Sonar 6 and UAD 1, looking for a new DAW

[lordward]

Hi guys,

I'm considering making the big switch from Cubase SX to another DAW, possibly Sonar, but I can't find anyone in my area that uses this software. I was wondering if any UAD users with experience with Sonar and UAD could tell me the pros and cons of the software. Actually I'd like to hear what other users are using other than Cubase (Samplitude, Saw Studios, Pyramix, etc...) What really interest me is:

1. General compatibility with UAD, Powercore FW and any other DSP device
2. ADC, Cubase handles this well even compensation with groups. Sonar?
3. Using External FX and how and if ADC works with this
4. Any other issues that might be problematic.

Thanks,
DW

 

[ZION357]

Hi guys,

I'm considering making the big switch from Cubase SX to another DAW, possibly Sonar, but I can't find anyone in my area that uses this software. I was wondering if any UAD users with experience with Sonar and UAD could tell me the pros and cons of the software. Actually I'd like to hear what other users are using other than Cubase (Samplitude, Saw Studios, Pyramix, etc...) What really interest me is:

1. General compatibility with UAD, Powercore FW and any other DSP device
2. ADC, Cubase handles this well even compensation with groups. Sonar?
3. Using External FX and how and if ADC works with this
4. Any other issues that might be problematic.

Thanks,
DW

This would be a good place to start.

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tt.asp?forumid=5

 

[billybk1]

SONAR 6 is a great all-around app with some nice features. I am a registered user of SONAR 6 and it works reasonably well with the UAD-1.
It does have a few quirks, as it relates to UAD-1 use:

For some users, under certain conditions you can get native CPU munching and/or CPU spiking. Enabling and using a loop region can be problematic (instant dropout at end loop point), in some projects. It seems multi-card users see these issues more so than single card users. Other users report no problems at all. Of course, YMMV, best to try out the demo on your DAW rig to see how it actually performs.

Lately, I've been also using another relatively new VST host app, REAPER to mix with my UAD-1 plugins. It has a few minor issues as well. But, overall I have been very impressed with it's stability & performance mixing multi-track projects @ low latencies (128 samples) using (4) UAD-1 plugins with full PDC. I actually just made a little video demo of how I setup & use my UAD-1 cards in REAPER:

http://www.cockos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4643

 

[Matt Hepworth]

Big time SONAR guy here. Works super well with the UAD about 95% of the time. Certain combinations of plug-ins will give me playback pops if I'm above 80% on the UAD. Using SONAR's track freeze fixes that, of course. I've been a SONAR user since version 1.0 and have highly enjoyed it and found it very easy to use. Because I work at other studios from time to time, I am comfortable with Cubase/Nuendo and Pro Tools and own both as well. SONAR is by FAR my favorite. If you're a Windows power user, SONAR will lend itself to you. All shortcuts are the same and anything you do in Windows you can pretty much do in SONAR (right clicking, etc.). Also, if you're really used to Cubase, you can use its shortcut keys with SONAR to reduce the learning curve of the transition. The one feature that PT has that I sure wish SONAR had is that in PT you can autocrossfade all your edit points. In SONAR you do it manually. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[Rich_Elam]

I made the same switch you're contemplating. For me, Cubase wasn't giving me much bang for the buck, and was focusing on the wrong areas besides that.

SONAR 6 (Producer Edition) has some really strong features, though one of the best of them, Vintage Channel, is a little less essential if you're already loaded up with UAD goodies.

The bundled plugs are much better than the Cubase stuff, and SX has nothing like the V-Vocal pitch correction. You can save your UAD plugins for the more demanding processing tasks, and not feel like the native effects you use are too sketchy.

So far the two UAD-1s I have run fine in SONAR, along side a PowerCore and Creamware XTC card.

If you use a control surface to tweak your settings, ACT is almost worth the cost of switching, once yiu get it set up.

 

[lordward]

THanks a lot guys, I'm going to test Sonar 6 as well as Samplitude 9 to see if it's what I'm looking for. Reaper is also a good option, perhaps a bit early to use WITH clients but very interesting indeed.

I'm happy to know that UAD works pretty well with Sonar too, this was a big concern of mine - of course!

