Can't imagine leaving Plt but do like the arranging/scratch of S3... For those of you using multiple DAWs, do you just use different daws for different projects or do you bounce them between?  I really love Sonar for mixing... and tweaking... and feel at home in it; no desire to change... but I often vamp on song ideas and want easier arranging, whichS3 seems perfect for... initial idea formulation using it's arranging system is attractive... but only if transferring everything to sonar isn't a royal headache.
 
If it is, I'll just wait and bug the bakers incessantly for better arranging tools... My main thrust is creating music, not learning DAWs...because I'm kinda dumb.
 
Seems like it would be a royal pain. I've watched the groove3 on S3 and feel it's gonna take quite awhile before I can become comfortable with it... many months at minimum which I have NO desire or time to do... but if all I use it for is vamping and quick arranging of song ideas, I might add it to my stable... 
 
I'm getting Sony Vegas Suite which comes with SoundForge 11 so mastering is not what I'm after... just the arranging bits.
 

It depends on the DAWs. If they support OMF its not hard if not it can be a real problem. I'm hoping Sonar will add AAF support to its file support. However if you know you will be transferring to a non OMF host proper preparation to do so will help a great deal. First use broadcast wave files and or have them all the same length. Stems can be an easy way to do this though you lose detail and full mixing control.
 
If there is no preparation and the project is made of small clips scattered around the time line it may not be worth the hassle. 

Thanks, John... you've given me some things to research as I really don't understand much of what you said... I assumed it would be a pain and I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope the bakers get on it with giving us a better arranging system... doesn't seem worth the effort
and can't really see switching to S3 as the learning curve would really slow me down and love my SPlat...

About two years ago I was starting to learn Reaper and S1 after using nothing but Cakewalk since PA6. Used both extensively but never really got use to either one. So I just came back home and have stayed very happy ever since.

Hear ya, bro... I am so into rearranging things these days that I has just hoping I could get the best of both DAWs but too much trouble!  I've tried several over the years and nothing really spoke to me beyond Sonar, especially since the X series... but the arranging is just frustrating.  As so many DAWs are addressing this I'm sure it won't be long till the bakers come up with a superior system... like our comping system vs S3... ours is much more intuitive all around.
 
Thanks, folks!

Sonar for prime DAW, I think I know it the best.
ProTools 10/11 only because of 11 rack hardware.
Live 9 suite because of max apps and looping stuff
Cubase 7.5 for midi and hardware midi devices.
Reason 7 for some of the reason rack extensions and some Rex library stuff I have, works best in Reason native.
FL Studio 12 for piano roll easy midi /loop stuff and painting notes really easy.  I use FL Studio more than Live now.
 
so to answer your question, no it's kind of a pain in the ass going back and forth between DAWs.
 
but it all depends on what I am trying to achieve.  Each DAW has it's different work flow and does some things really the best.  not 1 DAW I have has all the workflow or functions I love and need the most.  I have to use multiple DAWs to get what I want done some times.
 
generally I just export stems or WAVs and import into Sonar and then mix play in sonar.  if it's just straight audio like vocal or guitar then I generally just stick to Sonar.  All depends on what I need to do.

Vastman
Thanks, John... you've given me some things to research as I really don't understand much of what you said... I assumed it would be a pain and I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope the bakers get on it with giving us a better arranging system... doesn't seem worth the effort
and can't really see switching to S3 as the learning curve would really slow me down and love my SPlat...

I have S 1 3 and I also have Sampltude Pro X2. I am not and never will be limited to any particular DAW. Heck I used Logic and had Cubase SX 1 thru 3.  All of that time I also had Cakewalk Pro Audio and every Sonar since it first arrived. No DAW is perfect. However, I like learning new things I wont be trading my Sonar in for any other DAW but that doesn't mean I cant use them when I have the time or the desire. 
 
I'm fully committed to Sonar but because there are no laws requiring me to stay faithful to only one DAW I play the field. Studio one 3 is a solid DAW with a lot of limitations Samiltude has far fewer limitations but is not as stable. Sonar has the least limitations and is also very stable. Each has a strength or strengths that make them useful.  
 
Craig Anderton said much the same thing in another post. No one can point a finger at him and say he is disloyal. Besides the notion of disloyalty for a product one has to buy seems absurd. The one thing I think is most telling is that Craig and many others that use multiple DAWs always say they prefer Sonar. Its only for certain reason that another DAW is used for specific things.
 
In my book knowing what is the competition and how it compares is a smart thing to do. I don't fear people using another DAW. Sonar is just so good and so deep that once the curiosity is satisfied they will return. There is no sin in being familiar with more than one DAW.     
 

If the other DAW has a must have function or feature then it's not a pain. It's just part of the process to get your work done.

I use PT9HD less and less since since PT went 64bit in PT11 but it's too costly to upgrade now for the little I use it.
Samplitude X2 is a must if I need notation now. Got it earlier this year and it's a beast to learn.

Studio One 3 I'm using more and more and am looking forward to how Presonus is going to integrate it's hardware with its software. It's looking good but needs a little more time to mature.

Well, thanks for all the reflection and thoughts... I guess from my standpoint its just that I work all day and only have so much time for songwriting... and learning multiple daws is challenging for a low iq human (I'm smart but find it hard to keep track of just Sonar's power!) I may go jump the gun and try S3 for all it's new goodies but imagine I'll loose a lot of songwriting time to do it... as it looks like moving projects between daws is not so friendly.  The S3 vids make it look easy but I remember the last time when I looked at S2 I just sat there and thought..."duh?"
 
May try it anyway... as a mental exercise... love the splittable effects/instruments and arranging... but I know I'll swim and choke a bunch.  Thanks again... appreciate the insights.
 

I have had just about every DAW out there since the late 90s. My machines only have Mixbus (love the sound!), Pro Tools(like-hate relationship, makes it easy to plugin to the other studios that just won't let it go!), and Sonar. I'm not sure you could refer to Notion or Progression as a DAW but I use Notion for notation if needed.                           Sonar has been my main DAW all this time. I have never had a problem with support, and what I couldn't figure out usually was answered by someone on this forum. Again, the only problem I have is Staff View. I wish it was better quality so I wouldn't have to ReWire or use a separate program just for notation.
At the end of the day, it doesn't hurt to have the knowledge to operate all these DAWs. I still say that we will always have to deal with at least 1 or 2 other DAWs to cover the weaknesses in our favorite one. No matter what your favorite may be.