What are your experiences?

I'm thinking of going to X2 (from 8.0!!) and will need a new computer. What's the skylight interface like with multiple monitors? 

  X1/X2 are great on dual monitors. You have a lot of flexibility with dual monitors. X1/X2 can be used well on a single monitor better than previous versions.  But its also better for two monitors.    

Can you put the channel strips on one monitor and the tracks on the other?

Are you using nVidia, firepro or what?  I have had mixed results with different video cards. Have to say the performance may not have been stellar but the stability and 'non-glitchyness' of Oxygen and Matrox cards is something I miss.

Also, off topic, but, is the ProChannel stuff worth the extra cost to go to Producer?  Kinda looks like it is to me, if the SoundonSound reviews are to be believed.

...and another thing!  I'm looking at getting a high end 2D video card (or two) rather than a low or mid-level 3D card. I am making an assumption here that there is no benefit to 3D capability for Sonar. Is that a reasonable assumption?

hgj1357


Can you put the channel strips on one monitor and the tracks on the other?

Are you using nVidia, firepro or what?  I have had mixed results with different video cards. Have to say the performance may not have been stellar but the stability and 'non-glitchyness' of Oxygen and Matrox cards is something I miss.

When you say "channel strips" do you mean the Console View? If so yes. You can do it in multiple ways. All views are floatable and can be placed on a different monitor. Or you can use the multidock to handle this on the other monitor. Or you can leave the multidock on the first screen and float a view to the other. I have placed the track inspector on the other monitor too. Really you have all sorts of options here plus screensets work with dual monitors.

I have two wide screen 22 inch monitors that work fine with X1/X2.


I use a Nvida Geforce GTX 550 TI and it works great. I have always used Nvida cards.

The X Sonars are better at handling a single screen or a dual screen setup. Either way CW did a great job in making X1/X2 shine on any setup.   

 

hgj1357


...and another thing!  I'm looking at getting a high end 2D video card (or two) rather than a low or mid-level 3D card. I am making an assumption here that there is no benefit to 3D capability for Sonar. Is that a reasonable assumption?

I wouldn't do that If you run Win 7 you will benefit from a card that is meant for 3D graphics due the its processing power. Vista/Win 7 uses Aero to off load screen updates to the graphics card which leaves more CPU for audio processing. If you turn it off all screen refreshing goes through the CPU. Plus with Nvida cards there is Cuda processing ability. Some programs use that if its available. See this for details.    

Thanks John.

A year or two back (when Sonar 8.0 was new!) I was looking at a 27" or 30"  monitor & a 20" for dual. Now, I can get 4x 24" monitors for far less than my original crazy plan. Sonar 8 wasn't great for separating windows and workflow onto different monitors. X2 looks far better.

Hi there Howard

I switched to two monitors when I got X1 and to me, it's a really intuitive way to work (I'm using 24"HD and 22" monitors) - and I've never used screensets that much so the two monitor approach really works well for me.

For example, when I'm tracking guitar and bass, I have X2's Track View open on my main monitor and use the other screen to show my POD Farm UI and a chromatic tuner - this is really useful as the standalone version of POD Farm isn't dockable, nor can it be set to 'always on top'. When I'm mixing, I float the Console View and drag that over to the second monitor.

I use  a pair of 25" HP monitors, one for X2 and the other to display soft synths. Also display the PRV on the second monitor. I have a NVidia GT520 fanless video card for both monitors.
 
Alex