Hi there,
I was wondering what you hear when changing the drive knob and turning tolerance on/off?
What do these controls do really do?

My quick impression is that more drive seems to bring the track closer to the front or maybe it's a bit more compressed sounding but I'm not sure yet.

Would like to hear what you think about these 2 controls ... drive and tolerance.

Thanks!

The drive is pretty self explanatory. I believe (could be wrong) the tolerance turns on the ability to show the differences you would get from one channel to the next on analogue gear, otherwise each will be the same. It's all fairly subtle and may depend on your listening environment/hardware etc, but the effect would also be accumulative over more than just one track and then perhaps more noticeable. I never really liked the PC modules much myself, (nor the PC itself for that matter) I have others which to me are much better, though not necessarily PC compatible (I don't really use SONAR anymore so no issue for me)

Do you think setting the drive knobs into the range below center can sound more open?
 

My understanding is that the "drive" adds a very subtle distortion, which attempts to emulate 3 different (supposedly famous) analog mixing consoles, and the "tolerance" switch adds some randomization to the distortion signal. If you select all the tracks and do an A/B comparison switching the total effect in and out, it is very subtle . . . but to my ears it just adds a bit of friendly analog mid-range warmth, and you always have to decide whether the type of mix you're going for actually needs this, or not ?

Thanks ... good to hear your evaluation

I should add that I always have the "drive" set to 3, and the "tolerance" switched on, on every kind of track . . . but I never use the Console Emulation on the Master Bus.

As noted above the Tolerance button adds some subtle random variation that is supposed to emulate the subtle component differences differences between channels on a desk.   Rarely used here.

I usually set the drive to around 1.9 and use the N type on all tracks.  I find they it adds just a little overall warmth and cohesiveness to the mix, along with the Tape emulation which I only use on any busses I have on the project. 

Also as noted above it subtle and accumulative adding those characteristics that the channel strips are supposed to be famous for.  i.e. The distortion inherent in an electrical circuit, phase shifts caused by the coils and capacitors in the various stages of the gain and tone stages.  

This article back from X2 might shed some more light on it for you Steve.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X2&language=3&help=ProChannel.8.html
 

The console emulators are subtle, but nice.  I use N and S type daily.  Drive adds a little presence and volume.  On electric guitars and individual drums, you can generally turn the gain all the way up with good results.   
I wish the tolerance switch was on by default, because it's valuable to offer small variations whenever you use a certain tool across all tracks.  Otherwise, that subtle eq curve can pile up in an unpleasant way.

Wookiee
As noted above the Tolerance button adds some subtle random variation that is supposed to emulate the subtle component differences differences between channels on a desk.   Rarely used here.

I usually set the drive to around 1.9 and use the N type on all tracks.  I find they it adds just a little overall warmth and cohesiveness to the mix, along with the Tape emulation which I only use on any busses I have on the project. 

Also as noted above it subtle and accumulative adding those characteristics that the channel strips are supposed to be famous for.  i.e. The distortion inherent in an electrical circuit, phase shifts caused by the coils and capacitors in the various stages of the gain and tone stages.  

This article back from X2 might shed some more light on it for you Steve.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X2&language=3&help=ProChannel.8.html
 

Thanks Wookiee for the descriptions and the article.

BlixYZ
The console emulators are subtle, but nice.  I use N and S type daily.  Drive adds a little presence and volume.  On electric guitars and individual drums, you can generally turn the gain all the way up with good results.   
I wish the tolerance switch was on by default, because it's valuable to offer small variations whenever you use a certain tool across all tracks.  Otherwise, that subtle eq curve can pile up in an unpleasant way.

Thanks. It's good to hear slightly different, yet agreeing points of view on this.