what other DAWS have you tried?

hello sonar folks!  A friend of mine has told me that i should check out a newer DAW called "Bitwig" as it's pretty simply (and stable)
Have any of you folks tried Bitwig?  
 
I have purchased sonar home studio and finding my way thru the basics no problem..as long as i work thru the updates.
 
The other DAW I have worked with is studio one and there are many great things about it that I enjoyed, BUT if I want to edit an mp3 or add a vst I can't do that with my $100.00 program but could pay $85.00(?) for an upgrade..yikes..
 
so..$35.00 for home studio can do all that! Crazie?
 
The studio one interface is beautiful and easy to navigate as well as stable..from my experiences.
 
I do think Sonar Plat. is going to be a great move to my everyday daw...
cheers!
 
 
 

Cubasis (it ran on steam power at the time) then Tracktion V 1 and 2, then Sonar since about 2007. I tried an updated Tracktion version recently and my judgement was probably clouded by nostalgia like an ex you've never properly got over, but it's still great.

I tried Reaper - twice, 6 months apart.
On both occasions I could not get sound out of it even though the meters were dancing.
I figured it was me / my setup but try as I might I could never get it to make a sound.
 
Meh. Sonar's always been good to me and so here I am.
Lately it's been a bit rocky but ya know.
 

Started with a very simple DAW called Kristal Audio (http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/) which eventually became Studio One (although I've never used Studio One). Have used Audacity but didn't really care for it. We use Reaper 5 at our church and it does the job. Started with Cakewalk using Home Studio 2002 and been updating/upgrading on and off with them ever since through Platinum Lifetime.
 
What I have found is that each DAW does pretty much the same thing, but they each do it in a different way. You need to find the DAW that works well for what you want to do and how you want to do it. For me, that is Sonar. YMMV.

I've been using Reaper for 10 years - but various annoyances had me testing Sonar and Samplitude the last few weeks. Both are great programs but I will stick with Reaper for a while longer at least.  What I have discovered  is consistent with this

MandolinPicker
What I have found is that each DAW does pretty much the same thing, but they each do it in a different way. You need to find the DAW that works well for what you want to do and how you want to do it. For me, that is Sonar. YMMV.

Once you get the features you need (eg in my case has to support putting sound to video)  workflow is everything - if you gel with the basic design then stick with that DAW until something changes and you get solidly stuck or frustrated. If I'd bought Sonar first I would not change to Reaper, same for Samplitude. Not sure I'd recommend Reaper to someone more or less starting out. All the major DAWs are amazing - 

Hi. I have beside SONAR (I started with Pro Audio 9, and Am now on latest Sonar Platinum) personally used: Cubase, Nuendo and Pro Tools over some time. Tried Studio1, Reaper, Audacity and Ableton a bit. One of the bands I play in record in Logic Pro, and another in Wavelab. We all make music, and collaborate the best we can
I'm still trying to convince them to switch...
All the best.
 

When I was looking for a DAW, I had one probably uncommon but strict for me requirement: the ability to install it on at least 4 different computers. Without dongles. Nothing "gray", that was just the distribution of instruments (mostly MIDI based) in my flat (I am home hobby player and I could not fit drums, DP and guitar(s) into the room with my primary computer). I was surprised that such requirement has immediately narrowed possible choice. After reading a lot and taking my needs into account, I was close to buy 2x Abletons... but why should one home hobbyist pay two times for "pro" software just because he has small rooms in his flat and can not dedicate one of them for music only?
 
At that time I have tried many free VST(i) and I was not fascinated from them. Starting a "collection" from scratch was looking far from cheap. And then I have "found" Sonar, I had 8.5 LE from my keyboard and there was an invitation to join X1 "club". That was lucky time, when 8.5LE->X1 Studio->X1 Producer price was unbeatable. Looking back, I do not think there was better for me way to go. Except Piano VSTi (which still has to be written... I have demoed almost all existing), that package had/has everything required for my n00b level and much more. Some "extras" I could buy with big discounts, thanks to included "LE" versions. What I could not find/buy, I have... written myself

I own Studio One 2 but don't use it...inability to create track templates put me off immediately; Sonar's power in that regard is huge and I love the rolling improvements.   Tried to get into Ableton but my brain didn't like it.  Started with Logic and Cubase back in the day...

MP - Check your PM

Been a Sonar user sice 2XL but I no longer have a Windows PC so can't wait for mac version (hoping this actually happens). Currently using Logic Pro X and love it. Auria/Auria Pro on iPad is amazing. Have used Cubase, traktion and Reaper but Sonar and Logic are by far my favorites.

ProTools - not versatile enough and too expensive.
FL Studio - I use occasionally to create drum loops and modern synth tracks.
Cubase - I had too many stability issues => went to SONAR which worked very well with my system (in mid 2000's).
Cool Edit Pro and Adobe Audition - it was good in early 2000's for audio but not for MIDI. Now I use Audition for editing and mastering but not for multi-tracking.
Reaper - stability issues and not as versatile as SONAR.
Studio One - built-in Melodyne is attractive but SONAR has it, too. Audio engine is robust, they say but SONAR's has been improved a lot in the past 16 months.
 
SONAR rocks. :)
 
 

I own Studio One Artist 2, Tracktion and Mixbus3 in addition to SONAR. 
I do not use Studio One or Tracktion.  I have tried Audacity and Cubase in the past, but SONAR has always been my go to DAW.
 
I do use the Mixbus for final mastering.  It has that secret sauce that makes my mixes better.  I believe it was bapu that pointed me there when it was on sale and he was right it does sound better in the end even if I don't use any plugins and just import stereo mix and export the final result.
 
 

Glad to see I'm not the only one that loved Master Tracks Pro. That was the easiest midi system I ever used. 
 
I've looked at most of the products mentioned, but Sonar is the best thing since Master Tracks for me. My hardware also seems to like it more than the competition. When I read about others having Sonar crash issues it reminds me how just about everything other than Sonar runs on my system. Maybe that's why I stuck with Sonar.