
SONAR Explained®
Chapter 1 : Skylight & Track View
-
4:43
Getting Started
Learn how to install Sonar using the new Cakewalk Command Center, and how to set audio and MIDI driver settings when you launch Sonar for the first time.
-
4:58
Overview
Learn about the main areas in the Sonar workspace; including the Track View, track pane, clips pane, bus pane, inspector pane, control bar, time ruler, console view, and the browser.
-
3:12
Starting a New Project
Learn about the different Sonar file types, and how to create and save a new empty project.
-
4:23
Working with the Browser
Explore the various ways of opening/closing and docking/undocking the Browser Pane, how to navigate between the three main sections, and how to customize and navigate the Media Browser.
-
6:01
Synth Rack Browser
See how this area of the Browser is used to view, edit, insert, delete, configure, mute, solo, and freeze, the soft synths used in the current project.
-
6:13
Transport Control & Navigation Pt. 1
Discover some basic methods of moving and viewing the NOW time, and starting and stopping playback.
-
4:29
Transport Control & Navigation Pt. 2
Learn additional ways to view and position the NOW time, and how to audition a selection.
-
6:55
Zooming
Explore various ways of zooming the Track View, as well as individual tracks and clips, horizontally and vertically.
-
3:56
The MultiDock
Discover how this aspect of the Skylight interface is used to elegantly manage multiple view without cluttering up the main Tracks View.
-
4:39
Working with The Inspector
Discover how this component of the Skylight interface is used to control clip, track, and mix settings pertaining to the currently selected track or clip.
-
7:07
Track Inspector Controls
Learn about the Audio track, Instrument track, MIDI track, and Bus track controls and functions found in the track controls area of the Inspector.
-
7:53
Clip & Track Properties
Learn how these areas of the Inspector are used to set and edit properties on a per clip, or track based basis.
-
48:41
Working with the Control Bar
Discover how to view, float, customize, re-arrange, resize, collapse, scroll, and lock the control bar; as well as how to use the new Custom Control module for instant access to your own frequently used functions.
Chapter 2 : Recording
-
7:06
Preparing to Record
Prepare for your own recordings by learning to set per project audio folders, the meter and key signature, metronome and tempo settings, and the record mode.
-
4:16
Recording MIDI
Watch and listen as a soft synth track is set up, record arming preferences are explored and set, and a simple MIDI performance is recorded along with the metronome.
-
5:07
Quantize & Input Quantize
See how the timing of notes in a MIDI recording can be corrected so that they fall on or close to the grid of musical subdivisions, and how Input Quantize is set up so that new MIDI recordings are automatically quantized.
-
6:55
MIDI Loop Recording
See how to set a loop range and how the record mode settings work when loop recording a soft synth.
-
6:13
Punch Recording MIDI
Learn how to set and use the punch recording feature combined with loop recording as a means of trying different ideas over the same section of music.
-
6:09
Recording Audio Prep
See how to set the input source, arm tracks, set levels, customize the metering resolution, use input monitoring, PDC, and other Mix module functions in the Control Bar.
-
3:12
Loop Recording Audio
Watch as multiple takes are recorded using the “store takes in a single track” record mode.
-
5:47
Recording with the Arpeggiator
Watch as an arpeggiator is set up and used on a soft synth track to generate a bass part.
Chapter 3 : Editing
-
2:37
Take Lanes
Learn how to expand/collapse, add, delete, select, solo, mute, record arm, re-order, and resize take lanes.
-
5:31
Clip Muting & Isolating
See how the mute tool is used to mute or isolate either entire clips or regions within clips.
-
4:46
Comping the Easy Way
Learn some useful comping techniques using the Smart Tool and Comp Tool.
-
5:16
Tool & Edit Filter Selections
Discover some techniques and shortcuts for selecting tools and changing Edit Filter data types.
-
4:31
The Smart Tool & Track View
Discover some of the Smart Tools extended functions when used in conjunction with modifier keys in Track View.
-
5:39
The Smart Tool & Piano Roll View
Explore some of the Smart Tool functions in the Piano Roll View including velocity scaling, trimming, moving, creating, deleting, selecting, splitting, gluing, and muting notes.
-
7:26
Summary of Other Tools
Learn about some of the dedicated functions found in the Select, Edit, Timing, Split, Freehand, Pattern, Line, Erase, Mute, Scrub, and Zoom tools.
