Another handy feature is the Aim Assist Curser for placing audio clips in line with others. You can choose the synth you want to use with the loops from a list with just a mouse click, so you can quickly switch to the right synth from within the app itself, and you can try out the loops with the song running. This lets you preview audio clips and MIDI loops to your synth of choice and then drag and drop them onto the timeline. Loop Explorer 2 is another feature I quickly learned to lean on.
![cakewalk pro audio 8 cakewalk pro audio 8](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4DMA5flh4qM/WkdGt0QfpXI/AAAAAAAAFo4/Rpto23TME1k_wXzpC601KN4ZS66sk96KACLcBGAs/s1600/Cakewalk%2Bpro%2Baudio%2B9.jpg)
This initially confused me, since the necessary folder dialogs don't come up unless you click on the subfolders, not the main one. With SONAR 8, you can switch between the old folder and the new streamlined look. This took up valuable screen space unless minimized, and it simply felt clunky. I do a lot of work with soft synths and a new Instrument track folder replaces the previous three-level folder that included the synth folder and sub-audio and MIDI tracks. The list of new features is long, so I'll just hit the highlights here.
![cakewalk pro audio 8 cakewalk pro audio 8](https://images.sftcdn.net/images/t_app-cover-l,f_auto/p/b8cba308-96d3-11e6-93a9-00163ec9f5fa/2290921578/cakewalk-sonar-screenshot.jpg)
I haven't had any of the infrequent crashes with earlier versions (knock on wood), so kudos to code optimization and another reason to put off buying a new computer. But Cakewalk claims that SONAR 8 now runs 5 to 20 percent more efficiently than version 7, and I know other folks who have noticed an improvement to back up this claim.
![cakewalk pro audio 8 cakewalk pro audio 8](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iaxCHtMvQe8/hqdefault.jpg)
Personally, I hardly ever stress my dual-core computer at home, since I don't run twenty guitars or thirty tracks of vocals with lots of plug-ins. The least sexy aspect of any upgrade is under-the-hood work, since you can't see it or play with it. There are three areas upon which any DAW update can improve: performance, features, and those new goodies. SONAR comes in Studio and Producer editions-both use the same engine but Producer adds surround sound and a lot more goodies. (Version 6 was reviewed in Tape Op #61.) SONAR remains Windows-only (though it will run on a Mac via Boot Camp), working on both 32 and 64-bit flavors of XP and Vista. It fit my way of working, and I've stuck with it all the way to the latest version. I'm assuming the the midi data from GP7 is the problem as this point.I started using SONAR years ago for work at home. Tried using another VST (MODO Bass) and reacted the same as described above I tried to use the event viewer to see if there was anything weird going on with the imported midi, but saw nothing. If I manually enter midi data using the PRV (on the instrument's source track), all is good and I can play the midi notes with sound. Kill it's self at this point (process) but something is obviously running in the background of CW. Killing process allows me to open CW again. Sometimes when I try to open CW again, it will not open and is hanging (still active process). Interesting enough, if I do not import or D&D the midi everything is working as described (I kill the project before hand by closing CW). Clicking on bass or running the programs on the left do not produce any sound. ġ) Create/edit a bass guitar part using Guitar Pro 7 (GP7) and export the midiĢ) open a CW session (project) and using the "Synth Rack" create a instance of SI bass with/source midi track.Īt this point I can click on the bass string or run the MIDI program snippets on the left side or use the virtual controller keyboard and get sound from the instrument.ģ) import or drag & drop (D&D) the midi from GP7Ĥ) When I hit play, the midi track shows activity (VU), but now no sound is produced.ĥ) Stop play & go back to the instrument GUI (interface).