The Cakewalk Blog

Two new SONAR X2 videos added to CakeTV
We have posted two brand new videos on CakeTV that show you how to get started with the Inspector and the Loop Construction View.

The SONAR X2 Inspector will save you valuable time when working on your projects. Access critical data from your project with the touch of a mouse and speed up your workflow.

The Loop Construction View has been given a facelift in SONAR X2 and allows you to edit and customize your loops so they sound fresh and exciting. If you are working with loops, this is a great video to watch to get the basics down.

Plus we have over 20 Get Started videos on the SONAR U channel with more to come!

See what’s new in SONAR X2
Try SONAR X2 Producer for free

With all the powerful features of SONAR X2, it’s almost impossible for someone to know every single angle of the program.  Even some of the simpler features have some not-so-obvious aspects that can make the musician’s life easier and more musically inventive.  This is why we have created detailed videos for SONAR users to delve into without needing a manual.

This week we have posted four great new videos that are sure to give you some new insight on X2 features and workflow:

The QuadCurve EQ has now proven itself in the industry to be one of the most musical AND surgical instruments around.  With four different modes, it’s easy to carve out and sculpt perfect and professional mixes with ease.

[My favorite QuadCurve feature: The slope – cutting off low frequencies dead-off is essential for getting great vocals to really pop out of the mix without sitting too far in front. You can also greatly clean up your low-end by getting rid of competing frequencies utilizing the slope on guitars, bass and kick drum.] (more…)

SONAR X2 is hands-down the most powerful and comprehensive DAW we have ever made. With each new version of SONAR we aim to simplify workflow and make music production more efficient.  Each upgrade also comes with brand new tools and enhancements that compliment SONAR’s core technology.  SONAR X2 is no exception. See what’s new in SONAR X2.

Your creative possibilities are endless with a professional level solution like SONAR X2.  But for new users, and even some seasoned SONAR pros, all this power can make your brain hurt a little.  Users often ask us questions like “what does R-MIX SONAR do?” “how does the Console Emulator effect my mix?” and “why is TH2 Producer better than the guitar amp sim that I already have?”  We hear you loud and clear and want to make sure you know how to take full advantage of the tools SONAR X2 has to offer. As a result, Cakewalk is more committed than ever to providing SONAR users with the best learning resources available. Check out the 3 learning resources below with SONAR knowledge for every skill level (more…)

Explore SONAR X2′s Skylight User Interface
SONAR X2 takes its award winning Skylight interface to a new level. Learn the basics of Skylight and get up and running quickly with a brand-new CakeTV video series. The first four videos in the series show Skylight’s fundamental features including – workflow with audio and MIDI clips, zooming and navigation, Screensets, and customizing Skylight’s versatile workspace. Watch them now on CakeTV.

Get Started: Skylight
Learn how to arrange Skylight’s workspace in SONAR X2, from docking windows in the MultiDock to rearranging the positions of the Inspector, Browser, and much more.

Get Started: Screensets
Learn how to use SONAR X2′s Screensets, which are ‘presets’ that remember the position, size, and state of every window, plugin, and synth.

Get Started: Zoom & Navigation
Learn how the various ways to zoom and navigate in SONAR X2 like Timeline Zoom.

Get Started: Audio & MIDI Clips
Learn how to work with SONAR X2′s clips, from applying fades, creating Groove Clips, time-stretching, and much more.

Learn more about SONAR X2 and try it for free

Learn why SONAR X2 Producer is Cakewalk’s most popular upgrade ever. This playlist is packed with all the best SONAR X2 Producer videos in case you may have missed one. See what’s new in SONAR X2, try it for FREE, take a deeper look at the workflow enhancements and flagship features, then finish up by watching the entire 1h 29min CakeTV Live webinar! Just skip to the the next video if you have seen one before.

Visit the SONAR X2 webpages for more info.
Try SONAR X2 Producer for FREE.

Last week was our fourth installment of CakeTV Live, which we broadcast bi-monthly, live, from Center Staging in Burbank, CA. In this latest episode we showed over 450 live viewers the new features of SONAR X2. In case you missed it, the webinar is now available for viewing on CakeTV (or right from this web page, below).

