Sonar 3

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Cone Poker
Member Since: Apr 07, 2002

Has anyone upgraded yet? What are the new features

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Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 12:35 am

i was disappointed to find that VST still isn't native. They've only included their own VST > DX adapted, which on my old machine isn't really gonna help much.

But if they're still offering me the $99 upgrade (from Pro Audio 9) that they were offering me for v2.0 then I just might take the plunge. Pro Audio 9 is a clunky old beast that I'd like to move away from

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 04:43 am

I have recently been enlightened to many benefits of using the wrapper over just running VST that I was never aware of. DirectX has many benefits of VST (which I always knew) but I did not know the VST wrapper actually allowed the plugin to USE those features, I thought it just made the plugin usable, as is.

The upgrade is $179 for the producer edition. The upgrades are mostly usability, the usability improvements are stellar. Unbelievable actually...I will be upgrading shortly. The audio engine has also been streamlined, you see wave's draw themselves AS you are recording rather than painting after the fact. The producr comes bundled with a few new plugs and DXi's. The coolest plug being Lexicon Pantheon, which is probably the single best reverb plugin made. And it can't even be bought by itself yet.

The console and track views are both MUCH more usable, I dare say I may never leave track view after upgrading...

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:12 am

I told ya' so ;)
I'm definately upgrading, myself. I would spend the money to upgrade just for the new plug-ins and integrated track EQ, nevermind the new features and interface, etc! As for the VST wrapper, I was thinking it might be integrated into the program or something. Is that right, or do you still have to go through extra steps to open a VST plug-in? I'm quite impressed with the upgrade price, as well. I can update from Sonar 1 to Sonar 3 Producer Edition for little more than upgrading from Sonar 2 to the same thing!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:20 am

It still torks me off that they are not doing the surround sound thing yet, but Noize and I talked to a cakewalk rep about it on Wednesday at a clinic we went to, and all he could say is "they are working on it"...big frickin deal, that doesn't help US!

It's still a wrapper for VST as a recall, but not positive. The wrapper does allow VST plugins to take advantage of DirectX's latency compensation and other such features that VST does not have natively, so wrapping IS beneficial...which, until recently I was unaware of.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:30 am

yeah I think i will be upgrading to it shortly... although i could really use monitors rather than new software... tough choice

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:32 am

you can have the best software in the world, if you don't have decent speakers it will only sound so good...ultimately it all comes down to the speakers...

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Oct 31, 2003 08:09 pm

Hey, Cool! Cakewalk is coming to my local Guitar Center on my birthday (November 3rd) to showcase Sonar 3 :) I think I'll go. That's wicked sweet. Is that what you and Noise went to, dB?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 01, 2003 05:24 am

yup

Member
Since: Sep 22, 2002


Nov 01, 2003 10:53 am

I only purchased sonar 2.2 about 3 months ago, can't keep up with it all.
Vikki

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 01, 2003 11:02 am

check cakewalk.com, sometimes they have free upgrades if you have bought the previous version in the past so many weeks...thats what they did with Sonar 2 cuz they released it like 6 months after 1, they too a lot of flack for that.

Also, such is the life in the computer world, you never WILL keep up...just keep in mind, does Sonar 2.2 do everything you need? If so, then nobody is saying you HAVE to upgrade...

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Nov 01, 2003 12:12 pm

I believe you get a free upgrade only if you bought Sonar 2 in September. I could be wrong. Check again.

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Nov 01, 2003 05:56 pm

dB- You think that the Lexicon reverb plug-in is really that good? I assume you got to hear how it sounds. That's really exciting since I'm in need of a good reverb plug in. How are the other plugs? Is there a good compressor? Those are the two things I need the most at the moment.

Freeleance Producer/Engineer/Gtr
Member
Since: Aug 11, 2002


Nov 03, 2003 12:39 pm

i use the lexicon psp 84 reverb plugin... very powerful.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 03, 2003 12:41 pm

Panteon smokes any other software reverb I have ever heard...not that the others aren't good, but not AS good.

