ORIGINAL: BC

Here's another idea that's probably been mentioned elsewhere:

Give DXi tracks a selectable MIDI input track. The default would be the MIDI track created when you inserted it (if done via Synth Rack). You could change the DXi input to any MIDI track in the project. (Synth layering: you could have multiple DXis being driven by the same MIDI track.) Sort of a DXi or MIDI bus, if you will.

I second this one. Freely adjustable "MIDI input from ch. X" for layering synths etc.

Also - as already mentioned elsewhere - "normalize at peak X dB" and/or "change level by +- X dB" would be nice. It would be faster than setting envelopes.

And it would be nice to be able to use the Sound Forge plugins in case there's something CW can do about it... (Love acoustic mirror)

But my #1 request is to keep Sonar a solid-running workhorse as it is now IMHO. Don't compromise stability for all the bells and whisles and kitchen sinks one might come up with...

cornielious' thread features:

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=512695

i like the idea of having all the feature requests in one list.
its the best way of collecting more and more ideas on sonar.

one year ago i pasted lots of requests, like you see in the beginning of this thread: resulting in this thread, and there are still more ideas coming up.

its good to have the attention of the bakers concerning features. (eg. gapping, gui, envelope problem, keybindings...)

ORIGINAL: planist

...Record while playback... but i guess we only have to wait for S5.

My God, I hope not. They just introduced a new bug that makes the software completely non-viable for a commercial studio. I think they have a responsibility to fix that as another upDATE, not a pay-for-upGRADE.

ORIGINAL: roo

I haven't heard anyone else discuss this yet, though I haven't scrolled through all 12 pages of this thing. I want to be able to export mix settings (plugins & settings) to other project files with the same track names. Here's the deal, I record bands with live drums and usually end up with 8-12 drum tracks alone. I usually setup a template with what I think I'll need before I record and then record all the drums for each song, then the other instruments. When I mix, I get one song sounding good, and then I have to copy all the effects, their settings and grouping to the other songs (which is a pain when you're doing 5-12 songs). Now obviously, there will be some setting changes from song to song, but the overall sound (eq's and such) should sound the similar. When I mix at my friends studio (from 2" tape through a console), I spend a bunch of time getting the first mix right, print that and then the 2nd track goes through all the same channels/FX and I'll make the changes necessary for that track without having to zero that mix and start from scratch. I'd like to be able to import/export mix settings or environments some how so that I wouldn't have to manually recreate this stuff. This would be a HUGE time saver for me!

I really like the ProTools "Import from session" functionality. You can import tracks, AUX tracks, fader tracks etc from existing sessions. Just use the dialogue to select the stuff you want and it gets added to the current session including plugins and sends (where applicable) etc. So it is slightly different than your description (you don't export settings, instead you import them from other projects) but this makes it more flexible: the projects don't need to have the same tracks or anything. It also means you don't have to open other projects first to get at itheir settings.


UnderTow

ORIGINAL: billkath
I'm confused as to what you mean here. As long as you arm for record before you hit play you can drop in and out of recording whenever you want. Do you mean that you want to record-enable a track on the fly while playing back? Personally, I'd think that's a Bad idea-not a good one, simply because it's too easy to record-enable when you mean to Solo.

It wouldn't be terribly difficult to delete accidental takes. The idea of building and mixing an entire song, complete with automation, without ever interrupting playback is incredibly appealing to me.

ORIGINAL: billkath

ORIGINAL: newkulturstudios

ORIGINAL: planist
...Record while playback... but i guess we only have to wait for S5.

My God, I hope not. They just introduced a new bug that makes the software completely non-viable for a commercial studio. I think they have a responsibility to fix that as another upDATE, not a pay-for-upGRADE.

I'm confused as to what you mean here. As long as you arm for record before you hit play you can drop in and out of recording whenever you want. Do you mean that you want to record-enable a track on the fly while playing back? Personally, I'd think that's a Bad idea-not a good one, simply because it's too easy to record-enable when you mean to Solo.

I guess the confusion was because I didn't understand what you meant by your "record while playback" comment. Here's the problem I thought you were referring to:

ORIGINAL: krizrox
Sorry to say I haven't had luck getting 4.0.3 working on my system. I had to go back to 4.0.2.

The latest patch was correctly changing the files but I keep getting playback dropouts while recording new tracks. I've tried everything I can think of to make it stop but no success.

4.0.2 works flawlessly on my system (maybe flawlessly isn't the right word but it's pretty darn good). 4.0.3 creates problems with dropouts. Hope this gets resolved. Actually, whatever things this patched fixed weren't show stoppers for me in the first place. Something in the way 4.0.3 deals with memory. I didn't see anything different in the CPU usage or disc usage. Tried different buffer settings. Nothing corrected the problem. I have a finely tweaked machine (or so I think). Any other suggestions?

http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.asp?m=553661

I would like the following in Sonar 5:
(Pl pardon me if these have been repeated)

1. Quantizable Envelope Nodes
2. More options in quantizing such as mote to and move by, and quantization less that 1/32 beats!
3. all drop downs to be scrollable by +/- buttons.
4. More Pattern tool patterns
5. Easier way to create patterns(some way of bulk insertion of Markers and times.)

