Although Ctrl-N uses the default template (normal.cwt) rather than giving you a choice of templates to use - I think that's acceptable :-)

Apart from a lot of feature requests that I and others have already submitted in the past, all-in-all SONAR is still my #1 love, just don't tell my wife that ;)

I agree about the GUI, it's time for renewal, refreshing and innovative improvements that goes beyond just looks...

Importantly; a GUI that actually enhances workflow, such as;
-
. New User Global Settings - For view behaviors: for example;  in Track-View when you click on a track you can make the right workspace such as clips and the actual-PRV Auto-Zoom (to whatever level - user-global settings) without the track-header expanding.

So in keeping all tracks 'ultra-compact' and 'Maximizing Workspace' whilst making it possible to view more tracks at a glance. See Image:


Above image and idea submitted by: Billp

Ya' see, no need to open the PRV, and all track headers are compact, thereby still being able to view more tracks at a glance.  The only thing Billp missed from that example image is the Piano-Roll which is usually displayed on the left-side of the PRV grid.

. Clearer Track-Titles: 'Easier to Read' Track-Titles/names and more character-space for Titles/names thereby in most cases not abbreviated and that also making it easier to find the track. See Image:


Notice other features included such as; One-Click (F) =  Ultra-Compact-View, whilst still being able to clearly see track-titles NOT-abbreviated.  (although the images displayed above is slightly smaller and optimized for upload to the forums).  

And Adjust settings such as Pan and Volume values directly on the value itself by simple click-hold-drag, thereby NO need to display pan and vol sliders. Again, this maximizes workspace without compromising ease of use.

. Color side-bars for Tracks and Mixer, as an 'option' to replace Track-Icons - (See Track Images Above)

. Maximize the Workspace:  Overall cleaner, clearer and less clutter.  For example: make the Piano keys in PRV much nicer, more compact and interactive - for example; See image:



And John's idea; One-Click 'Full-Screen View" to again 'Maximize Workspace', In Full-Screen View all menus along with toolbars are removed. For advance users there is no need for toolbars since right-clicks and K/Board Shortcuts are your best friend ;)


Anyway, all above suggestions are just the tip of the icing.  In the past there's been a lot of discussions and many other suggestions for improvements to things such as; 'Envelopes'.

It be very interesting to see what's been improved on in the next version of SONAR.

-

Would like the ability to add MIDI controller "friendly" names to the list - such as for Garritan usage - perhaps store this list in a file so that the user can customize it to his tools.

=========================
  Some of the stuff I want 3 years ago:
 
Buses:
    Change the Color of the SELECTED bus in track and console views 
         Currently the selected bus does not indicate it is selected
  Bus Folders
  Cloning buses with envelopes
 
=====================
Track/bus spacers: track view and console view
 used to divide tracks into groups
 can be expanded to show a description / caption box
  further expansion to show a NOTEPAD area for notes: stuff done, to-do
 a plain line without gadgets, about 1/2 the size of a minimized track
 The gadgets on the track folder strip provide clutter/distraction. Although the indent provides a visual clue. If I could remove the gadgets 'twould be better.
  (And Track folders do not show in console view.)
  (A note pad added to the track folder would be good as well)
=====================
Marker colors
 Option to have the markers be the color of the track selected when the marker is created
 And be able to right click a marker and delete / choose properties for this marker
=================
 
Scroll bar and Zoom gadgets on left of window: optional, 2+ monitors makes these guys way over thar
  Ya, key commands help, but often require moving hand from mouse
=====================
 
Zoom audio tool: similar to the midi magnifier
 
instead of zooming the whole track view just display a vertical,
   magnifying window, dockable to the time ruler
 
Only available when transport is stopped.
 
default width about 2 inches
 movable horizontally: as a slide rule index
 sizable: with pulls
 zoom level controls
 
===================
outputs in context:  truly annoying
 As with the input selection, the current output should be checkmarked
   I should not have to guess which is the current
   It is better now. It used to be the output was not listed. 
    This is one of those cleverly stupid programming tricks
=========== 
 
Move now time without de-selecting clips: this makes me crazy
  maybe: cntl-sht-alt-click
  (5 clicks to enable "set now with right button," and then have to press escape when used.      Wrong!)
======================================
 
Import/Export Projects:  track templates WITH data: audio and midi
 
Been asking for this for a long time: The basic programming is the same as the track templates.
AND: there is no reason to not add the audio and midi data to the track template import/export.
And then to expand it to project import/export.
 
