aidan o driscoll

And @Brian Walton .. Sadly so many people use Macs AND PROTOOLS still. This goes for many studios also. Jeez I HATE protools. Our drummer is one of them,  .. luckily our keyboard player who is also a sound engineer has protools, so he has to make a protools project out of the reaper project - essentially using stems 

17 hours ago, Brian Walton said:

well if you were ok with the previous CbB situation the new Free Sonar offer is basically the same going forward.    I would throw in the UI difference between the two but since you are looking at jumping ship for another DAW that clearly isn't a concern for you.

Yes .. every so often we still have to do a login to bandlab/renew license type thing with CbB. One could argue this is not too far off whats being asked with the new Free Sonar, that is, wait 15 seconds and off you go. 

It has to be mentioned too i suppose, that the new Free Sonar will be regulary updated now while CbB will no longer be.

To wait for 15 seconds, I dont see that as a big issue TBH, but then that me.

I have quiet a few DAWs i collected over the years - Ableton, FL Studio, Reason, Waveform 13 Pro, Reaper,  latest free Studio One,  Luna - all installed but mainly use Cakewalk and Reaper. In a band with 4 others, three have Macs, two have PCs - Reaper is a good solution as a reasonable DAW for CROSS PLATFORM Work. I then use Azslow's ReaCWP installed in Reaper which allows you to open Cakewalk/Sonar project files directly in Reaper and from there Save as .rpp reaper project file.

https://www.azslow.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=57

Outside that, of all the other DAWS, I would use ableton the most.

I never paid full price for a DAW. Over the years I would avail of black friday and other offers to climb on the ladder, then upgrade  from there. Actually I did pay full price for Reaper  - princely sum of $60

I am happy with the Cakewalk / Reaper usage along with Azslows tool to open CW projects in Reaper. Best of all worlds .. especially when working with Mac band members as Sonar is not available on MAC.

As a band and as we are scattered all over - US and Ireland. We use the cloud exclusively with Reaper Project files. Shared Google Drive folder. All project folders uploaded there.

We all open them from the cloud in Reaper, do our edits and additions and then SAVE DIRECTLY to the Google drive folder .. not using the local computers drives at all. The google drive folder is added to windows/mac file managers via google drive for desktop:

https://support.google.com/drive/answer/10838124?hl=en

So - things you can do during the 15 second evaluation screen:

Ill start

- Go make that cup of Joe
- Tune de guitar 

On the Reaper License thing. This blog post explains it pretty well:

https://nolabelnoproducernolimits.com/indie/production/reaper/reaper-license/

Your Reaper license is a perpetual, one-time purchase. You don't ever have to pay for it again. But . . .

Upgrades

You can use whatever version you buy, until you die of old age or AI-driven robots enslave us all.

In practicality, you'll want to upgrade. Your Reaper license covers two versions of Reaper.

So if you buy @ version 7.34, you'll be good until version 9.0. This will likely last a few years. I've done the math and my Reaper expenses work out to just a little over $1/month for the past 14 years or so.

What If I Don't Want To Upgrade?

Don't, then. You'll miss out on new features, but Reaper is yours to use.

MY COMMENT: I did go looking ( NOT VERY HARD ) for this detail at the Reaper site and tbh did not find it very obviously. Not even on the purchase page:

https://www.reaper.fm/purchase.php

Yes @CSistine .. your differences noted and added to my post above

The 15 second countdown to be able to click on evaluation is similar to REAPER. However Reaper allows you use the DAW straight off but leaves the "Advertising Panel" up for an increasing amount of time well beyond 15 seconds. However you can drag it out of the way off screen. So at least ye know with Cakewalk the "Advertising Panel" disappears after 15 seconds every time. Fair trade I think for a FREE, very usable and most likely regularly updated DAW?

@CSistine corrected what I said above:

"There are certain differences, too:

You can buy a perpetual license for Reaper (it is totally offline!) for only $60 if you are an individual that makes no or not a lot of money from your music!

The evaluation version is not sold as "free", it is meant to be for evaluation.

If you want a real free capable daw, then you may use Tracktion.Waveform. The second newest version is always free (can also be installed totally offline)."

21 hours ago, Billy86 said:

I’m interested in doing this clean up of the zillions of plugins I never use. Can you tell me what exactly I need to move in a “Plugin Archive “ folder I’ll create to keep them from being scanned? There’s two files, right? A .dll and another one? Thanks much. 

@Billy86  I simply created a few folders inside a folder called AUDIO DATA ( call the folders what you like ). Inside AUDIO DATA folder I created three more folders:

- vstplugins32
- vstplugins64
- vsteffects

Self explanitory I hope ..

Of course we also have C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 where all the VST3s go. You could setup a C:\Program Files\Common Files\VStEffects if you want

With all the folders setup copy/move the appropriate vsts ( vst2 = .dll,  // .vst3 =  you guessed ) to the appropriate folders.

I DO NOT include a path to the vstplugins32 in Cakewalk / Edit / Prefs ( Advanced ) / vst .. only the other 3 or 4 paths. I have a 32 bit folder in case some vsts still insist installing one. I seperate out my EFX plugins from instuments because I also use audio editing programs like soundforge, audacity that only need the VST Effects and not the VSTi instruments.

I also assume this new "free" Sonar will be getting regular updates vs Cakewalk by Bandlab .. not sure the latter is still getting updates, not many anyway?

20 minutes ago, kitekrazy1 said:

How did you come to the conclusion it's free?

I don't see anything on that page.

So I guess this is also the standard installer and no separate free one?

