Sonar 8.5

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Sep 2009 4:54 am

I got an e-mail for Sonar 8.5 Pro upgrade. Anyone have any feedback on this update? (The upgrade price was $100 for a download version).

Charles Campbell · Post by **Charles Campbell** » 25 Sep 2009 4:00 pm

I just received my downloaded version, and installed it. The installation went very smooth, I was suprised,it seems to working great. I'm still waiting on my $100.00 rebate. Has anyone received there rebate yet, I have been waiting since July 25?

Jack, have you put the new version to task yet?

Thanks
Charles

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 26 Sep 2009 2:28 am

I haven't bought it yet. I was trying to get some feedback on it.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 26 Sep 2009 9:39 am

Check out the Presonue Studio One DAW software. I just bought it. It does everything from start to mastering and burning CD. I chose it over Pro Tools, Cubase, Sonar, etc... It comes with tons of plugin effects. You can download a free demo version here:

http://www.presonus.com/products/Softwa ... twareId=11

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 26 Sep 2009 11:21 am

I've got all my recording set up for Sonar and I'm not going to change. Beside I tried a couple of the Presonus firewire interface units, such as the Firestudio and sent it back as I didn't like it and had a hard time getting it working in Sonar and Vista (and at the time it wouldn't work with Vista 64 bit).

I now have a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 firewire recording interface unit and it works every time I power it on - no hassles like I had with the Firestudio.

In defense of Presonus, I have a BlueTube dual preamp that I use with mics and it does work well. I use the tube part of the preamp with mics and then send that to the Saffire Pro 40.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 26 Sep 2009 1:01 pm

For the first time, I bought a Mac to use in my studio. After one evening, I'm in love with it. I doubt I'll ever go back to Windows. Now I know why so many of the pro studios are using Mac.

I've got the single channel version of the Presonus tube mic pre. I'd had it for three or four years and the vu meter stopped working. The needle came loose. I called Presonus to order a new meter and they said just send it back to them and they'd replace it for free. So I did. I've also go a Universal Audio LA-610 mic pre ($1500), but I can't tell that it's that much better.

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 27 Sep 2009 3:35 pm

Hi Jack,

Sonar 8.5 has some interesting features (I'm currently using 8.3.1). I've heard the vocal strip being compared to the UA Neve 1073 plug (which I use a lot), I'm curious to see if Audiosnap 2 works better than the previous ver (I wish it would do what PT's does with their audio quantize feature which works quickly and well) and generally interested in seeing what performance optimazations they've done to the engine. After I upgraded to a quad-core, my system really became stable and the work flow has been nice...and so I'm leaning towards waiting until the first bug fixes are released before I get 8.5 . I doubt the program is up to Superior 2's level yet but the addition of the Ocean Way and Steven Slate drum samples should be a good improvement overall as well.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 28 Sep 2009 2:08 am

Mike there is already an update to the 8.5. I don't know what it fixes but I got an e-mail from Cakewalk about "don't forget to download the update" when you download 8.5.

I have a Quad CPU (Q6600) and Vista 64 bit system I'm using with Sonar. I plan on upgrading to Windows 7 64 bit and I see Sonar 8.5 supports Windows 7. I'll probably buy it this week, while I can still get it for the $99 upgrade price.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 29 Sep 2009 5:28 am

Well, I downloaded and installed 8.5 Producer last evening. The first thing I notice is that there are some different color schemes.

I have a session this morning (about a half an hour from now) and it will get it's first test. I'm working on a new steel instrumental CD and Lou Rochelle is coming in to sing his "Still A Lot Of Love In San Antone" song on my CD. I had originally contacted Lou to get permission to do an instrumental version of the song and after several discussions it wound up that he is going to sing it.

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 29 Sep 2009 10:06 am

Best of success with the new software (and definately let us know how your first session goes). Yes, the 1st released patch deals with the Matrix view I believe. There are some other bugs reported that are being worked on by CW. From what I'm hearing, Superior 2.x won't load in 8.5 64 version although I think the 32-bit version is still working. Some of the other issues also involve 3rd party compatibilities. I may go ahead and get the upgrade and then install once more bugs have been fixed.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 29 Sep 2009 10:45 am

The first session with 8.5 (and patch) went well. I didn't do anything special with Sonar other than lay down the steel, drums (Alesis SR-16) and vocal tracks. We did punch in a couple of places to fix the vocal track and that part is done so Lou won't have to come back. Once I get all the instruments recorded the test will come in with the added analog effects and the final mixdown. That is a long way off as all I have is the "raw" steel and a drum tracks for the instrumentals.

I have a "Tranzport" wireless DAW controller and it was recognized and worked OK with the new version.

