• SONAR
  • SONAR X3 Can it sidechain ? and anything else ?
2014/05/27 13:36:30
CyberSnail
Hiya.
I don't own X3 yet , im a MC6T user looking at upgrading to Sonar X3 basic version, main reason is ability to sidechain im a bit confused looking at docs and youtube vid's , reference to the pro-channel in doc's and every one on youtube showing how to sidechain are using producer..
so simple question : can sonar x3 basic (not studio or pro) sidechain ?
if it can, is there a limit to how many buses / different instances of sidechains i can use simultaneously ? i.e kick to bass , vocals to guitar , percussion to synth pads ....
 
this probably is an impossible question to answer !
if i was to buy X3 , is there a common feature this software lacks that in a few months i will probably need and require another upgrade to studio/pro version ?
 
 
thank you ...
 
 
2014/05/27 14:28:46
Wookiee
With X3 Cakewalk did away with variants to the basic program i.e. the core program is identical.  It is just what you get for your monies, though I do believe that the basic does not have an expandable pro channel.
 
See here for comparisons of versions for pennies spent. http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Versions
 
If the plugin supports a side chain then yes but not owning the basic version of Sonar I do not know what plugs it comes with that support side-chaining.
2014/05/27 15:16:57
Mystic38
the bang/buck meter registers higher with x3 producer....
2014/05/27 16:01:13
Beepster
Sonar, even the basic version, has send options on each track and you can insert however many busses you want. This means even without FX that have sidechain functions you can manually create sidechains using sends/busses. There are tuts out there that can show you how to do this.
 
However quite a few of the included FX in Studio and Producer have sidechaining features built in making things a little easier and if I'm not mistaken the basic version comes with all the Sonitus plug ins some of which have sidechaining.
 
If you want to learn how to sidechain by simply using sends and busses you could probably just search youtube for Pro Tools tutorials describing the sidechaining process then apply that method to any DAW that allows for sends on tracks and multiple busses. The process is a little different in Sonar because... well it's a very different program but it will work.
 
I think the X1 Advanced series by Craig Anderton has a section on the brute force method of sidechaining with Sonar as well... but you'd have to pay to get those vids. They're cheap though and well worth it even if they are a little dated now. Most of the same concepts can be used in X3.
 
Cheers.
2014/05/27 16:03:44
Kev999
Looking at the comparison chart, there are at least 2 sidechaining effects included in the basic Sonar: Sonitus Gate and Compressor.
 
2014/05/27 16:15:59
CyberSnail
thanks for the time and info peeps.
 
sonitus gate + compressor included in basic support's sidechain , i also have a couple of 3rd party plugs that supports sc.. pretty much just need to know it can be done by x3.
 
would love to own the producer version , but price tag is a bit high for me , and im just a hobbyist would be happy sticking with MC6T but hit a wall where im trying to do stuff that the software cant do + the fact i own mc6 in steam the x3 product page is showing me a nice discount 67% to upgrade ,,, prolly a good time to take CW up on there offer ..
 
thanks again
 
2014/05/27 16:31:41
CyberSnail
Beepster
Sonar, even the basic version, has send options on each track and you can insert however many busses you want. This means even without FX that have sidechain functions you can manually create sidechains using sends/busses. There are tuts out there that can show you how to do this.
 




LOL yeh i watched alot of these vids trying to do it in mc6t , little success but problem lies when i tryed mute the kick and leave the chained effect playing,  then i found out mc6 don't side-chain , but i guess i gain some knowledge from it..
 
thanks again ,, il think il give x3 a shot
2014/05/27 16:40:49
Beepster
I'd recommend getting the Studio version if you can swing it. It's pretty much the same program as Producer minus a couple of extra goodies BUT you get the Prochannel which is tremendously useful and sounds pretty darned good too.
 
Not sure how much more it is than the basic version though. Probably quite a bit.
 
Cheers.
 
edited to remove mention of the Flyout QC which is NOT in Studio. Sorry.
2014/05/27 16:46:44
scook
Beepster
especially with the Quad Curve flyout/freq analyst

This version of the QuadCurve EQ only ships with Producer. The QuadCurve EQ that ships with Studio does looks like the version that shipped with X2 Producer.
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