Cakewalk Sonar
 |
This article appears to be written like an advertisement. (September 2010) |
| Developer(s) | Cakewalk |
|---|---|
| Stable release | X2(18.0.2.242) / October 1, 2012 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| Type | Digital audio workstation |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | cakewalk.com/products/sonar/ |
Cakewalk SONAR is a digital audio workstation made by Cakewalk for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting audio. It has recently been acquired by Roland.
Contents |
Notable features [edit]
Video and Audio Formats [edit]
SONAR's features include:
- Record and manipulate an unlimited amount of multitrack digital audio (only limited by hardware)
- Comprehensively record and manipulate MIDI data
- Apply any DirectX special effects, such as reverb and delay, many versions bundled with included effects
- Automate the process of mixing audio
- Utilize virtual instruments, such as software synthesizers, software samplers, software drum machines
- Connect to other multimedia applications with sample accuracy via Rewire
- SONAR Producer Edition includes a complete industry-standard 64-bit MASTERING suite [3]
Sonar provides limited facilities for video, and more complete surround sound capability (5.1 and 7.1), and supports .avi, .mpeg, .wmv and .mov files. SONAR has the ability to show video as thumbnails contained within a separate track.[1] With appropriate hardware, it is also possible to output the video to an external monitor screen via Firewire. All the common SMPTE formats, frame sizes and frame rates are supported. It is possible to transfer audio loop files from other compatible software into sonar and complete a final mixdown.
Various audio export options (including 64-bit MASTERS) are AIFF, AU, CAF, FLAC, RAW, SD2, W64 (Sony Wave-64), WAV (Microsoft)
Active Controller Technology [edit]
Also called ACT, this is a feature that assists in the process of remapping parameters of MIDI controllers or surfaces. Having the ability to control effects and virtual instruments (See Software synthesizer), the controller/surface mappings for a particular plug-in work the same on each instance of that plug-in, whenever that instance has focus.[2] SONAR now fully supports the integrated SONAR V-Studio 700 automation suite, [4] which is a complete SONAR-dedicated automation console built by Cakewalk/Roland. (ref. Cakewalk (company))
SONAR also supports other dedicated special-purpose controllers/surfaces such as the CM Labs MotorMix, Sonar includes a general purpose plug-in, called ACT MIDI Controller, that can be configured to support any generic MIDI controller (controllers/surface), such as the JL Cooper FaderMaster, Peavey PC-1600, and Kenton Control Freak. Generic controllers/surfaces typically have 8–16 strips of faders/knobs/buttons, are non-motorized, and can often be configured to transmit MIDI messages (continuous controllers, NRPNs, Sysx, etc.).[3]
Computer Configurations [edit]
Beginning with version 6, SONAR is able to take advantage of 64-bit internal processing, a 64-bit audio engine, and a 64-bit mixer on 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. Prior to the introduction of Sonar X2 in October of 2012, the entry-level Essential versions of Sonar (Sonar Home Studio and Sonar Essential) were 32-bit only. With the release of Sonar X2, however, the entire program family is native 64-bit.
See also [edit]
- Cakewalk (sequencer)
- Comparison of multitrack recording software
- POW-R dithering algorithms
References [edit]
External links [edit]
- Sonar Homepage
- Third Take home recording blog with articles about Sonar
- Cakewalk brings back the E-MU Proteus
