Post Sonar X3

[timboalogo]

So I've had it with X3 and possibly with Cakewalk altogether (Platinum anyone?). I'd like to know where I should go next. Here are a few qualifications:

- I have plenty of old vst2, 3 and dxi's
- I use a Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
- Besides recording guitars, I record midi via an AKAI Advance 49 (I know, I know!)
= Homemade DAW, 16 gigs RAM, i5 4690 quadcore 3.5 GHz: it works pretty good under Windows 10 (okay, it works okay)

My question is which DAW software should I get to replace Sonar? I've had 3 versions including "Home Studio 2004", so you know how long I've been at it. I don't want to spend more than $200 - $500 Cdn ($48 US, just kidding), preferably on the low end. Problem is I don't know squat about the different offerings out there, so that's why I'm asking the experts here.

Thanks,
Timbo

[SJ_Digriz]

What exactly are you fed up with? What do you want to do that you can't do?

[Romantique Tp]

I think Cubase is kind of a no-brainer, and arguably the only other viable option on Windows if you're making good use of Sonar's features.
Like Sonar, Cubase handles both audio and MIDI really well, but generally speaking there's little Sonar can do that Cubase can't do better. The MIDI and composing-oriented features are way better.

If you take a look at the monthly updates Cakewalk is offering you'll notice that nearly every new feature is stuff that Cubase already had years ago. So yeah... I think Sonar is pretty redundant in 2017.

[Resonant- Serpent]

Cubase Pro. No doubt about it.

Don't torture yourself by just buying it and trying to learn as you go. Pick a dedicated learning course, and work your way through it. It won't take long, and you'll be up and running. It won't be long before you realize just how much more powerful and stable it is. Started off in Pro Audio 5/1996 until S-Plat. Broke away in 2016 for Cubase, and haven't regretted it.

[Hink]

or Samplitude Pro X3, not lacking any features in any way and your choice...dongle or serial number

[Zexila]

Well, try Reaper ofc, it's hard not to mention it, it fits the bill. Other than that, Cubase, maybe look for cheap second hand Studio One V3 licence here in marketplace or whatever is called now.

[robbie111]

Hey Timbo I absolutely hated Sonar X3 and reverted back to 8.53. Last year I upgraded to the new Sonar Platinum and it rules. So many issues fixed and finally operating like it should have years ago. Demo it before you move on.

[EnGee]

So I've had it with X3 and possibly with Cakewalk altogether (Platinum anyone?). I'd like to know where I should go next. Here are a few qualifications:

- I have plenty of old vst2, 3 and dxi's
- I use a Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
- Besides recording guitars, I record midi via an AKAI Advance 49 (I know, I know!)
= Homemade DAW, 16 gigs RAM, i5 4690 quadcore 3.5 GHz: it works pretty good under Windows 10 (okay, it works okay)

My question is which DAW software should I get to replace Sonar? I've had 3 versions including "Home Studio 2004", so you know how long I've been at it. I don't want to spend more than $200 - $500 Cdn ($48 US, just kidding), preferably on the low end. Problem is I don't know squat about the different offerings out there, so that's why I'm asking the experts here.

Thanks,
Timbo

I don't think you can find a DAW that support DXi these days! DXi are dead, aren't they? IMO, find alternatives.

I have less than your system, 8 GB and i5-4570. Almost all DAWs and VST instruments/effect working fine. Currently I use Cubase mainly, but I also use Reaper, Live and FL Studio.

I'm happy with Cubase Pro 9 (which I upgraded from Artist 9). I like a lot Ableton Live, but it has a different workflow than Sonar and Cubase (By the way, I was Sonar user started with Sonar 4, then 7 then X1 and then X3). I use Studio One for sometime, but Cubase is my most used since SX1, so I chose Cubase in the end.

Reaper is a great DAW, but I find it frustrating if I want to do a whole song in it! Anyway, it is cheap and a great value for the money. It needs some getting used to and a good memory to remember all those hot keys and shortcuts.

FL Studio is another great DAW. It has many strengths but it needs some learning curve as it is very different from other DAWs (not similar to Ableton Live, although it is pattern based).

Try also Bitwig and Studio one. They are good DAWs "inspired" by Ableton Live and Cubase

Anyway, it is like cars! I mean who can decide which car is the best for you?! You need to test drive and choose the one that you feel "This is the one! It is perfectly for me". Try the demos (Cubase Element give you an idea without a dongle) and take your time as investing the time in learning a new DAW is not a trivial task.

[Romantique Tp]

or Samplitude Pro X3, not lacking any features in any way and your choice...dongle or serial number

Cubase does MIDI better, and the workflow and the way things are organized in Samplitude isn't for everyone. Unless his projects are like 90%~95% audio I wouldn't even consider it.

[xalama qo]

A few months ago I was seriously looking at investing in Sonar to revive an older WinXP workstation computer, and I started a thread here asking opinions and everything. I enjoyed the perspective the "everything on one page" interface provided, you could instantly see everything that was going on in your project, arrangement, mixer, browser, etc, or it was one click away at least. A vast improvement over older Cubase (v6) windowing issues. Then I ran into some Sonar frustrations, mostly to do with shortcut keys and such, zooming, clip editing...just were never comfortable or intuitive for me. And final nail in coffin, X3 won't run on WinXP, so I had to look elsewhere.

I bought Studio One v2 here at KVR, and it was the best decision I've made all year! It has the "everything on one page" interface I wanted, and is so intuitive I still haven't looked at the manual. Shortcuts by default mirror Cubase's, and click-zooming on the timeline is the same, etc, so it feels very familiar in use.

Cubase requires a dongle which might put you off, unless you get Elements. Studio One's license can be installed on 5 computers. Stuff like that might sway your decision too.

[lfm]

Cubase requires a dongle which might put you off, unless you get Elements. Studio One's license can be installed on 5 computers. Stuff like that might sway your decision too.

Good point, but still - you can install on as many as you like - and just move dongle to the one you use right now.

I ran Sonar 4 Studio unti Sonar Studio 8.5 arrived and got 64-bit windows and wanted 64-bit daw as well.

Then Sonar X3 which was quite good, and then Sonar Artist 2015 - but did not activate this since those rolling updates expired.

I still think Sonar is excellent daw - but does not have the headroom I like to have if looking ahead a bit. And indications from Cakewalk are that it will not change either - things top voted as feature request is nothing that guides Cakewalk, it seems.

Cubase Pro 9 give me the headroom to do anything - and not leaving Cubase. Good notation. Steinberg support is not so good anymore, but neither is Cakewalk sooooo.

If you have what you need in content and plugins - Reaper might be a good choice as well. Really feature rich and light on system over all. Great abilities to customize - but this really means some work until you get where you want to be. Get a theme you like and really is fully implemented, get toolbar buttons for things you use a lot.

[xalama qo]

I think Reaper wins hands down in terms of flexibility. It seems to work with any format you throw at it. VST, DXi, even DLS instruments iirc. I'd hesitate to base a decision on whether old/exotic plugin formats are supported because I imagine few if any of those will see 64bit upgrades. This could make or break your decision (for now) depending on how important 64bit is to you, and obviously in a few years 32bit will be a thing of the past unless you hang on to old computers like I do!

[Jim Roseberry]

So I've had it with X3 and possibly with Cakewalk altogether (Platinum anyone?). I'd like to know where I should go next. Here are a few qualifications:

- I have plenty of old vst2, 3 and dxi's
- I use a Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6
- Besides recording guitars, I record midi via an AKAI Advance 49 (I know, I know!)
= Homemade DAW, 16 gigs RAM, i5 4690 quadcore 3.5 GHz: it works pretty good under Windows 10 (okay, it works okay)

My question is which DAW software should I get to replace Sonar? I've had 3 versions including "Home Studio 2004", so you know how long I've been at it. I don't want to spend more than $200 - $500 Cdn ($48 US, just kidding), preferably on the low end. Problem is I don't know squat about the different offerings out there, so that's why I'm asking the experts here.

Since you've spent a great deal of time working with Cakewalk/Sonar, it's makes sense to demo Sonar Platinum. Worst case scenario, you're out some time.

Live, Reaper, Studio One, Cubase, Pro Tools, and Digital Performer are all legit alternatives.
As to which one is the "best" choice, that's something only you can answer.
Each of those apps have strengths/weaknesses.
No matter which you choose, there are going to be features (from the others) that you wish xxxx had.

- If you're primarily a composer, the popular choices are Cubase and Digital Performer.
- If you're working with bits of audio... and need advanced Warp/Pitch-control, Live is a great choice.
- If you're wanting "streamlined" UI (and don't need esoteric MIDI editing), Studio One is a great choice.
- If you're primarily working with audio... and need uber editing flexibility, the Item and Object based
editing in Reaper and Samplitude makes them both a great choice.
- If you're working with other studios, Pro Tools is a good choice.
IMO, A bit tedious to use, but well spec'd on both the Audio/MIDI sides.

Many of us have numerous DAW applications in our "tool-box"... using each for it's strengths.

[Hink]

or Samplitude Pro X3, not lacking any features in any way and your choice...dongle or serial number

Cubase does MIDI better, and the workflow and the way things are organized in Samplitude isn't for everyone. Unless his projects are like 90%~95% audio I wouldn't even consider it.

I agree the way Samplitude is set up is not for everyone nor is any other DAW. Just my 2 cents that's all and as Samplitude is the underdog so many people have no clue about it and come up with this kind of drivel

[SJ_Digriz]

we have a low count poster who provides no info and then does not participate. I think it would have been better just to have the OP answer the basic "what is it you want" questions before juts guessing all over every possible DAW combination.