Cakewalk Sonar
Encyclopedia
Cakewalk SONAR is a digital audio workstation
made by Cakewalk
for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting audio. The latest versions of the software are SONAR Home Studio 7, SONAR Home Studio 7 XL, SONAR X1 Producer Edition, SONAR X1 Studio Edition, SONAR X1 Essential Edition, and SONAR LE. SONAR LE is an OEM version bundled with hardware; all the other versions can be purchased separately.
SONAR's features include:
, and more complete surround sound
capability (5.1 and 7.1), and supports .avi, .mpeg, .wmv and .mov files. SONAR has the ability to show video as thumbnails contained within a separate track. With appropriate hardware, it is also possible to output the video to an external monitor screen via Firewire. All the common SMPTE formats
, frame sizes and frame rates are supported. It is 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) are AIFF, AU, CAF, FLAC, RAW, SD2, W64 (Sony Wave-64), WAV (Microsoft)
), the controller/surface mappings for a particular plug-in work the same on each instance of that plug-in, whenever that instance has focus. SONAR now fully supports the integrated SONAR V-Studio 700 automation suite, http://www.cakewalk.com/products/SONAR/English/VS700.asp which is a complete SONAR-dedicated automation
console built by Cakewalk/Roland. (ref. Cakewalk (company)
)
SONAR also supports other dedicated special-purpose controllers/surfaces such as the CM Labs MotorMix, Sonar includes a general purpose plug-in, called ACT MIDI Controller, that can be configured to support any generic MIDI controller
(controllers/surface), such as the JL Cooper FaderMaster, Peavey PC-1600, and Kenton Control Freak. Generic controllers/surfaces typically have 8–16 strips of faders/knobs/buttons, are non-motorized, and can often be configured to transmit MIDI messages (continuous controllers, NRPN
s, Sysx, etc.).
one part at a time or an entire project. Instead of quantizing a whole clip, it is possible to split the clip into smaller pieces, or into beat-length pieces by using the Split Beats Into Clips command. If the succeeding beats in a clip do not line up with the grid, the clip can be quantized by using the AudioSnap Beats command, which will line up the beats in the clip with the grid.
Digital audio workstation
A digital audio workstation is an electronic system designed solely or primarily for recording, editing and playing back digital audio. DAWs were originally tape-less, microprocessor-based systems such as the Synclavier and Fairlight CMI...
made by Cakewalk
Cakewalk (company)
Cakewalk, Inc. is a company based in Boston, Massachusetts that develops and sells music production software. The company's best known product is their comprehensive music sequencer named SONAR, which is designed for professional use. SONAR incorporates multi-track recording and editing of both...
for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting audio. The latest versions of the software are SONAR Home Studio 7, SONAR Home Studio 7 XL, SONAR X1 Producer Edition, SONAR X1 Studio Edition, SONAR X1 Essential Edition, and SONAR LE. SONAR LE is an OEM version bundled with hardware; all the other versions can be purchased separately.
SONAR's features include:
- Record and manipulate an unlimited amount of multitrack digital audio (only limited by hardware)
- Comprehensively record and manipulate MIDI data
- Apply any DirectXDirectXMicrosoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
special effects, such as reverb and delay, many versions bundled with included effects - Automate the process of mixing audioAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
- Utilize virtual instruments, such as software synthesizers, software samplers, software drum machines
- Connect to other multimedia applications with sample accuracy via Rewire
- SONAR Producer Edition includes a complete industry-standard 64-bit MASTERING suite http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/English/master.asp
Video and Audio Formats
Sonar provides limited facilities for videoVideo
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
, and more complete surround sound
Surround sound
Surround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
capability (5.1 and 7.1), and supports .avi, .mpeg, .wmv and .mov files. SONAR has the ability to show video as thumbnails contained within a separate track. With appropriate hardware, it is also possible to output the video to an external monitor screen via Firewire. All the common SMPTE formats
SMPTE time code
SMPTE timecode is a set of cooperating standards to label individual frames of video or film with a time code defined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers in the SMPTE 12M specification...
, frame sizes and frame rates are supported. It is 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) are AIFF, AU, CAF, FLAC, RAW, SD2, W64 (Sony Wave-64), WAV (Microsoft)
Active Controller Technology
Also called ACT, this is a feature that assists in the process of remapping parameters of MIDI controllers or surfaces. Having the ability to control effects and virtual instruments (See Software synthesizerSoftware synthesizer
A software synthesizer, also known as a softsynth is a computer program or plug-in for digital audio generation. Computer software which can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed are allowing softsynths to accomplish the same tasks that previously required dedicated...
), the controller/surface mappings for a particular plug-in work the same on each instance of that plug-in, whenever that instance has focus. SONAR now fully supports the integrated SONAR V-Studio 700 automation suite, http://www.cakewalk.com/products/SONAR/English/VS700.asp which is a complete SONAR-dedicated automation
Console automation
Modern digital audio consoles or mixers use automation. Automation allows the console to remember the audio engineer's adjustment of faders during the post-production editing process. A timecode is necessary for synchronization of automation.- Types of Automation :...
console built by Cakewalk/Roland. (ref. Cakewalk (company)
Cakewalk (company)
Cakewalk, Inc. is a company based in Boston, Massachusetts that develops and sells music production software. The company's best known product is their comprehensive music sequencer named SONAR, which is designed for professional use. SONAR incorporates multi-track recording and editing of both...
)
SONAR also supports other dedicated special-purpose controllers/surfaces such as the CM Labs MotorMix, Sonar includes a general purpose plug-in, called ACT MIDI Controller, that can be configured to support any generic MIDI controller
MIDI controller
MIDI controller is used in two senses.*In one sense, a controller is hardware or software which generates and transmits MIDI data to MIDI-enabled devices....
(controllers/surface), such as the JL Cooper FaderMaster, Peavey PC-1600, and Kenton Control Freak. Generic controllers/surfaces typically have 8–16 strips of faders/knobs/buttons, are non-motorized, and can often be configured to transmit MIDI messages (continuous controllers, NRPN
NRPN
NRPN stands for "Non-Registered Parameter Number" and is part of the MIDI specification for control of electronic musical instruments...
s, Sysx, etc.).
AudioSnap
AudioSnap is a tool that makes it possible to fix audio timing without slicing up or destructively editing audio tracks. It is possible to quantizeQuantization (music)
In digital music processing technology, quantization is the process of transforming performed musical notes to an underlying musical representation that eliminates this imprecision. The process results in notes being set on beats and on exact fractions of beats...
one part at a time or an entire project. Instead of quantizing a whole clip, it is possible to split the clip into smaller pieces, or into beat-length pieces by using the Split Beats Into Clips command. If the succeeding beats in a clip do not line up with the grid, the clip can be quantized by using the AudioSnap Beats command, which will line up the beats in the clip with the grid.
Computer Configurations
Beginning with version 6, SONAR is able to fully take advantage of full beginning to end 64-bit internal processing, a 64-bit audio engine, and a 64-bit mixer on 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7.See also
- Cakewalk (sequencer)Cakewalk (sequencer)Cakewalk was a MIDI sequencer developed by Twelve Tone Systems, Inc. originally for DOS, starting with version Cakewalk 1.0 in 1987, and beginning in 1991, for Windows 3.0. Cakewalk for DOS, up until version 4.0, required an MPU-401 MIDI interface card operating in intelligent mode, while later...
- Comparison of multitrack recording softwareComparison of multitrack recording softwareThe following tables compare general and technical information among a number of digital audio editors. Please see the individual products articles for further information.-General:Basic general information about the software: creator/company, license/price etc....
- POW-R dithering algorithms