Surly we'd have to understand that 3rd party plugins are licensed as per mutual agreements.

Let's face it, we don't often get a fully operational and complete plugin but we do get some. This time Addictive Drums and Melodyne Essential. All in all the value is exceptional. I think Sonar is the goods even without any 3rd part extras.

I've got PT 10 installed side by side with Sonar on my music computer. It's pretty good, you know. It's ProTools. You can do great stuff with it. I can't see how it's any better than any other major DAW though. I don't use it a lot.

I got PT 9HD for compatibility, and because it was Fi ally released from its hardware dependence.

I've got to say that it's very deep in project management. With the HD version you also get Complete Toolbox 2. It sure is very comprehensive.

joden

cclarry
...................Actually, Cubase is in more Studios worldwide, but PT is the Standard here.
(Not going to argue that point - as many will want to).................
.

and you know this because??? No argument as I am not saying it isn't so, but where does this "fact" come from?

Mm, yeah, hard data would be good. But it wouldn't surprise me. Certainly, in an area that I know well, in the games industry in Europe, Cubase is the absolute standard. Nobody ever even mentions ProTools in that context.

Thank you for your replies. Strangely- part of my post is missing- will have to re-write what I was saying:
 
I was asking if PrpTools is any better in recording sound quality. Many believe that not only hardware but software itself play a role in recording quality. And that this is why major releases sound better because they recorded with ProTools. Does it come with any "Tools" that actually more "Pro" than what we get with Sonar- such as Reverbs, compressors, EQs and so on? How about the workflow? I have been acused of being slow by my partner- he uses the keyboard shortcuts, I use graphical interface and the mouse for everything. He says- it takes me forever to do things in Sonar and I am not sure if it is me, my using of the mouse or Sonar workflow to blame. Certain things are frustrating in Sonar, such as no "Undo/Redo button. Also- to start recording we need to insert new track, then set MIDI or Audio Inputs/Outputs. In Logic, for example you can do it by double- clicking on the empty space- it inserts new track already wired. If you ever want to enter any number value in Sinar, such as the level of Resonance inside of the plugin and you type "345", suddenly whole Sonar view changes, plugins getting closed, and measures getting zooned out. It is frustrating. Have you tried to use plugins menu going up? You click on them 2 times, on 3rd time it does "Minimize" and resizes Sonar Windows and plugins menu closes. So I was wondering if Protools is better in that sense.
 
The problem with SSD is their price- for 500 Gb I would need to pay $400-500. And then if clone not working- it would be a problem. My plugins count in Sonar is 224 now- I am afraid- they would get confused with clone and not able to find their libraries or such. So I am not sure if I would go for cloning, also I may have to do it in the near future. Took me less than a year to fell 200 Gb of 250 Gb drive with just OS, Sonar and Soft Synths- not even libraries- have most of the libraries on another drive.
 
Another option to get ProTool on my system could be dual boot. If it has to be installed on the drive with OS, then- I can probably install Windows 8 on another drive, install PT and when I need it- go trough the BIOS and boot from that drive. I used to consider dual boot with Mac OS but my motherboard is not compatible. But I can try to find another SATA port for ProTools. Again- would it make my music any better or my workflow any faster? Thank you.
 

"Many believe that not only hardware but software itself play a role in recording quality."

When it comes to software absolute bollocks... :) What will help your sound quality with software is knowing how to use your software and I strongly recommend tutorals and videos such as groove3 for this. If you don't adopt the best technique to use a compressor or EQ or Gate, or your mic is placed differently, or your aren't spotting the obvious shortfalls (which takes training) then your mix will be different, probably not a "pro" sound. It ain't what you use it's the way that you use it, that's what gets results. Tools are tools.

BTW if you have 224 plugins I suggest you need to look at getting rid of some. Less is more. Time is best spent getting to know or understand a few select plugins really well. Start by seeing if you really need the 32 bit plugins.

Also knowledge goes a long way, there are various shortcuts to your frustrations, and these are best learnt with tutorials. Shortcut key are your friend, maybe you should also look into track templates.

It ain't the capabilities of your software it's your capabilities. I suggest pick one DAW and learn it inside out. Two DAWs are a waste of your time right now. Avoid collecting software,learn it and use it.

Cheers...

vladasyn
Thank you for your replies. Strangely- part of my post is missing- will have to re-write what I was saying:
 
I was asking if PrpTools is any better in recording sound quality.
 
 Again- would it make my music any better or my workflow any faster? Thank you.
 

 
Nope, no difference.

If anything PT slows you down as SO SO Many of the cool functions needed are shortcuts and you need to learn them....a PT dedicated keyboard with all the shortcuts comes in handy for this.

I am using Pro Tools 11 along with Sonar X3. I started with Pro Tools 9 and upgraded, as I have with Sonar. I wouldn't put any DAW in a 50 Gb space, That's not enough head room for me. The difference with uprgading Pro Tools, you have to uninstall the version you are using before you can install the upgrade. That's no big deal. I am not really up to speed yet with Pro Tools and I am finding latency using Drumagog, but that's probably something I am doing wrong.
I have being using Sonar since the old Cakewalk 7 from way back when and upgrading/dating ever since. It's so easy to use and is my main DAW. 
I live in the UK and work with my musical partner in Canada and he uses Pro Tools. Since Pro Tools came to Windows, it's opened a lot of DAWS (Pardon the pun) doors.

There are possible differences in sound quality, e.g. summing isn't handled the same way by all DAWs, not all DAWs are sample accurate (Sonar is), etc.
All that is quite separate from whether the included fx are any good. Generally you'll want to expand on the included fx with your 3rd party favorites anyway.

However, the differences in sound between DAWs are so minute that it makes a far, far greater difference who is sitting behind the computer. Hits have been produced on every DAW available. So don't get ProTools on that account. I can see your colleague's point about being slow if you do everything with the mouse though. ProTools can be very quick if you're proficient with it but there is no reason to handicap yourself in Sonar by using just the mouse and GUI.

If I were you I would at the very least learn to use the shortcut keys for zooming, basic navigation, splitting clips, and hiding/showing dock, inspector and browsing. Even just using those will speed you up immensely.

I want not-too-wide/narrow mixer channel strips like those in PT or DP.