I have recently upgraded from X2 to Platinum with lifetime updates. There are so many great improvements within Sonar, I’m really pleased with the way it is running.
 
I’m not an “advanced” user, but love to make quality recordings of my own compositions. This normally is mainly audio based, typically a couple of vocal tracks, electric and/or acoustic guitars, bass, drums. For drums I use Addictive Drums 2 which I am finding provides all I need, and is much easier to compose with than BFD3 which I also own. For guitars I have S Gear, which is superb.
 
Aside from that I have no external effects, and rely on the amazing array included within Sonar. I’ve followed Craig Anderton’s tips, especially about FX chains and have started using his “Glue” FX chain on the master bus with great results.
 
My question is – are there any obvious 3^rd party plugins that would provide a significant step up from what is included in Sonar? I get bombarded by emails from Waves for example, and I know their reputation is excellent. Yes, I am a hobbyist, but I still want to make my songs sound the best they can be. 

iZotope Alloy 2 and Ozone 7 Advanced. While you're at it, you may want to go for their Music Production Bundle. Sheer FX pleasure.

IK's T-Racks are also excellent. The best way (most economical) to get them is when IK has a group buy or some other major sale (like the one going on right now). They have become my go to and it's very easy to tweak to get very good results.

Ozone 7 Advanced can give you just about everything you need,
and all the Modules can be used as individual plugins...which is
a MAJOR bonus...and the Insight Metering is awesome...which
is included in 07A....

If you own 2 Izotope products you can get the Music Production
Bundle for $249, which includes 07A, Alloy, Trash & 2 Expansions,
and Nectar Production Suite...that would cover just about everything
you could possibly need...

But O7A alone is worth the price....

Bill,
 
Sonar has you covered with EQ, compressors and effects like phasers, chorus, reverb and more. You'll also want a good limiter, which I think is provided as well (it's been a long time since I've done a completely clean install). If not, that's the only thing that might be missing.
 
Much of what makes 3rd party plugins better or worse is the workflow while using the plugin itself, and the character of the sound, which is really a product of the hardware emulation the vendor was trying to achieve. There is nothing you can't do just using Sonar's plugins. Once you get skilled at using those plugins, that is when you'll be ready to evaluate whether a 3rd party's plugin actually is better.
 
Many beginners and hobbyists assume that more expensive plugins will make your music sound better. I've been there myself, and it simply isn't true, as long as the plugins used are, at the very least, transparent. Just learning to hear what compression does takes time.
 
Regards,
Dan

I happen to agree with Dan 100 %  .
 
Even thought I don't have anywhere near his level of production chops . yet.....

I feel he is offering you super valuable advice and a very solid plan aimed at helping you get your musical  productions up a number of notches in the fastest way possible  .
 
 
Splat is installed over here on 2  computers .

One computer has a ton of 3 rd party plugs , synths , and various musical apps that have been integrated in to the full install of SONAR SPlat .

The other computer has only the basic SONAR Splat install including only the various plugs and synths that are tied to my Cakewalk account .
 
After chasing my tail around for a few months and getting nowhere fast due to the shine and glimmer of lots of 3 rd party plugs , synths , and after having endured  their misuse and the constant learning curve distractions  ,
I decided to keep my computer with only the basic install of SONAR just the way it was for 2 main reasons .
One , I didn't want to burn through all my licenses on a lot of my non Cakewalk software ..
Two , I found out for myself that this computer served a much greater purpose as my Woodshed machine for diving in deep and learning all I could about using what I already have in SONAR ...
 
FWIW , it has been very satisfying for me to use this approach .
After picking up a few Groove 3 vids for SPlat and working through a small number of Craig's weekly tips I have made much  faster gains in a shorter amount of time then my old learning / workflow approach ...
I have also found it to be very satisfying to ditch other peoples  presets and to create my own including all my own effects device chains from scratch specifically for the music I'm working on and recording ...
 
There are a lot of highly effective top shelf quality plugs that came with SPlat  that didn't come with X2 or X3
That means there's a lot of bang for "the bucks already spent " hidden in plain sight in the effects section of the browser in SPlat 
 
all the best,
 
Kenny
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3rd party plugs are a sinkhole for your wallet. I know. You can end up with hundreds (if not thousands) of choices and it can be daunting when you just want to get your song done.
 
Kenny and Dan pretty much have the right of it. Learn what you have and then decide if what have is not quite getting you there. Then go back and really figure out why and chances are you don't need anything new.
 
Just remember:
“It did what all ads are supposed to do: create an anxiety relievable by purchase.” 
― David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest

bapu
 
Just remember:
“It did what all ads are supposed to do: create an anxiety relievable by purchase.” 
― David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest

"If you are immune to boredom, there is literally nothing you cannot accomplish”
– The Pale King (2011)

All of the above is good advice. 
 
SONAR bundles pretty much every essential effect, and a skilled mixer will have no problem achieving quality results using nothing else.
 
Exceptions are generally novelty effects and tools, none of which are essential but can add greatly to the fun factor. Examples of fun and unusual but technically unnecessary processors: Toraverb, StutterEdit, MSpectralDynamics, Saturn, various rotary simulators and pitch-modulators.
 
Then there are mastering tools. Technically, not necessary. But they can make the process easier. Topping that list, IMO, is Ozone, although others will have their own favorites.

Mmmm, Toraverb. Got to play with that juan.