Wayne Bangert

I have the paid version of sonar. I just updated to the newest version update. I have converted all my performance songs from Cakewalk/Bandlab to Sonar. I performed Saturday without a hitch. I did however get a warning screen a t startup that said "COULD NOT LOG IN CHECK YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION" There was no internet where we performed at. Sonar started as expected. So do I need to worry about being on the internet every time I startup Sonar? If no then what the warning screen?

After working 8 hours moving my 100+ performance song list to Sonar from Cakewalk/Bandlab, I came to the conclusion that the screenset feature does not work when first opening a file in the current sonar version. My files that were created several years ago seem to have more issues when reworking the sceensets in sonar. The newer files made in 2025 seem to have less problems with setting up new screen sets. Regardless of the sceenset issues all of the song files have one issue in common, that is when first opening the file it does not remember the screen set. As I said before my solution is a temporary work around. I set up two screen sets, one at position 1 and on at position 6 in the screen set window. I set position 6 as the one I want to open when the file loads. I setup a hot key for screen set 1 position. When the file opens it tries to load screen set 6 with no luck. I then hit the hot key and screen set 1 opens perfectly. Since I primarily use Sonar for live performance I must move quickly through the song list. I am hoping that the BAKERS get this issue solved. All the other issue some to be solved and I feel Sonar will still be may main DAW for creating and performing. I wish Sonar had a mac version also. Oh well.

Need to also report that the opening of the display window (in the tracks window at left side) is random on some of may older files. One time I can open the file and the screen set shows the screen correctly and other times the display window (in the tracks window) shows. It appears that the only window that is affected is the main tracks window ( for placement of the window). The lyrics window responds correctly to the screen set and does remember the current screenset (when I make a new screenset). The only work around I have found to date is to set up a key binding to open the screen set with the correct view after the file is loaded. Works but not a final solution. I started to open other projects that I have setup screen sets in cakewalk/Bandlab and I am getting the feeling that sonar is remembering the screenset from cakewalk and not remembering the new screen set. If I then open the new screen set after the file is loaded the screens are correct. Maybe sonar is not writing over the old calkewalk screen set. Also I noticed that some older cakewalk files are doing more random screens while some of the newer files may not have the random screens at all. Maybe add a function to the screenset window that erases all the user screen sets so you can start over fresh.

I am reposting this problem since the new update for sonar is available today. The same problem that I had with the screen set. When I open a project sonar does not remember the screen set that I setup. In cakewalk this worked perfectly . I tried several solutions but not getting any results. 1. Rebuilt the song play list in current sonar. 2. Resaved the file in current sonar version. The file was from cakewalk 3. Set the workspace to none Some other random things are happening with I open a project: 1. When the file opens I get randum screens that open. Does not recognize the screen set I had saved. 2. When I use Duplicate screen set to a new location the new location does not recognize the copied screen set. 3. When I save a screen setting (track view) the Display screen keeps showing even when I close the display window and resave the screen set the display window keeps opening up.

I think I found the glitch. When I open a project from the existing song list the screenset (1) shows in the screenset window but the screen are not in the correct place. I removed the project from the song list and opened from the browser and the screenset behaves correctly. I added the project back into the song list and the screen set behaves correctly. If all I need to do is rebuild the song list then that is a easy fix.

YES SETTING THE WORKSPACE TO NONE DOES ALLOW THE SCREEN SETS TO SHOW WHEN OPENING THE TRACK. WHAT IS NOW HAPPENING IS THE LYRICS SCREEN DOES NOT REMEMBER THE SETTING FROM SCREENSET. THE LYRICS SCREEN DOES OPEN BUT NOT THE CORRECT SIZE AND PLACEMENT FROM WHEN LOCKED SCREESET.

In CW/B the screen set will remember the one I setup and save. For example I have the song list, lyrics window and the track window open and positioned where i like it for performing. I name the screenset and lock the screenset and save the file. The lyrics window and the track that has the song lyrics will open when the song file is loaded and the name of the screenset will show in the window on the control bar when the screeset tool is loaded. In the current version of sonar the screen set will not remember what the current screenset is when the file opens so it loads no screen set. I can click on the screen set name or associated number and the screen set then remembers and I get the correct screens. I assume this is a bug that needs corrected. Thanks

I miss the feature that Cakewalk / Bandlab has in the startup screen. The ability to show PLAT LIST SET files. This is very handy for grouping projects together and for live performance.

The current version of sonar does not allow you to save the screen set for the project. In the older cakewalk by band lab version you can assign any of the user screensets and have the choose screen set save with the file so when the project is reopened the chosen screenset will load automatically. This was a good feature that need to be brought back. Also the side chain compress appears to be not part of the sonar prochannel group any more. That was very handy with mixing drums and bass.

