Here's a collection of the most recent and previous 100 SONAR Notes monthly articles from SOUND ON SOUND magazine. The most recently-published 5 workshops are locked and accessible only to subscribers, but the others are now free for all to enjoy.
(Use the SEARCH page to find even more past articles.)
Making The Most Of SONAR
Sonar Notes
Take Sonar back to the ’60s with this vintage-style tape-flanging effect!
Quantise Drums With AudioSnap Pool
Sonar Notes
If you’d like to make your quantised drums a little more human, dive into Sonar’s AudioSnap pool.
Previous 100 SONAR NOTES workshops (unlocked)
Pitch Transposition In Sonar X1
Sonar Notes
Understand the pitch-changing options in Sonar X1 for better results with your audio.
Sonar X1
Use Sonar X1 to slow down your drum loops drastically — and retain fidelity!
Multi-band Processing & Distortion
Sonar Notes
Multi-band processing in Sonar needn’t stop at compression: using the same approach on distortion is easy and effective.
Sonar Notes
Why settle for harsh amp-simulator tones? Find out how to produce a more organic sound using Sonar X1’s Guitar Rig 4 LE plug-in.
Sonar Notes
Sonar X1 screensets dynamically adapt to your project as you work. Find out why this matters, and how you can take advantage of it.
Sonar Notes
Sonar X1's ProChannel offers two different compressor types, both modelled on famous classic hardware.
Sonar Notes
Sonar X1 offers a very different user interface experience to previous versions — so here's a guide to the new GUI.
Managing Backups In Sonar: Part 2
Sonar Notes
Having looked at routine backups last month, the second of this two-part series explores the more arcane art of archiving.
Sonar Notes
In the first of this two-part series, we look at the best ways to manage your day-to-day backups in Sonar.
Snapshot Effects Automation in Sonar
Sonar Notes
Snap it up! Transform your music with snapshot effects automation.
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar can help you produce great ‘normal’ vocals — but it can also do all kinds of crazy things to your voice...
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Step sequencers are known for their mechanical sound. But do they have to be so rigid? Not in Sonar 8.5...
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Use track templates to give your electric guitar an acoustic sound and perk up your synths.
Cakewalk Sonar: Managing Plug-ins
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Plug-ins are likely to be integral to how you work, so it’s worth making sure they’re organised and well behaved.
Sonar Notes & Techniques
AudioSnap always had potential, but never quite fulfilled its promise. However, those of you now taking a second look will like what they see.
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Put together quick and easy drum tracks with Sonar 8.5’s Session Drummer 3.
Sonar: Recording Solo Performers
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Last issue, we covered methods for recording a solo artist. This time Craig Anderton covers editing and comping.
Sonar: Recording a Solo Performer
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Recording a solo performer requires a different approach from recording a band, and different ways of using Sonar.
Sonar Notes & Techniques
We explain some of the tricks and composition methods opened up by Sonar 8.5’s new Matrix view.
Optimum Vocals with VX64 Vocal Strip
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar 8.5’s VX64 Vocal Strip offers new possibilities for vocal processing.
Sonar: Punchy Percussion with PX64
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Get to grips with Sonar’s brand-new PX64 percussion strip, which offers all the processors you need for treating drums.
Sonar: Making A Virtual Drum Room
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sampled drums lacking realism? Synthesize stereo room mics to add authentic ambience with Sonar’s built-in effects.
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Get a big, ‘produced’ sound from Sonar’s classic analogue drumbox samples.
Sonar Notes & Techniques
If you’re interested in M/S (Mid/Side) recording or stereo image tweaks, Sonar’s Channel Tools could be your best friend.
Exploring Sonar 8’s Dimension Pro Synthesizer
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Now that Dimension Pro is included with Sonar 8, it’s time to investigate how to exploit it beyond the usual sample-playback functions.
Sonar: Integrating External Hardware With Your DAW
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Is it time to lighten the load on your CPU and put that outboard signal processing hardware to work inside your DAW? We explain how...
