Hi, I've been using sonar producer for years, and have recently managed to get x3 installed (upgraded from 8.5) - at least the 32bit version - it's taken me 3 months and a new computer to get even this done. I downloaded x3 so do not have a manual (I have stacks of manuals from previous versions of sonar). I'm finding it very difficult to work with x3: in particular audio editing - I like to do a lot of trimming and splitting and moving of audio tracks (to piece together a vocal track from multiple takes). There's a button with a star on it - I can't figure out how this works. It's turning out to be very time-consuming to do what I use to do quickly in 8.5 - I now have to constantly move back and forth between different buttons (a different button to move clips from the one to trim them, for example!). Is there any resource out there (for users of previous versions of sonar) to get them up to speed on the new version - or has the software been so radically redesigned you really need to go back to the learning drawing board from scratch? I've been through the videos that came with the download version - maybe I've always used sonar differently to other users, but these either address the minutiae of functions/tasks I never use in sonar, or are aimed at non-musicians (this is a guitar/microphone and you plug it in and play it/sing into it). I guess what I'm saying/asking is there anything that's really good out there, from the point of view of a professional recording musician (but not a computer buff) who wants to get the most out of the software?
 
I've always loved cakewalk's softsynths (although a pity some of them disappear as newer versions of sonar get released) and doing MIDI recording in sonar. But I've always wondered what a lot of the buttons and "views" are for and how they might allow me to improve what I do (record and release children's music in conjunction with a tv show I make).
 
If there's anyone out there in sonar/cakewalk land (maybe someone who believes recording software is for musicians rather the software is there to turn musicians into computer experts) with a similar mindset to me who might be able to offer some advice/point me in the right direction that would be great.

Check out this video for how the new comping tool works with audio takes: link
 
And this one which focuses only on new features in X3: link
 

I wish I could of more help to you since there are so many more people here that can be of better service to you than I could possibly hope to be  .
the reason that I am posting in your thread is because In can feel where you are coming from empathetically .
in October I went from using SONAR 6 PE 32 bit on XP to X3 e PE on a Win 8 64 bit laptop and it has been somewhat frustrating for me learning a totally new work flow ...
it is like somebody handed me my guitar and they decided to turn the thing in to a lefty with out telling me 
 anyway , a few friends that I have know here for years have tried to give me a heads up and let me know that I would be scratching my head trying to figure things out .
I have to admit they were right …not a day goes by where I don't feel an little frustrated and angry about having to change everything and relearn everything I thought I knew.
 
the truth is I'm still up to my eyeballs in X3 learning curve  
 
I'm gonna kick it straight with you man and let the chips fall where they may
it might not be a bad idea for you to step back a little and give yourself a chance to absorb what you can in small doses when dealing with the X 3 learning curve .
if you got work to do that's making you money stick with what you know to handle your business and learn the new thing on the side 
 
have you tried opening up one of your SONAR 8 projects in X 3 yet ? that could be a good way for you to take something you already know and are very familiar with so you can sort of play around in X3 and try some of the new plugs and channel strips out ...
I did that with 6 PE and found out for myself that I was able to get better sounds in a shorter time with out even knowing how to use X 3 officially 
that was the thing that opened my mind up to X3 and it helped with some of the frustration 
 
also , I think this might come in handy if you don't already have it 
http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013322/SONAR-X3-Reference-User-and-Quick-Start-Guides
 
I wound up getting these vids on the cheap , they are for X1 yet all the information is applicable to X3 
they  are very informative and I found them helpful .
http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=10-X1AB1.00-20E
 
hope some of this helps 
 
Kenny

Scott's book is a must have.
 
http://www.amazon.com/SONAR-X3-Power-Comprehensive-Guide-ebook/dp/B00JU2LAR6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406202386&sr=1-1&keywords=sonar+x3+power   in both paperback and Kindle.
 
and see this thread   http://forum.cakewalk.com/Sonar-X3-Power-m3018211.aspx
 
Scott has done a great job for every level of user.   Hope this helps.

Look up the entry titled "Smart Tool" in the online help. That tells you everything you need to know about how to edit on one page. No need to buy books or trawl through videos.

It's not reasonable to expect you can fly in the tools unless you have orientation to them. Sonar X3 is an absolute joy to work with after you get to understand the features.

There is an incredible amount of tutorial material available, a good number of tutorials are free on the Cakewalk site.

I've found the Groove3 tutorials to be very helpful. Probably saved me years of guessing how things worked by going through their Sonar related tutorials. Totally have it under control now after taking in those tutorials.

Everyone has there own skill level and learning levels. some can learn very fast and some will take allot longer. This is completely 100% natural. We are all different and we learn things differently.
 
It took me a year to learn Sonar and I learn new things about Sonar all the time.
 
If you're not into learning how to be an audio engineer with sonar as your main DAW, just go to a local studio and have them do all the engineering work. This way you can just concentrate on being a musician. Not everyone can be an engineer with a DAW like Sonar.
 
Its like learning a new language. some will pick it up faster than others and some wont. As stated above, that's completely natural. 
 

Welcome to a ten million dollar studio. Use what you like. Lock up when you leave. Good luck.

Peter, maybe you should stick with 8.5, if it does what you need? why did you upgrade?

There are really only two questions that are relevant:
 
Given equal facility with 8.5 and X3, will you have a better (more efficient, more creative, more productive) user experience with X3?
 
I believe the vast majority of users would say yes. However, those who have workflows unique to 8.5 will likely not be able to re-create that workflow in X3. They will need to either learn X3 well enough to figure out if an equally effective workflow is possible, or stick with 8.5.
 
Is the time required to learn X3 offset by the time saved by using X3?
 
In my case, the answer is definitely yes. But I'm facile with multiple DAWs and have no trouble switching among programs - it's just the way I'm wired. So, it didn't take me too long to adapt to the X series. I had 8.5 and X1 installed concurrently; after about a week I was doing work so much faster with X1 I stopped using 8.5 altogether.