8.5.3 is working again.  What, like a week later?  Sweet.

However, projects recorded in x1 ( i had one that we made it though a session with) open fine, they even play fine.  I might even be able to use them. (Fingers crossed)  But, the problem with the help file (opening the help file causes audio to slow down) is still there on those files.  Files recorded in 8.5.3 are now fine.  Chump don't get no help.

As my old friend Dart used to say, incessantly, "That's just weird."  Hopefully it's helpful to the folks trying to make x1 work for the rest of us.

Dell Studio xps, Intel Core i7 dual quad, 12 G ram, win 7/64. Sonar x1 uninstalled, thank God, and Jim.  See above.

after a few weeks of acclimating myself to X1, i will say i prefer it to 8.53.  i have only had one big crash, due to v-vocal (luckily i was smart to save before pushing that button!).  that Sonar Helper tool is ACES with me, and may have aided in my decision to pick X1 over 8.53.  so my vote might not count

I have been away from the recording world for a while and I have 8.5.3 and no problems. I have watched the demo and what appeals to me are the Mastering tools that come with X1 but reading this entire thread at times I felt good about X1 and towards the end I was not so sure.  I don't want to upgrade at the risk of crashes but I don't want the ability to have a better final product which X1 is stating to be better at.  

The upgrades to X1D makes things fine.  Make sure you get there.  The Pro Channel stuff has been great for me.

 

Thanks I think I will give X1 a shot  

Sonar 8.5 or X1 ? Which is better ?

Hi Etostone, to me, both.........on my sys.......                                                                

On my sys 8.5.3 can handle far more audio-tracks ( more than 50 incl. effects aso )   
and till 20 midi-tracks together.   
For Rock- recording sessions 8.5.3 simply runs better.
X1 is on my sys far better in workflow, sound ( the included Vst`s in expanded like
eq,cl,comp aso)  and fun to work with.
I guess ,when I upgrade in oct. to a new PC ( I7) and win 7-64 (still have a dual core and XP)
everything changes, cause X1  and X2 are created for this newest pc`s and can handle
multiple processors
regards.

I just installed do I still need the X1D or is it included?

Not sure - go to Help / About Sonar and see if it says X1D.  If not, you'll have to add the patches.

8.53 is STILL WAY more solid and reliable and less buggy than X1 by FAR!!! X1 is SO buggy, they've abandond it all together and are forcing customers to pay for a completely different version just to HOPEFULLY get back some of the features and dependebility that were not there during the 1st two patches (a and b) or were broken by the last patch (d). I recommended and set up multiple Sonar 8.53 Studios, and even earlier versiions. (I've been using since at least version 2) I officially Stopped recommending Sonar as of X1. Complete unreliability and full of functions that don't work as they are boasted to. Customer service seems to be at the BOTTOM of Cakewalks priorities.

8.5.3 is more compact and you can see more info at a glance.

X1 sprawls, but you can flip views in and out as you work.

On a laptop, you might find 8.5.3 more comfortable.

I use Win7 64bit and I find both perfectly stable. Individual experiences depend on which plugins and what parts of Sonar are used.

Naturally, interface driver and hardware issues can also spoil a user's experience, but that has nothing to do with Sonar.