This is so basic to me. It should have been the case when track templates were introduced.
And import/export Track Folders  -- with data
====================
 
Buttons in bounce to tracks dialog: NONE / ALL  no need to have all the buttons selected, especially for big bounces. Having to uncheck most all is sad.
==========
 
A macro language that provides manipulation of all aspects of the program. If CW does not want to do this then publish a complete SDK so third parties can create such.
 
=========
The keyboard shortcut dialog should be majorly fixed:
  What to do should be on left, as in the help file
  The currently attached keys should be clearly indentified
  Able to print the current key bindings
   (And lose the 2nd person universal ****: if you want, click on your mouse,... Baby talk)
 
===========
 
A way to print/save ALL the settings of a project
  with all routings, plug settings,.... 
=========
 
Put the length data info of the midi note on the at-cursor popup when adjusting length of midi note.
=========
Ability to connect every function to a button and to a key command:
 
I WANT A SAVE-AS BUTTON!!!!
 
J
 
 

Offload waveforms to GPU.

Danny your post is outsanding as usual. It is great for me to know you understand what I was getting at. I thank you for the time you put into that great post.
 
Many of the things we are putting up with can be solved if they wanted to. One of the big things that has always separated Sonar and the PC from Apple was backward compatibility. Many of us bought into that notion for many good reasons.

yorolpal


SWIPE TIME SELECTION!!  Again, for all of us in the commercial broadcast field we desperately need the ability to simply swipe over a selected part of the timeline and have a readout that says exactly how much time that swipe is.  When you are taking multiple reads for 15, 30 and 60 second spots you have to be able to quickly tell your client how long each read is...NOT 2...NOT 3...and certainly NOT 4...clicks away.  Please Greg, ol pal, add this long needed feature for your "professional" broadcast users!!

+1

I would really love a button that brings up a notepad to keep notes. There are buttons to bring other things up like the console etc. Why not a notepad?

The only other feature I would like is better color options so I can make my GUI more high contrast. I don't care about pretty. More usefule is better. It's bad enough going on the web and everyone is STILL using white background. I've already set my browser so it's all black with white letters. I don't want to go blind any faster than I already am.

Glyn Barnes


I would like the ability to save a track folder as a track template.
 
As a simple example I have a track template for B4 II with one audio track and three midi tracks (upper manual, lower manual and peddle) Normally I have these 4 tracks in a folder. The track template regenerates the tracks and inserts the VSTi but does not group them in a folder. (unless I am missing a step somewhere ?)
 
Nested track folders would also be a nice thing to have.

 
You already can. I posted a way. It's down below.

Guitarpima


I don't think there are any limitations on the amount of tracks.

If you save a track template with folders, you'll need to do this:

Goto: Insert/insert from track template/import filter.

Put a check in the "track folders" box. You can check the "use existing folders if name matches" if you like.

Sonar won't save folders in track templates unless you do that.

The Aero desktop graphics and Sonar's waveform graphics are 2 different things. Photoshop has been supporting it since CS4

You need to read the thread.

