I'm not sure just how many features cross pollinate to other daws. I'm mixing a project right now that has caused me to question the ceiling in many.
 
I started a project in Sonar Platinum and needed to lengthen the arrangement. I still don't know exactly how to use slip editing yet. It doesn't seem intuitive on the surface. I ended up exporting my stems into Studio One 3 for arrange editing. I could grok that fairly fast and I made it work. OTOH when I needed to import an mp4. I couldn't find a way to do that in SO, so I had to go back to Sonar, import the mp4 and export to wav. so I could finish the mix in SO.
Then I discover that SO either has no way to add effects to a clip or it is so unintuitive I couldn't find it. I got so frustrated I exported all the stems back into Sonar after the arrangement.
 
You could use the argument that I needed more education in Sonar. While this is true, I find the manner in which the functions are explained isn't intuitive.In some cases the functions themselves aren't intuitive. We get a 3 minute video from a guy who sounds like he's explaining a microsoft code manual. There must be a better way to get these ideas across for the average user. We shouldn't need to buy a groove course to figure it out.
 
In some of these training vids the feeling I get is, here's the point in a hurry, in an uninteresting delivery no less. I don't get points spoken fast in a hurry. Show better examples. Slow the **** down. If you don't have space make multiple videos on it.
 
I'll compare slip editing to cakes time stretch technology. I find it so very unintuitive. The videos are like bang/pow. Ok we're ready to go. If this is true, why do so many people still struggle with these kinds of things? If I'm in the minority, I'll accept that. I'm a long time user and I still don't get some of it. I'm not picking on Sonar exclusively. They all have hurdles, but the education delivery system at Cakewalk needs an overhaul.
 
 
 
 

Easier to use or easier to learn? The two things don't always go hand in hand. Features that have been implemented in such a way as to make some particular tasks work efficiently for advanced users are often unintuitive and baffling to newbies.

Slip editing...  Cntrl-Shift, Click on the waveform and stretch. The videos probably still show the old way (shift-click). It was changed a few updates back.
 
 

I have found that learning from videos has some drawbacks that a printed out set of steps that I can do at my speed is better. For Sonar, I have found the Scott Garrigus book invaluable. While it is 448 pages long, it is VERY inclusive. When reading, I have time to think about the why's of what I am doing. I prefer that. Of course I'm am not a young guy anymore and I grew up learning from books. I do recommend the Sonar Power book. I keep it handy right at the computer. After I have looked something up and done it I usually remember how to do it again. I use Sonar Power X2 as that is the version I have. Upgrading for me will have to do an awful lot more to convince me to do so.
Jack, the Quiet Bear

I think it would be nice if Sonar (and other DAWs I'm assuming) would work well with ALL other formats and standards, having bought Native Instruments and Arturia software and hardware with no real "gel" between the DAW and them really kind of tweaks me, load Kontakt and you have to set up there, midi this and that in Sonar, run into glitches and crap, seems like the standard of midi and software between companies could be a bit more user friendly. 
 
It would also be nice if Sonar updated their control surface options given there's been x^infinity advancements in all that since the last obvious update...monthly updates yet not one addresses this issue I'm assuming lots of us would like a resolution to. I know there are work arounds (which I use) but why doesn't Sonar address the problem directly?
 
It would also be nice of Sonar with my monthly subscription to include a video series explaining how their software works with all these other controllers and software, would it kill them to mention NI, how to make it work well with that format? I have set up instruments from Kontakt, but I'm limited to 8 input/outputs? why? Isn't there an update for that glitch? Am I being driven to other software that works well with NI? It's confusing to me that other software works flawlessly with NI standards yet Sonar doesn't seem to offer a solution but they'll give me useless loops this month that I'll never use. 
 
It would be nice with a future update to be able to load Komplete Kontrol and have all of the midi and audio tracks map out to where I could use one or two instances of Komplete to lay down what I need from there to add bass, drums, guitar and vocals....simple request. I don't want to have to dig in a route every single midi this and that and map the audio to this and that, why? It's mixing software, they DO KNOW what we want to do with it right? 
 
...rant mode, off

Mark Kirby
I think it would be nice if Sonar (and other DAWs I'm assuming) would work well with ALL other formats and standards...

 
And I've bolded the problematic word right there...ALL. At this very moment, it's possible that someone in the Cubase forum is asking "Why can't Console 1 do synchronized track selection, control of DAW fader, pan, solo, and mute, and control of DAW send levels - like SONAR and Studio One? And why can't Ableton Live, Digital Performer, Logic, and Nuendo not handle those functions either? And why can't the mighty Pro Tools not only not be able to do any of those, but can't even auto-transfer track numbers? And why does Console 1 only support some UA plug-ins? Why do I have to set it up if I want to use plug-ins other than what came with it? And why does Cubase give me useless integration with the Yamaha Motif XS which I'll never use, but not with the Arturia Laboratory?"
 

seems like the standard of midi and software between companies could be a bit more user friendly.

 
Well, yes, and it would also be nice if all TV remotes were compatible, that Open Office could read Microsoft Word files perfectly, and that your web site looked the same in any browser. When behemoths like Alphabet, Microsoft, and Apple can't get their acts together, that should tell you something right there. 
 
What you are asking for is the ability of MIDI to be able to inquire which instrument is connected and its characteristics. That is not part of the MIDI spec, although it may be someday. Meanwhile, you have two choices...
 

