Hello everyone!  New to Sonar (Pro).  As a software architect, I am not opposed to RTFM, so I am working my way through the online help (Cakewalk -- I could give you a few usability pointers on your website if you like), and trying to "drink from the firehose" to absorb as much knowledge about the software as fast as possible. 
 
Are there any other great resources out there you would recommend?  (Youtube, books, etc.)

Get yourself a subscription to Groove3, there are some excellent Sonar training videos on there. The basic Sonar videos are for X3 which is a little out of date, but most of it applies, and there is also a course for the advanced features of Sonar Platinum. There's also training videos for mixing in general and use of most of the popular plugins and synths. Excellent value. 

Hi. There are also videos on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnzJaqtLARI&list=RDgnzJaqtLARI
All the best.

Good Day, 
There are (or used to be) some you can buy at Cakewalk/Sonar store, and of course this forum is great help.
For me I prefer the offline, Local Help manual, i.e. Preferences/File/Advanced/ check off always use Local Help,
This a personal preference so help isn't always going online when queried, Im not sure which may be most up to date?
Also my approach with help/manual (as its humongous, I'd still be reading it 5 years later and not have recorded anything yet, LOL) had been jump right in and start a project, learn how to record a simple audio file,  (or included Sonar tutorials), and take it from there, sequentially access help/manual as you encounter questions, and have fun.
 
Cheers 

There will also be new videos added to these channels shortly...
* https://www.youtube.com/S...gus?sub_confirmation=1
* https://www.youtube.com/D...deo?sub_confirmation=1
* https://www.youtube.com/NewTechReviewVideo?sub_confirmation=1
 
And you may be interested in the SONAR X3 Power book, which still contains plenty of relevant information... http://www.garrigus.com/

--
Scott R. Garrigus - http://www.garrigus.com
* Cakewalk SONAR Video Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/u...gus?sub_confirmation=1
* Author of the Cakewalk Sonar and Sony Sound Forge Power book series: http://garrigus.com/?PowerBooks
* Publisher of the DigiFreq music recording newsletter: http://www.digifreq.com/
* Publisher of the NewTechReview consumer tech newsletter: http://www.newtechreview.com/

I've also just started watching these excellent and still relevant Cakewalk Sonar video tutorials which I found out about here on the forum a couple of weeks ago. I watch them in my free time and I'm currently at number 26 or so out of 50. They really are excellent videos. EDIT: They neglected to label each video properly so here is a list copied and pasted from a helpful user comment in the comments section of the first vid.
 
1. Audio Interface Setup - 7:24
2. Audio Interface Options - 8:20
3. MIDI Device Setup - 8:58
4. MIDI Clock & Sync - 10:19
5. Control Surface Setup - 14:20
6. File Options - 10:08
7. Plugin Manager - 6:44
8. Instrument Definitions - 10:09
9. GUI & Track Overview - 14:48
10. The Browser - 8:58
11. Multidock & Control Bar - 11:41
12. Inspector & Control View - 7:02
13. Piano Roll View & Screensets - 10:05
14. Project, Track & Bus Templates - 14:02
15. Exploring the Track - 14:35
16. Exploring the Track (Pt.2) - 14:50
17. Exploring the Track (Pt.3) - 13:55
18. Exploring the Track (Pt.4) - 7:52
19. MIDI Synths - 13:03
20. MIDI Synths (Pt.2) - 5:47
21. Session  Drummer & Drum Maps - 12:13
22. Audio Routing - 13:06 
23. Working with Video - 4:02
24. Audio & MIDI Basics - 23:26
25. MIDI Advanced - 10:46
26. The Matrix - 16:15
27. Step Sequencer - 12:03
28. Editing Basics - 11:47
29. Editing Basics (Pt.2) - 11:45
30. Editing Basics (Pt.3) - 16:17
31. Editing MIDI - 11:22
32. Editing MIDI (Pt.2) - 8:50
33. Staff View - 6:22
34. Comping and V-Vocal - 17:22
35. Groove Loops - 12:32
36. Working with Tempo - 10:24
37. Working with Audiosnap - 8:47
38. Working with Audiosnap (Pt.2) - 8:26
39. Working with Audiosnap (Pt.3) - 9:34
40. Working with Audiosnap (Pt.4) - 6:23
41. Console View - 9:32
42. Clean Up & Bouncing - 8:25
43. Control Groups & Gain Control - 10:24
44. Pro Channel & Side Chains - 12:56
45. Working with FX & FX Bins - 11:31
46. Working with FX Chains - 10:30
47. Working with Automation - 7:58
48. Working with Automation (Pt.2) - 10:53
49. Working with Automation (Pt.3) - 13:04
50. Exporting - 6:05
 
And yes, as mentioned, I also recommend Groove3 which I bought when I bought Sonar. 

I know it sounds prehistoric but..Take notes.
When I first dove in to digital audio software (Late 1990's) This is what did it for me.
As I went through the motions, I wrote things down on pad of paper. After a few times of doing this, I no longer needed the paper (maybe only to reference) and that's where you build speed, by repetition.
 

One resource I think is great is the Friday Tip of the Week, right here on the Sonar forums. Craig Anderton has compiled several years of those tips into a book, which is also a great resource. As others have mentioned, the Cakewalk videos are good, and while some info is now out of date there is still a great deal of useful info there.
 
Good luck!