CAKEWALK SONAR User Manual

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Cakewalk SONAR

User’s Guide

©

™

Table of Contents

Default Chapter3
- Table of Contents3
Preface19
- Registering SONAR Today19
- Conventions Used in this Book20
- Getting Help20
- About this Book19
1 Introduction21
- About SONAR22
- Computers, Sound, and Music23
  - MIDI23
  - Digital Audio24
- Installation and Setup25
  - Installing SONAR26
- Starting SONAR27
- SONAR Basics31
- Windows Taskbar Indicators45
- Screen Colors and Wallpaper45
- Starting to Use SONAR46
2 Tutorials47
- Tutorial 1-The Basics48
- Tutorial 2-Recording MIDI61
- Tutorial 3-Recording Digital Audio68
- Tutorial 4-Editing MIDI74
- Tutorial 5-Editing Audio81
- Tutorial 6-Using Groove Clips85
- Tutorial 7-Mixing95
- Tutorial 8-Using Soft Synths100
- Tutorial 9-Drum Maps104
- Tutorial 10-Cyclone DXI108
3 Controlling Playback113
- The Now Time and How to Use It114
- Controlling Playback120
  - Handling Stuck Notes121
  - Looping122
- Track-By-Track Playback124
- Changing Track Settings127
- Controlling Live MIDI Playback-MIDI Echo144
- Local Control147
- Playing Files in Batch Mode148
  - The Play List View148
- Video Playback, Import, and Export150
- Locating Missing Audio157
4 Recording161
- Creating a New Project162
- Preparing to Record170
- Recording Music from a MIDI Instrument175
- Recording Audio175
  - Tuning an Instrument177
- Confidence Recording179
- Input Monitoring180
- The Audio Engine Button183
- Loop Recording184
- Punch Recording185
- Step Recording188
  - Step Pattern Recording191
- Recording Specific Ports and Channels192
  - Input Filtering194
- Importing Music and Sound195
- Saving Your Work198
  - Labeling Your Projects199
  - File Statistics201
5 Arranging203
- Arranging Tracks204
- Arranging Clips209
- Nudge218
  - Nudge Settings218
- Working with Partial Clips220
- Markers and the Snap Grid221
- Working with Linked Clips228
- Splitting and Combining Clips230
- Take Management and Comping Takes232
- Clip Muting and Isolating (Clip Soloing)234
- Track Folders238
- Adding Effects in the Track View240
- Changing Tempos241
- Undo, Redo, and the Undo History249
6 Using Loops251
- The Loop Construction View252
  - Loop Construction Controls252
- The Loop Explorer View256
  - Folders Pane257
  - Contents List Pane258
- Working with Loops259
- Working with Groove Clips260
- MIDI Groove Clips267
  - Exporting, and Importing MIDI Groove Clips269
- Importing Project5 Patterns271
7 Editing MIDI Events and Controllers273
- Event Inspector Toolbar274
- The Piano Roll View275
- Selecting and Editing Events283
- Slip Editing MIDI (Non-Destructive Editing)291
- Changing the Timing of a Recording294
- Searching for Events305
  - Event Filters306
- Controllers, Rpns, Nrpns, and Automation Data311
  - Using the Controllers Pane313
- The Event List View318
- MIDI Effects (MIDI Plug-Ins)325
8 Drum Maps and the Drum Grid Pane335
- The Basics336
- Creating and Editing a Drum Map336
- Using Drum Maps340
- The Note Map Pane342
  - Changing Mapped-Note Settings343
- The Drum Grid Pane344
  - Grid Lines344
- The Pattern Brush Tool345
  - How the Pattern Brush Tool Works345
  - Creating Custom Patterns347
9 Editing Audio349
- Digital Audio Fundamentals350
- Basic Audio Editing357
- Basic Audio Processing365
- Advanced Audio Processing369
- Slip-Editing Audio (Non-Destructive Editing)375
- Fades and Crossfades380
  - Using Fades and Crossfades in Real Time380
  - Applying Fades and Crossfades Offline384
- Audio Effects (Audio Plug-Ins)386
10 Working with Software Synthesizer399
- Kinds of Soft Synths400
- Synth Rack View400
- DX Instruments (DXI's)401
- Rewire Instruments410
- Stand-Alone Synths415
  - Playing a Stand-Alone Synth415
  - Recording a Stand-Alone Synth416
- Using VST Synths and Plug-Ins417
11 Mixing and Effects Patching419
- Preparing to MIX420
  - Configuring the Console and Track Views424
- Mixing MIDI428
  - Mixing a MIDI Track428
  - Converting MIDI to Audio429
- Routing and Mixing Digital Audio430
- Metering436
- Freeze Tracks and Synths441
- Using Real-Time Effects444
- Using Control Groups449
- Using Remote Control454
  - Using the Learn Option456
