Aug 17, 2008 08:26 pm 1: Yes that is correct, install Sonar and component's to the C drive. You can install the Synth sound files such as for Dimension to the external drive as well. It will create its own program folder there for you.
2: Yes most PC's get better results with ASIO. But there are a few audio interfaces that do well with WDM as well. So you can check that out.
3: Cakewalk will have a VST folder right in its subfolders section. Dimension usually will go there along with some other goodies. You want to install all VST pluggins there, although is you are using any Steinberg packages they may create their own folder in the programs menu. Just make sure to add that folder to the VST pluggin search options and your good to go.
4: As for latency, they are really pretty equal. Sonar does handle some audio tracking and processing functions better then Cubase but there are give and take for the plus and minus of each program.
Latency is really reliant on the audio interface and the PC and its hardware as far as the latency thing goes. You can pare down what XP functions and other programs are running in the background to make things run smoother.
Honestly, I have used pretty much every program out there today and simply fall back to Cakewalk for their innovation and always staying one step ahead. Mostly though it is for their hard work to listen to the end user and give them exactly what they want/need to get the work done without any major hassle.
But with any program there is a learning curve. But with Sonar you will find that it can be modified to function much like what you were used to in Cubase.