-
7:49
Snap to Grid
Explore the Snap to Grid controls in more detail and learn how to snap to either grid increments or absolute time, use smart snap to take advantage of dynamically changing snap values based on horizontal zoom level, snap either “to” or “by” the snap value, use landmarks, set the snap intensity, toggle between a primary and secondary snap to grid value, and create a snap offset.
-
4:55
Nudge
Learn to configure and use the three customizable nudge settings.
-
6:39
Getting Around in the Piano Roll View
Learn how to display and manage several tracks together in the Piano Roll View.
-
7:33
The InLine Piano Roll
See how the Edit Filter’s Notes view allows for piano roll style editing directly in Track View; including zooming, scrolling, using the MIDI Microscope, adding, deleting, muting, trimming, scrubbing, scaling, splitting, quantizing, gluing, painting with the Pattern Tool, and much more.
-
7:32
Other MIDI Editing Functions
See how the Event Inspector is used for nuanced control over individual MIDI notes, and how the Transpose, Slide, Length, Fit to Time, Retrograde, Scale Velocity, and Find/Change processes work.
-
4:52
Snap to Scale
Explore the snap to scale function. Any notes either drawn in or moved in the Piano Roll View or InLine Piano Roll View will confirm to a specified root key and either a predefined or custom created scale.
Chapter 4 : Arranging
-
8:23
Working with Tracks
earn how to select, sort, move, insert, clone, wipe, delete, and save tracks and track templates.
-
8:56
Controlling the Track Display
Learn how to hide selected or unselected tracks using either shortcuts or the Track Manager, how to customize track icons, colors, and metering; and how to customize which controls are displayed using the Track Control Manager.
-
7:58
Clip Editing
Discover various ways of moving, separating, and blending clips or parts of clips using drag and drop, split, and cut special copy special and paste special commands.
-
4:25
Linked Clips
See how linked clips are created using either the paste special or drag and drop options, and how they are used to have changes made in one clip applied to the linked copies.
-
5:04
Clip Selection Groups
See how clip selection groups are used to treat multiple clips as a single unit, how to add and remove clips from a selection group, and how to link clips when they are pasted.
-
6:19
Working with Markers
See how markers are created, named, positioned, edited, copied, moved, locked, deleted, and used as the basis for naming sections of your project, navigation, and establishing selections.
Chapter 5 : Mixing
-
3:34
Working in Console View
Learn about the three main sections of the console view, how to control what is displayed, and how to set custom double click values for knobs and faders.
-
9:07
Signal Flow, Busses & Sends
Learn how to create busses and route the output of tracks to subgroups, and how to use the Insert Send Assistant to set up parallel audio streams called Sends.
-
5:33
Using Real Time FX
See how to patch one or more effects into an FX rack on tracks or busses, in either Track View, the Track Inspector, or Console View. Learn ways to add, reorder, move, copy, bypass, and solo them either individually or globally.
-
5:55
Per Track EQ
Hear how the Artist series Per Track EQ function is used to adjust the tonal balance of each track by selectively cutting or boosting different areas in the frequency spectrum.
-
4:12
Clip Based Effects
Discover how effects are used on a per clip basis, including inserting, deleting, re-ordering, bypassing, moving, copying, and rendering (applying) them.
-
6:39
Recording Automation
Learn how to automate the movements of parameters by mousing faders and knobs in real time as the track is playing, and see how automation lanes are used to manage the automation of multiple parameters on the same track.
-
7:27
Drawing & Editing Automation
Learn about mute automation, snapshot automation, as well as how to draw and edit automation envelopes using the Smart Tool and the various Draw/Pattern tools.
-
6:40
Mix Recall
Discover Sonar’s new Mix Recall feature that allows you to save and recall multiple mixes (mix scenes) within the same project. See how individual elements can be included or excluded to combine elements from different scenes.
-
6:11
Sharing Your Music
See how the Bounce to Track(s) function is used to sub mix tracks or busses, and how the Export Audio function is used to render your final mix in a variety of popular formats.
Product Overview
For 2015, Cakewalk expanded SONAR into three products: SONAR Artist, SONAR Professional, and SONAR Platinum, each with the same core features and functions. In the most in-depth series available, SONAR guru Eli Krantzberg takes you from beginning to end, showing how to unleash the power of this fully featured, cutting edge DAW.
