Which Sonar audio effects do you consider to be Track/Bus/Offline only?

Hmm. Interesting question.
 
I think I don't really categorise things this way in my head. Everything is potentially useful for anything.
 
However, it seems your larger issue is "how to not get distracted and end up tinkering aimlessly". My approach to that is just to keep it basic, for the cast majority of tasks.
 
Think if you were mixing on a console. You'd have the console EQ, and maybe per-channel dynamics, like on an SSL or whatever. So I have my standard template set up like that. Every channel strip has (in this order) Quadcurve EQ > PC76 U-type Compressor > Console Emulator. Buses are the same, except with the 4k S-type bus compressor instead.
 
I also have standard reverb bus, with the sonitus reverb on it, and a standard delay buas, with the extremely humble Sony Simple Delay on it.
 
And that's what the vast majority of the mix work is done with. I only ever add or change when necessary.
 
For vocal and bass tracks, the compressor almost always gets swapped out for the CA-2A. For reverb, most things won't end up going to the sonitus, as at some point, I'll start to have a more specific idea about the reverb, but that's how everything gets sketched in. The delay will generally also change, or other delays will be added.
 
Pretty much everything and anything else will only be added when there's a case for it. By the end of a mix, there'll be all sorts on there. But tinkering and experimenting with unknown factors is very rare during a mix. I might allow myself one or two moments of that. Experimenting with new plugins, I generally do in downtime messing with old tracks that are already finished, and now aren't going to change.
 
 
 

Well, there are two schools of thought on that. Some people like to mix into master bus compression. I don't like to work that way myself, but there are some very good mixers who swear by it.

From the included plugs, I would say that any of the LP series should be avoided until mixing. The multi band comp seems to be a resource hog. I also leave any kind of limiter for the final mix.
 
I'm a rookie but I've learned to avoid anything that's looking ahead at the audio stream. One thing I really like about Waves is that they include average latency specs for different sample rates. This makes it easier for me to decide where and when to use the plug. It would be great if everyone published specs like that.

Thank you all for your replies, some good direction here.
 
I like the points about latency, look-ahead and CPU load, I will
incorporate those considerations into my work flow though I think
my system is still considered adequate if not good for a DAW.
 
Thanks a Lot,
Mel

I also use eq in a subtractive way, but I have seen situations in recording studios where the engineer would
pick a narrow Q on a bass track and boost it to hell.
 
Do any  of you guys use a stereo imager while tracking?
Does it add a heavy load?
 
Thanks
Mel

OldTimerNewComer
Do any  of you guys use a stereo imager while tracking?
Does it add a heavy load?

 
Not while tracking, usually after the halfway point in a mix I'll turn it and the rest of the Master stuff on. Not a big CPU hog at all I've found.