SONAR 8.5 Is Now Available!

It's finally here, SONAR fans!

Cakewalk today announces a feature packed upgrade for SONAR Producer and SONAR Studio! SONAR 8.5 continues to innovate with new capabilities including enhanced beat creation and arrangement tools,  a new drum instrument loaded with stellar kits and patterns, an enhanced audio timing toolset, new multi-stage effect plug-ins for drums, percussion sounds and vocal tracks, engine optimizations and stability improvements, and many additional workflow and technological advances -notably Windows 7 compatibility! Plus... for the first time ever... We're offering it as a download!

New Features & Workflow Enhancements:
·         Matrix View—simple and flexible cell-based, non-linear audio and MIDI arranging with live triggering capability.
·         Step Sequencer 2.0—the most powerful step sequencing capability in any DAW.
·         Integrated Arpeggiator—trigger arpeggiations on MIDI or instrument tracks with in-depth control over all arp parameters. Includes hundreds of presets.
·         Session Drummer 3—latest version of Cakewalk’s virtual instrument for easy and fast creation of drum tracks with a new UI, stellar sounding kits and patterns from top sound designers and drummers, more.
·         AudioSnap 2.0—updated audio quantizing and time shifting technology with new look and refinements to all the core controls, significantly improving workflow, plus improved offline rendering.
·         Media Browser—a new hub for content access in SONAR; supports multiple formats to preview and import your loops, grooves, and MIDI patterns; features presets to grab content from your favorite locations.
·         PX-64 Percussion Strip—seven-stage processor designed specifically for use with drums and percussion.
·         VX-64 Vocal Strip—seven-stage processor optimized for shaping and sculpting vocal tracks.
·         Windows 7 Support—tested, ready, and recommended for use.
·         Engine optimizations and stability improvements for recording audio, and while looping.
·         “Hotswap” audio and MIDI devices, including control surfaces, without restarting SONAR. 
·         VST plug-in compatibility improvements. 
·         Native REX Loop support featured in Track View, Media Browser, and Matrix View. 
·         BitBridge XR—run 32-bit plug-ins in 64-bit environments, with memory access now extended up to 128 GB RAM.

Read the full press release here:  [link=http://www.cakewalk.com/press/09-15-09-Cakewalk%20Announces%20SONAR%208.5%20Producer%20&%20SONAR%208.5%20Studio%20Now%20Available.asp]http://www.cakewalk.com/p...%20Now%20Available.asp

Get more information, images & more here: [link=http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Default.aspx?Prod=SR8.5]http://www.cakewalk.com/P...efault.aspx?Prod=SR8.5

Garrigus beat ya to it Kate :-P

By the way, I'm downloading it as we speak.

Is it only me?

I just ordered the shipped version...

What was weird is that in the upgrade choices, I wasn't offered an upgrade from 8PE to 8.5PE

The closest I could find was the upgrade from 7PE to 8PE...

I hope that doesn't mess things up somewhere along the line...

BTW.... Anyone have anyone have any idea how long until hard-copies ship?

Keni

Marketing [Cakewalk
]

Keni


Is it only me?

I just ordered the shipped version...

What was weird is that in the upgrade choices, I wasn't offered an upgrade from 8PE to 8.5PE

The closest I could find was the upgrade from 7PE to 8PE...

I hope that doesn't mess things up somewhere along the line...

BTW.... Anyone have anyone have any idea how long until hard-copies ship?

Keni

Keni,
 
There is a separate 8 Producer upgrade page on the E-Store.
 
http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=10-CWSP8.50-2RE
 
We'll need to make that more obvious.  The second item listed is the combined Download + Boxed upgrade.  If you overpaid, please contact customer service so that we can straighten that out.
 
The physical upgrades are shipping now in the order in which they are received.

Thanks...

I've already contacted customer support and I'm awaiting the email (with biated breath) with my download info... I'll have to go to a friend's house to download it as I'm not broadband, but I'm exceited about getting the software that fast...

My order had already gone to the fullfillment center so it couldn't be changed, but being given the download availability as well as $60 or so sitting in the cakewalk store... I'm sure I'll manage to spend it on something later...

The options are a great step towards customer service... but a fe more things are needed... A little more clear listing... Maybe a comparison list/chart as menu?

...and tho I'm not certain I would have opted for the piano or guitar rig or notation  bundles, I din't see an option to buy all or combinations of these bundles... such as both the full Piano AND the guitar rig 4.... Maybe a columnA/columbB style listing/ordering so that a user could build a custom order from the available parts?

Did you mean that the physical copies are actually shipping already as in the fullfillment centers are shipping to customers? That's great news! I hope I understand that correctly as I'm very anxious to hear the OceanWay drum kits... ;-)

Thanks for the pointer and clarification...

Marketing [Cakewalk
]

Keni


Is it only me?

I just ordered the shipped version...

What was weird is that in the upgrade choices, I wasn't offered an upgrade from 8PE to 8.5PE

The closest I could find was the upgrade from 7PE to 8PE...

I hope that doesn't mess things up somewhere along the line...

BTW.... Anyone have anyone have any idea how long until hard-copies ship?

Keni

Keni,
 
There is a separate 8 Producer upgrade page on the E-Store.
 
http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=10-CWSP8.50-2RE
 
We'll need to make that more obvious.  The second item listed is the combined Download + Boxed upgrade.  If you overpaid, please contact customer service so that we can straighten that out.
 
The physical upgrades are shipping now in the order in which they are received.

I suspect the reason for the confusion is that on the

SONAR 8.5 Producer Download Upgrade From SONAR 8 Producer

page

There is this:

SONAR 8.5 Producer Box Version plus Download--$119
Get the boxed version of SONAR 8.5 which includes 4 DVDs and SONAR 8.5 User's Guide. We will also send you the SONAR 8.5 download the same day you make your purchase so you don’t have to wait to install the new version.
SONAR 8.5 Download Size: Aprox. 2.0 GB GB (DSL/Broadband/Cable or higher required for download)

If this is for new 8.5 customers, it doesn't belong on this Upgrade page.

However, what is the SONAR 8.5 User's Guide?  Is it the 8.0 guide with the pdf content of the 8.5 upgrade download appended?

Here's a serious question about my free upgrade since I got Producer 8 with my VS-700 last month...

With all these different packages, which will be my free upgrade?

TerraSin


Here's a serious question about my free upgrade since I got Producer 8 with my VS-700 last month...

With all these different packages, which will be my free upgrade?

Your free upgrade will be a download of SONAR 8.5 Producer. 

JSP


Marketing,
Can you help me with my missing resitration codes?

JSP, Yes, please see this message:
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=1819530

Thanks Carl.  I posted my response as requested there.

Hi Rick-

Check out these two links; they should answer your questions about 8.5:

http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.ashx?m=1841847

http://cakewalk.com/sonarupgrade/

-Susan