- Bouncing Tracks456
  - Preparing to Create an Audio CD459
- Preparing Audio for Distribution459
  - Dithering468
12 Surround Mixing471
- Surround Basics472
- Configuring SONAR for Surround Mixing473
- Panning in Surround479
- Joystick Support485
- Surround Metering486
- Bass Management487
- Surround Effects488
- Importing Surround Mixes491
- Exporting Surround Mixes492
13 Using Automation493
- Quick Automation Guide494
- The Automation Toolbar495
- Automation Methods495
- Automating Effects507
- Reassigning Envelopes510
- The Envelope Editing and Node Editing Menus511
  - Automated Muting512
14 Layouts, Templates and Key Bindings513
- Layouts514
  - Floating Views and Dual Monitor Support517
- Templates517
  - Template Example: Three MIDI Instruments519
- Key Bindings520
  - Importing Key Bindings523
  - Exporting Key Bindings523
15 Working with Notation and Lyrics525
- The Staff View526
- Basic Musical Editing531
- Chords and Marks543
- Tablature550
- Working with Percussion556
- Printing559
- The Meter/Key View560
- Working with Lyrics565
16 Using Instrument Definitions569
- Assigning Instruments570
- Importing Instrument Definitions572
- Creating Instrument Definitions573
- Instrument Definition Tutorial582
17 Using System Exclusive Data587
- What Is System Exclusive588
  - Sysx Events588
- Using the System Exclusive View588
- Sending Sysx Banks at Startup589
- Importing, Creating, and Dumping Sysx Banks590
  - More about Dump Request Macros592
- Editing Sysx Banks593
- Sysx View Buttons593
- Transmitting Banks During Playback595
- Real-Time Recording of System Exclusive Messages596
- Sysx Echo596
- Sysx . INI File Settings597
- Troubleshooting598
18 Synchronizing Your Gear601
- Synchronization Overview602
- Choosing Clock Sources When SONAR Is the Master603
- MIDI Synchronization604
- SMPTE/MIDI Time Code Synchronization608
- MIDI Machine Control (MMC)615
19 Audio File Management617
- The Project Files Dialog618
- Project Files and Bundle Files619
- Audio Folders620
- Backing up Projects with Digital Audio624
- Deleting Unused Audio Files625
20 Improving Audio Performance627
- System Configuration628
- Improving Performance with Digital Audio634
Appendix A: Troubleshooting641
- When I Play a File, I Don't Hear Anything641
- I Can't Record from My MIDI Instrument643
- When I Play a File Containing Audio, the Audio Portion Doesn't644
- Play644
- I Can't Record any Audio645
- My Track or Bus Fader Is Maximized, but There's no645
- Sound or Level645
- The Music Is Playing Back with the Wrong Instrument Sounds646
- How Do I Use SONAR to Access All the Sounds on My MIDI Instrument646
- My Keyboard Doubles Every Note I Play647
- I Don't See the Clips Pane in the Track View647
- Why Can't SONAR Find My Audio Files648
- I Get an a Error Message When I Change a Project to 24-Bit Audio648
- Bouncing Tracks Takes a Long Time648
- Why Do I Get Errors from the Wave Profiler649
- I Hear an Echo When I Record649
- Audio Distorts at Greater than 16 Bits650
- No Sound from My DXI650
- My Pro Audio 9 Files Sound Louder/Softer When I Open651
- Them in SONAR651
- I Can't Open My Project651
- SONAR Can't Find the Wavetable Synth or MPU401652
Appendix B: Hardware Setup653
- Connect Your MIDI Equipment653
- Set up to Record Digital Audio656
Appendix C: Cyclone661
- Overview661
- Using Cyclone DXI667
Appendix D: New Features in SONAR 4673
- Surround Mixing673
- Surroundbridge (Surround Effects Linker)673
- Track Folders673
- Slip-Editing Multiple Clips673
- Freeze Synths or Tracks674
- Loop Construction View Enhancements674
- Audio Metronome674
- Clip Muting and Isolating (Clip Soloing)674
- Video Thumbnails674
- Enhanced Key Bindings674
- Enhanced Import/Export/Bounce Features675
- Navigator Pane in the Track View675
- Take Management and Comping Takes675
- Audition (Selection Playback)675
- Nudge675
- Configurable Panning Laws675
- Joystick Support676
- Pow-R Dither676
- Meter Ballistics676
- Surround Plug-Ins676
- Cakewalk TTS-1676
- License Agreement705

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CAKEWALK SONAR Specifications

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

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