Cakewalk Sonar
Sonar was a digital audio workstation created by Cakewalk.
Developer(s) | Cakewalk |
---|---|
Stable release | Sonar Platinum
/ 19 October 2017 |
Written in | C++ |
Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
Type | Digital audio workstation |
License | Proprietary |
Website | www |
Notable features
Sonar's features included:
- Record and manipulate an amount of multitrack digital audio limited by hardware only
- Record and manipulate MIDI data
- Apply any DirectX special effects, such as reverberation and delay
- Automate the process of mixing audio
- Use virtual instruments, such as software: synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines
- Connect to other multimedia applications via Rewire
- Some versions included a 64-bit mastering suite
Video and audio formats
Sonar provided limited facilities for video, surround sound (5.1, 7.1), and supported .avi, .mpeg, .wmv and .mov files. Sonar had the ability to show video as thumbnails contained in a separate track.[1] With appropriate hardware, it was also possible to output the video to an external monitor screen via FireWire. Common SMPTE formats, frame sizes and frame rates were supported. It was possible to transfer audio loop files from other compatible software into Sonar and complete a final mixdown.
Various audio export options (including 64-bit masters) were AIFF, AU, CAF, FLAC, RAW, SD2, W64 (Sony Wave-64), and WAV (Microsoft).
Included plugins[2]
SONAR X1
audio
- Alias Factor
- Analyst
- Boost 11
- Bit Meter
- Classic Phaser
- Channel Tools
- Compressor/Gate
- FX2 AmpSim
- FX2 TapeSim
- Guitar Rig 4 LE
- HF Exciter
- LP-64 Multiband
- LP-64 EQ
- Modfilter
- Multivoice Chorus/Flanger
- Para-Q
- Perfect Space Convolution Reverb
- Pitch
- PX-64 Percussion Strip
- Reverb
- Sonitus fx: Compressor
- Sonitus fx: Surround Compressor
- Sonitus fx: Delay
- Sonitus fx: EQ
- Sonitus fx: Gate
- Sonitus fx: Modulator
- Sonitus fx: Multiband
- Sonitus fx: Phase
- Sonitus fx: Reverb
- Sonitus fx: Surround
- Sonitus fx: Wahwah
- Tempo Delay
- TS-64 Transient Shaper
- TL-64 TubeLeveler
- V-Vocal (Part of main program installation)
- Vintage Channel
- VX-64 Vocal Strip
- DSP-FX: Chorus (32-bit only)
- DSP-FX: Delay (32-bit only)
- DSP-FX: EQ (32-bit only)
- DSP-FX: Flange (32-bit only)
- DSP-FX: Studioverb (32-bit only)
- CW-Reverb (Mono)
- CW-Delay (Mono)
- CW-EQ (Mono)
- FX1 Dynamics Processor
- Parametric EQ
- SpectraFX
- Stereo Delay (32-bit only)
- Stereo Reverb
midi
- MFX Arpeggiator
- MFX Change Velocity
- MFX Chord Analyzer
- MFX Echo/Delay
- MFX Event Filter
- MFX Quantize
- MFX Transpose
soft synths
- Beatscape 1.0.2 (Separate installation)
- Cakewalk Sound Center
- Cakewalk TTS-1
- Cyclone
- Dimension Pro 1.5 (Separate installation)
- Dreamstation DXi2 (32-bit only)
- Dropzone VSTi
- Pentagon 1
- PSYN II
- Rapture LE VSTi
- Roland Groovesynth
- RXP REX Player
- Session Drummer 3
- Square I
- Studio Instrument Suite
- SFZ Soundfont Player
- TruePianos
- z3ta+ VSTi
SONAR X2
The plugins in SONAR X1 were also available in SONAR X2, with the following changes
audio
Added
- Breverb SONAR
- R-Mix SONAR Edition
- TH2 Producer
Removed
- Guitar Rig 4 LE
soft synths
Added
- Rapture 1.22 VSTi
Removed
- Beatscape 1.0.2 (Separate installation)
- Rapture LE VSTi
SONAR X3
The plugins in SONAR X2 were also available in SONAR X3, with the following changes
audio
Added
- Blue Tubes FX Collection
- Melodyne Essential
- Tone2 BiFilter2
Removed
- Analyst
- Bit Meter
- FX2 AmpSim
- FX2 TapeSim
- Pitch
- Reverb
- V-Vocal
- Vintage Channel
- DSP-FX: Chorus (32-bit only)
- DSP-FX: Delay (32-bit only)
- DSP-FX: EQ (32-bit only)
- DSP-FX: Flange (32-bit only)
- DSP-FX: Studioverb (32-bit only)
- CW-Reverb (Mono)
- CW-Delay (Mono)
- CW-EQ (Mono)
- FX1 Dynamics Processor
- Parametric EQ
- R-Mix SONAR Edition
- SpectraFX
- Stereo Delay (32-bit only)
- Stereo Reverb
soft synths
Added
- Addictive Drums 2 (Separate installation)
- Strum Acoustic Session
- Lounge Lizard Session
Plugins available in X3 but no longer available in Sonar Platinum
- Dreamstation DXi2 (32-bit only)
- Pentagon 1
Starting with version 6, Sonar could take advantage of 64-bit internal processing, a 64-bit audio engine, and a 64-bit mixer on 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. Before introduction of Sonar X2 in October 2012, the entry-level Essential versions of Sonar (Sonar Home Studio and Sonar Essential) were 32-bit only. With the release of Sonar X2, the full program family became native 64-bit.
Starting with Sonar Platinum (January 2016), releases moved to a monthly cycle, with new features and demo products introduced with each update.
Discontinuation and Relaunch
On 17 November 2017, Gibson announced[3] that it was ceasing active development and production of Cakewalk branded products, including all versions of SONAR. After 30 years, Cakewalk, Inc. ceased operation, with only the company's web forum and license authorization servers still being kept functional.
On 23 February 2018, Singapore-based BandLab Technologies announced its purchase of some of Cakewalk, Inc.’s assets and all of its intellectual property.[4] BandLab's stated goal was continued development of the former company's flagship product, SONAR (now renamed Cakewalk by BandLab[5]) as part of its portfolio of freeware digital audio workstation software.
See also
- Cakewalk (sequencer)
- Comparison of multitrack recording software
- POW-R dithering algorithms
References
- "Sonar Video Support". Sound on Sound. 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2007.
- "From X1 to Platinum : Plugins & Soft Synths : A Comprehensive List". Cakewalk Forums. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- "Gibson Brands announcement regarding Cakewalk, Inc". Cakewalk. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- https://blog.bandlab.com/cakewalk-press-release/ BandLab Technologies Announces Acquisition of Cakewalk Inc. Assets retrieved 23 February 2018
- https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk