Oh yeah.. Just realized you're American. Your perception of the world IS kind of awkward..  
(okay, maybe there's like 8 of you that know of things outside your borders..) 


Hey! :) :)

Bob Bone

For the record, I think FL Studio is the #1 DAW, although many users were pirated.  All those kids living at home trying to become the next beat rapper.

SOS is the major magazine in the world, not Europe.  All the other mags have gotten slimmer and more add filled.  The last time SOS got lighter was when they got rid of all the English local adds for their international edition.  Even a majority of Gearslutz like SOS, which is saying something since everyone there seems to have a negative opinion about most things musical.

Cakewalk used to be more of an american DAW and it is still the more popular here after PT.  Other DAWs are more popular, esp. in Europe where there are other "local" DAWs, but it has made significant inroads.

The OP seems to like another DAW and wishes SONAR was as easy to make music as the other choice, yet finds SONAR (as a full featured DAW) better at mixing.  Duh.  I still use P5 since it is easy to do loops and soft synths.  I never mixed in it.  If I am recording acoustic stuff I stick with SONAr since I can begin and end the project in one DAW. But for simple acoustic recordings Vegas is easier.

The OP likes live.  He wishes SONAR would be more like it.  But keep the stregnths.  No doubt live will add some of its missing functions.  Maybe it will keep its stregnths, but it will be more complex.  Not every DAW is a hammer - some are more of a tool kit.

@

Sonar is my only DAW to date...here in the UK - (Europe) - and overall I'm quite happy with it. Thanks Cakewalk - USA.

Bonjo


Sonar is my only DAW to date...here in the UK - (Europe) - and overall I'm quite happy with it. Thanks Cakewalk - USA.

Plus One to that

robert_e_bone


Oh yeah.. Just realized you're American. Your perception of the world IS kind of awkward..  
(okay, maybe there's like 8 of you that know of things outside your borders..) 


Hey! :) :)

Bob Bone

S'alright Bob, you're definitely one of the eight.

That leaves 7, and I know of at least 1 who DEFINITELY doesn't qualify

I have not yet reached far enough along the learning curve to use X1 or X2 productively. It is a serious slow down for me. If I have a time critical project, I revert to SONAR 8.5. Things not only changed considerably in the revamp to X1, there are things I absolutely cannot figure out how to do yet.

Just the other day, for example, I could not move a small clip from one track to another without the smart tool jumping into an unwanted mode no matter what tool I specifically selected or area I tried to hover over. Sometimes the very moment I clicked the mouse, the tool would suddenly change. Re-sizing the view, selecting the specific tool, altering various apparent settings, I had to remove all envelopes from the track before being able to move 4 small clips from one track to another. Then I had to set the various envelopes back up. I have no idea why I could not move those clips. That is something I do on occasion in 8.5 without even thinking about it.

Another odd thing I keep running into is that every so often "all bins of this type are bypassed." And this is without my having even tried to bypass anything, it just suddenly starts happening and I notice various FX are no longer in the mix even though they are "on." I must have unconsciously touched a key or something.

I have been using the SONAR XI power book to guide me into the learning curve. I went from Pro Audio 9 to SONAR 1 without ever having to pick up the manual. And I doubt I ever looked at the manual for each of the updates through to SONAR 8.5. But with X1 I feel like I jumped ship and as if using a product that is only similar.

I still like X1 better than Pro Tools 10 in spite of being able to work more quickly in it. I use PT 10 at work.

I've been an SOS subscriber for fifteen years and have a pretty good feel now of their 'tone' when it comes to reviews.  I've been a Sonar user and fan since Sonar 2.

When I first read this month's SOS X2 review I also got feeling the reviewer had "damned it with faint praise".  When I saw this thread I went back and re-read the article.  This time I felt it was in fact a well-crafted and balanced piece, but it still lacked some zest; it was not a ringing endorsement if you like.  So I remain miffed, but that's my X2 loyalty speaking probably.

As I remember, Cubase got off to a flying start in Europe 1983 and became for quite a while the 'ProTools' default DAW of those early days. Even though strong challengers soon arrived they had already established a large and loyal user base in Europe.  I tried it but went for Sonar instead because the Sonar interface was far more intuitive to me, and also, I'm one of the 'awkward squad' - more often than not I choose NOT to go with what's supposed to be No.1 !
I don't think Cubase got such a big toe-hold at the same time across the Atlantic, so it was not so difficult for Cakewalk to fight for its its place in the sun.  But here in Europe CW still finds it hard work to get as many converts as it would like (and deserves, IMHO).  Is the simple explanation that all companies look to their home market first before exporting? 

NYSR


I have not yet reached far enough along the learning curve to use X1 or X2 productively. It is a serious slow down for me. If I have a time critical project, I revert to SONAR 8.5. Things not only changed considerably in the revamp to X1, there are things I absolutely cannot figure out how to do yet.

Just the other day, for example, I could not move a small clip from one track to another without the smart tool jumping into an unwanted mode no matter what tool I specifically selected or area I tried to hover over. Sometimes the very moment I clicked the mouse, the tool would suddenly change. Re-sizing the view, selecting the specific tool, altering various apparent settings, I had to remove all envelopes from the track before being able to move 4 small clips from one track to another. Then I had to set the various envelopes back up. I have no idea why I could not move those clips. That is something I do on occasion in 8.5 without even thinking about it.

That sounds like an edit filter issue possibly.

Another odd thing I keep running into is that every so often "all bins of this type are bypassed." And this is without my having even tried to bypass anything, it just suddenly starts happening and I notice various FX are no longer in the mix even though they are "on." I must have unconsciously touched a key or something.

E is the bypass all bins shortcut perhaps you've pressed that by mistake.

I have been using the SONAR XI power book to guide me into the learning curve. I went from Pro Audio 9 to SONAR 1 without ever having to pick up the manual. And I doubt I ever looked at the manual for each of the updates through to SONAR 8.5. But with X1 I feel like I jumped ship and as if using a product that is only similar.

I still like X1 better than Pro Tools 10 in spite of being able to work more quickly in it. I use PT 10 at work.

You might like to check out some of my freebie videos on my youtube page that cover some of the X1 features. (Link in my sig)

HTH