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General| Category | Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows |
| Unlimited Audio Tracks | Yes |
| Unlimited MIDI Tracks | Yes |
| Plugin Support | VST, VST3 |
| Developer | Cakewalk (formerly Twelve Tone Systems) |
| Latest Version | SONAR was discontinued. Its successor is Cakewalk by BandLab. |
| License | Proprietary |
| Bit Depth | 32-bit (floating point) |
| Notable Features | ProChannel, Skylight Interface |
Overview of SONAR's capabilities and its role as a digital audio workstation.
Steps for installing SONAR and configuring basic hardware and software.
Instructions on how to launch SONAR and access its main features.
Introduction to SONAR's interface, menus, toolbars, and fundamental concepts like projects.
Learn fundamental SONAR operations like opening projects, setting outputs, and playback.
Guide to setting up the metronome and recording MIDI tracks with SONAR.
Covers setting up audio tracks, checking input levels, and recording digital audio.
Learn basic MIDI editing techniques like transposing, copying clips, and slip editing.
Covers importing, dragging, looping, slip editing, and bouncing audio clips.
Learn to add, loop, change pitch, and make Groove clips follow project tempo.
Learn to add real-time effects, automate settings, group controls, and export mixes.
Guide to inserting, playing, and converting DXi soft synths to audio.
Learn to create drum maps, assign MIDI tracks, and use the Pattern Brush tool.
Learn to open, play, and edit loops using Cyclone DXi.
Understanding and utilizing the project's current time indicator.
Learn how to manage project playback using tools, menus, and shortcuts.
Control playback by changing the status of individual tracks.
Adjust various track parameters like volume, pan, and output.
Troubleshooting steps for when SONAR cannot find audio files.
Setting project parameters like meter, tempo, and audio settings.
Steps to prepare for recording, including setting modes, inputs, and levels.
Guide to recording MIDI data using an external MIDI controller or keyboard.
Instructions for recording digital audio, including checking input levels.
Learn how to monitor input signals in real time, including effects.
Record multiple takes of a section by looping.
Replace specific sections of a track with new recordings.
Record MIDI material by entering notes step-by-step.
Learn to import audio and MIDI files into a SONAR project.
Procedures for saving projects in various formats and managing auto-save.
Learn to rearrange, hide, move, copy, and delete tracks.
Methods for selecting, moving, copying, and pasting clips.
Use markers for project navigation and Snap Grid for accurate editing.
Learn to mute or solo individual clips or time regions.
Incorporate tempo changes, gradual increases, or decreases into your project.
Manage editing actions with Undo, Redo, and the Undo History.
Create and edit Groove clips, including slicing and previewing.
Learn to enable looping, create repetitions, and crop loops.
Understand how Groove clips adjust to tempo and pitch changes.
Add, edit, and delete notes and controller data graphically.
Learn to transpose, shift, stretch, and reverse MIDI events.
Hide or reveal MIDI clip beginnings/ends without altering data.
Modify note timing using Quantize or Fit to Improvisation.
View and edit all project events, including notes, controllers, and Sysx data.
Apply MIDI effects like arpeggios, echo/delay, and quantize.
Learn to create and manage drum maps for MIDI tracks.
Assign MIDI tracks to drum maps and display tracks in the Drum Grid.
Edit drum tracks, including note velocities and grid lines.
Insert and paint notes using custom or preset patterns.
Perform fundamental editing tasks like cut, copy, paste, and split.
Modify audio data with volume changes, reversing, and equalization.
Utilize commands for removing silence, fades, and crossfades.
Hide or reveal audio clip beginnings/ends without altering data.
Create real-time and offline fades and crossfades for audio clips.
Apply DirectX plug-in audio effects to tracks and buses.
View, insert, delete, and configure DXi, VSTi, and ReWire synths.
Learn to insert, play, and convert DXi synths.
Understand ReWire technology for transferring audio between applications.
Learn how to play and record sounds from stand-alone synths.
Register and use VST plug-ins as DX plug-ins within SONAR.
Overview of controls in Track and Console views for mixing.
Control mixing and playback of MIDI tracks.
Learn how audio clips are processed and sent to buses or main outs.
Understand and configure playback, record, bus, and main output meters.
Temporarily bounce tracks and synths to save CPU power.
Apply plug-in effects non-destructively in real time.
Link faders, knobs, or buttons into groups for synchronized control.
Combine multiple audio tracks into a submix or a new track.
Export projects in various formats for CD burning or web distribution.
Introduction to positioning audio sources around the listener.
Set up SONAR for surround sound, including format templates and speaker assignments.
Control sound positioning around the listener using surround panners.
Use stereo/mono effects as surround effects with SurroundBridge.
Summary of Console and Track view automation parameters and methods.
