So, you guys who stuck to 8.5.3 (McQ, Timidi, Ol'Pal) ... are you saying that the X's are unstable?

If I remember correctly, yes, there were some issues with stability.


My main gripe I think was figuring out how to install DimPro and Rapture without corrupting previous .cwp files. 
I have since spent like a week bouncing all the dimpro and rapture tracks in all my projects that used them.
So, I guess I'm ready to maybe give it a shot again.

But then, I ask myself, what for. The only reason I have, is to not get left behind. 
I've played with X1&2 a little and there is nothing there that I need or want. The ProChannel sucks IMO. All the new learning curves are ridiculous. 

Bottom line though, is there are a lot of folks with weird problems. So, why bother? 8.53 works pretty good.
I think I felt better using ProAudio9 actually. So, maybe I'm just a dinosaur..

Hey Spacey, I too am sorry you're having issues. I know this is the last thing you probably want to do...but have you tried a complete uninstall using the method Cake recommends and also removing the important registry items?

I say that because my initial install of X2 on my good machine sort of forced me to do that. I removed all versions of Sonar except for my good version of 8.5.3. I had Sonar 6 all the way up to x2 on there. LOL! So that was an accident waiting to happen for me. But once I removed all the older versions and then did the reinstall, X2 was great for me. Also, because the X2a patch was out, I didn't bother with the quick fix. I installed X2, and then patched it with X2a before I even opened it for the first time.

Next, some people will fight me to the death on this...but I sincerely feel 64 bit Sonar has issues. I don't know what the heck it is, but I can't get through a single session without a crash. Now with the 32 bit version, which is the one I've been bragging about as being near perfect for me....it really has been quite good. But 64 bit....something ain't right there.

If you're using 64, try uninstalling it and running the 32 bit version. We have enough horsepower with our systems these days to where that 64 bit stuff isn't as important as people lead us to believe.

I use loads of plugs and VSTi's in Sonar 32 bit and NEVER have to freeze any tracks. I mean seriously...how often will you use 15 synths to where 64 bit would actually help? Most of my projects for myself and clients end up being anywhere from 40 tracks to 80 +. This usually is more audio than synth oriented...but at all times, I usually have 3 drum modules, something from East/West, Dim pro, Kontakt etc and my cpu never goes over the halfway mark.

Running the same project in 64 of course uses less cpu, but then the crashing starts. I really think something is weird with 64....if you can muster up the desire to try it, try 32 for me and see if it makes a difference stability wise. I don't know if its due to 3rd party plugs in 64, or something wrong with the program, but man....it just never works right for me. It's like 32 bit Sonar and 64 bit Sonar are two different animals for me.

If all else fails brother...as much as it may be against what you believe in, 8.5 is a solid DAW. Nothing wrong with reverting back so you can get some fun out of the program. I use 8.5 as my weapon of choice to this day. To be honest, if all my buying power and technology advancement was taken away from me, I'd be perfectly happy with 8.5 and the stuff it has for the rest of my life...truth be told.

-Danny

timidi

Bottom line though, is there are a lot of folks with weird problems. So, why bother? 8.53 works pretty good.

Sorry to hear of your struggles Michael.
 
It's the quote above that has kept me on 8.5 as well, X1 didn't offer anything of substance over and above 8.5 anyway aside from 64 bit Rewire (eventually), as McQ said as well many of the existing bugs you can still replicate in the newer versions anyway.
 
X2 does offer some new features that I've been tempted by but the stability issues being reported and the now long history that complaints are merely paid lip service too has kept me from migrating to the X series still.
 
In that time I have become more reliant on one program that I've always used which has always worked exactly as advertised and described in the manual and also adopted another one that has the same characteristics of doing what it is supposed to.
 
It's been a revelation since taking on-board those apps that there is actually music software out there where you don't have to accommodate it's quirks and continually defend the glaring shortcomings and lack of implementation quality.
 
I've got past the stage of pointing out the obvious to anyone else now because it is totally pointless as anyone that can still claim that Sonar is a quality product obviously hasn't looked at the alternatives with any seriousness, and is usually clearly talking from a rear ended perspective.
 
Sure there's some tasks you can perform without issues but the more you use it the more bad stuff becomes apparent.
 
I've got a nice mix of stuff and a workflow now that I can honestly say I really enjoy using.  I haven't used Sonar for tracking or originating anything for years, I'll use it for mixing and some midi features mostly though because of the familiarity of it rather than any other preference.
 
I think it's a real shame because I was really 'proud' of my DAW when I started out with Sonar.  Now it's something I'll only mention I ever use if pushed and even then I can hear myself justifying why I still bother with it.

I am sorry you are dead in the water Spacey. For the price, if you cannot roll back to 8.5 or to 32bit ike Danny said, maybe that other daw from c0k0s would be an option until they get things right. You don't say where you live and I am not asking but if you are anywhere near Boston or LA (and if I were you) I'd either get Seth or someone else from Cake to come see me or I would make an appointment, load up my computer and interface and go for a visit and get some realtime answers. If they have confidence in X2, they should welcome the session to showcase helping someone with real problems and make a video of it to share with others who are having problems. It sounds like a great opportunity for Cake to show good CS and to show others possible problems and fixes... I mean, obviously it works fro them so... why not?? They seem to have regular seminars in LA and I assume there is always someone in Boston.
Maybe that would be too much trouble, but if it isn't.. it would be really interesting to everyone I would think.

