I really hated X2 in the beginning. After working with it, I now only mildly dislike some things about it. Most things I've been able to get used to. A few things still really need changed/fixed, IMHO.
Not sure about what the future holds with the Gibson deal and all, though. We'll see. If they screw things all up, I will probably be making the jump over to Pro Tools.

stevec

thebiglongy
Always love these posts. You can guarantee some will flock in to proclaim it's the best thing in the world.

Perhaps it's because many people actually do pefer it over 8.5 or earlier?   It is possible.
 

I wasn't referring to those who preferred 8.5, I was speaking of those who chime in on how great the X series is compared to it.

I hated it too at first.  But I love it now, as most everything can be customized to your liking.
I have been using cakewalk since 2003, but I have had nothing but bad experiences with the performance side in the X series.
I went all 64 bit, built a new PC to take full advantage of everything.
Unfortunately, I have had problems with X1 and a CPU spiking problem within X2, I have posted on here, but still can't figure it out.
I guess it's time to say so long to Sonar.

So when you posted that you solved the spike it was not the case? http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2880428 It did not appear to the SONAR related at that time.

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
Not to fault anyone for liking an earlier product but 8.5 had a pretty horrendous user interface by modern standards. It had a proliferation of dialogs, floating windows, buried options and disjointed menus which were common in apps from the last era of UI design. If you were had learned all the options of course one could work fast there but it was far far worse for a newer user to get used to than X2. X2 utilizes many proven UX patterns that are known to improve productivity. For those unfamiliar with some of those patterns it might take a bit of re-learning but once you switch your mindset let me assure you that it will be far superior. 
 
We went through the exact same paradigm shift about 13 years ago when we first introduced SONAR. Anyone remember the furor when we took away the excel spreadsheet style track view columns and introduced the new track view? :) There were users for years telling us that the older interface was superior.
Any major UI change takes getting used to. The change to the X series was a difficult transition for all of us to make but it was absolutely due and required to take SONAR into the next decade of computing. 
The same applies to touch. Many think it is a gimmick but a few years from now you will wonder how you ever got on without it.
 
Have a little patience and learn the interface and you will be more than rewarded. I can barely look at 8.5 anymore - its so dated.. 

Hi, Noel.  I was all for an new UI and even suggested that the Bakers consider the Music Creator look for SONAR (as was their intention all along).  The greatest disappointment I have with 8.5 to X was that the customization of the UI was totally stripped down.  That also included the tools.  I wish I could remove or add tools in the CB within modules so that I can maximize the use of screen space.  The ability to only view or hide, move and float the modules/control bar are far from the tradition Cakewalk touted proudly about SONAR's vast customization options (including colors).  But that would be the top of a list of traditional features that have since been compromised in the name (or for the sake) of improvement.
 
Okay, so X3 might offer some color customization option, but that doesn't really affect workflow.  I wish I can change the default settings of the smart tool to my liking to enhance my workflow.  8.5 had such options for tools and that was pretty darn cool.  So, we lost some legacy features for new features that are still going through the growing pains.  It's understandable then that, learning UX patterns aside, adapting to a fixed workflow still hampers one's personal preference when it comes to workflow.  And that's what was lost from 8.5 to X.  We cannot customize SONAR Xx to our personal preferences and nothing that we've read about X3 so far suggests we will be able to do so.  I am not so sure we ever will.
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker

+1 for a customizable control bar module.  That's something I would like to see, just for ergonomics; e.g., all common tools in the same general location.
 
But if X3 offers some type of color customization, and apparently it does, that is at least a step in the right direction on the customization front.   Who knows, maybe with that done the control bar is next...  
 

thebiglongy

stevec

thebiglongy
Always love these posts. You can guarantee some will flock in to proclaim it's the best thing in the world.

Perhaps it's because many people actually do pefer it over 8.5 or earlier?   It is possible.
 

I wasn't referring to those who preferred 8.5, I was speaking of those who chime in on how great the X series is compared to it.

 
 
Haven't seen that type of post thus far.  My stance is I like the X series better than the 1 thru 8.53 series. Since I've owned/used all from version 3 on up, I have a good point of reference. 8.53 was okay, but cluttered and dark to work with for me. That version is the reason I switched to reaper for over a year. The X series brought me back. Different strokes.
 
What the X Series is missing from my pov is a good built-in audio editor, easier audio quantizing, improved track/project navigation, improve fx control. Of course those have all been missing in the now beloved 8.5 version as well. 

The one thing that's been lost since 8.5 is the ability to access every function of every PRV tool without switching tools. SmartTool comes close, but still doesn't do everything. For the functions it doesn't include, tool switching is required, and sometimes that means switching modes within a tool. Every time the user has to keep track of the mode of the program, that's a design smell, and it still hasn't been remedied.
 
For everything else, using the toolbar/control bar for routine elements of workflow is inefficient in the first place.
 
Touch will not take off beyond the matrix view for several reasons:
1. Touching a vertical surface is not ergonomic.
2. A DAW presents a high concentration of information requiring either a precise pointing device (which a finger isn't) or a large amount of real estate. The problem with consuming a large amount of real estate is having to shift visual focus from one point to another (which is why Sonar's side-docked Pro Channel will never be as natural to use as it would be if it could pop up wherever the cursor is).
3. Touch may be a great way to control faders in the console view, but, unlike conventional faders and knobs, touch faders cannot be manipulated without looking at them. Besides, the console view itself is a vestige of 20th century hardware-centric design philosophy. It is far more straightforward and efficient to mix and produce in a single view, and based on all kinds of videos being made today (including Pensado's Place), DAW consoles seem to be going out of style.

There is definitely a learning curve for anyone moving from Sonar 8.5 and earlier to the X series. Some people just can't stand change. I like change, but it took me a while to get used to it, but Cakewalk has made quite a lot of free video help to get you through it. Maybe you should take a look at some of those. 

I actually like the UI of X2. I think there is certainly room for improvement on it, but it was a step in the right direction.