Sonar 5: Anybody liking it?

[ross g]

There's a nice review by Craig Anderton on Harmony-central's forums, but I'm not registred, so I can't search for it!

i read through most of it, Mr. Anderton describes the program as a major upgrade... he speaks highly of the Roland Varios implimentation for fixing pitches for voice and other instruments, and it is very flexable for all types of mono program material... the convolution reverb is said to sound very good also, there are lots of impulses (including a bass amp impulse which supposedly makes a direct recorded bass sound like it's running through a bass amp, go figure), and you can supply your own impulses...he talked about "step recording" which from what i read on KVR y'all refer to as "piano roll" (is this accurate?), he says it's good but that he never uses step recording, so it's hard to gauge that one...

overall he raved about it, sounds like it has some great, useful features, i'm just going to have to check it out a bit more...any feedback from Sonar users, send it on down....



rg

[envoy]

he talked about "step recording" which from what i read on KVR y'all refer to as "piano roll" (is this accurate?), he says it's good but that he never uses step recording, so it's hard to gauge that one...

Nope, those are two different things. Piano roll is the grid-like display of the notes, where you can click on the piano roll in various ways to move/add/delete notes. Step recording is where you set a particular note value, and simply press keys on your midi input device; the program increments by the chosen note value and inserts the correct pitches. You could input completely fast licks by playing the keys as slow and out of time as you want, and it puts the notes in one after another in the proper rhythmic way.

Me? I use Sonar 4.03, haven't upgraded yet by I will eventually. I come from a long history of using sequencers of the style of playing the part and the sequencer will record your playing (i.e. *not* piano roll or trackers, etc). Sonar does everything I could ask of it, with only a few problems here or there, less than most other apps I've used.

Most of it just depends on how you like do your music. Why not download a demo (even if they don't have a 5.0 demo up, the 4.0 demo should give you a pretty good feel for the piano roll functionality).

Cheers,
Envoy

[ross g]

thanks envoy...

wow... i assumed that step entry was the same as piano roll because the few software sequencers i've used had piano keys to the left (and the top on a real old one i can't remember the name of) to give a visual of the notes as they were entered...i've seen grid style note enty, but i thought they were strictly for rhythm/drum beat event entry... live and learn

i will definatly check out demos of Sonar and Live...i'm still trying to learn al the new software i have, but i'm trying to pin down what i really want to work with as far as PC audio software, there are so many friggen options and approaches, and ways to connect stuff, i'm still overwhelmed...in a way it's scared me back into playing guitar, hitting drums, and poking at the keys...i ain't going to be able to make any music untill i get my chops back (that's going along pretty darn good though!)

thanks again,
rg

[swingguy]

Been using Sonar 5 PE since it was first available and love it ... EXCEPT for the V-vocal function. It has many bugs still and I had to go back to Antares Auto Tune which for now works much more reliably. In time, when the bugs are worked, out V-Vocal will probabaly be just fantastic. It's premise is great ... just can't be relied on to not freeze up your system ...

As for the rest of Sonar 5 it is faster, smoother, easier to use and more reliable than any earlier versions.

[Hunter]

Been using Sonar 5 PE since it was first available and love it ... EXCEPT for the V-vocal function. It has many bugs still and I had to go back to Antares Auto Tune which for now works much more reliably. In time, when the bugs are worked, out V-Vocal will probabaly be just fantastic. It's premise is great ... just can't be relied on to not freeze up your system ...

As for the rest of Sonar 5 it is faster, smoother, easier to use and more reliable than any earlier versions.

Don't whatever you do load up a drum loop in the VVocal, thinking "I wonder what would happen if..."




...because all that will happen is Sonar will bail instantly and you'll lose your work




But apart from that, Sonar is very cool but has some annying bugs, eg, you can't assign more than one automation envelope to a plugin effect, which makes creative filtering a no-no. Also I've had some weirdness with groove clipped MIDI, where moving a clip at the start of the tune wipes the MIDI data from clips further along the same track

The plugins are pretty cool though, and when it works its a great host. Probably applies to Cubase too, and other hosts

[Benny Bear]

I've been a Sonar user since v1.0. I've upgraded everytime and not been disapointed. The upgrade price makes it very difficult to resist. As for V5.01 I love it. Just completed two pieces tonight (okay they were nearly finished anyway) very easy to work with. The convolution reverb is fabulous. I was a previous Acoustic Mirror user which didn't work in real time very well.

The extra synths are interesting - it depends on your type of music and personal preferences. Since I'm involved in wide range of music I find most of them useful.

I don't use the pinao roll - so I can't comment - I'm a notes man myself.

V-Vocal I've looked at and had no problems, but was used to using Melodyne and Autotune so I've stuck with those for the time being.

I read a lot of comments about problems but I can't say that I've encountered many. You'll always get those who start a wish list for V6.0 as soon as V5.0 is out - but I find you work with what you need for your music and ignore the rest. Although on quiet days it's always exciting to find out something you didn't know about it.

That's my ten penneth off the top of my head.