Seems like there's just so many things missing in this trial of X2, that I wonder what I'm supposed to really get from this DAW. I'm on tutorial 4, which talks about software instruments, but I can't carry on. Should I just contact Cakewalk about this, or does anyone have a solution?

The trial version does not contain DropZone. The list of features included in the trail version are noted at the bottom of this page http://www.cakewalk.com/P...s/SONAR/Web-Trial.aspx The tutorials referenced in the documentation are for the full versions of SONAR.

Don't give up on Sonar.  They had to skip including a lot of stuff, because otherwise folks would be able to download the trial version and grab a bunch of stuff that was not intended to be given away for free.

There are a number of free instrument and synthesizer plugins available on the web, which you could use to continue going through the tutorials.

Check out www.native-instruments.com and look on that site for the free 'Players' modules.  One of these is a stripped down version of their flagship sample player, and while it does not have the zillions of sounds you would get with the full version, the sounds it does come with are still quite good.

Other folks can add some other free ones that are also pretty good (thanks forum folks).  If you are running 64-bit Sonar, you might want to try to find free 64-bit versions of free plugins.

As you run through things, post any questions here on the forum, and you will find folks pretty willing to try to help you figure things out.

Welcome to Sonar, and welcome to the forum community.

Bob Bone

Should I just contact Cakewalk about this, or does anyone have a solution?

No... Its a trial. If you want more features, you have to buy it. 

Thanks for the advice guys. I mean we're given 30 days to test out what was supposed to be, to my mind, the experience of all that Sonar has to offer (from within).

It feels very much different from many other trials/lite versions I've had in other DAWs, but I'm hoping these 3rd party plugins I'll have to look for [off-site] will work in the long run...

The trial is for you to get a feel for the audio engine and the interface.  Add-ons, like the soft synths and effects, are above and beyond what the trial was ever intended to do.

Several folks have told you essentially the same thing - myself included.  There are third-party plugins available for free, for you to try out, should you choose to do so.

I pointed one out to you and provided the link to the site where you can download it for free.  The only essential work there is to paste the link I provided into a browser window and click download.  There are some good free plugins out there - but not too many that are 64-bit.  There is some truth to the idea of getting what you pay for.  Better plugins cost money, just like any other business.

I CAN tell you that should you decide you like the audio engine and interface, and you subsequently purchase one of the editions Cakewalk offers, that you will find additional happiness in the add-ons that will give you, particularly with the Producer Edition.


Bob Bone