse than 8.5.3 - no indent for some strange reason.
- Varispeed.
- State of the art reverb plug-in with no compromises.
- Built-in audio editor in the spirit of Cool Edit 2.0.
- New surprises I can not even dream of.
- Logical "Remove from folder". X1: Fixed!
- Import & Export PT9 projects.
- V-Vocal timeline clicking to change now time in Sonar.
- More informative color for AudioSnap Palette on/off button. Green & Red?
- For novice users: System Analyze Tool that warns of high DPC latency, poor audio settings etc.

Well, some (two or three) of my hopes came true. Additionally, ProChannel rocks. Easier envelope editing rocks. I rock (with my new Les Paul after I finish this message.)

My open letter to Cakewalk


Hello Bakers,

Please use enough time for improving and refining existing features
before X2 new features take all your time.

Kind Regards,

Panu

Incredibly thorough.
 
Kudos for that.
 
And most of which I agree.
 
Now please don't hold your breath on too many ;)
 
 

mike_mccue


BEST POST EVER!!!!

Until the NEXT best post ever lol
 
 

mike_mccue


BEST POST EVER!!!!

AGREED 

someone send him yo be the project designer at roland !

thegeek


- Track view grid lines under clips' 'meat' area.

If I understand correctly, there IS such an option

There is.  I've been using it ever since it was introduced.  It's in the Clips Pane options.
 
 

roughly

someone send him yo be the project designer at roland !

To Roland Japan HQ?
But I don't like sushi and learning curve of Japan language is almost as high as X1's new features for old Sonarist
Roland America? Well, country that survived Bush era can't be as bad as one might suspect.

Learning curve example #426:
No, delete bus is no more Right-Click & press L. Now it is Right-Click & Press D.
Cool, D for Delete is more logical than L as DeLete. But who made the first decision to use L as DeLete and not D?

Am I the only person that wonders why "delete" can't be delete?

10Ten


Am I the only person that wonders why "delete" can't be delete?

LOL!!!

SONARtist


panup : - Save last used project (in File pulldown menu) immediately after project opened (so that last project is shown in the list after a crash)

+1000 ...

Just wanna make a comment on this ...
In fact, the last project name is not stored in the list until SONAR exits completely and correctly - and what I mean by that is that if you even save the project manually before exiting SONAR, and it crashes on exit, you will still not have your SAVED filename in ANY of the lists ... this is a major programming error in the logic !

Just another one to add to the pile.

BTW, great list !  Don't hold your breath though as we already had some great lists before (eratu and co. as one example).

Oh man, this one has annoyed me forever!   Why it doesn't store the filename after opening it just baffles me.
Again this is one of those non-showstopper, tiny little things that happens often enough to be a toothache.  Enough toothaches add up to a feeling.
 
And, if you happen to work like I do, where I create a name like "now 122910-1" (date) or "now it's a nice groove" for my "in progress/just starting it" project, and if you crash and shut down (out of frustration) and come back tomorrow... you better remember where you were and what you were thinking.
 
This entire "incomplete-ness" groove that Sonar has in many areas do add up to a lot of little toothaches.
 
In balance, of course I want to add it has many strengths as well (just so others don't think I'm bashing it here!).
 
They are not mutually exclusive, however.
 
 

SONARtist


panup : - Save last used project (in File pulldown menu) immediately after project opened (so that last project is shown in the list after a crash)

What would be even better than this is to fix the crashes...

keith

ba_midi

tootache
toothaches
toothaces 

You're like a dot-oh release of a new sonar version. Been using X1 too much, ba? Maybe time for a break. Just sayin', as the sayin' goes.

Thanks for pointing that out, Keith   I forgot to spellcheck :)
 
 
There -- fixed it.  Can I please have more X1 now? ;) 
  
Oh I think I'm version 2.x :P
 
 

Yes, whichever file is holding the info for the recent projects should be updated when the project is OPENED. Not after the whole app is closed as is the case now. I'm sure this has affected every user at some point. Seems like something minor to focus on, but then again there seems to be alot of little things that need attention. This though, seems like it could be an easy fix.

A1MixMan


Yes, whichever file is holding the info for the recent projects should be updated when the project is OPENED. Not after the whole app is closed as is the case now. I'm sure this has affected every user at some point. Seems like something minor to focus on, but then again there seems to be alot of little things that need attention. This though, seems like it could be an easy fix.

It's actually stored in the registry.

@ Billy : And, if you happen to work like I do, where I create a name like "now 122910-1" (date) or "now it's a nice groove" for my "in progress/just starting it" project, and if you crash and shut down (out of frustration) and come back tomorrow... you better remember where you were and what you were thinking.

Yes, I work similarly as I tend to give tunes a proper name later, and time is wasted searching ...
But really .. how could anyone with "development experience" come up with the logic to save the project name just before exiting SONAR, and completely disregard your (manual) save beforhand ?

@A1MixMan : What would be even better than this is to fix the crashes...

Yes, agree.  I'm working with Cake to fix the ones I get regularly ... we'll see.

@A1MixMan : Yes, whichever file is holding the info for the recent projects should be updated when the project is OPENED

Best idea !

@ Billy : it's actually stored in the registry.

Well, then it should be updated much earlier, like ... er ... on OPEN (unless you get a crash on OPEN :-) !