I've been looking at Sonar X3 Producer and want to buy it.  However, what put me on this path was I was going to buy a Roland Fantom X6 workstation keyboard, but then this guy was telling me that since I already own a keyboard that can connect to my computer - I should just get software to accomplish what I want.

What I want is better sounds, more sounds, and better recording capabilities.  So, looking at Sonar X3, it says it has all these instruments and sounds.  Will it fill the same purpose that the Fantom X6 would have filled?  Sounds that interest me are like pianos, strings, synths, pads, arpeggiator stuff, etc.

Also, when I say - better recording capabilities - I don't want to get lost in a world of production.  I just want to create music for the sake of creating it and could give a crap if anyone ever hears it.   Just more tracks, ability to plug my guitar in, my alesis DM10 drums, mics and - annoy the neighbors.

Thanks!

The problem with a dedicated keyboard workstation is that it is relatively clumsy to use. Think writing a novel on a smartphone, can be done, but not as easy as on a full sized keyboard with a word processor. I used a keyboard DAW for a few years, and would never go back. The strength of a hardware DAW is that it is easily portable and usable in real time performance, a computer is not so convenient if you are having beer thrown at you and want to leave in a hurry. If you want a fancy and extremely versatile electric piano to play live, there is a lot to be said for a keyboard DAW. Most keyboard DAW's have a limited sound palette, and a very limited ability to edit and enhance the sounds that they do have, but even when they do have effects etc. the interface will probably drive you nuts. A computer can access an almost unlimited choice of synths (many programmable to enable even more sounds) and sample libraries, that often include the same sounds available on the best keyboards. Dollar for dollar a good computer running a quality DAW software suite is much cheaper than a roomful of keyboards that would give you the same choice of sounds. And if you are going to tweak the mix the computer will win hands down.
 
As for the sounds you can get from Sonar out of the box, the producer version currently has some very good synths and rompler/synths. In fairness, it looks to me like Sonar is trending toward sound recording as a primary goal and loop based composition rather than as a synth host, but it will still give you more options than a keyboard.

If you were looking to get a Fantom X6, you will probably want something like Komplete 9 Ultimate or Omnisphere in addition to Sonar. At the cost of a hefty chunk of hard drive space, these will give you the well-rounded bread and butter sounds collection you're looking for, in high quality. However, there is a very decent selection of basic sounds in Sonar X3 Producer. Addictive Drums especially is great, and you can turn to Dimension Pro for a broad variety of sounds. Dimension's sounds won't match what Kontakt or Omnisphere can deliver, but you could definitely get by with them and wait for a nice sale on either of those. The included synths like Z3TA and Rapture are already beyond what you'll get on the Fantom. I also found the SI-Strings instrument (acoustic string ensemble) quite useful, if limited in its range of sounds.

I still play a keyboard live (Korg Kronos 88) and prefer the coherence of sound and quick sound changing/setting up I get with a decicated board over a laptop based solution (which I've done). But in the studio, for songwriting or recording, definitely a computer based DAW.

You'll need a soundcard/interface too though! Something basic will do I suppose, as long as you can plug in your mic and guitar. Still, it will add another 150/200 to the budget. The Focusrite Scarlett series seems to be quite popular on this board, I seem to hear nothing but good things about them.

Also, your computer needs to be at least semi recent (i5 or i7 based would be best), with at least 4GB (hopefully 8) of RAM, and not completely filled with junk.

So, from what both of you have said, it sounds like keyboards are really just useful for playing live or in some setting that you can't haul a computer with you.  I don't know why I'm surprised software is better than Roland.  For some reason, I got it in my head about fifteen years that Roland was the pinnacle of great sound.  To be fair though - computers since that time period are world's apart than what we have today.  

I think the menu thing sounds miserable also.  Looking at the Fantom, it seems like it'd take a year just to figure how to get around.  

So, my impression is that if I get Sonar X3 Producer, then out of the box - I'm getting better sound and capabilities than the Fantom?   With that in mind though - i'll only be taking a small step into really great sound and can expand upon what is available to me by purchasing other software down the road?

I think my computer will be fine.  I have an AMD 3.5GHz 8-core processor, 16GB Ram, and a 3TB HDD.  (I built it for only $500!)  For hardware, I have a Line6 UX1.  Will this work for getting other instruments into my computer?  And can I just plug my keyboard directly into the USB of my computer or is having some sort of device in-between better?