This definitive series begins with the Important Fundamentals like Installation, Starting a Project, Window Overviews, Controlling Playback and more, Eli then moves onto Recording Audio and MIDI, Quantizing, Punching-In, and Looping. Next, Eli goes deep into Arrangement and Clip Editing, covering topics such as Track Management, Clips, Markers, Applying Fades and more.
Mixing is up next, and Eli demonstrates How to Configure the Console View, SONAR's Signal Flow, Busses, and Sends, How To Use Real-Time Effects, EQ, Compression, Automation, Exporting and much, much more!
With SONAR Artist, Professional, and Platinum offering every level of musician a killer DAW, it's time to get ahead of the game and learn it right from the beginning... Watch "SONAR Explained" today!
Why Users Choose Us
There are many things our users love about Groove3, but a couple always stand out at the top when asked why people choose us as their learning resource.
Quality Content
We meticulously craft professional quality tutorials that are thoughtful, informative and done with attention to detail. We stand behind our products with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and are trusted by 1000s of users every day.
Save Time & Money
Our library brings over 1700 hours of quality instruction to you fingertips and we release new content every week. Don't waste your valuable time scouring the web for information you may never find or is cumbersome to use and potentially can't be trusted.
Reviews
Submitted 5 months ago
Great software explanation
I use Cakewalk by Bandlab, which is just the new re-release of Sonar, so this guide has been very helpful. I like that the content is split into several short videos, this makes it easy to find specific things I may have forgotten or missed. I would be lost using this software if not for these videos.
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 8 months ago
Great foundation and more!
Lots of very useful and clearly presented information and made getting familiar with Sonar a lot easier than it would have been. A wealth of good info! My only critique is the performance of the video streaming when interacting with the class on an ipad (videos wouldn't load or kept hanging). On my PC videos were great.
I am a: Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Sound Designer, Game Designer, Sound for Film/TV, Cakewalk Sonar
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 11 months ago
Very informative
Much better than the free ones on *site name removed*, this series has taught me things immediately, such as how to edit loops and inspect takes. Sonar is good but these videos make it usable.
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Producer, Sound for Film/TV, Cakewalk Sonar
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 1 year ago
unbelievable !
the best and most organized tutorial foe a very confusing program
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 1 year ago
Well presented
The videos are well presented, very articulate and easy to follow. I have found them to be very helpful.
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Cakewalk Sonar
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 1 year ago
Very Helpful But Not Necessarily For Beginners
First, the instructor does an amazing job. The quality of the videos is great, and it's really easy to just sit down and watch one after another. I support this company and stand behind their products, but I really feel like I should write this since I'm sure there will be other people struggling like me. I am an absolute beginner to this entire audio engineering field. I have a BS in Computer Security and can handle my fair share of technology. I am also a self-taught musician which is important to understand because I never learned about notes, tempo, triplets, dotted whatever, and so on. I can honestly say that if you do not understand these types of things then you should learn about that first, then come back and watch these videos. Many beginner musicians are exploring ways to record their music and they have yet to learn the intricate details surrounding it. I found these videos very frustrating sometimes because in every single video there was something that I had no clue what the instructor was talking about. The videos assume you already have this knowledge so there is no explanation. I bought this because I was a complete beginner. I wanted to plug in my guitar and record into Sonar which seems amazing. I just wish I could understand things like 16th notes or why it is even relevant. I still find myself so lost in the video that I decided to pause the video and write a review. The instructor does go a little fast over different features, so i keep my mouse handy to pause, rewind, and play until I finally get what he's saying. If you understand music theory and you are looking to use Sonar as a DAW then definitely purchase these videos. I paid for the downloadable version as well because these are the types of videos that you can go back to as a reference throughout your projects. I give these series high ratings because they are exactly as described. I just think they should let you know that it requires music theory knowledge first so that an idiot like myself can understand it. Anyways, thanks for taking the time to build this tutorial. You are awesome.
I am a: Beginner, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Mastering Facility, Cakewalk Sonar
Response from :
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Thorough and well presented
As usual, Eli K. has done a great job. Well worth watching since Sonar is large and some features are easily missed; e.g. Snap to Scale in which notes being dragged in pitch (not time) can only land on pitches in whatever scale you've defined.
