Really starting to get depressed about Sonar's automation parameter labeling

Author
sharke
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 13933
  • Joined: 2012/08/03 00:13:00
  • Location: NYC
  • Status: offline
2013/09/10 23:24:46 (permalink)

Really starting to get depressed about Sonar's automation parameter labeling

I think working with automation has to be my least favorite task in Sonar. It's just always felt like it's a half finished function of the program and I've started to shy away from working with it, which of course is not acceptable because my music does require a lot of parameter automation. The main problem is actually working out which parameter I'm automating. I've detailed before how Sonar does not display the correct parameter on the drop-down in the automation track if the parameter is on an effect that's in a ProChannel FX Chain. That's bad enough, because when you're working with a lot of automated parameters (sometimes 10+ in my case) then it's impossible to see at a glance which lane corresponds to which parameter. 
 
Another problem I continually run into is a complete lack of parameter listing in the menu. For instance, I'm trying to find a parameter for a control on a Reaktor ensemble right now. Instead of listing the names of the parameter in the menu, Sonar just displays the number of the parameter (P0001, P0002, P0003 etc). You might say that this is because the VST isn't reporting the parameter names to Sonar, but if I select one of these and hover my mouse over the envelope that appears, the tooltip gives the correct name for the parameter. So obviously Sonar is getting the names and they're available to the envelope's tooltip, but it's not showing them in the menu list. It means that to find the parameter I want, I have to select each of the numbers in the list in turn and move the envelope up and down to see which control on the VST it's affecting. It's just so painful and frustrating it's making me want to switch to another DAW. I seriously hope they have gotten all of this sorted out for X3 (or X2b or whatever). 
 

James
Windows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
#1

4 Replies Related Threads

    ston
    Max Output Level: -71 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 965
    • Joined: 2008/03/04 12:28:40
    • Status: offline
    Re: Really starting to get depressed about Sonar's automation parameter labeling 2013/09/11 05:16:49 (permalink)
    It'd be a great help if the automation lanes had a field where you could type a user-friendly name.
     
    I guess for now the only thing you can do is take notes as you go along and refer to those when you want to find a particular parameter.
    #2
    js516
    Max Output Level: -84 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 347
    • Joined: 2006/05/17 15:14:53
    • Status: offline
    Re: Really starting to get depressed about Sonar's automation parameter labeling 2013/09/11 08:24:58 (permalink)
    I have a similar issue with automating contol changes. I have a list of cc numbers to pick from which are specific to each external device. I have to keep track of the parameter name on a notpad. We should be able to assign friendly names, in addition to getting the vst parameter name right to begin with, on an automation.

    Joe Sera
     
    Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3, AMD FX-8320, Corsair 32GB 1600 Ram, MOTU AVB on USB3, AMD Radeon R7-200
    #3
    sharke
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 13933
    • Joined: 2012/08/03 00:13:00
    • Location: NYC
    • Status: offline
    Re: Really starting to get depressed about Sonar's automation parameter labeling 2013/09/11 14:07:45 (permalink)
    Indeed. Custom labels for automation parameters are a must. Improvements in this area are going to be make or break for me when X3 is released - if nothing's changed then I think I will be jumping ship to a DAW that handles this stuff right. Not out of spite or anger, but just because I need to be able to get on with being creative without wasting half the night on needless frustrations like this.

    James
    Windows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
    #4
    mmorgan
    Max Output Level: -77 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 676
    • Joined: 2013/02/19 23:39:05
    • Location: Bellingham, WA
    • Status: offline
    Re: Really starting to get depressed about Sonar's automation parameter labeling 2013/09/11 15:46:19 (permalink)
    Feature request.
     
    Regards,


    Mike

    Win8(64), Sonar X3e(64) w/ RME Fireface UFX.
    #5
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1