Still using SONAR?

[msmcleod 3,928]

10 hours ago, Markleford said:

Finally started migrating from SONAR 8.5 in January 2022. 🙄 Mind, I had a license for SONAR Platinum that I never opened...

It's been pretty smooth thus far, mostly an exercise in battling with outdated plugins, especially since this jump has me moving to 64-bit! Old projects will open in at least a "workable" state, but I'll have to figure out if I can leave v8.5/32 installed just for rendering out old mixes.

- m

Just FYI... a while back I "upgraded" all my old SONAR projects ( and some CWPA 9 projects ) to  CbB . 

While CbB could load the projects directly, I found it better to create a new project using the BASIC template, and drag the old project in from the media browser on to a blank area on the tracks view.  I'd then save the new project under a different name.

The main reasons for this:

• It ensured a pro-channel strip was created for each audio track
• The Master, Preview and Metronome buses were created as part of the BASIC template and didn't require me creating them manually
• All of the outputs were routed to the Master bus, rather than being directly routed to the main outs.

It also gave me the opportunity to replace my hardware synths with instrument tracks containing samples of those synths, so it was totally in the box.

 

[kperry 1,348]

That's a neat (and obvious when you get told!) idea.

[Annabelle 3]

Is this Cakewalk By Band Lab software compatible with screenreaders like JAWS (Job Access With Speech)? Will it work on a machine with Windows 7 installed? Are there features similar to Sonar 8.5 Producer Edition? These are especially important questions I'm asking, should there ever come a time I may need to upgrade my motherboard or processor. Hopefully that's not gonna happen anytime soon!

[57Gregy 773]

Is this Cakewalk By Band Lab software compatible with screenreaders like JAWS (Job Access With Speech)? Will it work on a machine with Windows 7 installed? Are there features similar to Sonar 8.5 Producer Edition? These are especially important questions I'm asking, should there ever come a time I may need to upgrade my motherboard or processor. Hopefully that's not gonna happen anytime soon!Here is what it reads in the Help file.

"Cakewalk and screen readers for vision impaired users
Cakewalk has a special Accessibility Mode which can be helpful for vision impaired users when working with screen readers
(Window-Eyes, JAWS, etc.). The Accessibility Mode is enabled by adding a key to the Windows Registry (WARNING: only do this if
you are comfortable with editing the Windows registry; you may want to back up the registry first), and allows screen readers to
receive various information from Cakewalk that may otherwise not be displayed on the screen (names, values, etc.).
The key is:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\Cakewalk\Core
The Value is:
AccessibilityMode
It is a DWORD. Value can be 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4:
0 - no accessibility (default)
1 - enable Microsoft UI Automation; put the access string in the Track view's caption
2 - enable Microsoft UI Automation; put the access string in the CWACCESS window
3 - enable Microsoft UI Automation; put the access string in the CWACCESS window and make this window visible
4 - enable Microsoft UI Automation without enabling the CWACCESS window"

And while support for Windows 7 is over, Cakewalk will probably still work with 7. Some users here are still using it.

Edited February 4, 2022 by 57Gregy
added stuff.

[Markleford 4]

On 1/31/2022 at 5:18 PM, User 905133 said:

Is there a reason why you don't want all the updated plug-ins from Platinum?  Repeatedly I have seen the recommendation not to remove Platinum so that plugins will be available when users install CbB

Oh, I totally want the Platinum plugins too! The trick is that I have projects that rely on even older plugins, so I'm going to have to work out what I need from the old projects that didn't make it to Platinum. For example, I still used the old V-Vocal and the even older Lexicon Pantheon. Essentially, I think I have to go back to the install disks from back to perhaps SONAR 6, and then install both 32/64-bit versions whenever possible in separate architecture directories so that subsequent versions replace the older ones... and make sure my use of "Cakewalk Shared" directories are consistent over what was the better part of two decades of development?!

Doesn't help that, if I recall, Platinum only allowed you to install ONE architecture. Correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[msmcleod 3,928]

19 hours ago, Markleford said:

Oh, I totally want the Platinum plugins too! The trick is that I have projects that rely on even older plugins, so I'm going to have to work out what I need from the old projects that didn't make it to Platinum. For example, I still used the old V-Vocal and the even older Lexicon Pantheon. Essentially, I think I have to go back to the install disks from back to perhaps SONAR 6, and then install both 32/64-bit versions whenever possible in separate architecture directories so that subsequent versions replace the older ones... and make sure my use of "Cakewalk Shared" directories are consistent over what was the better part of two decades of development?!