Bob Martin · Post by **Bob Martin** » 30 Sep 2009 6:18 am

Hey guys, I was a very late adopter for Sonar 8.0 due to money being tight so it worked out in my favor. I bought Sonar 8 PE last summer when they had the upgrade special of paying 75.00 bucks off of the normal upgrade fee from Sonar 7 PE and then when 8.5 came out it was a free upgrade. Please don't anyone get their feelings hurt it all worked out to about the same price as if I had upgraded from 7 to 8 when 8 first was released last fall the one big plus for me was that I didn't have to put any cash out last week when 8.5 came out.

It has a bunch of new features or should I say upgraded features from version 8. There are only a few brand new features and the rest are updated features such as session drums 2 to 3 and at least 10 or 12 other point upgrades.

I haven't had a chance to use a lot of the new features in 8 let alone 8.5 but I will say the new version of audio-snap is faster to me and it seems to have more options with less hassles. It seems to me that it works a lot more like the original midi quantize which is what audio snap is except it's with audio and has more features that the old midi quantize use to have.

I can give you a much better review in 2 to 3 weeks because I'll be doing some work with it daily and as the projects get finished one by one I will have probably used most of the new or updated features. Just give me a little time and I post back what I find.

Jack please check your PM I have an unrelated question for ya! thanks

Bob

Ian Sutton · Post by **Ian Sutton** » 5 Nov 2009 9:54 am

Hey Jack,
If you have any questions about SONAR 8.5, please feel free to ask. I work for Cakewalk out here in Boston. I've been using 8.5 for a bunch of recordings and quite enjoy it.

Best,

Ian

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 5 Nov 2009 1:06 pm

Ian, thanks. I haven't had any problems, yet, with it. I probably only use 10% of the capabilities of Sonar. I just moved from Vista 64 bit to Windows 7 64 bit and had to reinstall. As it was a clean Windows 7 install, I had to reinstall Sonar 8.5, but I had to first Install Sonar 7 Producer as it was a full version that I own, then Sonar 8 Producer upgrade, then Sonar 8.5 Producer upgrade (and the 8.5 patch). That was a little bit of a hassle.

I'm using a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, firewire recording interface and a Frontier Tranzport wireless control unit.

I'm registered on the Cakewalk/Sonar forum.

Royace Buehrlen · Post by **Royace Buehrlen** » 7 Nov 2009 2:41 pm

Jack, Kudos to CAKEWALK / SONAR 8.5 Producer we go way back together and their support team is the greatest, a shout out to Ian! No hassles, have not stepped up to 64-bit yet but I have not needed to either. Using 2-MAudio Delta 1010's, a MidiMan MidiSport 8x8, a Peavey Studio Mix and a "KeySpan" Wireless for my remote commands. Can save all your ProFex II and BassFex settings in Sonar's sysx library. I also use a Mackie CR-1604-VLZ and I have the same as a dual-duplex setup, no need to change anything to monitor or playback, it is all accomplished by my PV Studio Mix! For a low end economical system it does a great job for me!

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Nov 2009 4:12 pm

Royce, you have a lot better setup than I do. I've only been into computer recording since Sonar 7. Before that I used a Fostex VF160 recorder.

The only problem I've run into on Windows 7 has been my Frontier TranzPort control unit. It looks like I'm going to have to look for something else.

I used to live in Kansas City, MO (23 years) until I retired and moved to Florida with all the other retirees.

Royace Buehrlen · Post by **Royace Buehrlen** » 7 Nov 2009 5:07 pm

Yes, Jack, and I have heard that there is work already on Windows 8, so where and when do we say, "Enough Already"! From reading your posts, I do know that you are very up on your computer knowledge, so you will probable agree that technology needs to take a break! I have a friend who wants me to help set up his DAW but I try to explain that he needs to settle with a system that is compatible, works and stick with it, the ole saying, "if it is not broken, don't fix it". But basically he is using hdw, operating sys and software which are not compatible and working with companies who try to update their drivers usually runs into extra problems. And, yes, here comes a new op sys, gotta have it! Sure!
Hey, a Missouri neighbor, great, now I have an insider to a golf tourney down there? Huh?

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 8 Nov 2009 4:10 am

I live in a golfing development (Inverness Golf and Country Club Estates)

I do a lot of computer work, as that's what I did before I retired. I support local clients and also do a lot of work (for a hobby)on the Dell computers users forum. Unless you have the right hardware (and Operating System) it's not going to work right. Windows 7 is basically Vista "improved" and in most cases Vista drivers will work, but it still has it's own quirks and requirements. The DAW PC I'm using, I built specifically for recording, last year, and includes an Intel motherboard and Q6600 Quad processor CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB and a 750GB hard drives. The Firewire chip on the Intel motherboard is a T.I. chip which is the preferred chip for audio firewire interfaces (my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 recording unit is a firewire unit).