@kitekrazy1when you install it and open it and look up top left you see this

I tried the NEXT download and install hoping there might be a "FREE" version of that too .. Nope - its a 29 day trial

https://www.cakewalk.com/next

10 minutes ago, MusicMan said:

I thought the free offer was pretty generous. The free versions that some companies offer are so crippled that I don't even spend enough time using them to really consider buying their full product.

Looks pretty similar to REAPER offer wise / free evaluation, probably a bit better because the Free ( evaluation ) version is FOREVER it seems 

@MusicMan No failure for me on any plugins inc ARTURIA

however I recently did a complete cleanup of my plugins ( like you I have a lot ) ..

i just went to the VST folders and moved the ones i dont use anymore to another backup folder. I was being honest with myself  .. Alot are freebies i installed, never used and had left them there

Also seperated the 32 bit VSTS to another folder that I DO NOT scan

Just installed it and YES its FREE .. just need to login with usual bandlab details. Pretty much NEXT look and feel, i like it. Currently doing the VST Scan.

So it looks like all we need is there FOR FREE .. so this is in a way a FREE SUBSCRIPTION, not a paid software subscription.

I recommend installing it, check it out and if it does the job I WILL be dumping the Cakewalk by bandlab from my system because no doubt this new version will have updates going forward  

Dont forget to checkout all the other Freebies that Audioplugin dot deals has

https://audioplugin.deals/free-audio-production-plugins/

Fair few VST synths. Some maybe just VST2 or both VST2 and 3.Have not checked

To save anyone who gets this the bother relating to inputting the sub to your Plugin Samples site account.

Go here - https://www.plugins-samples.com/my-account/

Then register or login to your account. Once logged in, on menu on the left is ADDRESSES, click that and EDIT the billing address. Down the end of the billing address fields is one called "Subscription number" .. copy / paster that sub number you got by email into there, save address and you are done for the year.

To access the mags and the software just click on MY DOWNLOADS in the menu up top.

Keep this AUDIOPLUGINS.DEALS site in mind annually to renew the sub for cheap. They seem to have this deal annually now, I have got it there for the last 2 years. Also keep in mind once the sub is up you will lose access to the MY DOWNLOADS past and present until you renew. If not renewing, download everything you need before the sub is up inc the PDFs of the mags.

8 minutes ago, Lemar Sain said:

Now that Computer Music Magazine is gone. Beat has been looking a lot more appealing lately. 

@Lemar Sain PLUS at about $25 for 12 issues with that offer above sweetens the deal even further. Pretty much $2 an issue 

So go there and grab a 12 month Platinum Subscription to BEAT MAGAZINE ( English Version ) for the princely sum of $29.99. Access all the software downloads. This month its Audiomodern Voxmotive - https://audiomodern.com/shop/packs/voxmotive/

BUT WAIT, there is more - use the coupon: FATHERSDAY25 to get a further 15% drop in price

https://audioplugin.deals/product/beat-magazine-platinum-12-month-subscription-2025/

So here it is:

"Mix DRUMS is an intuitive plugin designed to increase the impact and perceptual loudness of your drums, while preserving peak levels. Developed with mixing engineer Emre Ramazanoglu, it streamlines complex drum processing workflows into a single, efficient tool - allowing you to achieve powerful drums in seconds."

https://www.arturia.com/products/software-effects/mix-drums/overview

Its $99 .. my SPECIAL PRICE is $29 

Its back to 120 bucks

20 hours ago, Fleer said:

Similar here. K13 CE to K15CE. Still, a lot of stuff. And I also have K12 CE so I guess I can sell my still unregistered K13CE after upgrading to K15CE (although I’m afraid that K13CE is an upgrade version itself). 

The only huge difference for me ( besides "Bloat" eg 53 expansions ) would be Kontakt 8 vs 6. You look at the synths - pretty much exact same as is in K13

Other than that of interest to me is - Session Guitarist – Electric Mint

Session Guitarist – Strummed Acoustic, Session Guitarist – Electric Sunburst are in K13 I think.

Ok there is iZotope Ozone 11 Standard, I have Ozone 11 elements.

Next we have Guitar Rig 7 Pro .. In K13 its Guitar Rig 6 Pro. Not sure there is a huge difference TBH

Komplete really is about the core products? - Kontakt,  Battery,  Guitar rig, Massive, Reaktor. Only update to these in 15 is Kontakt 8 vs 6 and guitar rig 7 vs 6 .. Is that worth €99?

Really betwixt and between on this one. I have Komplete 13. Not sure there is a dramatic huge difference in usage terms or functionality between the two of them really? Better to put €100 toward something else perhaps  ..

So I have Komplete 13 .. I can go to Komplete 15 for €99. While this looks interesting - 2 version jumps - I wonder will Komplete 16 be out shortly and if so will they offer same or similar price ( €99 upgrade that is ), would that be normal? 

14 hours ago, Marc Cormier said:

Wow - that's a great price for all that you get.  I love Amp Room but the CPU hit is almost unjustifiable, at least on my system.  I heard from the support team that they're working on improving start times and maybe some other efficiencies but I'm not going to hold my breath. 

No doubt thats why it is $29

On 5/6/2025 at 1:03 PM, Larry Shelby said:

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid?icid=210190

@Larry Shelby Site not working here cross the pond in Ireland - white screen

1 hour ago, Magic Russ said:

I was having issues installing the updates for Pigments and Augmented Strings.  It could not seem to find installed paths.  Has anyone had similar issues?

Yes @Magic Russ .. trying the same there - updating my V8 instruments - with that same error so gave up.

Id say there servers getting hammered with this new version

And my upgrade from V8 is €299 .. so em fck noooooo