Doesn't help that, if I recall, Platinum only allowed you to install ONE architecture. Correct me if I'm wrong!

 

I've found that installing X1, X2, X3 and Platinum are enough to get most of the back catalogue of SONAR bundled plugins.   You can skip X2 if you're not bothered with R-Mix, but you'll need X1 for V-Vocal.

For the older 32 bit stuff, you're better off having a 32 bit boot partition running either Windows XP 32 bit or Windows 7 32 bit.  I've got a Windows 7 32 bit boot with Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 through to SONAR Platinum for this purpose.

With a bit of effort, you can manually migrate projects by replacing various plugins with ones you know you have in both 32 bit & 64 bit, but you may find it easier just to switch to the 32 bit boot and work in Platinum for those older projects.

 

[Mark Charameda 0]

I have Sonar on my desktop and wanted to install it on my laptop as well.  Will I be able to use both versions interchangeably? Meaning, can I use a bundle from my Sonar version on the Bandlab version, and most important, can the bandlab files work with the Sonar version and not mess it up?

Also, will Bandlabs run on Windows 11?

[scook 4,774]

15 minutes ago, Mark Charameda said:

I have Sonar on my desktop and wanted to install it on my laptop as well.  Will I be able to use both versions interchangeably? Meaning, can I use a bundle from my Sonar version on the Bandlab version, and most important, can the bandlab files work with the Sonar version and not mess it up?

Projects are mostly compatible between SONAR and CbB but it would help to know which version of SONAR is involved. For example, if the SONAR version does not support patch points and aux tracks, if this feature is used in CbB, the files will not open in SONAR.

Chances are once you get up to speed with CbB the only thing SONAR will be used for are the plug-ins and extra content.

When CbB is installed along with an existing SONAR installation, both DAWs are available.

The "shared" folders will be updated with CbB files which are backward compatible with SONAR.

CbB runs on Win11. 

 

[Mark Charameda 0]

@scook, I am running the last official version of Sonar, Platinum I believe. Thanks for confirmation on Windows 11.

[scook 4,774]

29 minutes ago, Mark Charameda said:

@scook, I am running the last official version of Sonar, Platinum I believe. Thanks for confirmation on Windows 11.

You should find CbB very compatible with SONAR Platinum/Professional 2015.10+.

At the same time, SONAR Platinum will likely not get much use as CbB can do everything Platinum does in a very similar fashion but with more stability and better feature set.

That said, leveraging the content and plug-ins bundled with the Platinum is the primary reason to install the DAW.  CbB can use everything bundled with 64bit SONAR.

[Blackcat 0]

Sound on Sound magazine still has a monthly technique column for Sonar alongside ones for Logic, Ableton, PT etc.

But does anyone still use Sonar? I can not recall anyone here ever mentioning it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

krnt.run

indigocard.ltd

Edited August 21, 2022 by Blackcat

[Jim Fogle 730]

On 8/4/2022 at 8:25 AM, Blackcat said:

Sound on Sound magazine still has a monthly technique column for Sonar alongside ones for Logic, Ableton, PT etc.

But does anyone still use Sonar? I can not recall anyone here ever mentioning it.

Hi @Blackcat and welcome to the forum.  Sound On Sound quit offering a Cakewalk column with their July, 2019 edition.  Fellow forum user @Craig Anderton use to write the Cakewalk column for Sound On Sound. 

[57Gregy 773]

And I still use SONAR because of my old XP 32-bit system and retiree income, not because I don't want to use CbB.

[david40 5]

Same here.

[tripecac 0]

Hi guys!

So here it is, 2022, and I'm still using Sonar Platinum.  I recently upgraded from Komplete 12 to Komplete 14, and the idea of getting shiny new software inspired me to consider (finally) migrating from Sonar Platinum to Cakewalk by Bandlab.  Right now I'm trying to get a sense for what difficulties I might run across in doing so.

1) My understanding is that I can install CbB alongside Sonar Platinum, and that it won't interfere with Sonar.  So, it's a "safe" upgrade, and can be done gradually.  Is that still true in 2022 or have people encountered issues over the years where CbB does in fact mess with Sonar?

2) Also, I'm curious about plugins.  As you can guess, I use lots of Native Instruments synths, instruments, and effects.  Will CbB be able to use those in the same way that Sonar does?  Or have people encountered compatibility issues?  And what about non-NI plugins like XLN's Addictive Drums/Keys, and Cakewalk's own plugins like Dimension, Session Drummer 3, Rapture, etc.?  I don't use those nearly as much as NI's stuff, but I'm curious if anyone has had problems getting the "legacy" Cakewalk-provided plugins working with CbB.

