Negative measure numbers

you can't start before measure 1 but you can certainly have a count-in before playback or recording, check the metronome options.

I would prefer the addition of a second timeline ruler, proposed here:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/m3097431.aspx#3098058
 

I have a similar request - probably similar enough that it would be implemented as part of the same set of options. Sometimes its been referred to as negative measures (I think Craig Anderton called it that in another thread), the need for me is the following:
The Scenario
When scoring to Video, I often have a start point for the music (SMPTE time code), but a run-up to allow the "live" musicians to sync up. I determine the tempo and meter for the first bar(s) and I need to I calculate the SMPTE time offset for the start of the run-up bars. If I get the tempo wrong  (or I'm sloshing about to figure the right tempo), I need to recalculate the pre-run start point every time I change that initial tempo. If I had the negative bars, I could set the SMPTE time at 1:1 and then the run-up would be calculated for me.
 
Tempo variability
While the run-up is most often at the same tempo as the real bar 1, bar -2, -1, 0 sometimes have tempo changes built in - this can happen for a number of reasons, but often to give the live musicians the ability to accel or rit immediately in bar one in a musical way. The analogy for this I like the best that jumping into a moving car is difficult to do, and it's even more difficult if the driver can't keep a steady pace.
 
It's also important to be able to run-up the video from an appropriate point, and that may require more than two measures.
 
Why not use count-off?
The problem with using Countoff is twofold:
1. If the player anticipates (plays on top of) the first beat, it's cut off.
2. It's a steady tempo - not accel or rit.
 
Hopefully this will make it in someday.
 
PS - Sorry Noel - I know we talked about this years ago, but I couldn't clearly articulate the process I explained above. Hopefully it is clearer here.

I'm current Dave, and there are no negative measures yet.

I have hoped for this feature for years.
 
Edited to add: This comes in especially handy when you're reading from a written score. Say you're looking at measure 256 in the score and want to cross-check that same place out on your recording- Did I play the triplet smoothly there? Did I get the right feel?
 
If the same measure in the score could actually always be found at the identical measure number (in this case,256) in the Sonar recording, too, what a treat! No extra steps.
 
Of course it isn't hard to remember or look up how many measures you left blank and/or containing introductory material before the measure marked as "1" in the score at the beginning of your recording of that particular piece. Then you only need to add that number to the measure number in the score (256) to figure out what measure you should go to in the recording, but wouldn't it be great not to have to?
 
So simple, straightforward and clean!  One less little frustration. One tiny obstacle less between you and the music.

skinnybones lampshade
I have hoped for this feature for years.
 
Edited to add: This comes in especially handy when you're reading from a written score. Say you're looking at measure 256 in the score and want to cross-check that same place out on your recording- Did I play the triplet smoothly there? Did I get the right feel?
 
If the same measure in the score could actually always be found at the identical measure number (in this case,256) in the Sonar recording, too, what a treat! No extra steps.
 
Of course it isn't hard to remember or look up how many measures you left blank and/or containing introductory material before the measure marked as "1" in the score at the beginning of your recording of that particular piece. Then you only need to add that number to the measure number in the score (256) to figure out what measure you should go to in the recording, but wouldn't it be great not to have to?
 
So simple, straightforward and clean!  One less little frustration. One tiny obstacle less between you and the music.

It's all about speed to me.  I use GOTO measure a lot and I'm following a score to use punch in and punch out.  Having SONAR synced up to measure numbers is a must for me before I give up PT. 

If you are like me, you have songs that have things, be it sound effects or transitions, that start BEFORE the song actually starts.  It would be nice if I could set the "start time" point on the timeline to reflect this.  That way my measure counts match the actual song structure, so 01:00:00 is the start of the actual song, not just the start of the project file where the sound effects start.
 
Below is a very rough mark up. :-)

 
 
 

Yes!