New features and enhancements include:
- Track Folders with the ability edit the Track Folder Composite Clip.
- Enhanced comping and editing features including track layer display options, clip muting/isolating, audition selection, customizable nudge, multi-clip slip edits, roll-outs, and fades.
- Freeze tracks, effects, and synths with the ability to edit and arrange frozen data
- Loop construction enhancements including slice-based, envelope control of gain, pitch, pan.
- Navigator view.
- Extended Key Binding enhancements including keystroke-emulating templates for Cubase SX, Nuendo, Logic, Digital Performer, Samplitude, and other DAWs.
- Multi-format surround mixing and editing with over 30 supported configurations (5.1, 7.1, LCRS, etc).
- Lexicon Pantheon Surround Reverb.
- Sonitus Surround Compressor.
- SurroundBridge - easily use stereo effects in a surround environment.
- Video Thumbnail track with support for QuickTime, Windows Media Video, AVI, MPEG.
- Extensive export options with useful and configurable presets.
- POW-r Dithering.
- MPEX Time Scaling.
- TTS-1 DXi Multi-timbral GM2 synthesizer with authentic Roland sounds.
- Configurable RMS and Peak Meter ballistics.
Also announced is SONAR 4 Studio Edition, which is a special version of SONAR 4 designed for project studios and aspiring professionals. Studio Edition is built upon the same core engine and feature set of SONAR 4 Producer Edition.
NOTE: SONAR 4 Studio Edition does not have the following features found in SONAR 4 Producer Edition: surround mixing and editing, Lexicon Pantheon Surround Reverb, Sonitus Surround Compressor, Sonitus:fx Suite, enhanced mixing console with assignable fx controls and per-channel EQ, Video Thumbnail track, POW-r Dithering, MPEX Time Scaling.
SONAR 4 Producer Edition has an MSRP of $959 USD; SONAR 4 Studio Edition is $479 USD. SONAR 4 will ship September 28, 2004. Registered SONAR 3 Producer customers can upgrade to SONAR 4 Producer Edition directly through Cakewalk for $179; SONAR 3 Studio to SONAR 4 Studio Edition for $99.