New! Get Started sub-forum

Well personally I think it confuses the layout on the forum page, get rid of that line across and make the link a bit bolder too.
If it wasn't for the fact that im used to this forum, I would not have even noticed or clicked that link.

I would either not bother putting it on the front and just leave at top of that forums section, or bump up the link size bu remove that annoying line that runs from the button.

Almost seems silly to have a single subforum listed...if you get my meaning.

Thanks Brandon,
I remember the first time I launched Sonar. There I was staring at the "what do you want to do now" screen. Knowing audio signal flow helped me get going, but I can imagine how intimidating a new DAW must be to beginners. My advice would be to ALWAYS consider checking for keyboard shortcuts for things you do repetitively. In the long run, this will dramatically speed up your work flow and put you ahead of the pack for getting paid to do what you love. Before I made a conscious effort to do this, I actually found myself working for less than minimum wage as a free-lance editor. Just my 2 cents.
 
Cliff
 
 

Jose7822


Brandon,

Great news about the Sonar getting started videos!  Are they gonna include mixing techniques as well?

Hey Jose,

Actually we're going to be doing a few different series of on-going videos and blog posts.

SONAR: Get Started -  Covers basic setup and operation
SONAR: Go Deeper - Covers in-depth functionality of a particular feature.
SONAR: Master Class - Covers an entire workflow where multiple features are interconnected.

The plan is to offer related projects, track templates, presets, etc along with each video and/or blog post when applicable.

...about 25 years too late for me.

What were you using twenty five years ago? It certainly couldn't have been a Cake product.

Susan G


What about having a notice of some sort (or a direct link), that alerts someone that there is such a forum when they first sign up?

-Susan

Great idea Susan. Not sure if it's possible but I'll check with the forum gurus.

Brandon, I think and hope that this new strategy to directly teach people how to make SONAR work for them will bring Cakewalk increased business.

 
ANyone wanna take bets the same questions will still be asked over and over and over LOL.
 
J/K (I think?)  -- I, too, hope it goes well.
 

mike_mccue


"the same questions will still be asked over and over"

I brought the guys at the bicycle shop lunch today and hung out for a few hours. I got to explain "why you got a flat tire" to 4 different customers.... I've been out of the bicycle business for 13 years... but I fell right into the explanation... that's the role of the retailer.

Sure.  But here, with a few exceptions, it's the forumites who are the defacto tech supporters.   The rare occassion when a CW staffer comes on is helpful, but far and few between.
 
And, as evidenced on the main forum, many new users come on and ask questions (that have been asked 1000 times of course) without making any effort whatsoever to see if it's been answered already.
 
Oh well.
 
 

That's humans for ya. Gotta love em... or not.

I think that technology like SONAR is not being sold well at retail counters.... so I am glad to think that Cakewalk may be helping themselves by organizing a way to help their customers.

I think that if Cakewalk benefits from this program that the benefits will trickle down and enhance my experience as well.

Perhaps someone at Cakewalk leveraged the results of the "survey" to establish a new priority towards helping newbies via this forum rather than leaving them to the e-wolves. :-)

Anyways, I'm seeing the positives on this.

all the best,
mike

How many flat tire questions can anyone answer with no diversion for them? One big reason CJ is so important to the forum. He is tireless. Or flat proof.

 
As are you.
 

I think the Sonar forum is filled will good long time members like yourself Billy. There are a lot of members that have been here since day one and have tried to be helpful at the same time learning Sonar. It is that combo that I believe allows for the interaction between those that really know Sonar and those trying to learn it keep going. Few newbies are going to debate sample rate on the first few postings or discuss the various pro and cons of a particular recording techniques in detail. Or relate an experience in recording that has proved useful to them.

Without that mix in the forum one or the other is going to suffer. Then I don't really see it as changing behavior. I know that when I open a new forum I could care less about the 'training wheels" section. I want to know what the guts are and what the "big boys" think about things. I sure don't want be in with people that are as clueless as I am.

None the less I hope this turns out to work. I do think its going to be an up hill battle to get the long term members to be here though. After all its going to take a conscious effort to come here for old timers to fraternize with newbies. 

We shall see how it goes.    

Brandon Ryan [Cakewalk
]

Jose7822


Brandon,

Great news about the Sonar getting started videos!  Are they gonna include mixing techniques as well?

Hey Jose,

Actually we're going to be doing a few different series of on-going videos and blog posts.

SONAR: Get Started -  Covers basic setup and operation
SONAR: Go Deeper - Covers in-depth functionality of a particular feature.
SONAR: Master Class - Covers an entire workflow where multiple features are interconnected.

The plan is to offer related projects, track templates, presets, etc along with each video and/or blog post when applicable.

 
Cool!  Sounds good Brandon.  I'm looking forward to this new series.
 
Take care!
 
 

mike_mccue


"the same questions will still be asked over and over"

I brought the guys at the bicycle shop lunch today and hung out for a few hours. I got to explain "why you got a flat tire" to 4 different customers.... I've been out of the bicycle business for 13 years... but I fell right into the explanation... that's the role of the retailer.

Hopefully, we won't tire of answering.

This is well-over due.

I had to buy some lame ass video DYI for Sonar that fetaured a Scottish guy with an accent so thick it was like listening to Austin Powers' Fat Bastard... Not User friendly at all..

THe idea is also good since i'm very interested in BEST practices, because I KNOW I will learn the wrong way and it will come back to haunt me later..

What's the ETA on the roll out of these videos? 1 month? 6 months? 1 year?