I did some demo recordings tonight, just me and my guitar thru the Roland Micro Cube direct in to the Fast Track then into Sonar X3...It was so easy, not one glitch and using the Pro Channel's eq and Breverb 2 and Concrete Limiter, got a excellent mix. I was able to make the recording and mix it in just a few minutes.
 
This program is wonderful !!

Here's how:  I do many takes of guitar on three tracks (two different mics and one DI).  Take lanes are still very cumbersome to use and take up too much screen space, even if they work better than in X2.  I don't want a "main" track lane in addition to the takes.  It takes up valuable screen space.  If I audition takes by keeping lanes open and the main track lane closed (for the extra space), it requires three clicks to close up the entire track when I'm done.  A clip still will not paste into a selected take lane:  it goes wherever it wants, sometimes erasing the clip it lands on.  The new comping system is not as easy to me as just slicing bits of clips in the old layers system.  Layers were better, more streamlined to work with.  There are no advantages with take lanes.  Since the way the tracks look and function during tracking and editing is the most important aspect to me of any DAW, X2 and X3 went in the wrong direction.  I bought X3, used it, and I am on the verge of going back to 8.5 . . . again.  Whoever thought takes lanes were a good idea never did many takes of multiple audio tracks.

I think a friend of mine said it best...after using [ahem, two other programs considered "standards"] and getting super-frustrated trying to put out a new single every month or so, I suggested he try Sonar. He called me up a few days later and said that Sonar had "put the fun back into recording."
 
That's the way I feel. Let's face it, there are some fine programs out there (and yes, I still use Ableton Live for live performance). But there's something about Sonar that just plain makes it easier and more fluid to create music, and that's the bottom line for me.
 
I used to take a huge amount of time between music projects. I don't think it's coincidence that my recent relatively productive music creation coincides with X2's introduction, and has ramped up with X3.
 
Sure, Sonar isn't perfect. But the harsh truth is that I've used pretty much everything out there, and nothing is perfect...and the Windows platform is certainly far from perfect. But it is what it is. We exist at the whim of Microsoft and Apple. I think Cakewalk has done an amazing job of making a program that accommodates Windows so well for the vast majority of users.
 
I again, I have to say that one of Sonar's best "features" is this forum. I've learned a lot from you, and the few oddballs notwithstanding, there are a lot of good people here.
 
 
 
 

Saxon1066
I don't want a "main" track lane in addition to the takes.  It takes up valuable screen space.

Well, this is a "to each his own"...I find it really handy to be able to see a unified, visual representation of the various clips I've selected. Then again, I seldom go above four takes when doing a part. If I don't get it right in four takes, I re-think the part and start over.

Perhaps it's the way you're recording. If I record a track I don't like, I delete it right then and there. And start over. Takes about 2 seconds to delete a track. If I were recording three tracks, and didn't like my take, I'd delete all three and start over, takes about 10 seconds. I don't mess around with take lanes.
 
 
 
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djwayne
Perhaps it's the way you're recording. If I record a track I don't like, I delete it right then and there. And start over. Takes about 2 seconds to delete a track. If I were recording three tracks, and didn't like my take, I'd delete all three and start over, takes about 10 seconds. I don't mess around with take lanes.

Good for you! Commitment!!
 
I do use take lanes for vocals, though. I've found I'm not all that objective on what was the best take. Often on listening back, I find the best take wasn't always necessarily the take I thought was best.

Last week did 10 tracks of vox on one song. Spent 5 hours comping it into a lead vocal. A pain but it was worth it. As I was using X2 (where take lanes suck) I used track templates instead and had ten vox tracks. Looking forward to changing my workflow with X3 (I hope it is better). 

So what's stopping you from putting different takes on different main tracks ?? I mean you have unlimited tracks to work with. If I wanted to make multiple takes, I'd just make more tracks and mute the ones I don't want to hear, or solo the ones I want to give a more targeted listen to. Then delete the ones I don't like.

That's my way of doing it too. Maybe I'm just too lazy to learn the ins and outs of using take lanes.

I don't think it's a matter of being lazy, it's your toolbox and you can use the tools you see fit for the job and the workflow you desire. I can make a demo recording in just a few minutes while somebody else may take hours to achieve the same results. It's not the program's fault if you have poor workflow habits. Practicing and learning the program can lead to your better understanding and ability to use the program. So when it does come time to make a recording, you can just fly thru it with no problem. Sonar gives you the proper tools you need to do this.