mudgelSonar's help file is still accessible by pressing F1 as in any Windows program...

...I believe the reference guide is released with the program...

Thanks for the post, Mudgel - F1 opens up my browser and the online manual.  I don't want to open Firefox while working in Sonar - it cuts off my ASIO driver.  What I would prefer is if the manual actually opened inside Sonar when you click Help - the way it's always been before X.  I don't understand why that was changed.
 
I purchased and installed X3 fairly recently, within the last 2 months - the reference guide did not come with it.  That's why I'm glad today, weeks and weeks after getting X3, to finally have an actual manual I can open and use whenever I want without being online.
 
Randy

There's a preference for that. Go to Preferences > Advanced and check "always use offline help".

scook...It can be disabled in Preferences > File > Advanced "Always Use Offline Help"...

Cool!  Thanks - all three of you guys!-for the good tip.  It's cool to have the more up-to-date version online available, but it's far too clumsy for me to stop and have the browser open up like that while I'm working, just to do a quick info search.  I shall re-direct the program to my PDF - Good deal!
 
EDIT:  Done!  Aaaah, what a relief.
 
Randy

scook
The setting does not open the PDF, it opens the Windows style help file like pre-x series versions did. The PDF can be added to the Utilities menu with a registry edit.

---oh - I misunderstood.  But, where is that Help file coming from then?
 
RB

scook
If it is similar to Producer in a 64bit X3 install "C:\Program Files\Cakewalk\SONAR X3 Studio\SONAR.CHM". IOW just like it always has in older versions.

AH, of course - Thanks, Scook.
RB

Great info on the F1 help feature, thanks !!!

Beepster
cab/mic/position options in TH2 have REALLY helped me understand mic placement for guitar cabs in real life better. It's one thing to watch videos or read articles about that kind of thing but without a proper room and a plethora of mics it's really hard to get a grasp of exactly what it all means. Being able to switch through commonly used mics and move them around in a virtual environment to see what happens is REALLY cool. GR5 has some of these options but nowhere near the flexibility of TH2. Man I love that program and I likely never would have tried it if Cake hadn't tossed it in with X2.

Agreed, I wrote an article for Guitar Player about miking cabs and suggested they start with the miking options in amp sims to familiarize themselves with the variables. Sort of like a flight simulator.

One feature I am in the habit of using and tend to take for granted is the use of the numeric keypad for "Nudging".  I have 1 & 3 set for moving by one bar (left & right), 4 & 6 for 1 beat and 7 & 9 for ¼ beat.  And of course 8 & 2 are for up and down.  It's great for moving short clips around accurately, whereas when using a mouse there is a risk of misalignment if you are not careful.  Nudging up and down is an easy way of moving a clip from track to another.  And don't forget that nudging also works within PRV for moving individual notes or note selections.  For transposing midi, nudging is the quickest method.

Haven't read through the entire thread yet, but thought I would share one of my favorite tricks.  This uses MIDI Learn in conjunction with automation.
 
Often I find myself adding automation to my synth tracks but I am not sure which parameter will give me the best bang for buck.  So I draw my curve for a little used Controller and pick a section of the track using the instrument I am using for sound design.  I start the sequence and then pick a control that I want to automate.  I turn on MIDI Learn and Sonar will immediately assign the existing automated controller to the control.  I can then use Unlearn and Learn to listen to the effect the automation curve has on any control available on the interface of the instrument without reassigning the automation data to a different controller.  It's a real time saver.
 
Hope this helps!

Tab to transient on a drum track or start of a split drum clip. Paste in a drum sample and drop it down one track, line the phaze up. Instant drum augmentation.

konradh
About the Sonitus multiband:  Using other tools, I have never been about to find the right frequency to cut pops or to reduce sibilance.  I know in theory, but can't ever seem to get good results.  Suggestions?
 
*I have sometimes eliminated pops with very tedious and careful wave trimming, but that is not ideal and it is hard to get just right.

In the Sonitus multi-band plugin GUI, solo the band nearest to the problem frequency and drag the band borders around until you have it isolated - the key is to use your ears whilst doing this.  then un-solo that band and compress.
 
The problem with wave triming is that it's not just going to eliminate the troublesome frequency, it's going to mute everything else too.  Multi-band comping will give you a much better outcome.

Silicon Audio

konradh
About the Sonitus multiband:  Using other tools, I have never been about to find the right frequency to cut pops or to reduce sibilance.  I know in theory, but can't ever seem to get good results.  Suggestions?
 
*I have sometimes eliminated pops with very tedious and careful wave trimming, but that is not ideal and it is hard to get just right.

In the Sonitus multi-band plugin GUI, solo the band nearest to the problem frequency and drag the band borders around until you have it isolated - the key is to use your ears whilst doing this.  then un-solo that band and compress.
 
The problem with wave triming is that it's not just going to eliminate the troublesome frequency, it's going to mute everything else too.  Multi-band comping will give you a much better outcome.

I generally ignore multibands as "too destructive"
I generally use a desser for how you use the multiband.
I realize it is the same principle and thanks for unhinging me.
Cheers

Thanks for that Craig.
A five band adjustable graphic.
I never would of thought.

Ok - I'll join in.  As you probably know if you've ever followed my posts or my site, I love the Drum Map feature.  I wish they would address it in an upgrade for a few new features and a better GUI, but it's still very useful, especially if you do a lot of drum stuff, and even more especially if you record midi drums, such as the Rold VDrums kit.  It makes manipulating drums SO much easier than just using the standard piano roll, adds flexibility in mixing and matching different sound libraries or physical midi devices, and allows you to keep all the midi for a drum track on one track (as opposed to using a split to tracks CAL), which makes it a lot easier to see the relative midi notes, which is reall important in a drum track.
 
Do yourselves a favor and try out the drum maps and if you need some guidance, go to my website (in signature) and watch the video in the Sonar section, here: http://blades85.com/music/sonar/88-specific-topics/79-sonar-drum-maps
 
Hope this adds something to the conversation! :)

Although (sorry to come across negative) please note there is a giant bug when using drum maps whereby the solo buttons stop working correctly in console view (most apparent when you push out the individual sounds from the plugin to seperate channels).
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com...lo-m2926042.aspx