Looks like you're all set! Assuming your keyboard has a USB midi driver, that's how you connect it.

The Fantom X6 actually has a pretty reasonable sequencer, but yes it is still very limited and fussy to work with compared to a computer based solution - at least if you're not averse to sitting in front of a screen and clicking your mouse for most edits. Which seems unlikely considering your (home-built) system :)

I think the main thing you'll notice is that a DAW is much more "modular" and if you're serious about what you want to do, you're probably not done spending. For instance, after a while you may find you want a better piano - so you buy Ivory, or Addictive Keys, or Alicia's Keys, it's your pick, they will all run as a plugin instrument in your DAW. Same with fx, you may find you're missing one or want a better version of something, you can infinitely expand. This is a whole new mindset compared to a workstation. And while it's great, it's also something to be wary of - as you said, you want be making music, not spend too much time engineering. A workstation forces you to work with what there is, which can fuel the creative process, compared to clicking through endless lists of presets on the various synths in your DAW.

But I'm sure you'll manage, sorry for the lecture. Still think this is a great choice for your situation!

I agree with the point that computers are a little more finicky as far as live performing but the last several years I have been completely satisfied with a laptop and midi controller setup. When I do my solo gigs I simply take my laptop running Sonar, Line 6 HD500, and whatever guitars I chose. Setup takes about 10 minutes. I keep a library of my songs with EQ settings for each room that I perform in so I get the optimum sound possible. When I play a new room I run a soundcheck, tweak the mix and Eq, and save it. Everytime I play that location I load the library of songs for that room and I'm good to go. Pretty cool, since the economy tanked and could no longer afford a roadie or a soundman.LOL!

Completely understand that and agree. I use Ableton for that type of thing. In the past I've used Mainstage and Brainspawn forte. But as a keyboard player doing a lot of commercial band stuff, I'm just a lot quicker and ultimately better sounding with my Kronos.

I have both software and the keyboard workstation.  I started out years ago with the XP series from Roland.  About three years ago, I got another (XP-80) and it is loaded with exansion cards.  Although the sounds "may" be dated a bit, it was very low cost and I can just walk up to it, turn it on and go.  I am very comfortable using it.  I also have an older Roland JV2080 with 8 expansion cards.  Lots of sounds and again easy to quickly used, as it is always daisy chained to my XP80 via MIDI.  I can quickly layer sounds that way.  I also like the software synths and as mentioned, stuff like Z3ta can do stuff the Roland can't but I personally think my older Roland still sounds better than Dimension Pro.  Omnisphere is another catagory.  I would imagine some of the stuff from NI is the same way, which I don't own.
So in MY studio, I like the quick and easy, and then I can combine, or tweak the software...basically all choices.]
I might then recommend looking at picking up a lower cost hardware unit, like I did and then still get X3 and all the great software stuff too.  Don't spend a chunk on a new hardware unit unless you have specific needs for it, like live, leaving it at a church, quick jams, etc..

Sanderxpander, I don't "think" the clicking around will bug me too much.  Though, I wonder if using my laptop would make more sense.  It has a quad-core amd processor, and 4GB (maybe 8) of RAM.  Not sure if that drop in specs would matter.   Alternatively, Dell has touchscreen monitors that are a couple hundred bucks.  I wonder if a touch interface would be better (assuming the monitor is right above my existing keyboard)?
 
Sidroe, I don't really intend to play live.  But, it sounds a lot less of a hassle than I thought it'd be.   At least, once I get going, learn everything and all that kind of stuff.  But, it is cool that you can soundcheck and all that without using a third-party.  

Mixmkr, your mentioning of the expansion cards is something else that turns me off about keyboards.  I tried to find videos of what all the sounds and stuff sound like and there are none to be had.  So, it seems like buying expansion cards or whatever is a leap-of-faith in a sense.  I'll look into Omnisphere, and all the other things people mentioned.  I wonder if I'm going to have to sell my girlfriend sooner or later?

Also, this probably seems stupid - but I like this song (Largely in part due to the movie):


I like the way to strings/pads sound in it and some of the other things.  I would like to be able to have those type of sounds.  I mean that's not it - I'm at work and that's the first example that came to mind - but I think the sounds are more organic and lively sounding than what my current keyboard has built in.