Access to powerful automation controls like Snapshot and Envelope/Offset modes.
Record fader movements, draw envelopes, or use snapshots for automation.
Automate DirectX plug-in effect parameters in real time.
Change an envelope to control a different parameter.
Save and load arrangements of views for specific project workflows.
Create new projects with predefined settings for ensembles or configurations.
Associate SONAR commands with keyboard shortcuts for faster access.
Edit music notation, guitar tablature, and fretboard representation.
Create and edit notes, pedal marks, expression marks, and hairpins.
Add and edit chord symbols, dynamic markings, and hairpin symbols.
Display, generate, and edit guitar or bass MIDI tracks as tablature.
Print standard musical notation and project information.
View, insert, and edit meter and key changes at measure boundaries.
Create, edit, and display lyrics associated with notes in a track.
Assign MIDI instrument definitions to MIDI outputs and channels.
Add manufacturer-provided or downloaded instrument definitions.
Define new instruments by answering questions about patches, notes, and controllers.
Understand MIDI's System Exclusive messages and their proprietary nature.
Manage Sysx banks and data using the list box and toolbar.
Configure SONAR to send Sysx banks to instruments when opening projects.
Learn methods to get Sysx banks into SONAR.
Edit Sysx bank messages and manage Sysx view buttons.
Solutions for common issues with Sysx message reception and data errors.
Understand different types of synchronization relying on various clock sources.
Select Internal or Audio clock sources when SONAR acts as the master.
Synchronize SONAR with external MIDI devices using MIDI Sync.
Synchronize SONAR with external devices using SMPTE/MTC.
Control MMC-equipped remote devices via MIDI for transport functions.
View and manage project audio files, filenames, and locations.
Understand the differences between .CWP project files and .CWB bundle files.
Configure Global Audio Folder and Per-project Audio Folders.
Methods for backing up projects, including per-project folders and bundle files.
Clean the audio folder by deleting unused digital audio files.
Optimize system settings and audio hardware for SONAR performance.
Address common problems with recording, playback, and real-time effects.
Troubleshoot issues related to no sound output from SONAR.
Resolve problems when SONAR does not receive MIDI data.
Troubleshoot issues where audio tracks are not playing.
Solve problems related to failing to record any audio input.
Diagnose issues where faders are maximized but no sound is heard.
Troubleshoot incorrect instrument sounds during playback.
Learn to access custom instrument definitions for SONAR's MIDI sounds.
Resolve issues where notes are doubled or dropped due to MIDI echo.
Troubleshoot the visibility of the Clips pane in the Track view.
Resolve issues where SONAR cannot locate audio files in specified directories.
Address error messages related to changing project bit depth.
Troubleshoot slow performance when bouncing tracks.
Solve errors encountered while running the Wave Profiler utility.
Eliminate echo issues during recording caused by input monitoring.
Configure SONAR for higher bit depths to avoid audio distortion.
Troubleshoot sound issues with DX Instruments (DXi).
Adjust MIDI volume mapping settings for Pro Audio 9 files.
Attempt to open projects using Safe Mode to bypass plug-in issues.
Resolve issues where SONAR fails to find specific MIDI synths.
Connect MIDI keyboards and other devices using MIDI cables.
Configure sound card inputs for recording digital audio.
Illustrates Cyclone DXi views and controls.
Description of each Cyclone DXi toolbar button.
Close-up view of a Cyclone DXi pad group controls.
Additional controls for pad groups, including output, MIDI, and pitch.
Area to place and manage loops for use in Cyclone DXi.
Displays loop content and triggers pads via MIDI keys.
Edit tracks for each pad, composed of events representing slices or files.
Adjust pitch, gain, and pan offset controls for loop slices.
Learn to insert DXi's, load loops, and audition them.
Methods to load loops into Cyclone DXi from various sources.
Listen to selected loops in the Loop bin.
Overview of SONAR Producer's full surround mixing support.
Use stereo or mono plug-ins within surround mixes.
Organize tracks into folders for quicker editing and screen space saving.
Perform Slip Editing on multiple MIDI and audio clips simultaneously.
Temporarily bounce audio, saving CPU usage with Freeze options.
Edit gain, pan, and pitch of individual Groove clip slices.
Option to use audio samples for the metronome sounds.
Mute and solo individual clips or time regions for easier editing.
Pane displaying individual video frames at regular intervals.
Import key bindings, use single-key commands, and more.
Preset controls for dialogs, exporting individual tracks, and friendly names.
Provides an overview of the project for quick navigation and zooming.
Work with multiple takes in a single track for easier editing.
Play back only selected clips and/or time regions.
Move clips or notes left/right or up/down using customizable settings.
Choose different panning laws for mixing styles and project compatibility.
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