Demos generally give you a limited amount of time and after that, it's time to make a decision. Yes or no?
 
So it stands to reason you should use that time to assess the new DAW as thoroughly as possible. No good making the purchase and then getting into the nitty gritty of a full blown project and suddenly realizing that some feature or other is missing or works in a way that you can't deal with as compared with Sonar. 
 
No matter how thoroughly you think you're testing the new DAW, the likelihood is that you'll forget to check a ton of stuff from your regular workflow. As an example, think of the way you can raise or lower a section of an automation envelope in Sonar "pulse wave" style, by simply highlighting the section you want to move, moving the cursor to the top until it changes to the appropriate icon, and dragging up or down. Sonar inserts all the relevant nodes automatically and moves the section. This is a huge part of my automation workflow and I use it dozens of times a day. But I can easily imagine demoing a new DAW and forgetting to check how easy it is to do the same operation. 
 
So my advice would be to spend a few days in Sonar working as usual, but making notes about the tools and the workflow you're using as you work. Doesn't matter how small or trivial it seems, write it down. All those little tools and operations and design features that you take for granted in Sonar. Believe me, you'll miss them if your new DAW doesn't have them (or you can't find a suitable workaround). Turn it into a checklist and print off a copy every time you demo a new DAW. Every DAW is going to let you down in a few areas, but at least you'll end up with some data with which to conclude which DAW accommodates your current workflow most faithfully. 

Yes what you are saying makes perfect sense to a degree  the thing is I do not work that way ..
I happen to embrace all the differences between each and every DAW that I use and own including their respective OS's and Hardware platforms 
Porting over a track or switching a song w assets over to work in a DAW w different features or workflow are not such a big deal to me.
IMHO , It's just like riding a bicycle ...I'm back up and running including cresting the learning curve just where I left off from it in less than a Half an Hour ...in some cases I was ahead of the curve simply because I spent time learning the features I didn't know in my down time / woodshed time ...
Every time I port music over into a different DAW , it usually means I know exactly why I'm going over there ...
or it may be due to frustration since I may be looking for something I can not get using the DAW  I'm using ...SONAR has been very good to me yet I have many fully functioning great sounding instruments and plugs in another OS and Hardware Platform that I have been using for years ...
I choose not to give it up 
I have never bought another competitors DAW out of panic ever . I just bought Studio One 3 Pro yesterday because I wanted it ...I'm not stupid , I'm not gonna pay $299 for it as a crossgrade or even $200  when I can pay only $ 150 ...
I had the money and I'm super glad to have gotten a great deal on the program  ...I'm also looking forward to learning my way around the program and learning from the people here , there and every where that have been using it for a while ......Panic or fear had nothing to do with it my purchase ..
When I buy any companies software , not only am I investing in their company and hoping they provide a service I want or need  , I am also investing in myself ...that for me is the main motivating factor ...
if you want access to my wallet I have to know upfront that I am making a solid investment in my self first or forgetaboutit .
The only main problem I have ever while using other DAWs including SONAR has always been  file and asset management . Keeping track of all the various projects and assets have always been the problem for me because I always usually start my projects in SONAR , then when the need arises I may port over to Logic for a while because Logic has GREAT instruments that I can only use while in there ...
One thing is for sure , it takes a lot of diligence to stay on top of all of those various states of a songs progress...
 
all the best,
 
Kenny
 

Great advice, James!
These are the things I try to check before making any decision. Not made any yet.
I tried to do a region fx in S1 as I do in SONAR, and couldn't get it to work.
I forgot that SONAR automatically splits clips for you when needed.
I "just" had to split the clip 1st.
Bet there are many of those things to get to grip with..
All the best.

Hi!
 
My recommendation if you looking for a new DAW and like to crossgrade from Sonar.
 
On Windows 10:  I would recommend Cubase Pro 9.5 or Studio One. I use Cubase PRO 9.5 and it works great.
 
On Mac: Logic Pro, Cubase Pro 9.5
 
Best Regards
Freddie

If Audio is your main thing, go with Samplitude ProX (X3 is current version). 

Hey go with what you feel is best :)

Reaper is cheap and powerful. 
A bit of a long curve to learn about all the flexibility. But it's worth it.
It has had lots of the stuff requested of the CW managers for many years.
 
Been with CW since CW9. Wish i would have moved to Reaper when it first appeared.
But, right now, i have dozens of Sonar projects, and settings, and routings,.....
It will take many, many months to move to another DAW even for new projects.
 

Craigster91
If Audio is your main thing, go with Samplitude ProX (X3 is current version). 

I have Pro X 2 ..it is very deep and can do a lot
 
Kenny

I'm looking heavily for reasons to get SO1 pro rather than Cubase. Just a thought.

So my advice would be to spend a few days in Sonar working as usual, but making notes about the tools and the workflow you're

This is really good advice. I'm doing just that. There's no reason to go crazy right now - SONAR's not gonna stop working ;-)
I reckon if you send an email to some of these companies about a "Cakewalk crossgrade" price - even 6-12 months from now, you may well get a good response ;-)

Personally, I'm gonna try Reaper first...