stevec
Ah... I'm aware of it, but no, it's not something I've used.   Do you have a typical use-case for it vs. regular quantize?  I understand what it does - "dynamically" quantizing a group of notes by dragging left or right - I've just never thought of a scenario that made me think to use it.
 

Yep, you're close. You select a bunch of notes in the PRV and then, holding down a modifier, drag the mouse up or down. As you drag up, notes move closer and closer to the nearest beat (or whatever quantize unit you've selected). As you drag down, notes move away from it. Quantizing fully to grid can create a robotic feel. But drag qunatize gives you instant visual control of how tight your notes will be without making them robotic. My scenario is when I record myself playing a keyboard. Either due to latency, MIDI jitter, or incompetence, my notes can often be out of whack. Drag Quantize brings them into whack again. :)
 
You can try it out by switching to the "edit" tool and selecting "timing". Then you have to switch back to the smart tool to do everything else. Or, once the Timing option is selected under the edit tool, you can just hold down F8 to do drag quantize and let it go to do everything else. But, if you press F8 one time too many, the Edit tool will switch to some other tool, and then you have to press it again to cycle through all the other edit tools until you arrive on the "timing" tool. This worked much better in Sonar 8.x

"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." 
 
Funny how so few people ever mention this very, very desirable feature. I thought I was alone. It's a PITA to have to tool copy to Wave Lab just to make some minor ( or major) fix. I know we all work differently but I seems to me your forced to work in a arsed backwards fashion. Is the code needed to wave edit that hard to write? I have not upgraded because this is the only item on my list. We all have different lists, Colours?? 

Huh... I do like the idea of seeing the quantize results in real-time.  I don't know that it's something I'll use a lot since I often make adjustments within a phrase after quantizing (usually ~ 80-90%), but I will definitely need to keep this one in mind.   Thanks, Yev. 
 

The best thing I ever did to learn and love the X interface was to watch some of the many helpful videos produced by CW staff and forum members.  This fast-tracked the learning for me and was worth every second I spent doing it.
 
I bet if the OP watched a few of these videos, they'd be away in no time.

Sorry don't mean to Hi-jack this thread.

scook
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.

I thought it was resolved when I posted that but it is not.
So, I just quit posting, I tried everything that was suggested.
I actually finally had to just go back to X1 yesterday and it's so far so good.
I loaded up the same song with the same plugs running and no problems.
So, I don't have a clue other than it IS something in X2.
Although when installed X1 there were 2-3 "C++redistributable's" that were installed.  
Perhaps that was the problem?  Maybe I will try X2 again at a later date.

mudgel
Until X1c I couldn't even use X1. Once I could use it I found I was constantly having problems getting used to it.

I was always going back and forth between 8.5 and X and it just wasn't working. Once I committed to learning X properly and put 8.5 aside my workflow improved in leaps and bounds and find that going back to 8.5 really shows up how dated (read clunky) that interface is.

I remember starting with Cakewalk at version 7 then 8 after that I didn't upgrade till Sonar 3 and each version since. Going from Cakewalk 8 to Sonar 3 was a huge jump not only in versions but interface/workflow as well.

Those sort of design changes always call for a bigger user effort. The X series has complicated matters because of the inherent problems in X1 for some and then X2 for others.

It seems that cakewalk have interrupted their update cycle (3 or 4 each version) for a while to concentrate on fixing the core which so many complained about with the constant cry for stability. They've traded short term happiness for a more long term strategy that has made a bunch of users very cranky especially with a virtual media blackout. Well now the cats out of the bag so can any of us say we don't want Sonar to succeed, of course not, we have a vested interest. I'm sure things are well in hand and the future is looking a lot brighter.

This echoes my own experience with the X series.
 
Clunky is a good word.
 
I agree that the future looks much brighter.

I run a mobile demo studio service and must use the smallest laptops possible, even netbooks. The new interface has been bad for me.
 
X1 lost me 15% of screen space because the new tracks need more room for the same displayed information. That's not better.
 
The bottom scroll bar is now ABOVE the tabs, wasting more vertical space (in 8.5 they are next to each other, the scroll bar occupying only half the width - much better).
 
The new PC and track inspector introduces huge colored knobs which waste yet more space. 8.5 had just numbers or sliders with numbers integrated. - much better.
 
And most PC modules are sinfully wasteful with space, with analog-looking meters and colossal Saturation knob. Why why why?
 
At the bottom of the track inspector/PC is one single button labeled "Display", losing another 5% of precious vertical space. It is the only button on the bottom. The rest of the space is empty, wasted. Why? It is for settings, it is not used often. Put the button on the top, or as a right-click menu. This is not better.
 
Introducing TOUCH is good and future-thinking. But if I think touch, I think horizontally held screens. -- which means SMALL screens. THAT is also part of the future, for tracking work especially.
 
I appeal to the bakers to review the X interface and see how 8.5 offered more overview on less screen real-estate. From X2a on only Win7 is supported, so I must soon get new Win8 touch notebooks, I feel like I am condemned to paint the entrance hall of my house through the letterbox. 

Seriously folks.. a post count of TWO, coupled with a fire and forget critical comment does not warrant the waste of anyone's time

delonasn
I should have stuck with Producer 8.5.  Cakewalk, you ruined the interface!  The GUI is *definitely* inferior to what it was.  What were you thinking?  Didn't you do any user testing?  Did MBAs take over management?  Engaged in groupthink over there?  
 
Geez, I can't figure out how to do any of the standard things I used to do routinely.  Pretty much have to relearn the product from scratch, which is a huge waste of time.  Even after weeks of working with it, I'm still struggling with simple operations because you've removed menu items.
 
Your bizarre UI decisions have cut my productivity by an order of magnitude, completely unnecessarily.  The reason I've stuck with Cakewalk all these years is because I knew the product well.  That's no longer true at all.  This might as well be Cubase or Pro Tools.
 
If it ain't broken, DON"T FIX IT!
 
And you didn't even fix V-Vocal, which *was* broken and is still too unstable to be very useful.
 
Wow.  Really, really bad.  Shame on you.
 
--Nick

Maybe if you had participated in the forum, you could have cut down your frustration by getting assistance with the UI changes.
 
X1 was a complete redo of the UI, and the 8.5.3 black arts UI is gone, unless you continue to use 8.5.3, which you are certainly free to do.
 
I don't think it particularly fair to blame Cakewalk for you not seeking assistance when you got stuck.  Besides the forum, there were and are all kinds of good videos, as well as great books with tons of good information on using X1 and X2.
 
Why don't you grab a mitt and get in the game?  There are LOTS of folks here to help you with the transition.
 
Bob Bone
 

I've used every DAW out there...
 
And, for me, the X series has the BEST interface in the business...barring none...
If they could get the rest of the program in line...I'd be a happy camper...
but, I'm not holding my breath...but I AM hoping X3 delivers, but I'm not
jumping "right on" the bandwagon...I'm waiting for bugs to get exterminated,
and the price to fall...

Would I like themes and colors?  Yes, but not required...WORKFLOW to me is 
more important then aesthetics...and Skylight delivers...there's room for improvement,
but it definitely suits me and the way I roll....