Since the two DAWs used for comparison were Ableton and Logic, I'd assume your areas of interest are "electronic" in nature, vs. audio engineering/post (PT and Nuendo) or sound for picture (DP).  Using those categorizations I think Cubase and Reaper would be closest to SONAR as a multi-purpose DAWs, and sure enough they're also absent.   But what that means in the end is a whole lotta nothing as long as your DAW "feels" right as the posts above already mention.
 
 

AND it supported VST 3, while a $500 Top of the Line program doesn't.

Ah yes...  But neither does PT, Logic, DP or Reaper.  I'm impressed that N-Tracks does!   I haven't used that since moving to SONAR over 10 years ago, but even back then it already supported VST and DX.  It's actually not bad for an entry level DAW.
 

Ah yes...  But neither does PT, Logic, DP or Reaper.  I'm impressed that N-Tracks does!   I haven't used that since moving to SONAR over 10 years ago, but even back then it already supported VST and DX.  It's actually not bad for an entry level DAW.
 

Actually DP 8 does support VST 3 from what I've read...I can't confirm that, but that's what I read...and most other
major (and quite a few minors also) DAW's do...

Yes, for a $89 ($36@Amazon) program N-Track was pretty impressive...the sound quality was QUITE impressive.
And the fact that it supported VST 3 was a total surprise to me...

Where did you read that DigitalPerformer supports VST3 cclarry?

here is contrary evidence: http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=51170


Back on topic, Sonar is my favorite DAW that I have tried. I haven't gone in depth with the ones that started as Audio editors- protools or samplitude- yet. 

The one thing I hanker for is better audio editing- either in track view or by double clicking the clip to throw the clip into a good audio editor. It would be cool if they gave the option to set Sonar to throw the wav to soundforge or whatever if it was double clicked. 

And I wish there was a menu in the Preferences where we could just type in the name and location of our Wave editors and Sonar would put them up the top menus without requiring some esoteric kung-fu that confuses me every time I upgrade.

I think X2 is the best Sonar by a long shot. I know everyone says Ableton is the best for gapless operation but dragging my VSTs into that cause it to stutter just as much as Sonar. And it is completely stable for me after the patch too. bravo Cakewalk!

by cloning a track and push one track ahead or back, then pan one left another right.

Or just use (the) Channel Tools (plugin) on the one track.

cclarry


II just demo'd a $90 ($36 on Amazon) program called N-Track, and it was interesting.  AND it supported VST 3, while a $500 Top of the Line program doesn't.  THAT, to me, is ludicrous.

THE BOMB-DIGGITY to me...

Can you rewire N-track into Sonar?.. i have a VST3 editor for a hardware synth that stands neglected due to this issue..was wondering if it could be inside of N-track and rewired into Sonar....(and that probably shows how little i know about rewire..)

now THAT would be the bomb-diggity!