Sonar Workflow

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-	==Basic Recording Setup==	+	[[Main_Page|Home Page]] * [[Getting_Started_With_Sonar|Getting Started]] * [[Sonar_Workflow|Workflow]] * [[Tips_Techniques_and_Tutorials_for_Sonar|Tips, Techniques and Tutorials]] * [[Sonar_Errors_and_Workarounds|Errors and Workarounds]] * [[Making_Music_With_Sonar|Making Music]] * [[Composing_Arranging_Songwriting|Composing, Arranging & Songwriting]] * [[Optimizing_Your_DAW|Optimizing Your DAW]] * [[Recording_Gear_For_Use_With_Sonar|Recording Gear]] * [[Components_Included_with_Sonar|Included Components]] * [[Effects_And_Signal_Processors_For_Use_With_Sonar|Third-Party Effects]] * [[Virtual_Instruments|Third-Party Virtual Instruments]] * [[Computer_Systems_For_Use_With_Sonar|Computer Systems and Components]] * [[Free_Downloads|Free Downloads]] * [[Sonar_Resources|External SONAR resources]]
-	==Recording Audio==	+
		+	==[[Sonar_Workflow_1_-_Recording_Audio_And_MIDI|Recording audio and MIDI]]==
		+
		+	[[Sonar_Workflow_1_-_Recording_Audio_And_MIDI|Recording audio and MIDI]] in SONAR is quite easy, though there are some problems you can run into, especially when first setting up.
		+
		+	This section will guide you through the process step-by-step, and has extensive troubleshooting instructions.
		+
		+	==[[Sonar_Workflow_2_-_Mixing_Procedures|Mixing Procedures]]==
		+	[[Sonar_Workflow_2_-_Mixing_Procedures|Mixing in SONAR]] is not that difficult once you get the basics down, though some functions are intimidating mysteries to many users. In this section you'll find tips on both the technical and artistic aspects of mixing.
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		+	==[[Sonar_Workflow_3_-_Exporting_Procedures|Exporting Procedures]]==
		+
		+	[[Sonar_Workflow_3_-_Exporting_Procedures|Exporting]] your finished tune to a stereo file is the last step before mastering. Here you'll find information on the different formats SONAR can export to out of the box, how to configure SONAR to use the LAME MP3 encoder as well as the lossless FLAC encoder, and how to transcode exported WAVS into many other formats.
		+
		+	==[[Sonar_Workflow_4_-_Long-Term_Archiving_and_Storage_of_Projects|Long-Term Archiving and Storage of Projects]]==
		+
		+	Once you've finished a project you need to figure out a way to preserve it for all eternity. [[Sonar_Workflow_4_-_Long-Term_Archiving_and_Storage_of_Projects|This section]] Provides extensive information on the different formats you can use to back up and archive projects and mixdowns, the various physical and non-physical media you can use to do this, and software that will make any type of storage much less prone to failure.
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		+	-----
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		+	[[Main_Page|Home Page]] * [[Getting_Started_With_Sonar|Getting Started]] * [[Sonar_Workflow|Workflow]] * [[Tips_Techniques_and_Tutorials_for_Sonar|Tips, Techniques and Tutorials]] * [[Sonar_Errors_and_Workarounds|Errors and Workarounds]] * [[Making_Music_With_Sonar|Making Music]] * [[Composing_Arranging_Songwriting|Composing, Arranging & Songwriting]] * [[Optimizing_Your_DAW|Optimizing Your DAW]] * [[Recording_Gear_For_Use_With_Sonar|Recording Gear]] * [[Components_Included_with_Sonar|Included Components]] * [[Effects_And_Signal_Processors_For_Use_With_Sonar|Third-Party Effects]] * [[Virtual_Instruments|Third-Party Virtual Instruments]] * [[Computer_Systems_For_Use_With_Sonar|Computer Systems and Components]] * [[Free_Downloads|Free Downloads]] * [[Sonar_Resources|External SONAR resources]]
		+
-	==Recording MIDI==
-	===From Softsynths, Samplers, Etc.===
-	===From External Controllers / Synths===
-	==Mixing Procedures==
-	==Exporting Procedures==
-	==Converting to Your Favorite Format==
-	Once you've finished composing, tracking, mixing and exporting your music, you'll end up with one of four file types with SONAR's ''File'' | ''Export'' | ''Audio'' function: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wav RIFF WAV], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BWF Broadcast WAV], [http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=WMA Windows Media Advanced Streaming] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3 MP3] (''if'' you have paid separately to use the MP3 codec that comes with SONAR).
-	'''RIFF WAV''' and '''Broadcast WAV''' files are the file types of choice for mastering, as they are [http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Lossless lossless] formats.
-	'''MP3''', on the other hand, is a [http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Lossy lossy] format, meaning that you not only lose information (read: quality) by encoding a file as MP3, but you also lose additional quality every time you modify the file's content (though not, of course, its metadata). This makes MP3s suitable for casual listening, but not for mastering or even demanding listening.