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Nov 03, 2003 04:25 pm

SWEET... I may be upgrading tonight. Very exciting :)

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Nov 04, 2003 05:37 am

yeah lexicon is a very respected name in gear, so I'm pretty sure their plugin will sound sweet. What about CPU usage though how well does it handle that? I've alway used outboard reverb. Db is right as usual about the speakers thing. Wish I could find a good pair of studio monitors for around 100 a pair though. Not that that's going to happen though.

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Nov 04, 2003 10:03 am

Loki, you might find something like that *used*

Saw a pair of Alesis Mk1s go on eBay for like $120 awhile back.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Nov 05, 2003 05:03 am

yeah I've been watching ebay quite a bit recently... I just don't know how much I'd trust buying something I can't first try out.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


Nov 05, 2003 02:23 pm

Anybody have trouble with their Aardvark gear using Sonar? Maybe I'm an idiot but I can't get my Sonar 3 to recognize any of my inputs with my Aark 20/20+. Anybody else have this problem using Sonar?

Dale

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 05, 2003 02:27 pm

do you have the latest drivers for all your other componenet, specifically the video card? Is your PC dual processor? I have read that Aardvark has issues with duals...

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Nov 05, 2003 02:29 pm

Well, I went to the Sonar Clinic on Monday and it was pretty cool. They had a special deal where they were selling 10 full copies of Sonar Producer Edition for only $180! I rushed and managed to get one of the few copies to my delight. The new plug-ins rock and the new interface is a VAST improvement over the old one. The bussing system is one of my favorite improvements in the new version and the whole program just feels really solid and cohesive. Maybe I should write a review for it... How about it, dB?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 05, 2003 02:36 pm

YES! YES! YES!

REVIEW, YES!

I installed 3 a couple days ago. Yes, it's the bomb.

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Nov 05, 2003 03:43 pm

Haha... I'll take that as a go ahead :D
I'll try to get it done as soon as possible. Should I just send it to you through e-mail when I'm done?

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


Nov 06, 2003 07:14 am

Nope, no dual processers, just a AMD 3200+. Did you mean sound card instead of video card, db? I got the latest for my aardvark (will check again though). I'll mess with it some more tonight and see if that helps.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 06, 2003 07:17 am

No, I meant to video card, Ihave read a couple of reports of trouble with the Aardvark cards that were caused by conflicts with the video card and newer drivers fixed it.

Video cards are very heavy cards, they do A LOT of work and take a lot of resources to paint and repaint the screen constantly...they need to be kept current as well. They are probably that single heaviest componenet in the PC with the exception of CPU and MoBo.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Nov 06, 2003 08:32 am

prop- yeah a review would be sweet.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


Nov 06, 2003 10:18 am

Yeah, but I doubt it's a problem with system resources or conflicts. This is a top of the line machine I built a couple of months ago. But yeah, it is the latest GeForce's drivers. But the problem I'm having is that Sonar 3 isn't seeing the Aardvark at all, but Aardvark's utility has input coming in the computer. But Sonar only sees the aardvark in it's settings when you go to place where you adjust the midi settings.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 06, 2003 10:19 am

I think I would go to cakewalk about that.

And we both know that sometimes the latest and greatest is the most problematic...hasn't been as well tested yet...

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Nov 06, 2003 02:20 pm

The 2 latest nVidia drivers have caused problems with CEP on my machine (45.23's & 52.16's). I went back to the 44.03's and no problems.

Dan

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Nov 06, 2003 02:23 pm

I personally use nothing but ATI video cards. They are not the cutting edge of technology, but they are very, very good cards, have very, very stable drivers that I have seen the least conflicts out of any video card. Their drivers are regularily updated and very solid.

I recommend them. They rock.

Lost for words with all to say.
Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003


Nov 07, 2003 06:52 am

Found the problem. Aardvark has some steps to take on their website about Sonar users. Changing to WDM drivers, etc. I'm going to see if that works.

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