Don't rush and buy yourself any touch screen, especially the smaller ones.. Loan a unit or load X2 into someone's PC with touch screen. Your expectation may fall short upon testing the touch screen in just a few minutes..(like I did last year).

The only different is that now more of X2, especially the fader, respond to touch - but the size is still the same.

And yes, 27" / 30" or greater is a must for the current X2 size, but you really need to put it flat / near flat to be really usable and you will struggle with space.

Without any other hardware control surface, I still find mixing with the mouse / wheel to be quite good.

Touch screen interface is a glorified mouse. I tend to agree. Stability and consistency in workflow is far more productive and profitable.

qlne


Touch screen interface is a glorified mouse.

I'm not sure why someone would say that, assuming you have more than one finger. A mouse can't perform discrete  tasks in multiple places at the same time.

Its probably a good idea to hang back and see but Microsoft and Cakewalk are taking the right approach here. Microsoft is creating a consistent touch enabled UI across the desktop, tablet and phone platforms. Cakewalk is taking full advantage of that platform to make the obvious next leap. pros and semi-pros are not going to be doing their thing on tablets. Control surfaces aren't cheap. Touch sensitivity on desktops and laptops will be standard within a couple of years. So every Sonar installation will have a built in control surface. Makes sense to me. The trick to work out is placement. Really a 2 monitor setup makes sense. 1 mounted flat to control the console. The second mounted vertical to display the track view. At least I think...

StepD

qlne


Touch screen interface is a glorified mouse.

I'm not sure why someone would say that, assuming you have more than one finger. A mouse can't perform discrete  tasks in multiple places at the same time.

That made me laugh 


I've always stated that Win 8 was going to be a LONG way away in my plans, but having seen it in action with Sonar X2 on a large touch screen, my view is changing, and I might even bite the bullet sometime in 2013

My biggest issue with making the plunge is more related to WIN 8 than it is to TOUCH.  I am hanging back until the final verdict of WIN 8 starts to roll in...  

I have too many unanswered questions about WIN 8... drivers, compatibility, etc... first.  But, if this turns out to be a non-issue, I am sure that touch monitors will be a plenty with many sizes available.  ASUS has a touch screen out that allows you to tilt the monitor down to almost flat.

But my big update for 2013 is going to be a UAD Apollo.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,
Jim

concentrate on making the software more stable, flexible, and reliable rather than bleeding edge.

 
This really strikes me as a false choice. For the most part IMO Sonar has gained flexibility in some regards with each release (yes, yes I'd like custom colors back also), As for reliability I don't see where we have lost any due to the 'bleeding edge' - assuming that the system on which it is installed was reliable in the first place. On my system stability is not an issue at all. In my experience X2 (and X2a) have been a very successful roll-out. 
 
As for the bleeding edge (whatever that may mean) I think that technolgy companies have a tough path to follow. They can remain rooted in the past and loose whatever edge they have or they can continue to move forward incorporating current technolgies as they become available.
 
To the quote above I would say that X2 is stable, flexible and reliable. The fact that touch has been enabled is a bonus and if you are of a mind to use it great, if not there is nothing compelling you to do so...X2 works well with your (and my) existing tool set.
 
As for touch, and more specifically touch as a control surface: I've been looking to go with a dedictated CS and was leaning strongly to the VS-700. So I have been watching that part of the forum pretty closely. Wasn't real thrilled with the commentary I saw there. It seems to me that Win 8, and a secondary monitor dedicated as a CS is an extremely attractive, and at the price point currently available, viable alternative.
 
Just my two cents of course.
 
Regards,
 

As I mentioned in another post, if you are able to get Sonar X2a running with no issues at all, then you should rejoice and smile at the rest of us. I wish everyone could do that, for our sake and Cakewalk's! Many of those successful users don't really find their way here; so, it could very well be that if the system and all stars are aligned and you have no issues, don't move an inch. I feel like my system is pretty well standard (everything iNtel where possible, ASUS video, Kingston RAM, Western Digital Drives, MOTU 24i/o Core, SoundBlaster, and Windows7 64-Bit with all the latest patches/updates. I'm an advocate of updating drivers, BIOS, etc. when they are ready (grain of salt, here), but I don't think I've run into any one Cakewalk update with X1/X2 that was perfectly running on my system. However, I do work for a software company myself, and hardware companies in the past. The initial product typically sees more grueling tests than most, if not all, of the updates/patches. It's just the way of things. Someone posted they would love to see more Beta testers. I admire that and wish whole-heartedly Cakewalk will do this (again? Have they done it before?). If I could Beta test, people like me could help find issues/errors pretty quickly. It's what I did for a living a decade ago and, to some limited degree, what I volunteer to do now for a few VST plug-in companies. I don't get that Cakewalk would be interested in such a venture, since being in with Roland.

I don't think you are accurate in your assessment. In fact I see just the opposite.
The great majority seem to be getting along just fine with X2a.

You seem to be saying that everyone is having problems and only a few are not. I see it the other way around.

Than most of us don't have a Sound Blaster in our system either.

You can think any way you wish but please don't think that we all share your views.  

brconflict


If I could Beta test, people like me could help find issues/errors pretty quickly. It's what I did for a living a decade ago and, to some limited degree, what I volunteer to do now for a few VST plug-in companies. I don't get that Cakewalk would be interested in such a venture, since being in with Roland.

If you want to beta test, all you need to do is apply. CW has a pretty extensive beta program, and that includes point releases. I'm looking forward to a flawless application with you behind the wheel (just kidding).

http://www.cakewalk.com/beta/forms/default.aspx