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar has more facilities than the average DAW for exploiting REX files to their best advantage. We guide you through where to find those facilities and how to put them to use.
Exploring Sonar 8's Beatscape Instrument
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar 8 introduced Beatscape, a new Cakewalk instrument designed specifically for the groovily inclined. We dig behind the interface for some tips and tricks you won't find in the documentation.
Transient Shaping With Sonar 8's TS64
Sonar Notes & Techniques
There's more to dynamics than compression and expansion, and now transient shaping is part of Sonar 8, courtesy of the TS64 Transient Shaper plug-in.
Sonar: Creating Loop-based Music
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar was one of the first DAWs to take looping seriously — which means that you'll find plenty of tools for making loop-based music easier.
Bass Guitar Recording With Sonar
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar includes many effects that are useful for bass guitars, and also offers bass-friendly features that help speed up the recording process.
Console Tips & Customising In Sonar
Sonar Notes & Techniques
When it comes to the Sonar mixing console, you don't have to simply take what you're given, because there are lots of ways of making it fit your working methods. We explain how, and pass on some handy shortcuts along the way.
Sonar: Audio Editing Techniques
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Why take two digital audio programs into the studio, when you can optimise Sonar to do many of the common tasks you'd expect to need a dedicated audio editor for?
Creating A Rhythm Track In Sonar
Sonar Notes & Techniques
A walk through the process of composing and processing a drum track highlights how to use various Sonar features and useful shortcuts - some of which you may not have come across before.
Customising Sonar To Fit The Way You Work
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Did you know that you can make Sonar fit your working methods like a glove, via its many customisation options? Here's our guide to just a few of the most useful.
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Understanding how to program SFZ files opens up lots of ways to better exploit what Sonar's bundled soft synths have to offer. Don't panic: it's easier than you might think...
Using Sonar's z3ta+ Synth as an Effects Processor
Sonar Notes & Techniques
When is a soft synth not just a soft synth? When it's also an effects processor...
Using Side-chains in Sonar 7's Plug-ins
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Side-chain inputs on software processors can open up a whole new world of control possibilities — and now Sonar 7's plug-ins have this facility. We show you some ways of using it in your music.
Introducing Sonar 7's Step Sequencer
Sonar Notes & Techniques
One of the new features added in the Sonar 7 update is a very flexible step sequencer. We investigate its features and suggest some ways to make the most of it.
Optimising Preferences In Sonar
Sonar Notes & Techniques
With Sonar 7 just out, it's time to tweak all our preferences to perfection, before they're transferred over into the latest version of the software.
Object-oriented Editing In Sonar
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Working directly with 'objects', such as MIDI or audio clips of any length from a few milliseconds upwards, opens up a non-linear approach that can provide creative opportunities and also save you CPU resources.
Sonar: Features To Help With Songwriting
Sonar Notes & Techniques
DAW software is optimised for helping you record your songs and add lots of production polish, but don't forget that programs like Sonar can also help in the songwriting process, offering features that could make it easier to capture inspiration when it strikes.
Automatic Error Correction With Sonar MIDI Plug-ins
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Why wait to fix it in the mix when you can mend MIDI tracks while you're recording them? Sonar's MIDI plug-ins allow you to automatically fix anything from incorrect timing to inconsistent velocities - and more.
Making The Most Of Sonar 6's Synth Rack
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar's Synth Rack is a great time-saving concept that has started to deliver on its full promise with version 6 of the software. However, not all aspects of it are completely obvious - so this month we'll be doing our best to put you on track with the Rack.
Using Sonar's ACT With Hardware Controllers
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Ever wished you could use your favourite control surface to change not just mixer controls, but effects plug-in parameters and virtual instrument settings? Apparently someone at Cakewalk has too...
Using Session Drummer 2 In Sonar 6
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar's Session Drummer has evolved from a MIDI plug-in to a sophisticated tone module that also includes pattern playback capabilities. We take a look beneath the surface.
