SONAR 8.5 Explained

Presented by DAW superman Eli Krantzberg, this collection is the best way to get started with Cakewalk SONAR 8.5. If you're overwhelmed with Sonar 8.5's features and functions, this series was made for you. Learn SONAR 8.5 right the first time, or discover new things about it you never knew.

Getting Started

• Creating a Project (06:05) - Learn about the Quick Start dialog box, Sonar's file types, and how to create and save a new empty project.

• Audio & MIDI Setup (06:18) - See how to run the Wave Profiler and establish your audio sample rate and bit depth settings. Also see how to enable your external MIDI devices for use within Sonar.

• Track View (00:00) - Watch how the different Track View panes work, and how they can be resized and toggled.

• Track View Toolbars (05:40) - Explore the Track View toolbar buttons and learn how some of the basic tools work in Sonar.

• Track View Panes (07:13) - Discover the functionality and unique attributes of the different panes available in Track View.

• The Media Browser (09:03) - Learn how to set up and use the Media Browser to audition and load both audio and MIDI loops.

• Transport Commands (05:55) - See the different ways of setting up the transport bar, and learn some important keyboard shortcuts for basic navigation around your project.

Markers and Views

• NOW Time (06:49) - Watch some different ways of customizing Sonar's behavior for displaying and navigating the NOW time marker.

• Markers (08:28) - Explore some of the different ways to create, edit, and navigate markers in Sonar.

• Docked Views (05:35) - Discover how to work with docked tabs, locked views, and different time ruler formats.

Recording

• Track Settings (08:43) - Learn what all the track controls do and how to customize their display.

• Basic Audio Recording (06:20) - See how to set up the project meter, key, and tempo signatures, as well as the metronome settings, as well as how to record on an audio track.

• Audio Quantizing using Audio Snap (07:49) - Watch how Sonar's Audio Snap Palette quantize function is used to correct the timing of a poorly performed audio recording.

• MIDI Record with Input Quantize (06:12) - Explore how to set up a software instrument track for recording with input quantize settings enabled.

• Loop Recording (05:31) - Discover how to set Sonar up for loop recording using either track layers, or multiple tracks.

• Auto-Punch Recording (02:55) - Learn how auto-punch recording can be used to replace one bar of a longer clip while loop mode is enabled.

• Comping with Track Layers (05:46) - See how the various controls and functions of track layer view are used to audition, edit, and consolidate multiple layers.

• Muting & Auditioning (05:32) - Watch the different ways to use the mute tool and free edit tool in conjunction with the audition command.

Moving and Zooming

• Snap to Grid (06:55) - Explore the different ways to set and use the snap to grid properties and snap offsets.

• Zooming (06:52) - Discover some useful keyboard, menu, and toolbar zooming shortcuts to aid in navigating your projects.

Step Recording

• Basic Step Recording (07:39) - Learn how to use the Step Record window as a means of non real-time MIDI note entry.

• Advanced Step Recording (06:45) - See how to create custom step recording patterns that automatically skip preset step locations.

Editing

• Editing Basics (07:00) - Watch how some of the different criteria for establishing selections can be used from various areas in Sonar.

• Editing in the Clips Pane (07:35) - Explore some different techniques for splitting and slipping clips in the Clips Pane.

• Linked Clips (05:37) - Discover how to create linked clips and see how various paste and drag & drop options effect the creation of overlapped clips.

• Working with Fades (04:59) - Learn how to create and edit fade-ins, fade-outs, and crossfades directly in the Clips Pane.

Piano Roll and Drum Grid Views

• The Piano Roll View (PRV) (05:49) - See some of the different ways to call up the Piano Roll View, show multiple tracks, and filter the data being viewed.

• PRV Note Editing (06:41) - Watch how to select, edit, and create MIDI notes and their accompanying velocities with both the Draw and Select tools in the Piano Roll View.

• PRV Controller Editing (05:38) - Explore how to create and edit MIDI continuous controller events in the Piano Roll View and from the Insert menu

• Mouse Actions in PRV (05:54) - Discover how the middle mouse button is used with the different modifier keys for various note editing functions.

• Inline Piano Roll View (06:30) - Learn how to use the Inline Piano Roll to edit notes and/or controllers for a single track directly in Track View.

• The Drum Grid Pane (06:57) - See how to take advantage of Sonar's drum mapping and drum grid pane for comprehensive control over MIDI drum sounds.

Loops and Grooves

• Loop Construction View (07:10) - Watch how to use the Loop Construction View to create groove clips that can follow project tempo and pitch.

• Creating Groove Clips (03:59) - Explore how to quickly convert an audio clip to a groove clip, and have it follow project pitch and tempo changes.

Mixing and Exporting

• Console View (09:21) - Discover Sonar's Console View and various ways to customize which elements are shown and hidden as you prepare to mix.

• Working with Real Time FX (09:44) - Learn about Sonar's real-time FX plug-ins as we look at the Cakewalk's amp simulator and compressor.

• Clip Based FX (05:25) - See how to apply both realtime and offline FX processing on a per clip basis.

• Stereo Busses (08:30) - Watch how stereo busses are used both as send destinations and as a means of creating sub groups.

• Recording Automation (05:54) - Explore how to enable/disable automation for track controls, soft synths, and plug-ins and how to record mouse movements of knobs, sliders, and other controls.

• Creating & Editing Automation Envelopes (05:53) - Discover how to use either the Select or Envelope Tool to create and edit track and clip envelopes for various plug-in and track parameters.

• The Envelope Draw Tool (06:06) - Learn how to draw preset shapes with the envelope draw tool and use offset mode to offset your envelopes from a user defined parameter position. Also see how to create snapshot automation.

• Mix Tips (08:08) - See a couple of workflow routines in action that are useful for preparing a final mix.

• Bouncing & Exporting (08:15) - Watch how to bounce sub-mixes back into Sonar, as well as how to export your mix for publishing to the internet or burning to an audio CD. Also, a few final tips are given.