I wish I had 8.5.3 but I was off with other interests at the time and have everything from S2-PE through S7-PE... but I don't have S8... I really wish I had the option to try it sometime. Maybe I can find one to buy off EBAY... and maybe Cake would make an exception and sell me a lisence for it since I have everything else... or I too could try that other girl.

I hope things get right for you soon. I hope Cake contacts you and that they do whatever they have to do to get you up and running right. They really should I think. I consider you to be a valued, participitating member and asset to the whole Cakewalk family.

Julien

Mike, "What's next?" is the question.

I don't have an answer but the question is pretty new for me.
It is obvious that something has to happen because recording
is dead in the water for me and X2a.

My thinking at this point is I'll wait for the update. It will or it won't resolve
the issue- which is mainly me being able to use it. If I can't use it I will
be forced into making a choice of ; Something new, an older version like 8.5 or
quitting and replace the hobby.

Right now I'm really considering hanging it up. I have many other interests
that don't envolve dealing with so much blatant incompetence Cakewalk has demonstrated and with total disregard for even caring enough to acknowledge the issues and offer
users some hope of retribution in that it will be working.

Hi Spacey,
 Here's what I am doing.

 I am heading back towards the old tape deck mentality.

 I worked so hard to learn to conform tempo maps and M:B:T time lines to human paced music... I tried to leverage MIDI for everything good about it... It taught me a lot. MIDI helps me study music but I ended up knowing all the back corners of SONAR and the awareness proved disappointing.

 Now, I'm going back to markers, free play drums, and a time based timeline and that means I can multi track on just about any DAW out there.

 I'll still use 8.5.3 for my hybrid projects but I'm going to spend more and more time with other humans, my acoustic drum kit, and DAWs that I don't have to fight with.

 I tried S1 last year and it's just like they say it is... I installed it and 5 minutes later I was tracking music.

 It ain't hard.

 Anyways...


 best regards,
mike
 

Julien, thank you for the kind words and also the suggestions for resolving the problem.

I really like X2a. I sure don't want to come across wrong. I do have many years of supporting my hobby using and enjoying Cakewalk products and the cool services and things they do such as the videos. I truely wish them all the best in business and life.

I live in northern Louisiana Julien but I would gladly pay to ship my PC and interface to them
and also for any service fees to get it working.
I don't know how or why it works for some and not others...all I know is it doesn't work for me. 
I have all the previous versions and could easily go backwards. Not my preference at this time.

Well one thing for sure...it's up to them. I've done all I know to do and I'm done.
I'm upset with it. I will not open it again until there is an update or they correct whatever
the problems are. I'm a Taurus too if that means anything.

mike_mccue


I tried S1 last year and it's just like they say it is... I installed it and 5 minutes later I was tracking music.

It ain't hard.

Anyways...


best regards,
mike

I had a similar experience with it, so I even tried my luck with another one too, that worked as well.

I cut and move stuff around after the event and it stays where I put it, the automation works like it says it will and I can see it and edit it with no fuss.
 
I can make comps out of as many takes as I want within seconds complete with cross fades where I want them and all the silence edited out.
 
15 minutes after thinking I'd like to record something and I'm done.
 
Even the midi sounds better when you can actually 'play the DAW' rather than post editing everything.  It has some life left in it.
 
It was a similar revelation for me just by looking at some of the alternatives revealed I'd been locked into doing stuff the hard way.

mike_mccue


The day I rolled back and erased X1 off my machine was the very first time I ever actually made use of a disk image restore.


IT FELT GREAT!

I have never looked back.



I hate not being in an upgrade pathway... that part really sucks.

My plan is to buy a fresh DAW this year and try to get 10 more years out of 8.5.3 and what ever else I try out in the future.



Sorry to hear that it's happening to you. It made me feel dismayed when it hit me. Good luck with what ever move you make.



best regards,
mike

I like that. 


I've been an advocate of this. Think about it this way. Back in the day if someone bought lets say a sixteen track tape machine for their studio did they upgrade the tape machine and mixing console every year. Or did that studio record the hell out of the machine and mixing console and their stacks of fxs.




I understand that back in those days 70s and 80s) it cost more than 100 or so dollars to upgrade to the latest and greatest. But .....






But you still were probably able to pull great music out of it an it fit their and yours needs. 




If what you own is working an it fits your needs what are you doing messing around with something that causes you pain when you are doing something that you love. 




Man society has to stop going backwards. Worry about the quality of what you present rather than the latest and greatest. 


Quality counts.


Beethoven's music is alive today because it was quality its not because he got x2 working flawless. It is Because the notes and chords in his mind were flawless. 


There is nothing wrong with using old software for years if you are creating quality music. 


That's all I am saying and Mike had a good thought that I agree with.  

timidi

So, you guys who stuck to 8.5.3 (McQ, Timidi, Ol'Pal) ... are you saying that the X's are unstable?

Bottom line though, is there are a lot of folks with weird problems.

Now hold on a sec ... I've been getting the $hit beat out of me for saying that since X1 came out ... and I've been told all along I'm wrong, the problem is my system.

So are you saying I'm not wrong?

Why would anyone come on the forum and downplay other peoples valid issue's and claim the problem is on our end?