Sonar 2025.06 Feedback

[Noel Borthwick]

On 6/29/2025 at 4:56 PM, Tez said:

Start Screen Issue:

When Sonar is opened for the first time in a windows session the Start Screen is non-functional, Sonar has to be closed & reopened before the Start Screen functions normally. This maybe system related I wouldn't know.  

This is most likely system related where Windows is delaying access to something. If you can reproduce it capture a dump file of Sonar in that state from task manager using "create memory dump" and send a link. That will pinpoint whats causing the delay/hang.

[Larry T.]

1 hour ago, Noel Borthwick said:

Sounds good. Note that the current upgrade promo is the lowest its ever been so it may not be around when you do upgrade

So, you think my current PC with the I7-4770 CPU at 3.40GHz with only 8GB ram will run a full Sonar install ok?? 

Thanks again 👍

[FDD]

Greetings all...

Long-time user of Cakewalk here, back to the late nineties.  Purchased almost every version made in that era and still have CW Music Creator 2003 running on my Win10 system (just because I can ) but have been using CbB for over a year now since I realized it was still available (and free). 

Have dl'd the new Sonar and it is great ... so far.

However, I have noticed that everytime Sonar starts up, within a fraction of a second of the splash screen appearing, it  creates the empty folder tree "Cakewalk Content\ Audio Library\Audio Export" on my C:\ drive, but in my Preferences/Folder Locations, I have changed all file paths to E:\--relevant pathname--  with the exception of the Export Audio Files filepath which is "%PROJECTFOLDER%\Audio Export" . 

If I delete this empty folder tree on the C:\ drive that Sonar creates, it comes back the second Sonar starts up again.  

I don't want to change %PROJECTFOLDER%\Audio Export to a hard-coded  e:--pathname--\Audio Export because I want that export folder to "float" with the particular project.

Its interesting that Sonar creates these folders before a project has even been selected or loaded. It seems as if Sonar is a little too eager to check folders.

By the way, this also happens with CbB, as well.

Maybe you guys could fix that this time around.

 

Thanks for the great update, though... 

 

--
Frank

 

 

 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by FDD
change for clarity

[Noel Borthwick]

39 minutes ago, Larry T. said:

So, you think my current PC with the I7-4770 CPU at 3.40GHz with only 8GB ram will run a full Sonar install ok?? 

Thanks again 👍

If its already running Cbb then its a very good chance it will work as well or better.
You can easily verify for yourself by downloading Sonar and running the Free tier with your largest project.

[Noel Borthwick]

On 6/28/2025 at 10:48 AM, Wayne Bangert said:

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.

This has been addressed for the next release.

[Tez]

7 hours ago, David Baay said:

Sonar never automatically deletes an audio file once a project has been saved with a track referencing it

Typically I never save bounce data with the project which will change on further project work, I'll  extract  the current mix audio & close without saving which deletes the bounce data..  it didn't occur to me  that deleted previously saved audio tracks persists when the project is again saved. So once again thanks for the info! Oh & CbB does the same, I guess I should have known....

[msmcleod]

9 hours ago, Larry T. said:

So, you think my current PC with the I7-4770 CPU at 3.40GHz with only 8GB ram will run a full Sonar install ok?? 

Thanks again 👍

FWIW - I'm running a i7-3770 @ 3.4GHz... I've now got 32GB ram, but was running on 16GB for years.  I'm typically use an ASIO buffer size of 64 on my Focusrite interface ( I can use 128 on my RME, as its round-trip latency is better).

8GB will work up to a point, but performance will drop considerably once Windows decides to swap memory to/from disk. 

To avoid this happening, try to make sure Sonar is the only application running (a web browser with lots of tabs open is a killer!); avoid multiple VSTi's that use larger sample libraries (things like TTS-1, the SI Instruments, AIR XPand! 2, Synthmaster - even Omnisphere are probably ok, Kontakt probably isn't).  Also stick to 1080P for your diplay resolution, as 4K will use 4 x the memory for graphics rendering.

FWIW,  I've run Sonar on an Intel J4125 @ 2.0Ghz with 8GB RAM, recording 16 simultaneous audio tracks whilst playing back 32 audio tracks without issue.  No VST's were involved however, as it was just a tracking session.

If you do start to see performance drop and upgrading your machine is not an option, consider upgrading your RAM to 16GB while they're still available - it's relatively cheap nowadays.

Other techniques such as freezing tracks when they're "complete" can help considerably too. For tracks using sample library based VSTi's, make a copy of the frozen track (so the copy is a pure audio track) and archive the original synth track / disable the synth in the synth rack.

It's worth mentioning that Sonar will not run on Windows 7, as it relies on Windows API's that are only available in Windows 10 and above.

