KVR Audio

xalama qo · Post by **xalama qo** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:00 pm

Hi guys,
I've been considering reconfiguring one of my computers and getting SONAR to use as the main DAW. I've picked up here and there that SONAR has some pretty persistent and serious bugs which go ignored by the developers and which can bring everything crashing to a halt.

While I really like the workflow and feel of SONAR I obviously don't want to be constantly losing my work! So could those in the know please shed some light here...how bad is it really?
Thanks

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:19 pm

I used and actively upgraded Sonar during part of the time between 2000-2007. I had persistent crashiness and audio dropouts, as did many other users; on at least one of the major version releases Cakewalk promised the dropout issues had been fixed. Never were for me, though.

So, I can't speak to more recent Cakewalk developments, but my experience with the company and product were not good. I've since used several other DAWs and each one of them provided a much better user experience for me.

incubus · Post by **incubus** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:34 pm

Bug fixes are paid updates

Teh fanzois is planning invasion of this thread, you have blasphemed!

xalama qo · Post by **xalama qo** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:42 pm

Tx JerGoertz, were the crashes consistent, like during specific actions, or just general random weirdness? Audio dropouts...what audio interface did you use, and what samplerate/bit depth? Were your projects mostly audio tracks or VST instrument tracks? RAM?
Or was there no common denominator that seemed to trigger the instability?

I'm aiming at a very middle-of-the-road system, probably only 16/48k with an M-Audio 2496 PCI card. Nothing fancy or esoteric at all. I wonder if these factors will influence stability in any way?

xalama qo · Post by **xalama qo** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:44 pm

incubus wrote:Teh fanzois is planning invasion of this thread, you have blasphemed!

hehe! I hope so, I want to hear both sides of the story!

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:45 pm

We came a long way since 2007. Cakewalk even changed hands (it was owned by Roland, and now belongs to Gibson). The current versions are very stable, and they release updates monthly, with bug fixes and new features.
Besides, in terms of "bang for the buck", its one of the best deals available, IMO.

clintmartin · Post by **clintmartin** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:48 pm

I've been a Sonar user for 5 years. Since X3 it's been as stable as any DAW i've used.

i

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 8:49 pm

xalama qo wrote:Tx JerGoertz, were the crashes consistent, like during specific actions, or just general random weirdness? Audio dropouts...what audio interface did you use, and what samplerate/bit depth? Were your projects mostly audio tracks or VST instrument tracks? RAM?
Or was there no common denominator that seemed to trigger the instability?

I'm aiming at a very middle-of-the-road system, probably only 16/48k with an M-Audio 2496 PCI card. Nothing fancy or esoteric at all. I wonder if these factors will influence stability in any way?

Crashes seemed to happen under moderate-to-heavy VST load. Can't recall any specific actions that triggered them (maybe pressing play?

(only half joking)). I used mostly VST's, very little audio. Soundcard was Indigo IO on a lappy, 44.1 16 bit.

Hope this helps, and good luck with whatever you end up using

Grumbleweed · Post by **Grumbleweed** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 8:55 pm

xalama qo wrote:Tx JerGoertz, were the crashes consistent, like during specific actions, or just general random weirdness? Audio dropouts...what audio interface did you use, and what samplerate/bit depth? Were your projects mostly audio tracks or VST instrument tracks? RAM?
Or was there no common denominator that seemed to trigger the instability?

I'm aiming at a very middle-of-the-road system, probably only 16/48k with an M-Audio 2496 PCI card. Nothing fancy or esoteric at all. I wonder if these factors will influence stability in any way?

Are you thinking of buying a version of Sonar made between 2000 to 2007?
If not then this is a pretty weird conversation.

Grum.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:03 pm

TBH, if you don't want to risk running into troubles, stay away from Sonar. I used Sonar X3 briefly, and it wasn't very stable. Both the DAW itself, as well as the plugin manager thingie crashed on me in the short time i used it. Maybe it is better now, i don't know. But, reading about the issues people have, or had with this DAW, and taking a look at how Cakewalk maintains its plugins (i also own Z3TA 2, which was literally left in the rain with major bugs for years...), i can't really speak too highly of their products.

Not to mention that i find Sonar's workflow very cluttered compared to other DAW's. Seemed all a bit thrown together really.

Skorpius · Post by **Skorpius** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:16 pm

chk071 wrote:TBH, if you don't want to risk running into troubles, stay away from Sonar. I used Sonar X3 briefly, and it wasn't very stable.

I'm really astonished that people keep mentioning age-old versions of Sonar in this thread. Even X3 has been outdated for several years now. I don't think the OP is interested in whether year-old versions used to work for you in the past or not. Rather, I'd say he's interested in how the current version - which is Platinum - works for current users.

xalama qo · Post by **xalama qo** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:18 pm

Tx JG.

Grumbleweed wrote:Are you thinking of buying a version of Sonar made between 2000 to 2007?
If not then this is a pretty weird conversation.

I'm weighing up the pros and cons of getting an older version vs a current version with respect to the price/features ratio, and I was considering buying a Cakewalk account secondhand as an option. So it's not an entirely pointless conversation.
It's good to have some background. I'm sussing out the lay of the land, and a history of known issues and experiences is valuable for contextualizing the outright dismissive negative reports online.

xalama qo · Post by **xalama qo** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:23 pm

Tx chk071. I actually find Sonar's workflow to be really intuitive. I was surprised, because I've never really seriously considered it before now. I'm not planning on ditching Cubase, but for some projects I like the way Sonar works...as much as I've been able to suss it out with the demo, that is.

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:36 pm

Skorpius wrote:
chk071 wrote:TBH, if you don't want to risk running into troubles, stay away from Sonar. I used Sonar X3 briefly, and it wasn't very stable.
I'm really astonished that people keep mentioning age-old versions of Sonar in this thread. Even X3 has been outdated for several years now. I don't think the OP is interested in whether year-old versions used to work for you in the past or not. Rather, I'd say he's interested in how the current version - which is Platinum - works for current users.

Well, unless he unmistakable states so, i was figuring that he is interested in opinions about Sonar in general. Of course, it is rather relevant how the latest versions is performing. But, frankly, i have my doubts that it's taken a magical 180 degree turn, and is perfectly stable now, i know Cakewalk too well now to assume so. Maybe i'm wrong.

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Sun Mar 12, 2017 9:39 pm

xalama qo wrote:Tx JG.

It's good to have some background. I'm sussing out the lay of the land, and a history of known issues and experiences is valuable for contextualizing the outright dismissive negative reports online.

No prob!

. This was my understanding of your (very understandable) reasons for asking. It also becomes more relevant when considering reports from not long ago at all that legacy code was apparently still being used in current versions, judging from the continued presence of outdated user interface elements. There *may* still be people having dropout issues, but I don't remember that as something people were complaining so much about recently.

SONAR issues...deal breaker?