oops...

J4R10
  Hi guys,
 
Well, I've been using Sonar since Sonar 7, and last year when X2 came out I decided to wait and see and not to upgrade from X1d - at least immediately. Let me explain why.
 
X2 seems to be very buggy. I've been reading this forum and found out that it would be unwise to upgrade. I'm in the middle of recording/mixing and I don't want to upgrade only to find out that my projects doesn't work anymore. I think it's just too risky. I'm almost done with mixing our debut album but I've decided not to upgrade when it's finished. Instead of upgrading I've been thinking to try Cubase 7. Why? Well, let me explain you why. :)
 
First of all, If I buy a new DAW I don't want to install any LE/DEMO version of ANY kind of music software or plugins. If I found out that I don't need them, they're still on my computer part of that DAW. To put it simply: I think Cakewalk should develope their own plugins/reverb/ampsims, not to promote third party plugins as part of their DAW package. If I want to buy third party plugins I know where to find them.
 
I don't want to pay $100 for improved Smart Tool or touch screen support. I can do all my audio file cuts and clips with X1.
 
So what else Sonar X2 has to offer?
 
Breverb. I have ValhallaRoom, ValhallaVintageVerb and ValhallaShimmer. They're great. One day I will purchase Altiverb.
 
Overloud TH2. I have Amplitube.
 
Upgraded mastering tools. I have T-RackS Grand.
 
Session Drummer 3. I have Superior Drummer 2.0.
 
True Piano. I have Reason 6.5 with Abbey Road Keyboards.
 
ProChannel Console Emulator. I have Waves Abbey Road REDD, T-RackS British Channel and I'm thinking of buying Slate VCC.
 
And what comes to ProChannel, I purchased every ProChannel module there is only to find out that I don't need them. I prefer T-RackS' compressors and limiters.
 
And last but not least: I don't want to buy a DAW that is not stable.
 
So, why I should upgrade to X2? To get buggy DAW and LE software I don't need? Thanks, but no thanks. I think Cakewalk should rethink their concept of DAW. Now it seems to me that they didn't spend enough time beta testing and they kinda rushed an unifinished product out to be released. And I've said it before but I say it again: please keep the future versions of Sonar free from all those third party software and plugins.
 
When I'm working I want to record music and work with stable DAW - not to report crash bugs to support. Don't get me wrong: I use Sonar X1 daily and I think Sonar X1 is the best DAW I've ever used.
 
Edit: Paragraphs with IE (hope it works).

 
WOW!!! Take it from me what can I say Cubase 7 is just amazing!
A lot has happen in 6 years. WOW!
 
Sonar X2 is not bad ...not at all its a great DAW but its not like Cubase 7. Cubase 7 is something else! WOW!!! Professional DAW!
Some say the GUI is ugly but it isn't. The last version is 7.0.4 is complete overhaul compare to some old pictures. You can now color anything inside Cubase 7 to own liking like in the good days in SONAR 8.5. The whole GUI interface! So if you like color customization welcome to Cubase 7.
Mixer, Track-view, anything. The "Tracks" can get color like in PRO TOOLS even the mixer faders can you color on own liking. EQ, Sends what ever.. 
 
 
And the mixer and the EQ. WOW!!! Works and sound like a dream. The Cubase 7 EQ is in world-class quality. SONAR Pro Channels EQ is and sound great too, Cubase 7 EQ is something like it. Perhaps Steinberg has even taken it even further.
I get the feeling that Cubase 7 sounds better then SONAR too?
It works better no doubt about it. Haven't crash once yet. Nothing, stable as rock! MIDI tight, Audio engine tight, No drop outs! Total glitch free and +100 of advance functions you can just dream on... nested Maps, VARI 2.0, VST3, Automation, Quick controls, Cord track, Support of DAW Control hardware etc.. WOW
 
 
I'm hooked for life at least for a long long time! 
I have now also bought Steinberg CMC DAW controller too all 6 controllers. WOW, sweet... touch interface future controls!
I don't regret I went back to Cubase platform...I'm glad I did!
 
 
Best Regards
Freddie
 

I'm sensing sarcasm from Freddie , maybe I have it wrong ?
 
it's no secret that I use reason / cubase also.. and well sonar upgrade model has made me think differently about upgrading also. I know the dev staff are "on point" but well the marketing folk just wind me up with "exclusives" that aren't so exclusive.
 
I quite happily will not give NI / ableton my business now, due to how their staff have acted..regardless how good the dev team is.
 
 
 
 

I once or twice tried using all plugins in MultiDock, but I could only see the upper half of big GUIs like Kontakt and EAReberb because I wanted to see the Track View at the same time. And it didn't allow me to scroll down the GUI (maybe I did it wrong?). While MultiDock is very good for showing other views in one place, I think Sonar needs a tabbed plugin window like Reaper, S1, etc. (as an option).

Jlien X
... While MultiDock is very good for showing other views in one place, I think Sonar needs a tabbed plugin window like Reaper, S1, etc. (as an option).

I haven't tried it yet, but I think floating the MultiDock could give you something similar.

groovey1

Jlien X
... While MultiDock is very good for showing other views in one place, I think Sonar needs a tabbed plugin window like Reaper, S1, etc. (as an option).

I haven't tried it yet, but I think floating the MultiDock could give you something similar.

On second thought, I'm not really sure if a tabbed plugin window is better than multiple plugin windows with Sonar's ability to hide them individually by Shift + X (X-ray). I like how Screensets remember the positions of plugin windows (would be even better if they remembered the state of the transparency) and I can hover the mouse cursor over the plugin window and just press Shift + X to show/hide it. I wonder if Cubase has X-ray as well.

Just bought/installed Cubase 7. Um....WOW. 

It's just me but I love, love, love the multi-dock.
 
Opinions vary of course...
 
Regards,

mmorgan
It's just me but I love, love, love the multi-dock.
 
Opinions vary of course...
 

Same here.   It's sort of like the Smart Tool - some love it, others do not.   The direction CW has taken with the X series works for me, and as long as it keeps working for me I will use it.  I guess I just don't care much about trying other DAWs.    Plus, I was reading a thread about Cubase 7 on KVR earlier this morning that had it's fair share of bug and implementation complaints.    Grass, meet green.
 

stevec

mmorgan
It's just me but I love, love, love the multi-dock.
 
Opinions vary of course...
 

Same here.   It's sort of like the Smart Tool - some love it, others do not.   The direction CW has taken with the X series works for me, and as long as it keeps working for me I will use it.  I guess I just don't care much about trying other DAWs.    Plus, I was reading a thread about Cubase 7 on KVR earlier this morning that had it's fair share of bug and implementation complaints.    Grass, meet green.

 
Steve and Mike do you store plugin windows in MultiDock, too? I'm using a laptop so I have to maximize MutiDock and hide Control Bar to show all of Z3ta+2 GUI (trial version for me). I love MultiDock for having views like PRV, Event List, Markers window in one place, but I'm not sure if it's good for plugin window management...