the benefit of the prochannel??

Can someone explain the benefit of the prochannel effects..why didnt they just make the effects in the pro channel stand alone to be used in your channel effects bin ?
Ty
Mike

Those are good reasons and of importance to me as well. Another reason was to create an environment that was like an analog channel strip of a hardware console. Giving the user control over the sound in a way that is easier to grasp. Another reason was to have the PC along side the FX bin augmenting and enhancing it.
 
I like the PC very much. I have found it to be very handy. I have also noticed other DAW makers adopting the idea in their DAWs.

I hope that Cakewalk can do other partnerships with other developers for PC emulations like Summit Audio,Api,Millennia
I have a dream.......a dedicated PC for final mastering stage!

For me the ProChannel adds speeds and ease to mixing.  Its EQ and console emulation has become my first step go-to when sculpting a mix.  I have all the Waves SSL and signature plugs along with SoundToys, Slate and others and I prefer the PC4K S-Type compressor for sidechaining and Rematrix for Bricasti IRs.  I'll even use Breverb from time to time.  They sound great.  I find it more organized than filling up your FX bin.

chuckebaby
I look at Sonar and the Pro channel the same way I do my old analog desk/board.
Every desk strip has unique sound characteristics. I wouldn't expect to use a channel EQ strip on my analog desk.
I would use the onboard EQ and manipulate its tonal quality's to my satisfaction.
 
Its a little different in this digital age we live in. back in the day you could see the whole desk in front of you.
Where as now, you need to press a button to see a hidden view, or scroll to see a hidden view.
The Pro channel can easily be collapsed or hidden, as well can also be shut off (Its default state) so its really not using any CPU/resources. I find the quality of the modules to be very adequate for some tracks.
I don't use the Compression for every track. but if were left with no choice but to use the PC on every track.
I would be able to simulate with good quality, a classic analog desk. 

+1 
 

+1 to most of the positive comments on here.

Also PC FX Chains mean you can convert other VSTs to pseudo PC modules, with several of the parameters assigned to knobs/buttons. I have made modules for a Fairchild compressor, Guitar Rig amps, etc.

I barely use the FX bin any more.

jpetersen

chuckebaby
I look at Sonar and the Pro channel the same way I do my old analog desk/board.
(snip)
 

Many modules in the PC are way, way too big. 

 
Where are cakewalk designers supposed to take advantage of this extra room ?
Remember there are many users on Laptops, how are they supposed to see these modules if made any smaller ?
imagine adding a compressor to an old analog strip, it would lengthen the strip another 6 inches.
your only other option would be a 19 inch rack mount. I believe the 3 inch x 3 inch square the compressor in the PC takes up is very small and compact.
So which modules are you referring to ?
 

wow ty all so much...

kook
wow ty all so much...

 
Well it was a really good question.

djtrailmixxx
When working with large song projects for albums, I would record with a basic Project template, mix the hell out of one song and create a new track template and use that in the other song projects by loading the track template and dragging the audio files down to the new tracks, deleting the old tracks after testing the project. This would lead to more per song mixing anyway (of course), but saved so much time.

 
And that's a great tip!!

jpetersen

chuckebaby

jpetersen

chuckebaby
I look at Sonar and the Pro channel the same way I do my old analog desk/board.
(snip)

Many modules in the PC are way, way too big. 

Where are cakewalk designers supposed to take advantage of this extra room ?
Remember there are many users on Laptops, how are they supposed to see these modules if made any smaller ?

I use a laptop and can only see two-and-a-bit PC modules at a time. I am constantly scrolling, collapsing, expanding...

chuckebaby
imagine adding a compressor to an old analog strip, it would lengthen the strip another 6 inches.
your only other option would be a 19 inch rack mount. I believe the 3 inch x 3 inch square the compressor in the PC takes up is very small and compact.

Depends. On the pro hardware mixers I have seen the buttons are small and staggered alternatively left and right with labeling in the spaces. And compressors range from single-knob input limiters all the way up to full-featured dynamics processors on a parallel strip (but still in the desk).

chuckebaby
So which modules are you referring to ?

Well, as Craig mentioned, the Style Dials and Saturation Knob are the worst offenders.
 
The compressors all have Analog meters. These could be horizontal bars. The Concrete Limiter controls could be horizontal. And does the Tape Emulator really need those reels?
 
By contrast, the QuadCurve is a model citizen. It has a compact mode (hidden in the Display menu, unfortunately not saved) and a Flyout.
 
What I'd like is a compact mode for all modules, plus a Flyout for full access.
 
FX chains could actually go some way, but am I right in thinking they cannot accept PC modules? 

fair enough. good question about the FX chains. might be able to save a few inches if modules could be made in to chains. TBH, its not really a problem here. Even the Style dials (I don't use those anyway). but yes those are a bit on the bulky side.


I guess using a 46 inch HD TV for so long, I forgot how important space is.
Happy holidays.

jpetersen

Well, as Craig mentioned, the Style Dials and Saturation Knob are the worst offenders.
 

Yeah they should be half the height really, although I've never used the style dials. They could make a semi collapsed view if they wanted to keep that styling. 3 fit on my HD screen, and it looks stupid. When all 8 should fit without looking cramped.
 
A few others like the VFKX stuff could easily be shaved down without making them cramped, but being third party I think that's fine (I remember them being a bit more gold in your face, I'm not sure if they have been toned down, or my eyes have become accustomed).
 
My two main wishes, and the first is long overdue are;
Sort the menu option out for adding the PC. They have just made some changes to the plug in manager and I was disappointed that it wasn't included. Style Dials have a sub menu, and the PC are already categorized as one of 8 different types in the registry. So even with out including into a plug in manger, an option to have these in 8 (plus FX chanins and Style dials) submunus by type would make this much tidier. I have about 24 ProChannels not including style dials. so this is now two screen heights.   
 
I have messed with them a bit to put them in these categories, but some updates mean I have to tidy up after.
 
 
The other is better VST integration. I'm surprised this hasn't happened earlier, because it would make PC more appealing and being mix focused, seems to suit the Baker's priorities. FX bin has log been a fudge solution to this, not it's intended use. But they show that the example below is feasible.
 
 

I happen to like the Pro Channel a lot actually.
I'm certainly glad to have the Pro Channel as an integral feature included in SONAR ...
I'm using what I will call a placeholder lap top currently . Aside from having to constantly jiggle around the smaller screens real estate  , I still find it relatively easy to navigate around the Pro Channel and do small EQ ,gain staging  , compression and console emulation changes while I'm working in the track view .
The Pro Chanel makes it pretty easy to go through the whole editing process of implementing a track by track dialing in / carving to get rid of the mud and errant frequency's as the song plays ...
I consider this phase of using The Pro Chanel to be a   "small m premixing " type of thing  ....
 
Whenever I'm in doubt as to whether The Pro Chanel effects I'm using are adding to the sound of my song , or simply messing things up .
I hit the global effects bypass while the song plays for a sonic reality check ....
More often than not , I've gotten very close to the sound of where I was hoping to get to at that point of the songs development. ..
 
all the best ,
 
Kenny
 

Having the modules in the PC be individually pre/post fadar would be acceptable. ...rather than the whole PC.

Previously, I've rarely used the pro channel as I’ve always liked selecting my FX and adding them to each channel via the Console view while Mixing.
 
About a year ago, I started watching the Pro Channel videos on YouTube \and how they were being used.  I really liked what I saw, but once I really started using the full functionality and replacing the fx modules for each Pro Channel, it was no mistake that I was missing out on possibly the best feature in Sonar.

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