Sonar 2025.06 Feedback

[Milton Sica]

Here are some considerations regarding the new version.

I created a new project entirely in Sonar Free using a Cakewalk preset. Everything went very well.

I saved it in SONAR and opened it in Cakewalk. Perfect.

Regarding the interface and features, I still think that Cakewalk Themes are much more attractive, but this is an evolution in view of the new possibilities of the technology embedded in the new application.

As for free use, it is very good. The message time is enough for the user to know what is happening and what improvements can be made if they adhere to the plan. The time is similar to REAPER.

However, I found it quite annoying that the message appeared before several operations. In my case, it appeared when I had to update the settings of an export task. I think the initial message is sufficient and fulfills its role of trying to attract the user to purchase the complete package.

 

Edited 7 hours ago by Milton Sica

[msmcleod]

28 minutes ago, Milton Sica said:

Here are some considerations regarding the new version.

I created a new project entirely in Sonar Free using a Cakewalk preset. Everything went very well.

I saved it in SONAR and opened it in Cakewalk. Perfect.

Regarding the interface and features, I still think that Cakewalk Themes are much more attractive, but this is an evolution in view of the new possibilities of the technology embedded in the new application.

As for free use, it is very good. The message time is enough for the user to know what is happening and what improvements can be made if they adhere to the plan. The time is similar to REAPER.

However, I found it quite annoying that the message appeared before several operations. In my case, it appeared when I had to update the settings of an export task. I think the initial message is sufficient and fulfills its role of trying to attract the user to purchase the complete package.

 

You should only get the message if you try to access a setting that is only available in the premium version... and this should be clearly indicated by the crown icon.

If you're seeing it when doing other things, please provide us with the exact steps that led to the message appearing.

Before releasing, we did see an issue when selecting an export preset  (in this case the preset was set to use POWR dithering). We fixed this one, but it's possible there could be other loopholes.

Please let us know all the detail if this is the case.
 

[Milton Sica]

33 minutes ago, msmcleod said:

You should only get the message if you try to access a setting that is only available in the premium version... and this should be clearly indicated by the crown icon.

If you're seeing it when doing other things, please provide us with the exact steps that led to the message appearing.

Before releasing, we did see an issue when selecting an export preset  (in this case the preset was set to use POWR dithering). We fixed this one, but it's possible there could be other loopholes.

Please let us know all the detail if this is the case.
 

Here are the evaluations.

1 - I think that the options that Cakewalk has in the latest free version should remain free in the free version of SONAR, otherwise the user will stay with Cakewalk and not even migrate to the SONAR free version. Take the case of Dithering types.

2 - Premium Options

Sales tip: when the Free version user clicks on an option marked as Premium, explain what it is and what this option is for as a way to implement it in their workflow, that is: in all options that have the "crown"

Edited 6 hours ago by Milton Sica

[DAW Hobbyist]

Thank you for offering the Free Sonar version and 30 day trial for Sonar and Next. You should make an announcement video on your Cakewalk Youtube channel, so more people can know about it. Thank you

Edited 5 hours ago by DAW Hobbyist

[Magic Russ]

2 hours ago, Milton Sica said:

Here are the evaluations.

1 - I think that the options that Cakewalk has in the latest free version should remain free in the free version of SONAR, otherwise the user will stay with Cakewalk and not even migrate to the SONAR free version. Take the case of Dithering types.

That does seem to be an odd choice of something to suddenly make premium, especially since it has been a part of Sonar for 20 years.

[Xoo]

I think it's licensed from a third party, so making it paid for does make sense if that's the case.

[Milton Sica]

1 hour ago, Magic Russ said:

That does seem to be an odd choice of something to suddenly make premium, especially since it has been a part of Sonar for 20 years.

That's why I said that if the option is available in Cakewalk, in the latest free version, it should remain free in the free version of SONAR.

I think it's fair that new innovations are charged for and, who knows, maybe in the future, released for the free version. This is the successful strategy that REAPER applies.