Any tips on switching from Cubase SX3 to Sonar 5PE?

[monkeymanx]

I can get it cheap enough on eBay. Yea, the cross grade is only 350 for SX3, which isn't bad. I just had high hopes for Sonar, but I didn't even think to really dive into all the midi stuff before buying it, all I did was import some of my midi tracks and play along with it.

What's your actual problem with SONARs
midi implementation monkeymanx?

My big problem is that you can't do midi clips like you can in Cubase. In Cubase I could just create a blank midi measure that was say 1 bar, or 2 or whatever... open it up and edit it, then copy and paste it throughout the song on the track. This made drum tracks really easy, then later on just go back through the clips and humanize it yourself.

Sonar makes you see the whole song, well you can zoom into areas, but you can't break it up. It would take me some time to get used to the interface but I could... It is mainly that lack of midi clips that really bugs me, its like taking a step back in being productive.

[kp]

Huh? Of course you can have MIDI clips - admittedly you can't have blank clips, but once you've added some notes (or other MIDI data), a clip is automatically created around them and you can split this, rejoin them and move them around to your heart's content.

[DeBro]

I don't think it is just you. Sonar 3 worked perfectly with my Emu cards with no tweaks. Updating to Sonar 5 killed both of my PC's that use Emu Patch Mix. But, all the DAW's seem to be going through this. The competition is driving change and forcing updates out of the door before they are solid. I went to Cubase.net a few times and users there seem to have just as many problems. If it works on your hardware, great. If not, you have to be a tech to get through the problems. I would jump to Logic but I cannot afford to replace my Windows hardware.

That's why I'm sticking to using Sonar Home Studio 4 and not upgrading to Sonar 5. When all the issues are worked out with new features, it will trikle down to the next upgrade of Sonar Home Studio in the next 1 1/2 years. I enjoy working in SHS4. No issues whatsoever with the Emu 0404 and GuitarPort, looping while recording different takes, and midi implimentation is just fabulous. I don't mix a project with softsynths up and running. Bounce to Tracks is just fine with me, so Freeze would be welcome but not really missed. All in all, I wouldn't even attempt to try out any other Audio Sequencer.

[superddman]

Huh? Of course you can have MIDI clips - admittedly you can't have blank clips, but once you've added some notes (or other MIDI data), a clip is automatically created around them and you can split this, rejoin them and move them around to your heart's content.

things like this just drive me crazy. sonar's approach to basic things is so weird

[kp]

How is that weird? Why does it make sense to have clips with no data in? *That* seems weird to me.

[superddman]

How is that weird? Why does it make sense to have clips with no data in? *That* seems weird to me.

why would you draw a midi part if you didn't plan on entering notes?

Only about 99.9% of hosts out there do it this way.

[whyterabbyt]

How is that weird? Why does it make sense to have clips with no data in? *That* seems weird to me.

Indeed.

And I certainly think that monkeymanx is totally wrong when he says Sonar has a 'lack of midi clips'. Sonar's MIDI Groove Clips is one of the best implementations around.

[kp]

Why should I ever need to draw a "MIDI part" at all? That's the kind of thing the computer should do for me - having to do low level stuff like that is prehistoric.

And yep, MGCs are excellent.

[superddman]

How is that weird? Why does it make sense to have clips with no data in? *That* seems weird to me.

Indeed.

And I certainly think that monkeymanx is totally wrong when he says Sonar has a 'lack of midi clips'. Sonar's MIDI Groove Clips is one of the best implementations around.

I guess it is as always personal preferance. Btw, have you tried hosts like ableton live, emagic logic, or tracktion? I think if you do you will see what I mean.

[superddman]

Why should I ever need to draw a "MIDI part" at all? That's the kind of thing the computer should do for me - having to do low level stuff like that is prehistoric.

And yep, MGCs are excellent.

In my case, I produce electronic music where the length of patterns are usually 9 bars Therefore, I always know ahead of time how long each part will be.

[superddman]

I can admit that for more acoustic styles sonar's approach to midi clips would be more desirable

[whyterabbyt]

I guess it is as always personal preferance.

Almost certainly.

Btw, have you tried hosts like ableton live, emagic logic, or tracktion?

Yes.

I think if you do you will see what I mean.

And I personally find it more logical to play/draw some notes, then select the area Im interested in to make it a clip, then turn it into a Groove Clip, drag it out to length as a guide, and work from there.

[whyterabbyt]

I can admit that for more acoustic styles sonar's approach to midi clips would be more desirable

What's an 'acoustic style'?

[superddman]

I can admit that for more acoustic styles sonar's approach to midi clips would be more desirable

What's an 'acoustic style'?

hehe, less electronic, less pattern based, less static, you know?

[whyterabbyt]

hehe, less electronic, less pattern based, less static, you know?

Hmmm. I dont do acoustic styles then. Almost entirely electronic, often pattern and loop based, sometimes quite static, or at least droneish. (In fact I did a track called Static).