Decided to start using Sonar as my DAW, which version should i get?

[atruepretense]

Hello all again.

So I created a thread to ask people what opinions they had about different DAWs and to get some help choosing a permanent DAW. So I've chosen to use the wonderful Sonar class Now my question is, which version of sonar is best for me? Home studio? Producer? Studio?

what's your opinion?

I have a home studio. I will be using many VSTs as opposed to actual outboard equipment due to budget limits. I won't need many channels. No more than 32. I'd like the most in the package also. What's your opinion?

[G-Sun]

As for just the DAW, it's little difference in Studio vs. Producer.
However Producer comes bundled with a lot of synths and effects for the money.

[OldDog]

I ended up with the producer version via an upgrade package. It worked out well as I really wanted the add-ons that come with the package.

By any chance are you a student or have a student at home? The academic pricing will save you enough that you will be able to get the producer package for pretty much the price of the studio package.

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by OldDog

I ended up with the producer version via an upgrade package. It worked out well as I really wanted the add-ons that come with the package.

By any chance are you a student or have a student at home? The academic pricing will save you enough that you will be able to get the producer package for pretty much the price of the studio package.

G-Sun is correct. The visible difference is the Producer has more features, bells, and whistles, etc.

Glad you could find a way to get Producer at a reasonable cost.

I've been upgrading Cakewalk/Sonar since Cakewalk 3.0! (1994). Ugh, where has the time gone.

[michaelrb]

Good choice. Hope it all works out as well for you as it has for me.

[Metaltyme]

Definitely "Producer." With all the extras, you might find the many uses for them as you get more and more "under the hood." At least that's how it is for me. I like the comfort of knowing that the extras are there if I need them. I use a lot of it. Once you go " Producer," you won't want to go back to "Studio." I've been using Sonar for about 10 years now and went from "Studio" to "Producer" just 3 years ago...I'll never go back to "Studio," that's for sure. Have fun dude!

Cheers,

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

Definitely "Producer." With all the extras, you might find the many uses for them as you get more and more "under the hood." At least that's how it is for me. I like the comfort of knowing that the extras are there if I need them. I use a lot of it. Once you go " Producer," you won't want to go back to "Studio." I've been using Sonar for about 10 years now and went from "Studio" to "Producer" just 3 years ago...I'll never go back to "Studio," that's for sure. Have fun dude!

Cheers,

Agree. I wish they would just include the mp3 encoder. It's ridiculous to have to purchase the mp3 encoder separately, which I can't get to work on Sonar Producer 8 (even though I paid the $19.99 for it).

[Metaltyme]

Agree. I wish they would just include the mp3 encoder. It's ridiculous to have to purchase the mp3 encoder separately, which I can't get to work on Sonar Producer 8 (even though I paid the $19.99 for it).

Yeah...that's the one thing I think is totally, completely, ridiculously lame. It pisses me off, really.

You'd think they'd include that stupid 'nickel-and-dime' product feature with the cost of admission for "Producer." I haven't purchased it though...I refuse. Although, it would be more convenient to use the encoder within the DAW itself so as not to have to use other third-party encoders. Right now, I either use Sony's Sound Forge 9, or iTunes. It's still a pain in the ass though when I'm in a hurry or feeling lazy.

Wait a minute...you paid the $19.99 for the encoder and it doesn't even work!?!??!??...?...!? Hmmm...I will definitely never dignify their mp3 encoder now...TonyB, that's bullshit man. Grrrrrr to you Cakewalk.

[ryanoliver]

I can't for the life of me imagine why the mp3 format wouldn't be a standard mixdown option.

-1 for Sonar.

I paid for it anyway and it works great.

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by Metaltyme

Yeah...that's the one thing I think is totally, completely, ridiculously lame. It pisses me off, really.

You'd think they'd include that stupid 'nickel-and-dime' product feature with the cost of admission for "Producer." I haven't purchased it though...I refuse. Although, it would be more convenient to use the encoder within the DAW itself so as not to have to use other third-party encoders. Right now, I either use Sony's Sound Forge 9, or iTunes. It's still a pain in the ass though when I'm in a hurry or feeling lazy.

Wait a minute...you paid the $19.99 for the encoder and it doesn't even work!?!??!??...?...!? Hmmm...I will definitely never dignify their mp3 encoder now...TonyB, that's bullshit man. Grrrrrr to you Cakewalk.

Yeah my online acct says I paid for it (which I did) but 8 says I still need to pay for it. Worked in previous versions; just can't figure out what I'm doing wrong in 8.

I use SoundForge too. SF has a great mp3 suite, but wish I could convert a wav to mp3 right out of Sonar (like I used to do), but life goes on.