[Posted Dec 2003] Why is Pro-tools the choice of most studio professionals not Sonar?

I have never used any other DAW/Software since I started using Sonar but I am just curious as to why "almost" every hit record/Album you look at today will give credit to Pro-tools as the DAW/Software used to record the abulm.

1. Is it because Sonar is exclusively PC based?
2. Is it because Cakewalk does not have hardware interface exclusively designed for Sonar?
3. Is it because Cakewalk products does not cost $200.000.00?
4. Is it because Cakewalk as a company is not giving/shoving free products down the throats of pro/engineers/producers?

What's your thought or reasons? Like I said I have not used Pro-tools exclusively but would like to understand.


Lets discuss people.

Patrick...Minnesota

This is an old thread from 2003.

But - protools doesn't have delay compensation.

all that $$$$$ and you need to use sampleslide-type plugs ;)

:D

Kind regards

Dave Rich

But - protools doesn't have delay compensation.

Protools LE does not have delay compensation but PT TDM does have that feature.

Well, I wasn't making a statement with my post, I was asking questions. One thing I do agree with is the fact that when something goes wrong with your Pro-tools setup, you don't have to call bunch of companies, just Digidesign.

I heard that Pro-tools has a better sounding engine and better audio editing features, true?

Just about every hit record today, say most give credit to Pro-tools.

Sonar is okay but not as popular.


Is Pro-tools not a DAW? What is it "ooblecaboodle" please educate me.

Patrick....Minnesota

Dunno if it helps answer your question or not but the only times I've come close to jumping to PT (and there have been a few) have been due to hardware issues (not exactly CW's fault). The hunt for a fully functioning controller in Sonar is a struggle and we have to typically settle for emulation modes. Go to PT and you have a range of impressive and dedicated hardware solutions.

The strength of Sonar as an audio package over PT LE is I think now well established so it's time to get on with it and get a Mackie Control which I believe is certainly the most viable controller interface available with a view towards full functionality... but I can bet there will be 'some' limitations.

If there is a shortcoming from CW's side of the fence in this regard, it would be lack of support of the various controllers that we would all like to use (Radikal as an example). Maybe they are dreaming something up with Roland? Time will tell because it is an area they need to address I believe. The amount of Sonar users that spend time coding is staggering... a crazy diversion of creative time (even if it is enjoyable sometimes).

Cheers!

I plan on using Pro-tools M Power since I already have the 1814FW from M-Audio.
For now my FW1814 is picking up dust until I can get Pro-tools M-Power.
Maybe if I get cash coming out of my nose then I'll buy Digi 002 Rack but for now it's all Sonar. Like I said I have been using Sonar4.4 and have never looked back. I installed Cubase SX 3 But quickly uninstalled it, the controls are like a croweded train.

The only reason I'm getting Pro-tools is for the sake of having it and knowing it, nothing else.
I was once coming out my Studio when I met a guy standing outside the building, he asked me for a lift, I was scared but felt a little comfortable when he spoke with an African accent, he was from the Republic of Kenya.

He got in the car and I was playing a song I had just finished recording on Sonar4.4, he asked me whose the artist, and where he could get the CD and that he loved the song, he had no idea I was a musician, nor I had a Studio in the building.

I told him I was the artist and he was very suprised. He told me the sound was very professional and asked how long have I been doing music. My point is this, the average listener will not know/care what platform you use as long as they like the overall material.
I doubt people will go to music store buying albums because they were made with Pro-tools/Sonar.

Patrick...Minnesota.

It's about hype, successful marketing in a largely uneducated market place

Dammmmmmmm.....You just insulted about 90% of the pro engineers

This is another topic we need as a sticky thread, up along with one about why Sonar is not on Mac, so that we don't have to have this conversation over and over.

Not flaming Guyunique, but a quick search of this forum would have found this topic covered many times over... call me an old cranky ****.

ONE WORD....


Marketing.