I am a: Hobbyist
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Noice!
Easy to follow, lots covered!
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, FL Studio, Cakewalk Sonar, Cubase, Mixcraft, Reaper, Studio One
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Solid instruction
Working my way through it. Very methodical, seems to be very throrough. Damn Sonar has a lot... wish all the screens were the same as my latest Sonar version.
I am a: Beginner, Professional, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Cakewalk Sonar
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Very Thorough
Covers practically every aspect, I know the program inside and out and I still got some tips I didn't know about!
I am a: Semi-Pro
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Reviews
Submitted 5 months ago
Great software explanation
I use Cakewalk by Bandlab, which is just the new re-release of Sonar, so this guide has been very helpful. I like that the content is split into several short videos, this makes it easy to find specific things I may have forgotten or missed. I would be lost using this software if not for these videos.
Submitted 8 months ago
Great foundation and more!
Lots of very useful and clearly presented information and made getting familiar with Sonar a lot easier than it would have been. A wealth of good info! My only critique is the performance of the video streaming when interacting with the class on an ipad (videos wouldn't load or kept hanging). On my PC videos were great.
I am a: Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Sound Designer, Game Designer, Sound for Film/TV, Cakewalk Sonar
Submitted 11 months ago
Very informative
Much better than the free ones on *site name removed*, this series has taught me things immediately, such as how to edit loops and inspect takes. Sonar is good but these videos make it usable.
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Producer, Sound for Film/TV, Cakewalk Sonar
Submitted 1 year ago
unbelievable !
the best and most organized tutorial foe a very confusing program
Submitted 1 year ago
Well presented
The videos are well presented, very articulate and easy to follow. I have found them to be very helpful.
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Cakewalk Sonar
Submitted 1 year ago
Very Helpful But Not Necessarily For Beginners
First, the instructor does an amazing job. The quality of the videos is great, and it's really easy to just sit down and watch one after another. I support this company and stand behind their products, but I really feel like I should write this since I'm sure there will be other people struggling like me. I am an absolute beginner to this entire audio engineering field. I have a BS in Computer Security and can handle my fair share of technology. I am also a self-taught musician which is important to understand because I never learned about notes, tempo, triplets, dotted whatever, and so on. I can honestly say that if you do not understand these types of things then you should learn about that first, then come back and watch these videos. Many beginner musicians are exploring ways to record their music and they have yet to learn the intricate details surrounding it. I found these videos very frustrating sometimes because in every single video there was something that I had no clue what the instructor was talking about. The videos assume you already have this knowledge so there is no explanation. I bought this because I was a complete beginner. I wanted to plug in my guitar and record into Sonar which seems amazing. I just wish I could understand things like 16th notes or why it is even relevant. I still find myself so lost in the video that I decided to pause the video and write a review. The instructor does go a little fast over different features, so i keep my mouse handy to pause, rewind, and play until I finally get what he's saying. If you understand music theory and you are looking to use Sonar as a DAW then definitely purchase these videos. I paid for the downloadable version as well because these are the types of videos that you can go back to as a reference throughout your projects. I give these series high ratings because they are exactly as described. I just think they should let you know that it requires music theory knowledge first so that an idiot like myself can understand it. Anyways, thanks for taking the time to build this tutorial. You are awesome.
I am a: Beginner, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Mastering Facility, Cakewalk Sonar
Response from :
Submitted 2 years ago
Thorough and well presented
As usual, Eli K. has done a great job. Well worth watching since Sonar is large and some features are easily missed; e.g. Snap to Scale in which notes being dragged in pitch (not time) can only land on pitches in whatever scale you've defined.
I am a: Hobbyist
Submitted 2 years ago
Noice!
Easy to follow, lots covered!
I am a: Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, FL Studio, Cakewalk Sonar, Cubase, Mixcraft, Reaper, Studio One
Submitted 2 years ago
Solid instruction
Working my way through it. Very methodical, seems to be very throrough. Damn Sonar has a lot... wish all the screens were the same as my latest Sonar version.
I am a: Beginner, Professional, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Cakewalk Sonar
Submitted 2 years ago
Very Thorough
Covers practically every aspect, I know the program inside and out and I still got some tips I didn't know about!
I am a: Semi-Pro