6. MOST IMPORTANT:
While working on MIDI notes, can we have the following feature in the PIANO ROLL?

In MS word we have a feature where we can just copy the properties of one text to another text. It is called format painter.

It would be great if we can just copy the properties of one MIDI note to another MIDI note (such as velocity, length, channel #) and parameterize the feature so that the user can determine what all properties does he/she want to be copied over.

AGAIN IF CAKEWALK PEOPLE DONT READ THIS

1.A tool for quantize AUDIO, ( "AUDIO ROLL WINDOW" something like melodyne http://www.celemony.com/cms/index.php?id=256#)
2.An option for view the changes of Audio Waveforms with Fades and Clip Envelopes of Audio Clips.
3. Stretch audio like Vegas but in SOnar with MPEX algorithm ( I only Hold Ctrl+the edge of an audio clip and stretch it)
4.A pattern tool draw function ,or an easy way to use the MIDI loops and Audio loops ,something like Project 5 when u bring patterns with the right click .
5.I/O NAMES and Track Numbers in Console View

6. This is the last but i think its very difficult :-Support for Digidesign TDM and HD hardware or Distributed Audio Processing like Logic

Fix the window layout bugs. I can crash the program (including audio) loading up some window layouts.


Fix certain midi efx bugs notably Sychron 32 and the arpegiattor plug ins.

ORIGINAL: saturdaysaint

I hope most of P5 v.2's enhancements carry over to Sonar 5 - they'd be just as useful in the more linear Sonar workflow. If I wasn't so happy with both programs, I might be whining about a "Cubase/Nuendo" overlap where the more expensive product lacks it's little brother's features. We don't need to go there, though.

-On a similar note, I LOVE the ability to adjust effects parameters in the track inspector.

I may have misunderstood you saturdaysaint, but you can already adjust effects parameters in the Track Inspector in Sonar4 (Producer).

Brandons List on S5:

S5 Features

Features on cakewalk:


* NEW—PSYN™ II subtractive synth, Pentagon™ I vintage analog synth, Roland® GrooveSynth™, SFZ SoundFont sampler, RXP ™ REX Player groove box

* Additional instruments include TTS-1â„¢, Cycloneâ„¢, and DreamStationâ„¢

* NEW—Perfect Space™ Convolution Reverb

* Additional effects include Lexicon® Pantheon™ Reverb, Sonitus:fx Suite (10 effects), many more

* NEW—Updated MIDI FX plug-ins

* NEW—Integrated inline audio and MIDI editing, arranging, and mixing all in one view

* NEW—Envelope automation drawing enhanced with tempo-sync patterns, freehand, more

* NEW—Object-oriented clip-based effects and editing including per-clip effects bin, clip-based effect automation, and more


* NEW—BitBridge™ enables 32-bit VST effects and instruments in SONAR’s 64-bit environment

* NEW—Remove DC offset during recording

* Dynamic Console View with per-channel EQ and assignable FX controls

* Freeze for tracks, effects, and synths—unloads plug-ins, frees RAM, frozen audio is editable, Quick Unfreeze allows for toggling, more

* SurroundBridge™—use your favorite stereo effect plug-ins in surround

* NEW—Advanced step recording

* Edit and print traditional staff notation

* Professional Project File Management Tools: manage large projects effectively with Navigator Pane and Track Folders; per project audio directories; consolidate project files for fast backup; search for associated files; more

* NEW—Video output to 1394 FireWire devices for high quality viewing with lower CPU and disk usage

* Sync to and send SMPTE/MTC for scoring external video

* OMFI & Broadcast Wave import/export for collaboration with Digital Performer, Logic, Nuendo, and Pro Tools studios

* Import formats: AIF, ASF, AU, AVI (with stereo or 5.1 audio), Broadcast Wave, MIDI, MP2, MP3, MPEG, MPG, OMFI, QuickTime 6, SND, WAV (including 32-bit float files), Windows Media Audio 9 (WMA), WMA9 Pro 5.1, WMA9 lossless, Windows Media Video, proprietary Cakewalk formats (.bun, .cwb, .cwp, .wrk)

* Export: WAV (including 32-bit float files), ACIDâ„¢-format WAV, Broadcast Wave, AVI (with stereo or 5.1 audio), OMFI, MIDI, MP3 (30-day trial encoder), QuickTime 6, Windows Media Audio 9 (WMA), WMA9 Pro 5.1, WMA9 lossless, Windows Media Video (with stereo or 5.1 audio), and proprietary Cakewalk formats (.cwb, .cwp); other audio formats supported via external command line encoders


--> like every year this 'key features' list only quotes features that appeal more to new customers, well, brandons list shows the real exciting news. ;)

too early i think, but 2 or 3 new ideas:

S6 Wishes

(Subtle) Improvements in S5 LINK

ability to save snap settings of the project ...

since S4 there are problems with the snap to grid funtion. sometimes it returns to "1 measure" setting instead of keeping e.g. 16th snap in PRV or TV. they should be kept always in the state they were set.