I've been using Sonar X1 since it's release, and just now X2. I'm making the assumption that Cakewalk (probably Roland) wants us to only use their own plugins, and not so much 3rd-party, as is evident of how the ProChannel is implemented. Personally, I don't use ProChannel anymore as a result. I was turned off by it early on in X1, and haven't seen any new desires to ever use it. Even in X2, you're so limited as to what you can bring into Pro-Channel. The ProChannel and 3rd-party plugin sections are so disconnected in Skylight, that I'd rather downgrade to X2 Studio and just divorce ProChannel altogether, using only my 3rd-party plug-ins and save a few $$ by not buying Producer. This could be fixed. ProChannel could be used to give us a larger 3rd-party plug-in section, that you could see up to, say 10 plug-in slots, including the ProChannel plug-ins, where the Engineer doesn't "feel" a difference between the two, and saving settings would save both ProChannel settings as well as 3rd-party plugin settings in ONE place! Why do they HAVE to be separate? If Cakewalk wants me to make use of their ProChannel, then please don't make me feel my investment in other expensive plug-ins second-best to yours. If they were all married into Pro-Channel, where they could be arranged as the engineer wants, then globally enabled/disabled as X2 allows, then you'd have a serious bargain chip for Producer. Otherwise, the only thing I find useful for Pro-Channel is if none of my 3rd-party plug-ins were working, or I wanted to use the "A" type channel emulation. Other than that, consider me a ProChannel non-user until then. Ok, next: Faders. Why so small? I feel like I'm stepping down to use these tiny faders. I find I always have to type in fader values if I've had strong coffee.

Probably my alien furry eyes missing the point of your post but.

FX Chains?

Multiple FX Chains?

Arrange order of modules as required including FX Chains?

Save entire Pro channel with FX Chains configuration as a preset?

This is all possible in producer is it not?  If you say this is not the case then there must be something wrong with my Pro channel because it works like that for me here.

As to typing fader values my furry ears do not type but the seem to hear quite well which for me is far more important than the value the fader is set at.

But then I am only a strange furry alien.

I don't understand at all. I love X2. I don't feel that the pro channel modules are forced on me....

I like that I can put fx chains in the pro channel.

My only complaint (which I think is an oversight) is that you have to extract the fx chain in order to double click the fx and open them full when in Pro Channel.

Just drag any VST into the Prochannel, it's automatically inserted.

Either make an interface for each plugin or double click the plugin to open it's own.

I asked this elsewhere when another user was complaining about it. What is the difference between double clicking on a VST in the FX bin and double clicking on it in an FX chain holder?

Absolutely none AFAICT except that the PC will allow you to do it in the PRV and other views.

Seems like a win/win to me.

Perhaps I'm missing something though?

No, you're not missing anything Karl, the OP certainly is though.

Do these people spend anytime at all either RTFM or reading any of the Marketing blurb or watching the Webinars or any other high quality Videos  available?

I always get confused when a post like this appear where the OP is saying:

"Damn you Sonar for not doing exactly what it is you actually can do!"

It's like, "I've had it with Sonar, it doesn't play back sounds!!! I mean, I love it as a VST host but it won't play back or record music! Stupid Cakewalk for ruining it" and the answer is: "Hit space!"

Since X2 the FX bin is redundant to my use and my belowed VSTs that the Pro Channel can't replace, ever, is nicely wrapped up in an FX Chain. For Christmas I will customize the skin for them too.

Mr OP - I suggest you have a look at these: http://cakewalk.com/CakeTV/

Best of luck

All I can make out of the OP's post is that he is contradicting himself.

It seems he is not using PC yet finds it poorly implemented. He places a high value on third party plugins without understanding the quality of the CW plugins.

He asks for features that are already in the PC.

It all sounds as if the OP has not bothered to find out what the PC offers but is sure that it will prevent him from making his first gold record. 

This is a case of deliberate user error. 

Hi peeps thanks for confirming that my Pro channel is not in fact broken but works as intended.  When I read the OP's post at 2:0am local time I thought my furry eyes were deceiving me.

Then today I noticed that there may be a clue in his/her user name BRCONFLICT, it says so much.

Thanks again fellow readers of the manual, watchers of webinars, researchers of product and in depth experimenters.

Your eyes, Wookiee, do not deceive you. 

Knowledge is power. The OP has lost all power to persuade. 

Bristol_Jonesey


No, you're not missing anything Karl, the OP certainly is though.

Do these people spend anytime at all either RTFM or reading any of the Marketing blurb or watching the Webinars or any other high quality Videos  available?

Especially the high quality videos....