+1
 
I could probably list only a dozen things I do in Sonar that's 99% of what I do, and half a dozen things that I've been doing the past 23 years that's 75% of what I do (that's pulling in MIDI experience).  A little bit will carry you a long, long way.  I barely scratch the surface of Sonar.  But *do* make an effort to learn more.  I go through phases periodically where I'll add little bits to my repertoire of what I use.
 
 

John
One thing about DAWs is you don't have to know everything about them . You just need to know the parts you use.  If you have no use for MIDI there is no reason to learn it for example. Though many have curious minds and want to know as much as they can learn. 

I, too, am a "Beepster" 
 
Sonar x2a is my first - and so far only - experience with a DAW. With recording, period. Of course, I've been in a studio environment, but, I've never been on the engineering/producing end. I jumped into X2 at the beginning of this year. At first, I was overwhelmed. Then, I loaded the pdf manual onto my Kindle, lived in this forum, bought Scott's X2 Power (it is my bible, right next my qwerty keyboard), subscribed to Groove 3's recording site and have never looked back.
 
Like Beepster, I'm getting better. Six months ago, I think my ratio was 3 parts learning (manual, forums, videos) to 1 part doing. Meaning I'd "study" before I recorded. Now, I work with X2, more than I read about it. But, there's still - like Beep said - a long way to go.
 
Yesterday, I used take lanes for the very first time. Was a little timid, at first, because of all the drama here in the forum. But, all went well. Because, I resorted back to my "3:1 ratio" before I delved in. It's exciting. In a couple of weeks, I'll be ready to share my first project: a song written, recorded, mixed and mastered all in X2!
The more I work with it, the more I wanna work with it! My wife was getting suspicious because I was spending so much time in my "hole". Then, I played her a rough mix of my song and she said "YOU did that? Alone?"
 
Like Beepster said ... it does get easier!

Right on, guys. I was feeling a little sappy when I wrote that. Got some meatworld issues screwing with me and I had been trying for weeks to figure out a plan to fix an old recording for release using audiosnap. I had been running into a lot of problems and wasn't sure if it was going to actually work but I completed the tester and it was like a weight lifted. I get it now and can move forward.
 
@John... Couldn't have done it without you guys. Stay awesome.
 
@Scott... I'm actually on X2 but still find X1 Power to be more than relevant. If something isn't jibing then I check the X2 manual to see if there has been a change. I've been meaning to pick up X2 power but life has decided to start kicking me in the pants again so I have to save my money for the emergency fund. I will get it at some point though. Cheers.
 
@trimph... Cheers to you my fellow canuckian. ;-)
 
@Jeff... Spot on. Exactly how I've been trying to roll except a little more frugally. The free month of Grooove3 vids we got was a LIFE saver. I knew I wasn't going to be able to throw any cash at that in the long term so I basically shut out EVERYTHING (no calls, no going out, kept quick/easy to cook food in the house, eliminated all distractions) and spend every waking hour of that month watching the vids and taking notes. Now I've got an entire folder on my computer filled with notepad docs on pretty much everything to do with Sonar and a bunch of other ones with more general stuff based on the mixing and effects tuts. They have proven more than useful. Cheers.
 
@mudgel... It's true. Sonar, to me, is very very much like learning another instrument. In fact it's like learning a whole whack of instruments. I wonder what would have happened if I had access to this kind of thing before I got into guitar. Would I have spent as much time endlessly twiddling away on the axe or even picked it up at all? Who knows. It's probably for the best I didn't dork out too young.  ;-)
 
@FullBug... Sounds like you're moving quicker than I did. Awesome.

It gets progressively easier as you become accustomed to the software and it eventually becomes instinctive, so you can start focusing on the music instead of the software.  But then you upgrade and it becomes harder again.
 

Hear Hear!!!! 
 
Yes indeed it does get easier. I recall my first days with MC4, my new laptop and a new interface. It took me the better part of 2 weeks to get sound coming out of the speakers and begin the journey to becoming a home recording enthusiast.
 
The key to success in any endevour is to stick with it and push through the dead ends and road blocks.  Oh yeah, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you are truly stuck.

Guitarhacker
Hear Hear!!!! 
 
Yes indeed it does get easier. I recall my first days with MC4, my new laptop and a new interface. It took me the better part of 2 weeks to get sound coming out of the speakers and begin the journey to becoming a home recording enthusiast.
 
The key to success in any endevour is to stick with it and push through the dead ends and road blocks.  Oh yeah, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you are truly stuck.

And that should be encouraging to us all because you seem to really know your stuff. I make sure to pay attention to your posts in the Techniques forum.
 
We all came into this world n00bs. ;-)

Jeff Evans
Read any books that have been specifically published on your DAW like Scott's books.

Thanks, Jeff! I appreciate the recommendation.
Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview

sharke

garrigus
 

sharke
Hey Scott I was heartened to see X2 Power in Barnes and Noble yesterday - that's the first time I've seen a Sonar book in there...

Hey J... very cool. I didn't know it had made it into the stores yet. Yeah, the publisher is pretty good in that regard. They do get the book placed in as many locations as possible. Some of my past books have been in the stores as well. Was there more than one copy? Or just the one?
 

There were two copies!

Cool... two is better than one... or none.
 
Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview

FullBug
bought Scott's X2 Power (it is my bible, right next my qwerty keyboard)

Hey Tim... thanks very much for reading my book!
 
Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview

Beepster
@Scott... I'm actually on X2 but still find X1 Power to be more than relevant. If something isn't jibing then I check the X2 manual to see if there has been a change. I've been meaning to pick up X2 power but life has decided to start kicking me in the pants again so I have to save my money for the emergency fund. I will get it at some point though. Cheers.

Hey Beepster... yep, I hear ya. I hope things get better soon.
 
Although for other people reading this, I'll say that SONAR X1 Power isn't really relevant for SONAR X2. There were many additions and changes in SONAR X2 Power including...
New topics covered include: Take Lanes, Automation Lanes, Automation Modes, new Smart Tool operations in all the views, new clip functions in Track view, Piano Roll view editing and Controller lanes, new Snap to Grid features, R-MIX SONAR, FX Chains 2.0, new ProChannel features, ProChannel Console Emulator, ProChannel QuadCurve EQ, ProChannel Softube Knob, and much more. In addition, the SONAR X2a update and features added in the SONAR X1a, b, c, d, and Expanded updates are included in this new edition. More info here: http://www.garrigus.com/powerbooks.asp

 
Thanks!
Scott

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://garrigus.com - SONAR X2 Power! - http://garrigus.com/?SonarX2Power
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar ProAudioTutor video tutorial series: http://garrigus.com/?ProAudioTutor
* Publisher of the DigiFreq free music technology newsletter: http://digifreq.com/?DigiFreq
* Publisher of the NewTechReview free consumer technology newsletter: http://newtechreview.com/?NewTechReview