During the webcast we did our best to cover all of X2′s new features like Smart Grid, ProChannel FX Chains, and R-MIX SONAR. However, there were a few new features that we didn’t have time to demo that we think are worth mentioning.

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FREE SONAR X2 Webinar – September 5th (2pm Eastern / 11am Pacific)
Please join Brandon Ryan and Seth Perlstein of Cakewalk for the fourth installment of CakeTV Live, Cakewalk’s entirely live, bi-monthly webcast. This installment will take a close look at the new features and enhancements in SONAR X2 while focusing on recording, mixing and production of guitars, keyboards, and more. See how X2 will effect your workflow and get a head start on understanding all the new capabilities.

CakeTV Live is just that – entirely live. Ask questions in real-time and join in the chat with hundreds of other viewers from around the globe as Brandon and Seth discuss and demonstrate valuable tips and techniques.

Watch previous CakeTV Live webcasts:
Episode 1: SONAR X1 Music Production
Episode 2: SONAR X1 Music Production “Aike”
Episode 3: Larger than life drums in SONAR X1

New features in SONAR X2 Producer include:

• New enhancements and improvements
• Improved low latency audio engine
• Take lanes
• Automation lanes and modes
• Advanced Arpeggiator
• Improved Smart Tool
• Smart Grid
• Improved Clips View
• Improved Matrix View
• BREVERB SONAR (VST and ProChannel versions)
• R-MIX SONAR
• Overloud TH2 Producer Amp Simulator
• Modular ProChannel
• ProChannel Console Emulator
• ProChannel FX Chains
• ProChannel Softube Saturation Knob
• ProChannel QuadCurve EQ
• Improved LP-64 mastering plugins
• SoundCloud integration
• MusicXML export
• Windows® 8 support (patch coming later this year)
• And much more

Visit the official SONAR X2 Preview page for more information

SONAR X1 user Tim Wynn is the Quintessential modern day composer/producer, and a rising Hollywood name whose diverse portfolio includes feature films, television series, documentaries and video games for major clients such as ABC, Activision, Electronic Arts, Fox, Fuji, Marvel, Sony, THQ, Universal and Warner Bros.

With several globally successful franchises already to his credit ranging from blockbuster video games such as Command & Conquer, Dungeon Siege, GUN, The Punisher, Red Faction, The Simpsons and Warhawk to adding to the sound of the hit television series Supernatural, Tim Wynn is gaining international recognition as a leader in a new generation of highly talented and versatile composers.  His recent releases include Fox Digital’s debut release, the comedy-horror web series Wolfpack of Reseda; the world’s first 3D television series Tokyo Control; the hit drama series Lucky Seven for Fuji TV, and 2K’s The Darkness II, the action-horror video game based on the best-selling Top Cow comics.

The Darkness II is the sequel to the critically acclaimed 2007 release The Darkness. Inspired by the popular comic book series produced by Top Cow Productions, Inc., The Darkness II is an intense first person shooter that puts you in the role of Jackie Estacado, don of a New York crime family and wielder of an ancient force of chaos known as The Darkness. (more…)

A question I am often asked is, “Just what exactly is the signal path in SONAR X1?”. You plug in your mic or instrument and the sound flows through your monitors. But what is the journey your audio signal takes in between? Let’s take a trip through the Channel strip and find out!

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With the First-class Upgrade promotion extended through July, it’s a good time to review the amazing value you get with SONAR X1 Studio. Whether you are upgrading or looking for a new digital audio workstation (DAW), SONAR X1 Studio gives you hundreds of dollars in professional grade tools, instruments, and effects that only Cakewalk can offer musicians, producers, and engineers.

SONAR X1 Studio includes:

• The brand new Skylight interface
• Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks
• Support for 32 and 64-bit operating systems
• Critically-acclaimed instruments like Rapture LE and Z3TA+ 1.5
• V-Vocal 1.5 for perfect vocals – on pitch and in time
• Matrix View for non-linear music composition and remixing
• Step Sequencer 2.0 for easy beat creation
• Smart Tool for seamless audio and MIDI editing
• AudioSnap 2.0 for fixing audio timing issues
• Surround sound mixing
• More effects and instruments
• Plus: Free SONAR X1d update (now available) (more…)