Helpful ReplyMy checklist for Sonar deployment

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azslow3
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2017/11/07 18:37:08 (permalink)

My checklist for Sonar deployment

Observing many recent discussions about hardware/windows/sonar problems and troubleshooting, I have decided to publish my own "checklist": http://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,395.0.html
 
There is nothing "new" for long-time Sonar users. All points was discussed in this forum and elsewhere many times. But I guess I am not alone with "hm... I had that before, how I have fixed it?" or forgetting to check/set something again and again.
May be other find that short (till you open spoilers) list helpful.

Sonar 8LE -> Platinum infinity, REAPER, Windows 10 pro
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www.azslow.com - Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR, ReaCWP, AOSC and other accessibility tools
#1
Cactus Music
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/07 18:47:11 (permalink)
Good stuff as always.  I bookmarked it. Will come in handy. 

Johnny V  
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#2
Anderton
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/07 18:50:46 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Zargg 2017/11/07 19:23:27
I think you deserve a Public Service award. Cakewalk should take what you've done and create a PDF doc that's included with every version of SONAR.

The first 3 books in "The Musician's Guide to Home Recording" series are available from Hal Leonard and http://www.reverb.com. Listen to my music on http://www.YouTube.com/thecraiganderton, and visit http://www.craiganderton.com. Thanks!
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Zargg
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/07 19:24:26 (permalink)
Thanks again, Alexey.
You always deliver good stuff
All the best.

Ken Nilsen
Zargg
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#4
chuckebaby
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/07 19:41:18 (permalink)
ya it was alright I guess .
Great stuff Alex, very in-depth.

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#5
Cactus Music
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/07 19:43:24 (permalink)
Anderton
I think you deserve a Public Service award. Cakewalk should take what you've done and create a PDF doc that's included with every version of SONAR.




 
This is seriously a good idea. Sonars documentation is all from X3 and grossly out of date. 

Johnny V  
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#6
THambrecht
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/07 20:58:41 (permalink)
You say in your checklist:
Plug-in load balancing - In most cases it should be disabled ...
 
I say in most cases it should be enabled. On my 4 DAWs SONAR runs so much faster and better with load balancing enabled. I would say it saves us 1 or 2 hours of working time per day. Processing and rendering audio data is so much faster. So this depends on the type of work and computer.
But this was one of the best improvements Cakewalk has ever made.

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azslow3
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/07 23:37:34 (permalink)
THambrecht
You say in your checklist:
Plug-in load balancing - In most cases it should be disabled ...
 
I say in most cases it should be enabled. On my 4 DAWs SONAR runs so much faster and better with load balancing enabled. I would say it saves us 1 or 2 hours of working time per day. Processing and rendering audio data is so much faster. So this depends on the type of work and computer.
But this was one of the best improvements Cakewalk has ever made.

I have mentioned the exception case, it happens that you have that situation.
But from https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=NewFeatures.017.html :
a) it is not working in case you live record anything (I do not think someone record with buffer 256 or more, at least not MIDI nor with DAW monitoring)
b) ineffective/can course troubles on low cores / slow computers (the total load from the buffer splitting)
c) ineffective when the system is already well loaded
d) assumes the existence of CPU heavy plug-ins apart from several other plug-ins in a chain
 
The "check list" targets people which probably already have some problems, just start to use Sonar or just upgraded the computer/reinstalled Windows and want to get Sonar stably working, before thinking about rendering time optimization.
Only CW Analytics can give real answer, but do you think the majority of such users has top computers, use heavy FXes and do not record the music live?
 
My advise to turn that option off (till the person understand for what it is good) assumes worse (but I guess not unusual) scenario. Someone tries to use Sonar on far from perfect computer and after attempt to use 128 samples buffer which his system can not handle (ASIO4ALL with Realtek chip...) has switched to 256... and he hit "plug-in load balancing" limit. I have hard time to imagine in which conditions that can be good in such case, but I can easily imagine why it can be bad...

Sonar 8LE -> Platinum infinity, REAPER, Windows 10 pro
GA-EP35-DS3L, E7500, 4GB, GTX 1050 Ti, 2x500GB
RME Babyface Pro (M-Audio Audiophile Firewire/410, VS-20), Kawai CN43, TD-11, Roland A500S, Akai MPK Mini, Keystation Pro, etc.
www.azslow.com - Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR, ReaCWP, AOSC and other accessibility tools
#8
chuckebaby
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/08 03:11:14 (permalink)
I believe I know what Alex means.
I had issues with load balancing blowing the lid off my CPU threads.
Turned Load balancing off and CPU went back to normal (like it was before that feature was implemented).
I have periodically tried turning it on to reap the benefits of it but I cant seem to find any productivity from using it.
 

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#9
Bassman002
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/08 17:07:53 (permalink)
HI:)
 
Great!! Thank you very much for your work!
 
Heinz.
 
#10
Bassman002
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/08 17:07:58 (permalink)
Double Post:(
 
#11
jpetersen
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/08 20:02:35 (permalink)
I seem to be alone in not understanding most of it.
#12
azslow3
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/08 20:20:41 (permalink)
jpetersen
I seem to be alone in not understanding most of it.

At least you are the first one who claim that.
 

Is it a Google translate?

Everything is typed directly. In true Russian English

Sonar 8LE -> Platinum infinity, REAPER, Windows 10 pro
GA-EP35-DS3L, E7500, 4GB, GTX 1050 Ti, 2x500GB
RME Babyface Pro (M-Audio Audiophile Firewire/410, VS-20), Kawai CN43, TD-11, Roland A500S, Akai MPK Mini, Keystation Pro, etc.
www.azslow.com - Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR, ReaCWP, AOSC and other accessibility tools
#13
jpetersen
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/08 20:24:01 (permalink)
Oops, I removed that because on re-reading I found it uncalled for.
But you took it in good humor. Thanks!
#14
Hatstand
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/08 20:47:50 (permalink)
Great work as always Azlow! One thing I think is often forgotten is the benefits of changing settings between recording and mixing as far as latency, plugin load balancing, global fx etc.

Sonar Platinum - Windows 10 Pro 64bit - AMD FX 8150 processor - 16Gb RAM - 27" Monitor (it's not the size that counts, it's what you do with it)
#15
Joe_A
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/08 20:58:02 (permalink)
A great list! Well done. It diminishes my list of things....😁

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azslow3
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/08 21:18:26 (permalink)
All comments are helpful!
Craig, Charlie, Ken and Johnny have confirmed such posts make sense. So I start to think about yet another related topic, "Troubleshooting Sonar deployment".
Thomas and Dave give me the idea to split  "Sonar optimization" into basic and extended.
J has reminded me that not everyone is a programmer and a bit more care about grammar can be helpful.
Thank you!

Sonar 8LE -> Platinum infinity, REAPER, Windows 10 pro
GA-EP35-DS3L, E7500, 4GB, GTX 1050 Ti, 2x500GB
RME Babyface Pro (M-Audio Audiophile Firewire/410, VS-20), Kawai CN43, TD-11, Roland A500S, Akai MPK Mini, Keystation Pro, etc.
www.azslow.com - Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR, ReaCWP, AOSC and other accessibility tools
#17
tenfoot
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Re: My checklist for Sonar deployment 2017/11/09 11:31:29 (permalink)
Great work as always Alexey!

Bruce.
 
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