-	If you choose not to buy the shareware codec that comes with Sonar, you can still produce MP3s with an external codec. By far the most highly recommended of these is [http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=LAME LAME], which is open source. It is also widely considered to be the best MP3 encoder around, making it preferable to the codec bundled with SONAR even without condidering monetary factors.
-	Here are step-by-step instructions for setting up LAME (from the [http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.asp?m=628456 Cakewalk Forum Thread] by [http://forum.cakewalk.com/showProfile.asp?memid=7837 Jesse G]:
-	<ul>
-	<li>Open SONAR 3, 4, 5 and go to Tools -> Cakewalk Ext. Encoder Config</li>
-	<li>In the Friendly Name Field write: LAME MP3 Encoder</li>
-	<li>In the Extension field write: .mp3</li>
-	<li>In the Description field write whatever you want</li>
-	<li>In the Path field write the path where the Lame encoder is located. That is where lame.exe and lame_enc.dll are located. I keep my Lame encoder in my C:\\Program Files\\Cakewalk\\Shared Utilities\\Lame Folder or (copy and past the extracted zip file to your Sonar shared utilities folder and then when you have to perform this step, click the browse button to find the location</li>
-	<li>In the Command Line field write: lame -b 192 -m j %I %O</li>
-	<li>Press Save button</li>
-	<li>Uncheck Keep Wave File</li>
-	</ul>
-	This will export to a 192Kbps, joint stereo mp3 file. If you want 128Kbps, replace 192 with 128 in the Command Line field. The next time you click on File->Export->Audio in SONAR 3, 4, 5 you'll find 'LAME MP3 encoder' as a type of audio.
-	'''WMA''' gives you the choice between lossy or lossless compression; the lossy compression is roughly comparable to that of MP3 files at equivalent bitrates, and the same caveats for the MP3 format apply to WMA lossy compression.
-	Assuming you wish to keep archival (lossless) copies of your mixdowns, but want to use a minimum of space, you have the option of converting RIFF WAV files to a compressed lossless format, which can provide a considerably smaller file than the source WAV, while retaining 100% of the audio information in the recording, unlike MP3 or WAV lossless files.
-	One of the most popular lossless encoders is the open source [http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=FLAC FLAC].  ''FLAC'' is available for most every operating system around, and in addition to providing substantial lossless compression, it is also directly playable on a growing number of home and car stereos, portable music players, and software music players.
-	FLAC also allows an unlimited amount of metadata (including arbitrary, user-made tags) to be included in files, which can be quite useful when preparing files for long-term storage.  FLAC files can be converted back into WAV files that are bit-for-bit identical to the source WAV. FLAC can be downloaded from the [http://flac.sourceforge.net/ FLAC homepage]. A filter that allows FLAC files to be edited directly in Cool Edit or Adobe Audition can be had [http://www.vuplayer.com/files/flacfilter.zip here].

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Current revision as of 09:05, 1 October 2006

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

Contents 1 Recording audio and MIDI 2 Mixing Procedures 3 Exporting Procedures 4 Long-Term Archiving and Storage of Projects

Recording audio and MIDI

Recording audio and MIDI in SONAR is quite easy, though there are some problems you can run into, especially when first setting up.

This section will guide you through the process step-by-step, and has extensive troubleshooting instructions.

Mixing Procedures

Mixing in SONAR is not that difficult once you get the basics down, though some functions are intimidating mysteries to many users. In this section you'll find tips on both the technical and artistic aspects of mixing.

Exporting Procedures

Exporting your finished tune to a stereo file is the last step before mastering. Here you'll find information on the different formats SONAR can export to out of the box, how to configure SONAR to use the LAME MP3 encoder as well as the lossless FLAC encoder, and how to transcode exported WAVS into many other formats.

Long-Term Archiving and Storage of Projects

Once you've finished a project you need to figure out a way to preserve it for all eternity. This section Provides extensive information on the different formats you can use to back up and archive projects and mixdowns, the various physical and non-physical media you can use to do this, and software that will make any type of storage much less prone to failure.

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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

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