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 9 Nov 2009 7:49 am

Update, I got the Tranzport controller to work in Windows 7 64 bit and with Sonar 8.5.

I won't post what I did. I don't think anyone else on here is using one of these. If someone wants to know how to get it working, send me a PM and I'll send the info.

The tranzport, being wireless, is great for when I'm recording and also playing on the recordings at the same time. Otherwise I just use the mouse and keyboard (until I can afford a decent controller surface).

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 18 Nov 2009 11:30 am

I did a recording session today with my Windows 7 64 bit installation and Sonar 8.5. Two problems came up (that I've found so far).

(1) There are no presets in the Sonitus effects, and there was in my Vista/Sonar 8 installation.

(2) There is about a 2 second delay in recording from when the "R" key (record)on the keyboard is pressed and the recording actually starts. The delay is only on the initial recording, if I punch in somewhere to redo a section and I press "play" and then the "R" key to record it starts immediately. This initial record delay is not present on the old V8 with Vista.

I've posted both of these problems (separate posts) on the Sonar Forum but I'm posting them here too for info.

I'm using the same hardware for Vista and Windows 7, but separate hard drives. Windows 7 was a "clean" install on a new hard drive.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 19 Nov 2009 3:36 am

I got the recording delay fixed with help from the Sonar forum. (The click track count in, apprently something new in Sonar 8.5 was the problem and had to be set to zero).

Still nothing on why there are no presets in the 64 bit version. This seems to be a "rip off" in Sonar since it's sold as fully 64 bit Vista and Windows 7 compatible and I installed the 64 bit version (there is an option at install for the 32 bit or 64 bit version). It looks like many of the plug-ins provided with Sonar are only fully 32 bit compatible and Sonar sales does not mention that!

Bob Martin · Post by **Bob Martin** » 2 Dec 2009 12:47 am

Jack Stoner wrote:I got the recording delay fixed with help from the Sonar forum. (The click track count in, apprently something new in Sonar 8.5 was the problem and had to be set to zero).

Still nothing on why there are no presets in the 64 bit version. This seems to be a "rip off" in Sonar since it's sold as fully 64 bit Vista and Windows 7 compatible and I installed the 64 bit version (there is an option at install for the 32 bit or 64 bit version). It looks like many of the plug-ins provided with Sonar are only fully 32 bit compatible and Sonar sales does not mention that!

-----------------------------------------

Hi Jack, you are absolutely right about Sonar 64 bit on windows 7. I really don't need the extra capabilities of the 64 bit win 7 OS but I wanted to try it so I installed Sonar 8.5 on a machine that had 8 GB'a of ram and about the only positive thing I can say for it is that it did see and use all of the ram but I can't say it ran any faster or smoother and if anything it was much more glitchy :-O)

I don't do many sessions where I need that much ram and right now I'm not really capable of doing any paid sessions but I did want to see the difference between the 32 bit and 64 bit installation.

The ironic thing that I soon realized was that with the 64 bit install I no doubt could use more plugins and record more tracks at one time but only about 1/3 of my plugins would work properly with Sonar 8.5 64 bit vs. They tell me that they are working on fixes but I will just uninstall the 64 bit vs and go back to my 32 bit OS along with Sonar 8.5. I have never ran out of ram or processing power for the sessions that I did before my sabbatical due to health reasons and there were many sessions that I recorded 12 to 16 inputs at a time and gave every player a simple plugin for tracking such as reverb or delay or both so they could feel what they were playing and I never had any problems and this goes all the way back to version 6

So I'll just stick with my old 32 bit install which I have been able to get Win 7 to recognize 2.5 gb to 3 gb of ram for some reason sometimes it reads differently but it still runs smooth.

I know as time goes on and the versions of Sonar get more complicated and sophisticated and do more and more I will need and want to use a 64 bit installation and that is why I was playing with it now but until Cakewalk steps up to bat and makes their plugins and all of their other functions work flawlessly with a 64 bit OS I'll have to stick with my 32 bit install

I do want to mention that not all of the plugin problems are cakewalks problems. Many of the 3rd party manufacturers of plugins have not got it right yet. I would go into each and every plugin problem and explain what was happening but as I read the forums at cakewalk it seems that different plugins seem to work either better or worse for different users depending on their chipsets and other variables..... So there is no need to put down a plugin manufacturer when it might work on Jacks machine and not mine

I hope that makes sense!

Bob