Danny Danzi
 
Then again, I look at things this way. Sonar has been incredible stable for me since 8.3 for the most part. If something works and I'm getting my work done without crashes or other issues, I'm right where I want to be. The more stuff we implement and ask for, the more chances there will be for bugs...and to be honest, with the year that I've had ( busy as heck yet pc issues and other stuff that made it tedious) I can't afford to be dealing with bugs, crashes or inconsistencies. Right now Sonar works flawlessly for me...even though it may not be perfect. So, I'm just gonna stay high and thankful for that...and may even pass on a new version until I get the verdict from you guys. I'm a bit tired of springing for a new version due to the hype and excitement, only to have issues with it like we saw in the first release of Sonar 8. I need something that works exactly like Sonar does for me right now. :)

I agree,

For me, on first install of SONAR there was an issue but that was due to the newly installed O/S, just one simple systems file update resolved the problem immediately and since then SONAR has, is still rock solid for me :)

Unfortunately Cakewalk can't simply stop at version 8.5 (fast-forward to the year 2020, and), hmmm so it's like they're stuck in an upgrade cycle with the rest of the 'competition'; for which they all boost about how much better the 'new' version is.

Oh well, if Cakewalk could at least have the upgrade cycle lengthened to allow more time for coding (development) and to double, triple, quadruple check that new features added didn't break existing features along with new toys added aren't half-baked. (sorry, Cakewalk I don't mean to sound ungrateful, IMO compared to the competition SONAR is #1)

Overall SONAR has enough for me to get the job done, and I would rather the good ol' Bakers 'continue' focus on improvements with optimizations, compatibility, stability and on 'existing features' that speed up general and creative workflows.


PS:  Sorry to hear about what happened to your PC, but thru all that pain you have a new much more powerful PC superbly built by Jim Roseberry.   Good to hear that the new PC and SONAR are running rock solid for you. :)

All the best!

-

Danny Danzi


SongCraft: Totally with you there. I'd be happy to get a new Sonar release every 2 years or longer if it meant more stability. I know that can't happen, but if it did, I wouldn't have a problem with it. It's like, when Sonar has issues, most times these issues can be crippling to where you're better off not using the new version...especially if you are in a work environment with clients where time is money. I usually wait a few months before I use any new version and play with it a little on the side to familiarize myself with it.

But it would be nice to use it right out of the box and trust in it. The thing is, I trust Sonar, but I know it's going to take at least 2 updates before it's something I can use with total confidence. That's probably my most important wish of my list now that I think of it. I use this program because it works for me and I like it more than any other. They all have their strong points and weak points...but this is the one for me because once it's sorted, it's one bad mofo.

You guys are sooo right about this.  It'd be REALLY nice if Cakewalk didn't rush features and only released them when they've reached a matured level.  Obvious examples of this are Beatscape and the Matrix, just to name a couple.  That's why I also agree with you guys that Cakewalk should expand their development cycle in favor of better product quality.  I used to get the first version when it came out, but now I think I'll wait until, not the first patch, but the second patch.  That's when things get stable.
 
 

Select by rule.  This was a feature in Opcode Studio Vision more than a decade ago.  Shouldn't be much of a stretch.  The idea is you can select, say, all F#3's with velocity between 0 and 50 within 1/64th of 8th note etc, etc.  One of the most useful gimmicks I ever had.

You Guitarpima:
Thank you for this.

> Goto: Insert/insert from track template/import filter.
> Put a check in the "track folders" box. You can check the "use existing folders if > > name matches" if you like.
> Sonar won't save folders in track templates unless you do that.
Have not tested the last statement:
From the online help:
"
This inserts tracks that are exactly like the template. If you don’t want to use all of the track characteristics that are in the template, you can filter the characteristics that you don’t want by selecting Import Filter from the pop-up menu. This opens the Track Template Import Options dialog, which allows you to specify what track characteristics you want to import.

"
Bolding by me: nothing here about needing to make changes to the import filter to change save settings.


This is an example of the non-thought through feature implementation that results in the billions of bad words and millions of suggestions coming from software users everywhere. And although I have learned a thousand times to not assume stuff, I did assume that inserting from a track template inserted ALL that had been saved. I assumed these settings would be part of the SAVE track template dialog. But NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!  Do I realy have to change a setting on the insert settings to change what is saved? Not intuitive. Not workflow focused. Not NOOB oriented.

Over the past 10 years I have learned of many such not-obvious features of Sonar. And I now know another.
 
Thanks again.
 
J