3) Is there a way to import my settings from Sonar to CbB?  Or do I have to re-configure it all again?

4) How well does the desktop version of CbB work with the BandLab android app?  I fiddled with the app on vacation (when I didn't have my PC), and was curious how easy it is to sketch out a song idea with the app and then finish it off on the PC.

Thanks a bunch!

[Glenn Stanton 557]

#1, #2 - i have Cakewalk back to version 7 and Sonar back to X1 and PE (6 versions total?) and mainly only ever use CbB. all my previous version plugins etc are available (one of the reasons i keep them installed) and in some cases, when i use an older version on a project to verify settings on effects, the newer plugins are available in Sonar.

#3 - i never noticed if the CbB did take settings or not, but everything is mainly in the same top folder and so it just worked. but i did tweak the configuration quite a bit over the past year or so. the preferences should be familiar for the most part, but it is recommended to RTM.

#4 - i've imported BL projects into CbB, but not the other way. 

[Starship Krupa 4,047]

On 9/10/2022 at 8:09 PM, tripecac said:

Hi guys!

1) My understanding is that I can install CbB alongside Sonar Platinum, and that it won't interfere with Sonar.  So, it's a "safe" upgrade, and can be done gradually.  Is that still true in 2022 or have people encountered issues over the years where CbB does in fact mess with Sonar?

2) Also, I'm curious about plugins.  As you can guess, I use lots of Native Instruments synths, instruments, and effects.  Will CbB be able to use those in the same way that Sonar does?  Or have people encountered compatibility issues?  And what about non-NI plugins like XLN's Addictive Drums/Keys, and Cakewalk's own plugins like Dimension, Session Drummer 3, Rapture, etc.?  I don't use those nearly as much as NI's stuff, but I'm curious if anyone has had problems getting the "legacy" Cakewalk-provided plugins working with CbB.

3) Is there a way to import my settings from Sonar to CbB?  Or do I have to re-configure it all again?

4) How well does the desktop version of CbB work with the BandLab android app?  I fiddled with the app on vacation (when I didn't have my PC), and was curious how easy it is to sketch out a song idea with the app and then finish it off on the PC.

Thanks a bunch!

1. No

2. Any plug-ins that work correctly in Sonar Platinum will work in Cakewalk

3. No firsthand experience, but I have built new Cakewalk workstations since it came out. The things that are stored in the registry, like presets you made using the internal preset system, will come right across. For keyboard shortcuts, there is an export/import function for those. For templates and whatnot, no problem just copying them to the Cakewalk templates folder, or set your templates folder location to your Sonar location. With all the new features, you might wish to update your project templates to make use of them. If you run into any issues, the forum will be quick to help you, most people here started with Sonar and upgraded to Cakewalk.

4. The workflow that you wish to do, which is start the song with BandLab Android, then transfer it into Cakewalk for finishing, is the easiest way to use Cakewalk with BandLab. It's basically a fancy, well-integrated import that you can do from inside Cakewalk. Works splendidly IME. Going the other way is different, naturally, because Cakewalk has such a greater feature set.

[Al T 3]

Back when Cakewalk was very buggy when Bandlabs first got Cakewalk, I continued to use Sonar Producer 8.5.3, but as of version 2022.06 build 34, I've fully moved to Cakewalk by Bandlabs.

[IgoRr 45]

On 9/11/2022 at 8:31 PM, Glenn Stanton said:

i have Cakewalk back to version 7 and Sonar back to X1 and PE (6 versions total?)

You may be interested - you can do without keeping so many old versions of Cakewalk products in the system, for this it is enough to make only an entry in the registry that you have "Sonar installed" in your system. And in any situation (when reinstalling Windows, for example), you can install only one latest version, while all old products from this company, additional content, etc. will remain fully accessible to you.

I'll post the text of this registry entry for you here, it was compiled specifically for Sonar Platinum, but you have other versions, which means that in each specific case, you will just need to edit the part with the name and location of your specific version of Keyword or Sonar. Making this entry in the registry in no way affects the behavior of other versions, and allows you to have only one (latest) version of Cakewalk on the system, having full access to all the old content.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR\Platinum
 "InstallDirectory"="C:\\Program Files\\Cakewalk\\SONAR Platinum"

[Glenn Stanton 557]

thanks! in reality i've had older versions which i used to open the older projects to view settings etc. which if open in newer version would be hidden by proxies.  overall the installations only take maybe a 1gb of space with all the plugins etc.

yes, it would be interesting to see what you did with the registry compilation.