[Max Arwood]

14 hours ago, Noel Borthwick said:

It works perfectly here. How are you doing it. You have to CTRL-double click to open a plugin if you want it pinned. After that opening other plugin windows will leave that window open.

 

I had the plug-in windows open over my console view on a second monitor. For some reason, the new version places the newest plug-in loaded on the top window. But, if you load a second or 3rd - all older ones are moved to the back underneath the console view. It does not happen with plug-ins on the 1st monitor.

All plug-ins load on top of console view on second monitor in all previous versions from Sonar X1-Platinum, CbB and Sonar until this last update. I do not use the MultiDock if it makes a difference.

 

[GBTBassist]

I just posted this in the general forum to get some help so apologies for double posting but thought it should go here too:

I took the plunge and its a mixed bag TBH. I like the fact that side-chaining now works, that there is a spectrum on each track/bus, EQ/pro-channels seems to work properly at last, that font seems to be clearer but I am less than impressed/absolutely stuck with:

Load nag screen that has a time out telling me I have an evaluation copy. I have updated to 2025.06 just in case it was pre free tier but its just the same. Is this normal behaviour? fwiw - updating to 2025.06 crashed part way through initially (my fault due to security restrictions I have on my PC) so I did a complete reinstall from product manager but its just the same.

Latency on all controls - there is a small but significant delay in changing any setting which means I am constantly having to reset fader/knobs on the DAW as well as plugins as i overshoot or undershoot where I want to be. I have tried with/without spectrum analyzer display per track just in case that was the cause but it's just the same.

Bus effects text - for some reason the names of the effects are harder to see as the buses seem to have less horizontal space (possibly centered text rather than left justified?). I always 'narrow' my tracks and busses so it's not that I am not used to having a narrow display.

The completely out of character 'File, Open' dialogue box which seems to be a windows 7 style, all square and ignoring colour preference of the main app. Really!!?

Track colours were switched off by default so had to be enabled in preferences.

Also, sorted now, location of projects/audio was not copied across in preferences so when I first started I was presented with a blank open dialogue. Manually changed in preferences (and a clean pair of underpants:))

GBT

(windows 10, fully patched to latest version, 32Gb RAM, CPU - Ryzen 7 3700, 8 core, 16 processors, 4050Mhz, mobo TUF B450-plus, no drive has less than 300gb free)

[msmcleod]

17 hours ago, Hotel California said:

Colour issues, Play List issues, and Project Windows opening in a completely different size and area behind Play List?

1. The image is the playlist of the Sonar by Bandlab (Previous version). All looks fine, and the Project that loads, loads correctly in size and area placed in window. Now look at #2 image.
2.  The image is of the NEW Sonar Playlist. Notice the top of playlist menu. Menu Buttons are cutoff and hard to press onto. Also look at the Project Window. See how it's really small hiding most of the project area, and behind the Playlist.
3. Customization/Colors: Notice that the text are all scrunched up and impossible to read.
4. Playback and recording area does not change once you change and save what you want on or off. (Sorry no image for that)

The issues for both the Play List View and the Color Preferences page have been fixed for the next update.

[mannmusic]

Would it be possible to have a Mercury Classic theme variation with just 2 changes?

A lighter (mid grey) track view background and pale vertical grid lines?

Thanks!

[Ben Staton]

6 hours ago, Max Arwood said:

 

I had the plug-in windows open over my console view on a second monitor. For some reason, the new version places the newest plug-in loaded on the top window. But, if you load a second or 3rd - all older ones are moved to the back underneath the console view. It does not happen with plug-ins on the 1st monitor.

All plug-ins load on top of console view on second monitor in all previous versions from Sonar X1-Platinum, CbB and Sonar until this last update. I do not use the MultiDock if it makes a difference.

 

Hi @Max Arwood,

Thanks for the report. I'm not seeing this behavior on my multi-monitor PC though, so it may be specific to your particular monitor setup. Please would you let us know how your monitors are configured?

For example:
Primary/left/4K/175%  and  Secondary/right/1080p/100%

Also:
1. Which monitor is the main Sonar window on?
2. Which monitor is the Console View on?
3. You mention you don't use the MultiDock, so I assume the Console View is undocked/floating independently, right?
4. Does it happen with all plugins, and if not, which plugin (or which vendor's plugins)?

If possible, a video would be helpful too. Happy to investigate and fix if we're able to reproduce it here.

Thanks again,
Ben

Edit: Obviously I'm referring to plugins disappearing behind the Console View here, not your other issue re 'pinning/recycling' plugin windows which I'm looking at separately.

[Ben Staton]

@Max Arwood Re your plugin window recycling/pinning issue, check this Preferences setting:

       File > VST Settings > General > Recycle Plug-In Windows

Sounds like you want it to be unchecked/off. IIRC, we might have changed the default between CbB and Sonar.

