Cakewalk Sonar

Infobox_Software | name = Cakewalk Sonar


caption = SONAR 6 Producer Edition running on the operating system Windows Vista
developer = Cakewalk
latest_release_version = 8.0.0
operating_system = Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista (runs on XP64 and Vista64, although XP64 is not officially supported)
genre = Host/Digital audio workstation
license = Proprietary
website = [http://www.cakewalk.com/products/sonar/ cakewalk.com/products/sonar/ ]

Cakewalk SONAR is a computer program made by Cakewalk for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting audio. The latest versions of the software are SONAR Home Studio 6, SONAR Home Studio 6 XL, SONAR 7 Studio Edition, SONAR 7 Producer Edition, and SONAR LE. SONAR LE is an OEM version bundled with hardware; all the other versions can be purchased separately.

SONAR is an example of a digital audio workstation (DAW). Like most DAWs, SONAR lets the user:
* Record and manipulate multitrack digital audio
* Record and manipulate MIDI data
* Apply special effects, such as reverb and delay
* 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

Some similar DAWs are ACID Pro, Logic Pro, Digital Performer, Pro Tools, FL Studio, and Steinberg Cubase.

Notable features

Video and Audio Formats

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. [cite web
year=2007
publisher=Sound on Sound
accessdate=2007-05-21
url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec06/articles/sonar6.htm
title=Sonar Video Support] 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.

Active Controller Technology

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. [Active Controller Technology (ACT). " [http://thetechnofile.com/2006/12/18/cakewalk-sonar-6/179/] ." Accessed on May 21, 2007] In addition to supporting 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.). [Act MIDI Controller. " [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/11/30/142517.php] ." Accessed on May 21, 2007]

AudioSnap

AudioSnap is a tool that makes it possible to fix audio timing without slicing up or destructively editing audio tracks (See Audio track). It is possible to quantize (Quantization (music)) one part at a time or an entire project. [AudioSnap. " [http://www.cakewalk.com/products/SONAR/AudioSnap.asp] ." Accessed on May 21, 2007] Instead of quantizing a whole clip, it is possible to split the clip into smaller pieces, or into beat-length pieces by using the Split Beats Into Clips command. If the succeeding beats in a clip do not line up with the grid, the clip can be quantized by using the AudioSnap Beats command, which will line up the beats in the clip with the grid. [AudioSnap Commands. " [http://aes.harmony-central.com/121AES/Content/Cakewalk/PR/SONAR-6-Producer-Edition.html] ." Accessed on May 21, 2007.]

Computer Configurations

Beginning with version 6, SONAR is able to fully take advantage of full beginning to end 64-bit internal processing, a 64-bit audio engine, and a 64-bit mixer on 64-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Vista.

References

ee also

*ACID Pro
*Logic Pro
*Cakewalk (sequencer)
*Digital Performer
*GarageBand
*Pro Tools
*Steinberg Cubase
*Tracktion
*FL Studio
*Comparison of multitrack recording software
*POW-R dithering algorithms

External links

* [http://www.cakewalk.com/products/SONAR/ Sonar Homepage]
* [http://www.thirdtake.com Third Take home recording blog with articles about Sonar]
* [http://sonar.sonarama.com/ SONAR User's Wiki (current)]