I thought there was Direct 2D support in Windows 7, but it seems the Direct 2D stuff in X2a is only for Windows 8?

Noel's blog mentions the new Hardware Graphics Acceleration in the Preferences->Display area, but that is not visible for me.

Or maybe this is only for certain types of graphics cards?

It would appear to be Win8 specific, from http://www.cakewalk.com/S...reader.aspx/2007013301

Direct2D Technology Preview

In Windows 8, SONAR X2a’s Matrix View and built-in ProChannel Modules can take advantage of Direct2D, which is a hardware-accelerated, immediate-mode, graphics technology from Microsoft. This option, labeled “Use Hardware Graphics Acceleration,” can be enabled in the Preferences dialog on the Display page.

I read that and that's precisely my question, because on the MS site it clearly states that only Win 7 is required.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd370990(v=vs.85).aspx

You need win8 to use it in SOnar, same with multi touch. 

Time to upgrade.

I'm not completely sure what Direct 2D is but it was first available in Vista and then Windows 7. What I get is that Windows 8 adds to it and X2a is supporting it in Windows 8. To me it sounds a lot like Aero but more advanced. It is also as far as I can tell independent from how one has one's display setup. Apparently, you don't need to engage Aero to use it.  

I think its a step forward. It is a way to have highly graphically intense objects use the hardware and not use the CPU.    

D2D has some bugs in Win7 which is primarily why its only supported in Win 8.
We reported them to Microsoft but they haven't been fixed.