TL/DR: If you really prefer presets, you can skip all of this
Free stuff: This was published a few years ago, but there are a couple of free ebooks in the author's download page.
They are worth grabbing at
http://noisesculpture.com/cakewalk-synthesizers/ The Z3TA+ 2 Update is a 28 page overview of all the changes in the Z3TA+ 2 upgrade.
The Download Package is the chapters that were left out of the published book "
Cakewalk Synthesizers, From Presets to Power User, second edition (2009), by Simon Cann". It contains 255 pages detailing sound design for a number of Cakewalk's bundled synths. It is intended as a companion to the actual book, but there is good info and examples here on Cyclone, RXP, Dropzone, Square I, Dreamstation, Groovesynth, TTS-1, PSYN II, Pentagon I, Z3TA+, Dimension Pro, & Rapture.
The last part,
Chapter 29 - Power Users at Work is a deep dive, master class from 3 immensely qualified sound designers using Rapture, Dimension Pro, & z3ta+ (Geeks only
):
From the author's intro to the chapter:
"This chapter looks at the work of three sound designers. It is intended to show you how some
of the leading sound designers work, and it gives you an insight into their inspiration and
their thought processes when they are creating new sounds. As you will see, each designer
takes a very different approach.
The explanations for the creation of each sound have been written by the individual designers.
As well as creating many great sounds, you will see that there are many tips and techniques
here that you will find you can apply to your own work. I certainly know I have learned a
lot by reading these guys’ words.
The programs that accompany this chapter are included in the download package (where you
found these download chapters)—check out the folder called “chapter 29 [power users].”
Although some of the programs described here started life as factory programs, these programs
may vary from the factory programs with the same name because the sound
designers have had a chance to tweak the programs as they drafted their explanations. To
prevent confusion, please use the programs in the download rather than searching for the
equivalent factory programs.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’ll shut up now and pass you over to the sound designers."
Depending on your version(s) of Sonar installed, you may have some or all of these instruments onboard. The actual book is still useful as a hands-on intro to sound design.
https://www.amazon.com/Ca...wer-User/dp/1435455649