I see that there has been some work on the start up browser for sonar. Still not as good as the CW browser. For those who used the startup browser as a location for frequently accessed sonar files, this version is not as usable as the old version. There are some issues that need consideration: 1. remove the thumbnail picture to allow more files to show in the screen. 2. Allow play list to be created and located in this window. Also, the color themes are interesting but you have not address users who are in a very bright environment such as outdoors on a sunny day. Thanks and keep up the good work. Wayne Bnagert

Hi, I am a retired full time musician. I perform 90+ shows a year. Have always used Cakewalk for years as my the overall DAW for editing and performance. The new Sonar version from Bandlab is a great start in making the DAW one of my top choices for overall music production tool. 4/4/25: MARKERS WINDOW: 1. CUSTOMIZE THE VIEWS. HIDE COLUMNS, MOVE COLUMN'S QUICK START WINDOW: 1. CREATE ABILITY TO TURN OFF THE THUMBNAIL VIEW SO MORE PROJECT FILES CAN BE VIEWED WITH OUT SCROLLING THE WINDOW. 2. ADD THE PLAY LIST SET FILES TO BE VISIBLE IN QUICK START WINDOW. PERFORMANCE: 1. ADD FEATURE THAT FREEZES THE COMPLETE PROJECT FOR PLAY EFFICIENCY.

i HAVE AN UPDATE. I downloaded the cakewalk manual and on page 1316 there is info on bank selection. Now I have used cc 0 in the cakewalk track to get the bank to change. I assume that since the banks are a,b,c,d (0,1,2,3) that corresponds to the controller 0 bank select method. ( have actually tried all the available bank selection methods with no luck) I now have set up the instrument with the first (default) bank with patch change instrument list and the second bank patch change list. The two lists are visible in the tack as drop down windows as expected. I can get the default bank to respond but the second drop down list shows bank name and shows the instrument list but the pedal does not switch banks. Any suggestion on the solution?

Hi, Long time Sonar and Cakewalk user. I use cakewalk to control my out board guitar pedal patchs. My Fractal FM9 guitar pedal has additional banks A, B , C, D. These banks are accessible by added the bank control number ahead of the patch number. That works OK thru cakewalk. What I would like to do is add the additional bank patch names to the drop down list in the midi track. Similar to how the Roland TTS vertural instrument has additional general midi banks that you can access. How would I create the additional banks and show them as described? Dave Bnagert

Bakers,

I have been using Sonar for 20+ years. I currently use Cakewalk by Bandlab. I perform over 100 shows per year and have used Cakewalk for all performing. I downloaded the New Sonar and noticed right away that the startup screen was missing some very important features. Gone is the ability to have entry show as just text. Also the ability to show and tag play lists. This is big help when performing live. I would keep different play list here and can change sets quickly. They need to bring this back. I also think more features for live performance would be fantastic. Cakewalk is miles ahead of every one else in the lyrics department. I have tried every DAW for live performance and they do not have ability to show dynamic lyrics and chord charts. Some apps like Stage Traxx have addressed the lyrics issue but they are very weak in the tools to produce the music.

Here is my story, I get to the gig Friday and Cakewalk has the new splash screen popping up. This locks out cakewalk as well as my laptop. I have to go to ALT + Ctr+delete to get to device manager to close cakewalk. So no DAW for the job. Lucky the venue had a public wifi and I logged on and restarted cakewalk. I had no idea why this happened. I thought may be a one time thing. The next day I had two gigs booked. One in the morning and one in the evening. Nether venue has public wifi. I get to the morning gig and guess what the *****ing splash screen popped up and locked up my laptop. I made a mad dash back to my house which was 10 minutes away and logged on to wifi and got cakewalk opened. I left the laptop running with cakewalk running and dove back to the gig. After the gig I was disusing the situation with a vendor who was at the gig and she has a credit card reader that requires wifi to operate. She showed me how to make a cell phone a hot spot. I used this hotspot at my evening gig and it worked. I am very disappointed in cakewalk management just dumping this problem on there users with no warning. I would guess there are others with the same issue. Now I have a second laptop that I also have cakewalk on. This laptop is always on line so I took it off line to see if the splash screen has the same issue. Yes the splash screen popped up BUT it has timer at the bottom of the splash screen that after x amount of time goes by the screen will auto close. The fact that my first laptop does not have a counter on the splash is an issue. There should be a update to fix this bomb the cakewalk has created. Studio One 6 is starting to look good to me!

I big thanks to you. If you open a sonar file from within the song list you do not get access to the save as features that allow you to save to the projecyt folder. BUTT... if you open the file outside og the song list you have access to the save as function to tyhe project folder. Yea!

I have made a screen hot of what I see where using save as. As you can see I have no option to direct the save to the project folder,

SCOOK, Thanks for the response. What you are showing me in the video is what the older version of sonar did, The new bandlab version does not show the the bottom window that allow you to direct the save as to the desired folder. Is this a bug? Have anyone else ran into this?

After doing some research on these blogs I see that the audio to project folder has been an on going issue. I would hope that bandlab would fix this problem and not worry about adding new and advanced features. This problem is an big issue for many of the sonar users.

I too am having the same frustration with the save as not allowing you to place the audio in the project folder. I see no reason this was ever designed to default to a global folder. Looking for a solution.