One Answer:

E.) All of the Above

I recently did a raw sum comparison with Sonar 5 and Pt 6.9.
15 tracks all at unity gain and the results were much in the favour of Sonar5 with 64 bit selected.

ORIGINAL: Jonny Mumra

I recently did a raw sum comparison with Sonar 5 and Pt 6.9.
15 tracks all at unity gain and the results were much in the favour of Sonar5 with 64 bit selected.

in all fairness, summing 15 tracks at unity gain is the equivalent of driving a bus
at 80 miles an hour into a concrete embankment and seeing who survives. this is not
a realistic scenario which any trained audio engineer would even consider. while the double
precision pipeline of Sonar can handle this particular scenario .. it's preposterous
(imho).

jeff

As a user of both ProTools and Sonar, I'm really sick of this topic :)

They are both good. Make hits, make good music. Either DAW will do fine. I like the price of sonar and I like the way it works. Guys, im working on a record with a known artist on Sonar, and big thing are happening for us. His last album was done in Sonar and I got to travel all over Europe because of it through Warner Bros... Both of the programs are at the point where its all about if ya got the skillz or not to make hits, and the connections in the biz to reap the benefits. Dont wanna make hits, just goo dmusic? Well, same goes for that, both DAWS are fine!!! If i had pro tools to start I probably would have stuck with it because I honestly dont have time to play with programs as Im busy making hits :)... Sonar has a good price tag on it, and I was greatful to know it has the juice to make hits, and I really am not sacrificing by not having pro tools. Sound quality? You can get the sound out of sonar that you can from pro tools no problem, period...

Alot of PT's dominance comes from the fact that it is used in Post Production.

ProTools is not very popular with composers, but it is the (current) tool of choice with recording engineers and post production houses....why? Well for a number of the reasons mentioned above...
- reliability (due to intergrated hardware and software), 24 hour support
- I hate to say it....but easy of use...two screens...that is all edit and mix....just like a tape machine.
- Accredited training courses (also helps with the marketing!)
- the tie in with parent company AVID who have a large part of the video market sown up. For example the whole of ITV News (those who have gone digital) are running AVID's newscutter system, why...reliabity, easy of use and training
- Compatability with other post houses

What is Sonar missing for Post work...well so much basically, such as
- Locking clips/tracks (that is the most basic of all) - CW promised for an up coming version
- A real transport with fast forward and rewind (not by bars!) - CW promised for an up coming version
- instant and unlimited fades and X-fades,
- Real-time Editing, the ability to edit whilst still recording on the same track
- Source/Destination Editing
-EDL import/export
- plus much more

I would say that most Sonar users are either composers or project to medium scale studios, also I see Sonar users as very loyal to their software.

If you look at what the top league composers are using, for example film composers, you will see a strong mix of Logic and Digital Performer, with Nuendo and Cubase (goe knows why!!) following up the rear. Also bear in mind that many, many composers (traditional) use notation packages such as Sibelius and Finale. Most of the articles I have read by film composers tend to suggest that they use Logic or DP as a front end for Protools, composing in Logic and then the post production work, including Foley, dubbing, SFX etc being done in PT (or more recently Pyramix or Sadie or sequioa (for classical work)). This maybe come more common given the new tie in with Euphionix System 5 http://www.euphonix.com/post/products/system_5-mc/system_5-mc.htm

It would seem from the Pro Sonar users list, that there are more dance based acts using Sonar, probably because it rocks at doing looped based work. But give it time (and a few extra features) and we maybe hearing of a few major composers using Sonar (me...fingers crossed) but then again, I do use Sibelius for all notation work, and Samplitude for my audio work...and Sonar for everything else. I just wish it had some of the scoring features which I really miss from Digital Performer (especially the wonderful tempo finder)....but hell would freeze over before I go back to Apple!!!

Please note...I use Sonar! I like Sonar, but it is not (currently) an application for Post work....get over it...I have to!

Go out there, make some music and dazzle the world....guess what most people will be saying...that is an awesome guitar line...not hmmm is that Sonar or Protools!

Peace

Neil