• SONAR
  • Looking for some REAL "getting started" tutorials
2017/09/01 13:43:31
djwolf
While downloading the latest version of Cakewalk Sonar Platinum in an attempt to solve my "cant get Kontakt 5 to behave and play in Sonar" issue, Cakewalk offered me some "getting Started" tutorial videos to watch.  Now, I can't remember the titles because they were so advanced that I didn't even know what they were referring to.  What I really need is information on how to get Kontakt 5 to work in Sonar.  I almost got it before but instruments were dropping out or becoming barely audible and between Spitfire Audio, Native instruments, Cakewalk and the maker of my audio device, Focusrite, getting bounced around from one forum to another, I have yet to get this all working three years after first buying Sonar Platinum.  I tend to bash my head against a wall and then in frustration get involved in some graphics art project before returning months later.
 
My latest frustration concerns the fact that by downloading the most recent version of Sonar the Synth / VST instrument panel in the browser has changed and Kontakt 5 no longer shows up there.  Please, Cakewalk.  Publish some videos that actually explain how to get started - like how to get sound and not on an out of date version that is now irrelevant.
 
I'm sorry if people think I come off as "angry".  I am.  I've spent many thousands of dollars and I'm a hairs breath from buying a Mac and the latest Logic Audio which was fine and straightforward before they were bought by Apple and they betrayed the PC community.
2017/09/01 14:10:53
Zargg
Hi. Try to do a vst re scan, or a reset and a re scan of your plugins.
Go to Preferences (P), File, Vst Settings. Choose manual scan, and press Scan. Enable scan existing plugins (You must set scan option to Manual Scan).
If that doesn't work, remove the "Scan exisiting plugins" option, press reset, followed by Scan.
Hope this will work.
There are quite a bit of video's over at http://www.cakewalk.com/CakeTV
All the best.
Edit: I know it's very frustrating not having things work the way the are supposed to.
2017/09/01 15:05:41
ljb500
djwolf
While downloading the latest version of Cakewalk Sonar Platinum in an attempt to solve my "cant get Kontakt 5 to behave and play in Sonar" issue, Cakewalk offered me some "getting Started" tutorial videos to watch.  Now, I can't remember the titles because they were so advanced that I didn't even know what they were referring to.  What I really need is information on how to get Kontakt 5 to work in Sonar.  I almost got it before but instruments were dropping out or becoming barely audible and between Spitfire Audio, Native instruments, Cakewalk and the maker of my audio device, Focusrite, getting bounced around from one forum to another, I have yet to get this all working three years after first buying Sonar Platinum.  I tend to bash my head against a wall and then in frustration get involved in some graphics art project before returning months later.
 
My latest frustration concerns the fact that by downloading the most recent version of Sonar the Synth / VST instrument panel in the browser has changed and Kontakt 5 no longer shows up there.  Please, Cakewalk.  Publish some videos that actually explain how to get started - like how to get sound and not on an out of date version that is now irrelevant.
 
I'm sorry if people think I come off as "angry".  I am.  I've spent many thousands of dollars and I'm a hairs breath from buying a Mac and the latest Logic Audio which was fine and straightforward before they were bought by Apple and they betrayed the PC community.




compared to other daws, cakewalk are definitely lacking on the tutorial front.
theres a few videos kicking about on youtube which are platinum specific and theres the groove3 videos which are paid although they have a 72hrs all access pass offer on atm so you could probably binge watch the tutorials for free if you really needed to.
other than that theres a fair few videos for the older sonar x1,x2,x3 with a lot of the info apparently being applicable to the current sonar.
IMO it would definately be wise for cakewalk to make up to date in depth tutorials for current versions for those who are new to the program, i also think it would make it more appealing to those who are looking to purchase it.
 
2017/09/01 15:23:56
djwolf
Hi Zargg,
 
The new way is different.  I found Kontakt 5 in "Samplers" and fiddled around with it considerably by deleting the three "Kontakt 5" entries which are useless - which of these has 64 outputs, 16 outputs or 8 - and found a way for the renaming to Kontakt 8, Kontakt 16 and Kontakt 64 to stick.
 
As for the "Getting Started" videos at Cake TV, the first being "Mix Recall" under "Getting Started - helpful videos and tutorials covering the basics".  What a joke?  That's for Audio Engineers to get started with Sonar, it is not for the general public who have downloaded this program.  There needs to be a "getting started" section that has tutorials on installation, activating third party instruments, how to route an instance of Kontakt and a troubleshooting video that addresses the many common mistakes newbes continue to make... As in "getting started."
 
