What's Your Favorite Underrated Sonar Feature or Technique?

Despite logging untold hours with Sonar, every now and then I come into the forum and someone has come up with some cool trick, shortcut, or feature that makes me go "Wow, that's really cool...I didn't know that!"
 
So I thought a cool thread would be shortcuts you love, usual applications for ordinary devices, or cool techniques that you hardly ever see mentioned. I'll kick off with one of my favorites: Using the Sonitus Delay to create stereo imaging from a mono source. I just insert it, set one channel for 0.1 ms delay and the other for 20-30 ms or so, turn down the feedback and crossfeed, and use the mix control to determine the width. I don't know why, but of all the delays I've tried for this application, the Sonitus seems to work the best.
 
Next...

Great topic, Craig. I'll probably post again but the first feature that came to mind that other daws probably don't have and is underrated is the RIGHT-CLICK LASSO SELECTING introduced in X2. I hope it won't change in future versions.

This is exactly the kind of material I'm talking about...carry on! I'll be adding some more of my own.

My all time favorite is the ability to record directly to a track. As odd as it may seem not all DAWs can do this.  
 
Another is freeze as implemented in Sonar.  True it was not the first to have this but in my view it has not been improved on by anyone else. Its versatile. 
 
 
 
 

This may not seem like much, but it's a little trick that I like to do on occasion. Sometimes I like a slow, long delay just on certain words or syllables, but sometimes on the long delays, the intelligibility suffers as it goes on. So, I zoom in on the syllable or word, cut it and paste it on a different track. Then I copy it however many times I want it to repeat, and place them so they're exact with the beat. Then I automate the panning so it alternates hard left and hard right. Then I automate the track volume to fade it to my liking. That way the main vocal retains it's original quality, but I can use this trick to bring out certain words/syllables without losing the clear quality as the delay fades out.

Here's one:  Length -
 
I use that fairly often, and most typically for runs on a piano, or a harp.  I'll run my finger over an octave or two of notes, wanting to run into the next section of a piece, but it'll come out short or too long.  Lasso the notes in PRV, and by selecting to change the start times, usually not the length of the notes, I'll take a guess at what percentage will make the run end up where I actually wanted it.  It usually takes a few tries, but it doesn't take long to make that dramatic run more effectively in the pocket.  Kinda cool hmm?
 
Another common usage for it is to play something like a timpani roll.  I'm using a Garritan timpani that has left and right hand strokes two octaves apart - and I'm drumming my little heart out to do the roll, but not concerned with if I'm actually playing it fast enough.  With the Length control, I change the clip so it's about half as long.  Copy and paste that for how long the roll should be, then sweep through the velocities so I have the build I want.  The timing is semi-sloppy and "humanized" since I played the notes, but now the roll is slicker than I could do in real time.
 
Randy B.

Yeah, I got to say, I never ever use Cakewalk's implementation of Scrub. It could be I just don't understand it enough. idk.

I like using the metronome count in function but muted as AD plays while recording.
A quick humanize is also to manually record one of the AD kits pieces.
Recently I got the percussion pak especially.
 
I like single delays as in the old cakewalk echo/delay. (Bring it back 64bit). A nice and simple way to give a DI'd track or clean synth some depth in the digital world.  Usually just over over 50% 3-5 ms time shifts and the like. Good for putting a track further back in the mix.
 
Another is a fairly wet Breverb heavily compressed to contain its spill somewhat with  some high and low shelves making it more natural until you automate the panning to get attention.
 

I like Sonars way of slip editing with midi. EG: If I drag a short midi sequence from EZ or Superior Drummer to Sonar and need it longer, I just drag it out to the desired length. In the other DAW I use regularly - I have to copy the midi clip over and over because slip editing only works when shortening ...
 
Also - likely because I grew up on Roland Drum machines, the step sequencer is one of my best friends. I know the PRV is very similar and much more powerful, but I'm more at home with the step sequencer.
 

bitflipper
Runner-up: global effects bypass.

+1 to the global effect bypass...

I also need to give a nod to the draw tool for generating waveforms for automation. It's not just that you can create waveforms (tremolo, anyone?) but that it's so easy to vary the height and phase. The random option does instant sample-and-hold effects, which is also cool. I hardly ever see anyone mention this feature.
 

Right now I am really getting into the Take Lanes/Comping features. Love it.
 
Here's what I have been doing:
 
Select a section of the song like Verse.
Set looping for that section.
Now hit record with comping mode on.
Do about ten takes of whatever it is you doing (vocal, bass, guitar)(yes ten takes, bear with me!)
 
After your done, section off the takes about two - four measures with the comp tool.
Now go through the takes and select which section you want to promote.
After you have the whole section decided on, copy and paste the promoted track to a different (new) track.
Repeat the three steps above using different takes from the first time to promote
 
What you end up with is a lot of variation that can be used throughout the song. I have used it for vocals on chorus, back up vocals, lead fills, drum fills, hi hat parts (works great for this! Very human!). The way I see it, it's use is almost endless.
 
One draw back/concern in this method: When you copy and paste the promoted track to a new track, all ten takes come with it. I have a method/work around for eliminating it.

arachnaut
 
I like to undock the browser, go to the VST plugin and open up the controller assignment to add automation knobs for the synth.

WOW!! I never knew this!!
 
Opens up a new world!!
 
Thanks!!!
 
Found out that you can also put it (the undocked browser) in the multidock!!