JonD

While they're not officially supported for Windows 11, other members here have reported success with the Sonar X series on Wins 11, so depending on your workflow, the chances are good it'll work fine if you're okay with losing some obsolete stuff like Direct X and 32 bit. Of course, you'll have to proceed with the knowledge that a Windows update could kill your ability to use the program(s) at any moment. If you're determined to go ahead, best bet is to either use Win 10 (blocking any further updates), or run regular backup images of your system partition/drive, so you can restore to a previous state then decide where to go from there. I'm also building a new DAW PC, and struggling myself with the decision whether to go with New Sonar (before the BF price expires), Cakewalk by Bandlab, or Sonar X3, lol!

Actually, the current line of Steinberg interfaces also allow 32 bit (I own the UR24C). I'd be very surprised if these are the only ones.

Yep, and this also applies to owners of Total Studio 4 MAX. At Checkout, look for the box with the promo coupon, and apply it to bring the total down to $99.99.

Yes, the headphones will work, strictly speaking, but with a high impedance headphone amp (as in the URxx interfaces), low impedance headphones will distort the frequency response in a major way. See here:

Are you sure you're entering the serial number and registration code correctly? Been awhile since I installed my Sonar 8 DVD, but IIRC those two numbers are on the attached sticker, and are both required for a successful install.

Be sure to go to Presonus' website and download the latest drivers available for your interface. (If you're using your original drivers, there might have been significant fixes between versions). Do the same for your whole system (go to Dell's site and grab the latest drivers for all components). And of course, disable hardware you don't need (per the optimization routine others have suggested).

What plan? I've been trying to keep up with the various relevant threads, but I must have missed the apparent "good news". Can someone provide a link please?

You can add Studio One to that list. That's at least three major DAW players that offer the perpetual license to appease users who aren't fans of the flat subscription model. Seems rather short-sided to be an outlier in this regard -- especially when you're trying to increase your market-share and compete with the other DAWs.

Didn't we just get the "OFFICIAL RELEASE"? Are people misinterpreting the lack of a dedicated, splashy announcement webpage? I honestly assumed the new Sonar page WAS the announcement. The more confusion I see here the less I'm sure... I suppose I can wait until someone starts a "New Sonar Release" topic at the KVR forums for confirmation.

All due respect, this announcement should be on a dedicated announcement page in BOLD LETTERS since we've been waiting and wondering a full year. It's now quite obvious that the BIG LAUNCH was for the Bandlab Membership (which happened weeks ago), and that the two Sonar apps are just the latest goodies included in that membership.

Appreciate the link... but as a longtime user of sPlat up to the release of CbB, of course I'm aware of the huge list of bugs fixed by Bandlab. Luckily for me, I'm far from a power user, so the vast majority of those bugs shouldn't affect me anyway. That being said, I don't recall the bug fixes that did affect me (or will when I revert back to sPlat)! So I'm hoping Steve will kindly share any "gotchas" he comes across -- as a warning to any users like me following in his footsteps. No pressure, Steve! ?

Hey Steve, when you get up and running with SPLAT, let us know how it compares with CbB (For example, any glaring bugs/shortcomings?). I'm digging out my old archived data drives with previous versions of Sonar, so I'll be following your lead shortly. Honestly, this is the last thing I expected to do, but after YEARS (since Sonar X1) of working with what I considered the perfect DAW UI for me -- well, let's just say New Sonar's 2D look is contrary to what my partially-color-blind eyes feel comfortable with.

Has it been hinted at or confirmed that New Sonar includes a "Theme Editor" that will allow users to revert back to the 3D look of Old Sonar/CbB? I thought I had read this... but maybe it was just wishful thinking? *EDIT* Lol. Obviously I didn't read the comments just above mine before posting this. I'm glad that others are thinking along the same lines....

Yep, in fact this product launch was so incredibly low-key, the majority of the forum members don't even seem to be aware that it ALREADY HAPPENED!

Yikes. Not sure why they missed that one (on the Cakewalk by Bandlab webpage)... They've removed the "coming soon" sections on the new, dedicated Cakewalk webpages for New Sonar and Next (Those are the only ones I've been watching).

The "COMING SOON" statements are gone! The new Cakewalk page appears to be live. We're there, people!

Are you sure about activating SPLAT or X3 indefinitely? It is my understanding that all of the legacy versions of Sonar will lose their activation servers at some point.

Focusrite interfaces are probably the #1 best-selling unit in he world -- certainly in North America. It's extremely unlikely the problem is an incompatibility with CbB and Focusrite HW or drivers, unless there's something wrong with your particular unit. You should be using ASIO and the latest drivers with your Focusrite - forget the other protocols. My guess is the problem lies with your USB port. Most modern PC boards come only with USB3 ports... Your 18i20 is a USB2 unit. While USB3 ports are supposed to be backwards-compatible, this is often hit and miss. Things to try: - Use a USB2 port if available. Try all of the USB2 ports if you are still having issues. USB ports are grouped on different controllers, and so can exhibit different behaviors. - Try a different USB cable. - If you must use a USB3 port, again, try different ones -- for the reasons explained earlier. - If all of the above fails, Byron's suggestion to optimize your system is your next step (or do it first if you like). Good luck, and let us know if you resolve your problems.

No, I'm aware of the differences. Admittedly I'm mostly going by early user reviews from YouTube (and the screenshots from them). They did not look like the Sonar I'm used to. One user even referred to the new look as flat or two dimensional compared to the current version. The comments here make it sounds like there's hardly any differences, so I apologize if I'm coming off as someone completely misinformed, but all I'm hearing are opinions that frankly, are all over the place. I haven't downloaded the early access version, so I can only go by third-party reviews and screenshots -- and the ones I've seen do not look like the Sonar of the past decade. To add to the confusion, the website dedicated to the new versions is not yet live, and still show screenshots of what looks like the current CbB. I'm going to check out the thread recommended by billp, and maybe that will answer some of my questions.

This might be what I was looking for. Thanks, Bill.

Um, what page is that?

I've always loved the GUI of Sonar Xx and CbB, and I have to admit it's one of the main factors that's kept me loyal. My understanding of Sonar's next incarnation (No pun intended) is that not only has the look been altered dramatically, but I haven't seen where we have the option to switch back to the GUI we have been accustomed to since basically Sonar X1. Can someone please verify yay or nay: Is the "classic" GUI an option in the new version? Or, if I've missed the forum thread that has already hashed this out, I'd appreciate a link...

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That's good news, Jesse. You can't go wrong with Sweetwater. Let us know how you like the mic!

I'd check it out thoroughly and return it sooner than later (In the details, it implies that for electronics, it's 14 days, not 30). Also, be aware you will have to return to "The Shure Store", not Walmart. Best of luck to you.