I was hoping that such videos and tutorials existed.  It seems as if they don't.
2017/09/01 15:29:34
djwolf
I agree ljb.  That is what I liked about Logic Audio.  A very advanced program for its time but they at least accepted that there were a lot of musicians out there who were not audio engineers and who really just wanted to do the most simplest of things - everything was spelled out.  Then along came Apple.
 
Cakewalk needs to pick up its game.
2017/09/01 16:38:27
Cactus Music
I agree that supplying top quality video's is what is expected in todays market. People kicking the tires will Google your product and the first thing that should show is demo video's and the tutorials on getting started. I've done this myself when purchasing just about anything. I make judgements on who I will be giving my hard earned money to by the quality  of those videos. It often gives me good insight into how the product will serve me.
 
Videos have become the preferred format for learning. Written text is not for everyone.
And they are better off paying someone other than technical staff to make the videos as we all know nobody will understand them :)  
How many times have we had to walk a Newbie through he basic steps of setting up Sonar to play a VST instrument or get the microphone to work.
Should you have to pay $500 for software and then be expected to pay for the tutorials? not sure about that one.  
2017/09/01 16:40:53
chuckebaby
I know video tutorials seem like they should be a given but what did we do before that ?
We looked things up in the Sonar CHM. something I still do now.
Making videos cost money if you want them done right. Groove 3 offers some great videos for Sonar.
 
Think about it, you paid for the software not the videos.
The videos that are online from cakewalk are free... but does that really mean cakewalk should be on the hook to create free ones for its user base ?
2017/09/01 17:18:18
bitflipper
Good point, Chuck. Many of us managed to get here on the barest of information. However, we tend to forget just how steep that initial learning curve was. Do you remember what it was like to not have a clue, to not even know what questions to ask much less be prepared to act on the answers? I don't, either. I get a little reminder every time I plunge into something completely new, but that just doesn't happen too often anymore.
 
There have been many pleas for beginner tutorials. It's by far the most-requested aid, I think. The problem is that those kinds of tutorials are actually quite difficult to make. When I was a classroom instructor, I had the luxury of asking my students how I was doing, and encouraging them to stop me if they heard anything that didn't make sense. Learning via videos is very different. The instructor has no idea if his concepts are crossing the divide, and the student has no way to ask for clarification.
 
When I watch a groove3 video I am often frustrated that they're too basic and too slow-moving, although they are well-organized and factual. But even they don't how to make a proper beginner tutorial. That requires stripping away all presumptions about what the viewer already knows, and starting at bare metal. That, in turn, means that many viewers will be put off because it's too basic and too slow-moving. The video would be hundreds of hours in duration and expensive to produce. And the gurus at Cakewalk are probably the last people you'd want to write that script!
 
What's the solution? Beginners are best at explaining things to other beginners. They don't have the full story, and they may be handicapped by misinformation. But standing at the foot of the precipice looking up, they have a clearer understanding of the magnitude of the challenge than the mountaineer standing at the top does. Beginners, start making your own videos! Folks here will gladly review them for factual accuracy so you don't embarrass yourself when you post it on YouTube.
 
2017/09/01 17:19:37
Kalle Rantaaho
User support that is "good enough" is a difficult thing. During the phone support era I once commented that
the time needed to manage half a dozen phonecalls probably compensates for all the profit CW gets for a couple of copies of medium price SONAR/MC.
Well, my first contact with CW support was via mail...air-mail. In three weeks I got a well written, clear answer.
 
Videos are a bit risky nowadays, as anyone can publish them. You may sometimes step on s***t.
I'm still a fan of traditional manuals.
Have you tested the SONAR User manual/reference book (pdf) and the tutorials you find pressing F1 (at least they used to be there, and I've seen comments here indicating they still are).
 
Reading the manual you can concentrate on any limited area at a time. But shure, you don't find anything third party specific (like Kontakt) info there.
2017/09/01 17:35:10
Zargg
djwolf
Hi Zargg,
 
The new way is different.  I found Kontakt 5 in "Samplers" and fiddled around with it considerably by deleting the three "Kontakt 5" entries which are useless - which of these has 64 outputs, 16 outputs or 8 - and found a way for the renaming to Kontakt 8, Kontakt 16 and Kontakt 64 to stick.
 

You can categorize plugins as well. Click on the little arrow on the plugins tab.

 
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