Getting Started With Sonar

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Revision as of 08:53, 1 October 2006

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General Description of SONAR

Cakewalk's SONAR is a computer program for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting music and other audio. Until recently, version 5.2 was the latest version, and remains the most commonly-installed one. Version 6 began shipping in September 2006.

SONAR is an example of a digital audio workstation (DAW) and is capable of performing a number of tasks that previously required expensive and specialized equipment. While some pieces of specialized recording equipment are still required, a desktop computer can now function as the heart of a recording studio. With SONAR you can:

• Record and manipulate digital audio
• Record and manipulate MIDI data
• Apply special effects, such as reverb and delay</li>
• Automate the process of mixing audio

System Requirements

Digital audio can be very demanding with respect to computer resources. Unless portability is a requirement, starting with a desktop is an excellent way to go. The baseline system requirements for Cakewalk’s SONAR are provided at:

http://cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/System.asp

In general, the faster your computer is, the more you can do without causing audio glitches. Processing power is often the limiting factor in audio performance. Your processor’s ability to crunch numbers will often be maximized before your hard disk’s ability to read and write data and before you run out of random access memory.

It is advisable to use two hard disks in any digital audio workstation (DAW) setup. Your first hard disk should contain your operating system and recording software. The second disk should only contain your audio files. This helps to prevent disruptions in the audio due to disk activity.

Audio Hardware Requirements

There's nothing worse than forking over hard-earned money for a sound card or audio interface, only to find that it doesn't work --or works imperfectly-- with SONAR. Cakewalk has an official list of audio hardware known to work with SONAR and some other Cakewalk products.

Having taken a gander at that list, know that at a bare minimum you need the following to record:

Analog Instruments

This means microphones, electric guitars and basses, acoustic instruments, etc.

• A way to get your signal up to usable levels. Plugging your analog instrument directly into your sound card / audio interface will produce such low levels you'll barely be able to hear them, if you can hear them at all.
  • A preamp for microphones, to record voice and acoustic instruments.
  • A direct box for electric analog instruments, such as electric guitars and basses. These are essentially preamps, though they often come with a plethora of effects and signal processors.
  • A mixer or mixing console, suitable for all of the above instruments.

• A device to get your sound into your computer
  • A sound card / audio interface for mics and analog instruments. Consumer hardware such as Soundblasters will give you results you will almost certainly not be happy with. See the recording gear page for more details and suggestions.
  • A direct connection into your computer, such as a USB microphone or USB/Firewire-based direct input box.

• A program to record your audio
  • That would be SONAR, of course, though it is rumored that in far off caves and remote jungles, other programs are used.

For in-depth information on setting your system up to record audio, see Recording Audio.

Digital Instruments

This refers to outboard keyboards and synthesizers, as well as MIDI controllers.

• A way to get your music data into the computer
  • A dedicated MIDI interface for MIDI controllers and keyboards/synths with a MIDI out.
  • A USB port for MIDI controllers and keyboards/synths with a USB out.

Some people go through additional steps to get a different (typically more "natural" or "analog") sound out of their synths and keyboards.

• Playing the keyboard/synth through an amplifier, and recording the amp output acoustically (see the previous section for more details on how to do this).
• Replaying the MIDI-based recordings they've made in SONAR through an amp and recording the output acoustically (see the previous section).
• Running their MIDI-based recordings through some type of outboard analog gear and recording its output (again, see the previous section).

SMS 16:08, 15 September 2006 (EDT)

Getting SONAR

SONAR 5 can be bought from innumerable online music stores, but as SONAR 6 is coming out in the very near future you may want to wait, or take advantage of Cakewalk's upgrade offer while it lasts (if you currently own an earlier version of SONAR) to obtain the Producer Edition upgrade or the Studio Edition upgrade at a discount.

You can try a free SONAR 5 web demo here.

Note that the prices at the Cakewalk online store will "always be higher" than those at retailers, according to a Cakewalk employee, in order not to undercut the resellers' profits.

Updating SONAR

The SONAR 5.2 update is available here. Note that it requires that you have the 5.0.1 update installed, and that you must be a registered customer to download it.

Program Setup and Configuration

Read and Write Caching

It is generally recommended to turn read and write caching OFF in SONAR's Options | Audio | Advanced dialog box. Many also recommend turning off disk caching on the drive SONAR uses to store audio.

Home Page * Getting Started * Workflow * Tips, Techniques and Tutorials * Errors and Workarounds * Making Music * Composing, Arranging & Songwriting * Optimizing Your DAW * Recording Gear * Included Components * Third-Party Effects * Third-Party Virtual Instruments * Computer Systems and Components * Free Downloads * External SONAR resources