The K.i.S.S. Principle

We're all familiar with the KISS (Keep it simple, sir!) principle.....
 
With this is mind, with all the goodies that now come with Sonar X3 Producer,
....is it possible to work on a project with just the stock softsynths and plug-ins in  Sonar X3 Producer, and make it sound really GREAT?
 
Thanks for your thoughts.

The only third party plug I own is this one..
http://www.meldaproduction.com/plugins/product.php?id=MAutoAlign
I use it because I get so much bleed between microphones that it's an easy way to enhance my recordings.
 
I have bought full versions of Breverb and TH2 and the Overloud set of things last summer, but that was all through Cakewalk.
 
I primarily consider myself to be a 100% Cakewalk guy. I do use my external FX at times, routing through a real compressor or the FX in my RME UCX.
 
I should add that I'm not a pro. I make $0 year after year.
 
BTW, part of my thought process is that the hardware will work just the same on Linux. While I rarely make recordings using Linux, I am often booted to Linux (like now). Hardware (nice microphones, pre-amps, FX etc etc) is not computer specific. I never worry if my pre-amps will work after upgrading Windows.
 
I suppose I should mention that my Interface, the RME UCX, comes with great analyzers and FX. It should be counted like a batch of plugins imho.

I want to add that a lot of plugins help you learn mixing techniques that have helped create the music we know and love. The Vintage Channel is a god example. Having the Freq Analysis in the PC EQ is another.
 
The point is that plugins help you learn techniques that are standard. Good engineers can get required EQ adjustments using lots of different EQs because they are GOOD at using an EQ.
 
I have found it very helpful to watch the videos at Melda Productions and Fab Filter to see how the other plugins work. Knowing how they work helps me know what I'm looking for.
 
Little things like starting your mixes in mono are not intuitive but very helpful. Don't spread your tracks out in the stereo field until you have a good start on the EQ settings for every channel.

Go, Vicsant! The only thing I miss in older versions of Sonar is VSampler! We need a first class sampler bundled in Cake products. I had no problem at all using a handful of FX plugs and my custom made library for VSampler. I did many projects for the producer with just Cake fx and plugs. The only reason I use Toontracks now is because we lost VSampler. It would also play Akai sample librarys as well. Cake, Are you listening?

Of course. Is it easier with some other plugs? Sure. And then some. But a good song/performance/arrangement/recording will sound great.

With the exception of Ozone, I use Sonar stuff exclusively.  I actually had a mini buying fever a couple days ago, had the credit card out, and was scouring the internet to buy some software/DAW thing, and I actually could not think (or justify) a single thing I came across, because Sonar has it covered. 
 
That being said, options are fun.  Not necessary, but fun.

I rely heavily on strummed acoustic guitars and that part is tough.  That may be possible with Dimension Pro and a lot of hand work, but I haven't tried it.
 
Otherwise, the bass, drums, rhodes, acoustic piano, etc. are plenty good enough for a record.  While the strings are not as good as a massive library like Vienna and may not be ideal when exposed or soloed, they would be fine in a mix--and not too many years ago I would have killed for string sounds that good.
 
Lots of hit records were made with a lot less.
 
As far as the effects and plug-ins go, I rely on the built-ins for most things and they are fine.

More is better, of course.  up to a point, anyway, and then you don't have the time to try out everything.  But at this stage of SONAR, Producer has everything you need.  A proper sampler would be nice, as noted above (tho I love DimPro, it is a sample based synth).  And it is funny, one of the weak spots I found w/ SONAr Pro was time based effects, like delays.  Sonitus was OK.  So I got the Nomad stuff years ago to use.  Now it is part of the X3.
 
@

If you want to hear some great recordings just using the plug ins that come with Sonar, go to the song forum and you will discover the magic that can be achieved with just Sonar alone.

The demo song is a decent example of what can be achieved using just stock plugins. Many of our favorite songs of all genres were done with a lot less. Are there better plugins on the market? Yes ( and even that is very subjective).  The same way there are "better" studio setups with more toys.  Does not necessarily make for a better product.  I find myself using third party plugs less and less.  I refuse to buy another EQ unless someone shows me some serious numerical and audible examples of a whopping difference between third party EQ's and the ones bundled with Sonar. Compressors are likely to produce more variety, but the bundled ones more than cover just about every situation.  I think reverb may be the most compelling case for third party solutions and honestly, I could get by using nothing  the sonitus verb.  The rest are a bonus to me.  As already pointed out, the addition of the Nomad plugs greatly helps the delay area.  If you are still using 32-bit, the old DSPfx gives you additional older but quality delay effects.
 
As far as instruments, that is far more subjective and the answer to whether you can stay strictly with Sonar gets more complicated.  Even then, I would say most synth based music can be done but some genres would be harder than others.  The one truly missing element is a full featured sampler and even that is more of a nuisance than deal breaker.  For genres that are heavily sample based, Sonar has enough sample manipulation tools to pull off much of what samplers do.  If one is really on a budget, I don't think itis a must to upgrade to Z3ta+2.  Yes, it is better, but most of the sounds achievable with it can be done with classic version that is included.  The inclusion of Rapture (not to mention some older but still powerful synths) covers a lot of synth ground .  A surprising amount of pop music is done with presets, so if one is looking for that exact patch from something like Massive, you are out of luck.  The one weakspot for synths is not having a true FM powerhouse. As far as drums, if you can't create a decent drum track between Addictive drums, SD3 and the drum patches in there other synths, you probably just make crappy drum tracks and no plugin will change that.  That is not to knock other great programs or to say Sonar's way of making drums is best and most intuitive  for every genre.  Just saying it can be done.  These days I find myself more focused on mastering what I have instead of collecting a bunch of plugs . 

KISS = Take away just enough of the silence so what you have left sounds good.

Censors are out! "Sir"? :)
Nope Stupid ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle