My thoughts about planned updates for 2016

 
I have read the plans for updates. I hope that this is just for Spring, as it looks like too many important aspects of music production are not a priority for the team.
First of all- when is the bug with text typing in plugins will be fixed? There is too much focus on Shortcuts. I hate shortcuts. I never use them. I use the mouse. The qwerty keyboard is not a part of my workflow because I refuse to memorize the key combinations. It is easy to remember if you using Sonar on a daily basis. If it is once in few days or once a week- it is nearly impossible to remember all the common combinations. And why, if everything is accessible on the user interface? Yet- I don’t see anywhere it says, “We will make UI more logical to use with the mouse”.
 Sonar is so focused on shortcuts- it would not allow to simply type a preset name in software synth. Let’s say- I created new sound and want to save it with the name Violin. I can’t because when I type, the Sonar does not recognize that I am in plugin Save mode and thinks I am typing a shortcut. Why is it not being fixed?
 
I see no enhancements planned for MIDI. No scoring and Staff view improvement. Sonar used to be able to perform basic note entry, it was easy to write arpeggiation or chords or melody line by entering the notes in a staff view. Then all the functionality disappeared and there is no plans to get back what we used to have?
 
No improvements to arpeggiator. I would like new patterns, new logical arpeggiator presets and ability to import MIDI patterns or notes in to arpeggiator. Like Nora: Play arpeggio once and it will repeat it from every key, preferably with key recognition function.
 
Do we have PADS view yet? Something like in Abelton Live and IK Multimedia Sample Tank 3.
The effects. Mastering effects are nice, but I personally would not master in Sonar. May be one day, when it matures. For now, I use Izotope Ozone. But I do mix in Sonar and I need effects such as Compressor, Reverb, Gain, Delay available to work with the individual tracks. The effects that come with Sonar Platinum been there from like Sonar 4 version. It has been over 10 years. May be Gibson can buy some independent effects company or hire somebody who can create newer powerful effects that will hold competition against the 3^rd party effect manufacturers.
There is a way to add new measures at the position specified, but no way to delete measures. If I want everything between measure 53 and 74 gone and window closed (everything moved together,), I would not be able to do it. There is no way to delete empty measures at the end of the track. The song keeps going and going and going. There should be a way to set END point. In the transport, there is option to go to beginning or end, that is great. But if the end somehow at measure 600, this is not helpful. I like to be able to set the END where the song actually ends.
 
I am not a “power user”. I am sure people who spend more time with it have their list even longer. There probably much more to ask for that I can’t think of right now. Would be nice if this “essential” functionality was available. Thank you.

vladasyn
First of all- when is the bug with text typing in plugins will be fixed? Let’s say- I created new sound and want to save it with the name Violin. I can’t because when I type, the Sonar does not recognize that I am in plugin Save mode and thinks I am typing a shortcut. Why is it not being fixed?

 
I'm pretty sure it depends on the plug-in design. If it does not have the focus, then your keystrokes will, logically enough, go to what does (which would be SONAR, or whatever other application is open if it has the focus, e.g., if a word processor has the focus because you're working on lyrics). This is why there is a button which you can click with a mouse that gives all keystrokes to the plug-in. If you save presets by double-clicking on the Preset name in the plug-in header, that automatically gives the plug-in the focus. IIRC all the plug-ins included with SONAR behave this way.
 

There is too much focus on Shortcuts. I hate shortcuts. I never use them. I use the mouse. The qwerty keyboard is not a part of my workflow because I refuse to memorize the key combinations.

 
In the days of analog, every function mapped to its own control. With computers, if you use a mouse, all functions map to a single control - the mouse. Pro Tools was the first program to recognize the severity of this limitation, and it became shortcut-dependent to the point where keyboards are made for PT that emphasize the shortcuts. If you use PT, you are expected to use shortcuts. I think there are also custom keyboards for SONAR, but if you don't want to spend the money, you can also buy stickers to go on the existing keys for $7. Check out 4keyboard.com
 
Fortunately, touch comes very close to the one function/one control ethos. I've been working with a 28" touch screen and while there are still things you can't do, like grab a clip by its handle and move it around, it's getting much closer to being like working with hardware again. Combining touch screen and mouse means you can ignore almost all keyboard shortcuts.
 
 

Yet- I don’t see anywhere it says, “We will make UI more logical to use with the mouse”.

 
A mouse was never designed to do digital audio editing. Expect to see touch replace a mouse for most applications in the future. Optimizing interfaces for a mouse will become less and less important in the future for all programs.
 

I see no enhancements planned for MIDI. No scoring and Staff view improvement.

 
There weren't any announced for 2015, in fact Bill Jackson said none were planned but they review the topic periodically and the odds were better for improvements due to the new model. Because many people expressed the desire for SV fixes and improvements, several have trickled in over the past few months. I wouldn't be surprised if more are planned.
 

No improvements to arpeggiator. I would like new patterns, new logical arpeggiator presets and ability to import MIDI patterns or notes in to arpeggiator. Like Nora: Play arpeggio once and it will repeat it from every key, preferably with key recognition function.

 
Make a feature request and see if it gets traction. Personally, I'd like to see more MIDI effects that can increase the functionality of arpeggiation, including ones built into soft synths. I suspect I'm in a minority, though. 
 