• Have a program's developers spend time and effort coming up with templates for devices, control surfaces, and software (all of which can change at a moment's notice and require a rewrite), and of which there is a near-infinite assortment. Just think how long it would take for Cakewalk to come up just with templates for all the APC-type control surfaces for Live so they could light up lights when used with the Matrix View. Also think how many people would complain about dev time being spent on gear that benefits OTHER PEOPLE instead of updates to the core program.
• Create a program that's sufficiently customizable so that with a little effort, it's possible to come up with templates and presets designed to work smoothly with an individual's particular setup. That seems to be the approach that SONAR has taken (with a few exceptions, like the Console 1 integration, and some of the integration done previously with Roland gear).

 

I have set up instruments from Kontakt, but I'm limited to 8 input/outputs? why? Isn't there an update for that glitch? 

 
There is no glitch and no limit other than that imposed by Kontakt itself (i.e., 64 mono/32 stereo outputs). I just confirmed it by loading Kontakt with 64 mono outputs. I'm not sure what you're doing wrong, but that does loop back to the original question I asked to start this thread.
 
There are three choices of Kontakt you can insert - 8, 16, and 32 stereo outputs (or double the number of mono outputs). These are not identified as such when you go to load Kontakt, however regarding what I said about customization, the number of outputs are identified in SONAR's plug-in manager, and you can rename them so you never have to wonder again which one you're inserting. See below.
 

 
Maybe someday, programs will learn you. Until then, you have to learn programs.

 
 

I have set up instruments from Kontakt, but I'm limited to 8 input/outputs? why? Isn't there an update for that glitch? 

 
There is no glitch and no limit other than that imposed by Kontakt itself (i.e., 64 mono/32 stereo outputs). I just confirmed it by loading Kontakt with 64 mono outputs. I'm not sure what you're doing wrong, but that does loop back to the original question I asked to start this thread.
 
There are three choices of Kontakt you can insert - 8, 16, and 32 stereo outputs (or double the number of mono outputs). These are not identified as such when you go to load Kontakt, however regarding what I said about customization, the number of outputs are identified in SONAR's plug-in manager, and you can rename them so you never have to wonder again which one you're inserting. See below.
 

 
Maybe someday, programs will learn you. Until then, you have to learn programs.


the problem is, when I set anything above 8 instruments up....the SONAR input/output selection shows gobbly gook above the 8 ins/outs....it's literally "s;dkfjkdowiejr" like that....
 
also, when I load Komplete Kontrol, it gives no options from the NI side nor Sonar on how to set up that entire quagmire of one midi input, many audio outputs....shouldn't there be a simple interface to say....ok, this instance of komplete kontrol just opened "x" amount of tracks, we need to route "x" amount of midi inputs/outputs to these so when this guy presses "instance" on the S88, WE know what he wants? 
 
c'mon, this could so be done if both sides worked on it together
 

Mark Kirby
[the problem is, when I set anything above 8 instruments up....the SONAR input/output selection shows gobbly gook above the 8 ins/outs....it's literally "s;dkfjkdowiejr" like that....

 
Okay, you said you were "limited to 8 inputs/outputs" so that's what I answered. As to the new issue you brought up, having never experienced it I can't comment. All the fields work as they're supposed to and show aux, unassigned, St. 1R, etc. Maybe you need a Kontakt update or something.
 

shouldn't there be a simple interface to say....ok, this instance of komplete kontrol just opened "x" amount of tracks, we need to route "x" amount of midi inputs/outputs to these so when this guy presses "instance" on the S88, WE know what he wants?

 
I'm not sure any of this stuff "knows" what you want. Someone might want to add multiple MIDI tracks for driving each drum on a different track in a drum kit. Someone might not use Kontakt multi-timbrally but instead insert one instance per instrument. Someone else might want to put all channels in one MIDI track to create a Standard MIDI File.
 
Although perhaps I don't understand exactly what you're expecting, it seems the solution would be to create a track template for the Kontakt setup exactly the way you want it, save it, and load it as needed.
 

Anyone here fly a helicopter?
 
Might sound a bit flippant, that, but what I am trying to get across is, SONAR is one hell of a tool that can do many things in many different ways. As has already been mentioned, take twenty experienced DAW users and you will have twenty totally different ways of working.
 
My lad is using Artist for the first time... Perhaps I should ask him. And the funny thing is, I was looking at a project of his just yesterday. Sound came out, no probs, but, based on something I had said to earlier in the year, which I don't think he fully understood, he had set his project up in a bit of a strange fashion.
 
I think that this demonstrates at least one massive problem here that, as much as you can do stuff with the GUI to make things easier to pick up, inevitably, you are going to have to either a) hit the manual, b) watch a video or c) get someone to show you something.
 
Personally, I have been able, over the years, both for professional and hobbyist pursuits, to pick up a piece of software, dig into the manual and learn at least as much as I need to do my job/hobby.
 
Not everyone is able to do that, for some reason or another, and outside help is needed. If this can be done within the DAW itself then that has to be great. I'm at a loss to think of anything in particular at the moment, mainly because I find it difficult to put myself back to the time when I was picking up a DAW for the first time (Cakewalk).
 
One problem that even manual readers are going to struggle with is the SONAR reference guide is currently running to 2348 pages. And the "beginners guide" doesn't start until page 127. So that is some kind of an indication of how powerful, and therefore difficult SONAR is to learn or use.
 
Also, because the reference guide is for all flavours of SONAR, it is an even bigger pain for Artist users to decipher what doesn't apply to them. The signal flow, for instance, on page 1701 covers everything. It would be nice to have a signal flow each flavour where it is different to the others.
 
 
TL;DR
Sorry, I can't think of anything in particular right now, but I'll mention it to my lad, who has recently purchased Artist, see what he says.
 
cheers
 
andy

i stoped my choice on Sonar because his easier to use to me...