vladasyn

GregGraves
As long as you have a dedicated machine, and you don't let Windoze update anything without making a couple Acronis clones so you can return to where you were, Sonar will continue to work just like it does right now for infinity and beyond.  There is no reason for Sonar to suddenly crap out unless you let your OS crap out.  It is a set of files on your drive.  It is not a puppy you need to feed and let outside so it doesn't crap on your floor!

SPLAT already has bugs and issues, and it will only get worse. i was waiting for it to be fixed, but it not going to happen now.

This.
I don't want to "freeze" my audio software - and OS - to November 2017. There will be amazing new plugins, VSTi and software coming in 2018 and they won't work on abandoned outdated DAW.
 
I have projects to finish and to publish. I simply can't start playing any time capsule games just to keep on using Sonar. I suggest everyone to move on and get another DAW as soon as possible.

35mm
Cubase has possibly the best staff view of them all.

Thanks,
I'm wondering if S1 is inferior to Cubase (It seems so reading you) but how it is compared to Sonar's staff view?
Cuase my choice seems to be ARA vs Staff View now, I guess that if S1 does have a rudimentary notation view at least as good/bad as Sonar, I'll go for it. If not, it'll be Cubase and too bad for ARA..

I jumped ship and went the way of PreSonus StudioOne. So far, so good..!

I jumped on the SO3 Pro offer today (having deliberately disconnected myself from the internet over the Black Friday weekend to save cash).  Crossgrade pricing for Sonar users was just too tempting, and I've never been a fan of Cubase.
 
Jari makes a good point above.  I won't delete Sonar and happy that it will continue to work for now. But it will quickly become dated, and with no support that's too great a risk.

igiwigi
Why not a crossgrade to Cubase Artist  from Sonar?
A lot cheaper and that is all some may need rather than have too many bells and whistles

There isn't a crossgrade available on Artist. Only on the Pro version.

It is pretty simple to divide up the contenders.  Light weight, heavy weight (ie. full functioned DAW), familiar to us  SONAR users, likely survival rate, etc.
 
What I find interesting is the lack of interest in Live.  It goes into the more modern looking, ie. emphasis on looping rather than linear recording.  Of course, I'm more of a looper.
 
My 3 favs so far:
 
Cubase because it is a fully functional DAW like SONAR.  cross platform
Supported by a major company for survival.
Linear based like SONAR and a lot of similarities since it goes back to the early windows style.  It should be easy to adapt to.
 
Bitwig as a "modern" replacement. 
Not fully functional (yet!) but is good at midi/looping.
A different look and method of operating and has room to grow.
Strikes me as more SONAR sized company but dedicated.  Not to be of a leap of faith in sustainability, but having been burned once ...
 
Mixcraft as the cheap and easy replacement.
I already like the look - the matrix page, the dock, yada yada yada.  Simple but maybe not deep, but they have their own programs for stereo editing built in (I believe, haven't had time to check on that or their CD burning) and some other nice attributes that it took a long while for Cake to do (or not as for built-in audio editing).  I can probably just jump right in, now that I found the manual, and start a new project, learning as I go along.
 
Pc only and a small company.  They don't just seem dedicated, but again reminds me of Cake with the way they've jumped on this opportunity.  A bit of a crap shoot but then it is dirt cheap right now.  $100 for a functional DAW? I've already got it.   I'm a little worried about the midi side from what others have said, but then I'm not a power user, working everyday with my green music shades on.  If I can't play or paint a synth line I'm probably not going to do it.  Same w/ audio.  I used SONAR at home for my own and friends' music.  If they can't play or sing their song I'm not fixing it.  A note or two, but not a performance.  They aren't clients and paying, so learn to play it right.  The most I've used Melodyne for is effect.
 
 
My thoughts for the moment. 
 
 
 
 

This is getting old. Between Dr. T's, Sony Acid and CW, this is now the fourth sequencer/DAW I am looking at buying.
 
I'm seriously looking at Cubase. Just warning you all now.

 
Hi
I also like to keep playing rather than playing with lego bricks.
I also like to correct a few timings or mistakes if i am going for a finished recording
So for me daws are for tightening things up a little and adding some sprinkles or sparkles
I have a Yamaha Genos and , I will now go for Cubase Elements to edit the Genos and use Mixcraft for the Vst side mainly.
I must admit even with Sonar Platinum ,I do not use all the functions.
I think this is the sensible way to go and keep Sonar Platinum ticking over until the end.
As you know there are a few Sonar Platinum things that do work in Mixcraft.
Also you can make a folder and down load a few instruments and the LP effects with serial numbers In sub folders to keep
That will be ok until Microsoft has a few more updates to Windows 11 or 12.
Nothing wrong with Mixcraft ,nice and rock steady and easy to get around . No Sys Ex though.

So my journey begins "Beyond Sonar"
 
Had a real quick look at Bitwig then it was time to decide.
 
Step 1 - get a copy of jBridge and check it out with the 32 bit VSTs for my UAD 1
 
Step 2 - order the crossgrade of Cubase Pro 9.5 
 
So now I'm waiting, when it arrives I'll install it and update my inventory to see what made it over and what got left behind. I think that the only 32 bit VSTs that I am taking are the ones for the UAD 1 and I'm probably not going to install the DX/DXi wrapper (at least at first).
 
I like TruePianos Amber so I paln to look at getting that, I can probably live without the other locked stuff unless there are some really good offers made. I can think of better ways to spend the money involved and for most of them I have an alternative.
 
Still lots to do but at least I have made a start.

As I wrote before i stay with sonar as long microsoft doesnt break it, but this copied text convinced me to choose my next daw:
 
"@44.1KHz
32 (156 samples):   3.54 ms
64 (220 samples):   4.99 ms
128 (348 samples):  7.89 ms
256 (604 samples): 13.70 ms

[EDIT]
Always exact same results.
use 64 for recording and 512 for mixing. Usually audio only projects larger than 50 chanels, 24 tracks playin at once. CPU raises to 80-90% when full of fx. Very reliable
 
P4 4GigRam
winxp sp3 nlited by dux"
 
Reaper.
Im convinced that a company will buy Cakewalk

Have anyone one tried samplitude? The pro's seem to like it....

mritenburg
Is there a Cubase 9.5 trial available?  I've been playing with the Studio One demo.  I could work in Studio One if I had to, but I'd really like to try Cubase before I pull the trigger.

Someone posted a link - it's not on their main site (sorry I can't find it).  I "signed up" but have not gotten the authorization yet.  From what I hear - it's supposed to happen Wed.

Besides.. not sure how many of you ever used/owned Gigastudio? But one of the VSTi's in Studio One Professional can play .gig files.. just FYI. =) And Studio One DOES have a nice "browser" that can access online content in real time that you can import to your projects.. pretty slick!
 
Anyone here planning to go to Linux and try Ardour or one of the other DAW's there?

Whoa, Cubase is an absolute beast by the looks of it - hadn't checked in there for a while. But, expensive. Not in the budget at the moment. 
S1 - looks quite slick, I could probably make it work for me. The crossgrade is a very nice offer. 
Mixcraft - I'm intrigued for sure! Missed the sale by the looks of things but I'll keep it in mind for later. 
I'll probably end up with one of those at some point. Meanwhile I'm taking the time to reacquaint myself with Reason, and try to wrap my head around Live. And poking away at Mixbus as a mixing environment. Reaper is always there in the back of my mind as well. So it goes.