But I do mix in Sonar and I need effects such as Compressor, Reverb, Gain, Delay available to work with the individual tracks. The effects that come with Sonar Platinum been there from like Sonar 4 version. It has been over 10 years. May be Gibson can buy some independent effects company or hire somebody who can create newer powerful effects that will hold competition against the 3^rd party effect manufacturers.

 
The problem with that thinking is if suitable plug-ins already exist from thousands of manufacturers, it makes little sense for Cakewalk to "re-invent the wheel." It makes much more sense to concentrate on improving the core program, which is unique to Cakewalk. Besides, plug-ins are so subjective - there was a recent thread asking for the "best" compressor and it seems every post had a different preference (although to be fair, there were a lot of CA-2A fans). So if Cakewalk put a lot of effort into developing new plug-ins, there's no guarantee that everyone would want them but they'd still have to pay for them. The number of people posting comments like "I don't need more plug-ins, I want more optimizations and enhancements to the core program" are definitely in the majority.
 
It's incorrect to say that all effects that come with Platinum have been there from SONAR 4: there's the suite of twenty Blue Tubes effects (which includes some really tasty "vintage" ones), the outstanding QuadCurve EQ, TH2 Producer, Breverb, Analog Trackbox, BiFilter 2, Console Emulator, Bark of Dog, Panipulator, Tape Emulator, PC4K bus compressor, PC-76 U-Type compressor, Rematrix Solo, Softube saturation, and the 8 style dials are all relatively recent additions. And, several optional plug-ins are available, like the CA-2A, PC4K expander/gate, and Concrete Limiter. As to the "mastering" effects, linear phase EQ has many applications other than mastering.
 

There is a way to add new measures at the position specified, but no way to delete measures. If I want everything between measure 53 and 74 gone and window closed (everything moved together,), I would not be able to do it.

 
Drag in the timeline over the area you want to delete, choose Cut Special, making sure you check "Delete Hole."

I would suggest using survey monkey on user base.  How many want mouse function - icons - over shortcuts?
How many want color improvements - keeping clips in same color without having to change each clip to the color scheme of the track?  And other items could be in the survey of course.

Also I think it would a good idea to have examples of the systems used to test Sonar versions.  Then people who are buying new computer systems, could buy the one they are testing on.

I'm a non-pro user as well, and even though I'm convinced that most of the deficits in the product that the OP identifies are not actually deficits at all, the OP's irritation is very familiar to me. The problem is that in my case that irritation often reflects my incomplete understanding of how the product works in detail. So I sympathize with you, OP but my own experience tells me that whenever I feel that old frustration with the product, it's time for me to go back to the user's guide and reference manual and do a little digging.
 
On the other hand, I totally agree with your observations about the arpeggiator. Edit: Unless of course it turns out that I'm clueless about the arpeggiator as well. :)

Beepster
 
If anything I would like them to expand on the Keybinding/MIDI control options.
 
I want them to completely and shamelessly rip off how Reaper does it. Every darned possible function totally serachable, bindable, MIDI mappable in one shot.
 
For those obsessed with buttons like the OP they could make the Custom module expandable to accept as many commands as one desires (beyond the current limit). They could make it floating too like the HUD for extra convenience. But I guess they'd have to bind it to make it pop up like the HUD though. lol

 
+1000000
 
PLEASE make every darn thing bindable to user defined sequences!  If the actions were there we could even use AHK to do the binding.

vladasyn
 
There is too much focus on Shortcuts. I hate shortcuts. I never use them. I use the mouse. The qwerty keyboard is not a part of my workflow because I refuse to memorize the combinations

Well here you go. My pleasure:)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/938009-REG/logickeyboard_lkbu_son2_ajpu_us_cakewlk_sonar_x2_slim.html
 

If you watch people use, say, Office or even a more specialised program like Photoshop, you'll see most of them use the mouse and don't use shortcuts, even when shown. It's absolutely painful to watch someone *not* using ctrl-C/ctrl-V to copy and paste, but that is how they work.

Having and making use of shortcuts is cery efficient, so they should be easily configurable and powerful, but I think the OP is in some ways correct that mouse operation should be as clear and quick as possible, as that is how the majority of users will probably use SONAR.

In response to Paul P's thoughtful post...proficiency in anything comes through practice. After practicing a particular set of skills, getting good at them, and developing muscle memory, people resist change.
 
My solution is not to resist change but incorporate it into what exists. I don't learn all keyboard shortcuts, I learn the most important ones. I don't use just the touchscreen or the mouse, I use both. I often have my left hand on the mouse and my right hand on the screen.
 
Combining keyboard, mouse, and touch lets you fly in a way that no single option allows. Throw a POK footswitch into the mix and anything's possible.

vladasyn
Another thing happened today- I lost a track. I deleted it accidentally, then undo it, and did not save- my computer crashed. When I loaded Sonar again- the track was gone. How come there is no memory of last unsaved project? I can close Word, restart computer and unsaved files will be right there. Not with Sonar.  

Try that Microsoft's DAW ...

My subscription renewal is coming up in a few days. It will not be renewed. I don't dislike Sonar, I don't distrust Gibson (much), and it's not that important to me what is coming down the pipe. Nothing I've seen in the past few months tells me another $150 is going to see ROI. I can continue to enjoy Platinum and all of the Big Buttons at this level, and spend my time/money learning other platforms. This is only a hobby for me, but it's the most important hobby I have. Sonar has peaked, IMO.

A very fine post above. It deserves one take note of it.