Cheers,
DW

 

[imdrecordings]

I've got them all... don't ask why.
My main host would be Nuendo 3. So far it's been the easiest one for me to use and the most stable.(coming from SX3)......

I wish Sonar 6PE worked as good as it does for some, with my UAD-1 cards. Sadly, it does not. CPU munching up the ass. The 64bit compatibilty is awesome as well as the 64bit mix engine. Killer. Lately, in my spare time(which is few and far between) I've been learning SAM9. I really love the feel and look of the software. Sense the new patch, SAM9 is pretty close to perfect. They are releasing a new patch after NAMM and my hope is, so will Cakewalk.

for some qucik info on the problems that my or may not happen to you and some of their solutions, see this thread.

http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.asp?m=886591

I personally think Sonar6PE is a great piece of software!
But I just can't work with it until the UAD-1 issues are solved completely.

If your a SX3 user, give Nuendo a shot. Everything has it's good and bad.
Honestly, what will S6PE do for you that SX3 doesn't. It may have a few more features, but will you use them and if so what's the percentage? Is that price worth it? Also, think about the time it's going to take you to lean that new software. This business and \"art\" are all about time. My time is money and I can't waste my customer's, friend's or my own. For instants, I've been swamped with work. Project after project and sometimes 3 or 4 at a time. I've been wanting to migrate to SAM9, but at this rate, I can't possibly imagine having a full grasp of the application for a full year. So for now, I'm working with Nuendo.... AND LOVING IT! So now I'm thinking ..What's the point of jumping ship? hmmmm..
decisions decisions :?

 

[Cabbage]

Just out of curiosity. Why do you want to switch? I can see lots of reasons not to upgrade to Cubase 4 at the moment, but SX3 is great! (Nuendo would make sense in order to get the Control Room, but avoiding the whole VST3 mess.)

If I was to switch I would go for ProTools, but the only reason for this is that that is what EVERYONE in this town is using.

Petter

 

[lordward]

Hmm, sounds like Sonar might be a problem with UAD... Got to check it anyway. I'm getting a test system of Pyramix soon as well. I have no idea about this DAW.

As far as jumping ship is concerned I had found out a few things happening internally at Steinberg from a, say, \"reliable source\" that had to do with the discontinuing of support for Cubase SX and a very slow bug fix for Cubase 4. I'm tired of the bad support of steinberg and I dont' want to get too hung up on a DAW that has no future. Unfortunately today my fears were confirmed with an official statement from Steinberg on the Cubase forum:

http://cubase.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=65451&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I'll be damned if I'm going to hang on shelling out cash to a company that thinks it has me by the balls.

Nuendo users beware; although the support is better than with Cubase I have a gut feeling that there are big internal issues amongst the Steinberg team.

Cheers,
DW

 

[manthe]

Cakewalk has just announced the latest patch for SONAR (6.2). They have specifically addresses the UAD-1 issues in this update. Although it hasn't been released yet, I'd venture a guess that any issues will definitely be cleared after this patch. Cakewalk is really good about that stuff. For some reason, I do not seem to have any problems with my UAD-1 plugs in SONAR.

I've been using their software to record for about 8 or 9 years now. They really are a great company. As they've become larger and more popular...they've actually gotten BETTER about customer support and listening to the users. The SONAR form is a great place, with a lot of good people as well!

I honestly can not recommend it enough! (for reference, I've used and at times still use Nuendo 2.x and 3.x, Pro Tools LE on a PC. I currently also use Logic Express, Pro Tools LE and GarageBand on my Macbook Pro....I very much prefer SONAR over all of them!)

PS - this 6.2 patch is also actually adding several brand new features to the platform, not just fixes. I'm talking big features too, like transparency. Apparently we'll be able to make a plugin window semi-transparent while tweaking it, instead of having to tweak-minimize-maximize-tweak-minimize-maximize-etc. That is just 1 of many new features. I would definitely check out the announcement on Cakewalk's site.

 

[Matt Hepworth]

That SONAR update will be released Monday.

 

[project]

was dissappointed with sonar but have figured out a few things that make it ok now.. i think i posted to soon i dont think anyone read it so i deleted that post.