Cakewalk Sonar users...

AlanRatcliffe

Anyone else heard that Roland has sold Cakewalk to Gibson? ? >☹ ☹

I'm honestly more than a bit worried, as I think of Gibson as the place good companies go to die (especially software and MIDI companies)... I've been using Cakewalk since DOS days, and naturally find everything else cumbersome.

Sure, I could learn to use ProTools, but Avid are another bunch with an attitude I really don't like, and after the Eleven Rack (specifically the standalone editor debacle), I swore I'd stay away from them in future.

And no, I don't want to switch to Mac and Logic... ?

Manfred-Klose

Seems like Reaper is the only other alternative ?............

AlanRatcliffe

Manfred Klose wrote: Seems like Reaper is the only other alternative ?............

I've tried it. But, while it's impressive value for money, it can't do some of the things I need. Sonar's only just caught up to that point itself, and I'd hate to have to take a step backwards.

Josh-Hayes

FL Studio? ? ? ?

Ableton?

PJH

I've been running Cakewalk Pro Audio and then Cakewalk Sonar in my studio for roughly 12 years now.

I thought that when Roland bought out Cakewalk it would be a good thing but it's been quite the opposite. When they released Sonar X2 it had quite a few issues that needed sorting. X2a was released which did address some of the issues but not all. After X2a, they didn't release or say another thing with regard to bug fixes, patches upgrades etc.

This lasted for almost a year. On the forum you would normally get a lot of the Cakewalk guys commenting on things but after X2a - nothing. They weren't allowed to say whether there were upgrades coming or bug fixes.

All of a sudden the big announcement that Roland is ditching Cakewalk and X3 is released. A few weeks later X3a, then X3b and now X3c is imminent.

The cakewalk guys are getting involved in all sorts of discussion on the forum and it looks like Sonar X3 is the best release to date.

It's pretty stable with a huge amount of improvements and extra plug ins etc.

I'm still using X2a but will definitely be upgrading soon.

I don't think it's all doom and gloom, Alan. This might be just what Cakewalk needed.

Cheers,

Peter,

AlanRatcliffe

PJH wrote: The cakewalk guys are getting involved in all sorts of discussion on the forum and it looks like Sonar X3 is the best release to date.

That's all great news. Thanks!

A long time ago I stopped getting every release, usually skipping one for every one I get, the same as I do with Windows. So Far X1 on W7 has been good to me (although not quite as stable as CPA 8.5 on XP was).

I don't think it's all doom and gloom, Alan. This might be just what Cakewalk needed.

Fingers crossed. I've always loved Cakewalk and would be really put out if they had dropped the ball at this point.

DaFiz

I was just wondering what I should get for my Mac OS X (Snow Leopard)...
Cakewalk? Q-Base? I last operated Cakewalk 10 years ago so by now it must be version 117... ?
Um looking for something to play with (aint no pro muso) I used to compare it to Adobe Photoshop which I had a great understanding for... just as vast and complicated, but hugely beneficial once you got the hang of it. ?

AlanRatcliffe

Probably Cubase or Logic. Cakewalk is PC only.

Arno-West

Cubase SX 3 - The SM57 of DAW's. thank you and goodnight.

sharonzaz

Here's how I see it:

Been registered for cakewalk since version 3 on windows 3.11.
havent looked back since cubase 3-24bit. really.
i've got all versions up to X2, and sorry to say, but it is still the worst DAW available.

cubase is one of the most easiest to use and understand, until version 5, thats when i stopped buying. moved to logic and a mac.
if youre on a mac, stay away from cubase as it does not run as well on mac as it does on pc.

protools - never, ever ever.
good sound and all, not easy, and with their dumb move to native all (clever for new users bad for old) and slapping in the face of all the old users who invested fortunes in their software/hardware and plugins.
good mixing and live recording daw, not as good with softsynths and midi etc.
(most studios nowadays rely on midi and lots of editing)
and really a bitch to remember all 10,000 key shortcuts.

reaper? naa!
well, they have made good leaps, but still naa.

logic.
my fav by far, but not as easy if youre coming from the logic of a daw thats a 1000 years old like sonar/x2.
and of course youre gonna HAVE to get a mac or hack.
it is by far the most sorted out outfit and package, and at just over R1500 it is more bang for the buck than anything else youll ever buy in your life.
instruments like what comes with it would cost you thousands of dollars 3rd party, and there is no other software with so many and such good processes like EQ, dyn etc.
but again, Mac only.

adobe audition? stay away, really, rather work on CPA6.

studio one (version 2.5 and up but even version 1).
great little software, a lot of the internal work reminds me of cubase a little, far better sound and processing.
lots of third party stuff, but honestly? most of it sucks.
youll need to get other softsynths for way better results, but the actuall internal stuff, EQ and dyn are really good.
that software keeps growing and guys like Mark Beling swears by that software.
works really well on both pc and macs.

now, no one says you always have to upgrade to the latest.
if youre happy with sonar the way it is now, why bother?

logic x came out and its nice and all, but presents some challenges in my studio as my RME cards arent mountain lion ready
so im ''forced'' to stay in snow leopard and work in logic 9 that IMHO still is better than anything else out there
inc logic x, as some workflow and architecture of the software is still better for me in 9 rather than x.

when i really have to use cubase, i still find 5 to be a real good thing to use, no need to have the latest.
if a client brings in a cubase project then ill use that.

unless recording is what you do for a living and you are always looking to have the latest, even sx 3, as arno said, could satisfy you, and even an earlier version of sonar could be your choice of weapon and there is no real must to upgrade.

DaFiz

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Probably Cubase or Logic. Cakewalk is PC only.

Thanx for that info Alan... I'll look into it ?