[Milton Sica]

41 minutes ago, Ben Staton said:

@Max Arwood Re your plugin window recycling/pinning issue, check this Preferences setting:

       File > VST Settings > General > Recycle Plug-In Windows

Sounds like you want it to be unchecked/off. IIRC, we might have changed the default between CbB and Sonar.

Yes, is this,

I had understood that the SONAR installation would take advantage of the previous Cakewalk settings

 

Something I noticed when I unchecked recycling is that it works differently from Cakewalk.

Now, even if I reposition the plugin after opening it, if I close it and it is the only open plugin, it resumes its positioning.

If I open another plugin and then open another plugin, the last one that was opened is always placed in the position of the previously opened plugin.

In my opinion, this is quite unproductive, because I have to open and position it.

I would have liked it better if the plugins respected their positions when closed and opened again.

Edited 4 hours ago by Milton Sica

[Noel Borthwick]

1 hour ago, Milton Sica said:

Yes, is this,

I had understood that the SONAR installation would take advantage of the previous Cakewalk settings

 

Something I noticed when I unchecked recycling is that it works differently from Cakewalk.

Now, even if I reposition the plugin after opening it, if I close it and it is the only open plugin, it resumes its positioning.

If I open another plugin and then open another plugin, the last one that was opened is always placed in the position of the previously opened plugin.

In my opinion, this is quite unproductive, because I have to open and position it.

I would have liked it better if the plugins respected their positions when closed and opened again.

Not seeing anything like you describe. Plugin window positions are being retained if you move them, close and reopen. If you are talking about closing one plugin and opening another, then that will definitely open in the last position. The position is global. 
If thats what you are talking about its by design and this shouldnt be posted in this thread. Its a feature request not a bug at all. All versions of Sonar do this. In any case it has nothing to do with recycling windows.

[Noel Borthwick]

8 hours ago, GBTBassist said:

 

Load nag screen that has a time out telling me I have an evaluation copy. I have updated to 2025.06 just in case it was pre free tier but its just the same. Is this normal behaviour? 

Yes of course, its intentional. If you are running in the free tier there is a delay on startup and popups when you try and use features that are premium. If you don't want that, take advantage of the promotional price and purchase a membership.

8 hours ago, GBTBassist said:

Latency on all controls - there is a small but significant delay in changing any setting which means I am constantly having to reset fader/knobs on the DAW as well as plugins as i overshoot or undershoot where I want to be. I have tried with/without spectrum analyzer display per track just in case that was the cause but it's just the same.

This is very likely to be something specific to your project or the presence of control surfaces possibly. Have you tried this with a new project?

8 hours ago, GBTBassist said:

The completely out of character 'File, Open' dialogue box which seems to be a windows 7 style, all square and ignoring colour preference of the main app. Really!!?

File open is a system dialog that we don't want to replace because it has windows defined functionality. Most Windows apps use it.

 

[GBTBassist]

Thanks for the quick response Noel.

re controls lag - I'm using a project that was written in CbB and has no such graphic lag (I also just noticed that when I drag a vst round the screen it stutters every so often and vertical mouse scrolling is hit and miss - sometimes it scrolls sometimes it doesn't and I have to use the scroll bar instead).

I'm currently getting very frustrated because I have a crash problem and I'm trying to follow the normal troubleshooting process ie safe start, excluding various plugins/vst, reloading one at a time etc and I'm having to repeatedly restart the DAW. Even though its only 15 seconds it feels a lot longer when you can't get the DAW to stay up for more than 10 minutes without a crash. Didn't have this issue with CbB on this project so the question on my mind now is - will CbB still work after 1st Aug if there is no online authorization process?

[Milton Sica]

1 hour ago, Noel Borthwick said:

Not seeing anything like you describe. Plugin window positions are being retained if you move them, close and reopen. If you are talking about closing one plugin and opening another, then that will definitely open in the last position. The position is global. 
If thats what you are talking about its by design and this shouldnt be posted in this thread. Its a feature request not a bug at all. All versions of Sonar do this. In any case it has nothing to do with recycling windows.

I'll try to explain better what's happening in my installation.

I inserted 2 plugins and, after opening them, I positioned them where I wanted.

If I close any of them and open them again, instead of them keeping the position on the screen where they were closed, they open in the position of the last plugin that remained or was open.

 

[Noel Borthwick]

Read the official FAQ at the bottom of this page where everything about Cbb is explained.

https://www.cakewalk.com/sonar

This is not the post to get into that.

[Noel Borthwick]

Just now, Milton Sica said:

I'll try to explain better what's happening in my installation.

I inserted 2 plugins and, after opening them, I positioned them where I wanted.

If I close any of them and open them again, instead of them keeping the position on the screen where they were closed, they open in the position of the last plugin that remained or was open.

 

Yes and that has been the behavior for decades. It's nothing to do with this version of Sonar.