Audiosnap Applications In Sonar 6
Sonat Notes & Techniques
Sonar's Audiosnap time-stretching tools offer some mind-boggling possibilities, including REX-like beat slicing and sophisticated audio quantising.
Exploring Audiosnap in Sonar 6
Sonar Notes & Technique
One of the biggest new additions in Sonar 6, Audiosnap, is a powerful time-stretching audio toolkit promising better-quality stretching and enhanced controllability. This month we'll explain the basics of using the new tools, following up next month with some real-world applications.
Sonar 6: Exploring VC64 Vintage Channel
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar 6's new 'channel strip' offers multiple routings that enable techniques such as parallel compression, frequency-conscious dynamics control and side-chaining.
Customisation Options In Sonar 6
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar seems to get more customisable with every version, and the newly released Sonar 6 is no exception, allowing you to tweak various aspects of appearance and operation until the program looks and feels just the way you want it.
Sonar Notes & Techniques
As video becomes more accessible, Cakewalk have taken notice, adding a lot of video-friendly features to Sonar 5. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to combine the worlds of audio and video within the program.
Programming Sonar 5's Pentagon I Soft Synth
Sonar Notes & Technique
The Pentagon I soft synth bundled with Sonar 5 is a powerhouse that even offers vocoding facilities. If you've overlooked it so far, remedy the situation with our tips, tricks and programming guide.
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Sonar offers several ways to mix, but is that a benefit or a source of confusion? Learn what the various mix modes do and you can choose the one that's right for your project.
Using Off-Line DSP features of Sonar
Sonar Notes & Techniques
If you never venture into Sonar's off-line DSP section, now could be the time to check it out, following Cakewalk's v5 revamp of these useful functions.
Recording Killer Guitar Sounds in Sonar 5
Sonar Notes & Techniques
The technology for easily achieving an expensively produced effect when recording guitars is becoming more and more accessible. We take a look at what Sonar has to offer in this department, and examine other tools for creating killer guitar sounds.
Useful Sonar Features You May Have Missed
Sonar Notes & Technique
In a program as complex and feature-rich as Sonar, it's almost inevitable that there are useful little facilities that could make your life easier, but that you have somehow overlooked or forgotten. We turn the spotlight on some of the best.
Using the RXP REX-file player in Sonar 5 Producer Edition
Sonar Notes & Technique
Now that the RXP REX-file player is bundled with the Producer Edition of Sonar 5, the creative possibilities of REX files have really opened up for Sonar users. We take a tour around RXP and discuss its features and uses.
Sonar Notes & Technique
Take the trouble to discover the ways of moving around your project quickly and efficiently: it saves time and improves workflow.
Using Sonar 5's Cyclone Loop Tool
Sonar Notes & Techniques
The Cyclone 'groove sampler' DXi, bundled free with Sonar, is a powerful tool that allows loops of all kinds to be dissected, manipulated and generally bent to your will...
Using MIDI Functions In Sonar 5
Sonar Notes & Techniques
Cakewalk have strengthened the MIDI side of Sonar 5 considerably, in recognition of the rise of software synths that benefit from enhanced MIDI controllability. We run through some of the new features and suggest how you might want to use them, as well as rounding up the usual Sonar news and background info.
News & Tips
When the version number's most significant digit increments, you know something big is going to happen — what's inside Version 5?
Using Sonar's Dreamstation Soft Synth
Technique
This modest little soft synth has been bundled with Sonar since version 1.0 and is very kind to your CPU resources, yet many Sonar users are still unaware of just how much you can squeeze out of it. We present some evidence.
News and Tips
Sonar technology takes over Cakewalk's entire product line, from low to high end, while the Studio and Producer editions get an audio engine tune-up. Read all about it...
Workshop
Both Sonar Producer Edition and Studio Edition offer several choices for dynamics processing. How do you pick the right one for the job?
Sonar Notes
More screen space without having to buy a second monitor — just one of the Sonar nuggets we've got for you this month...
Workshop
Sonar 4 offers excellent loop editing facilities, and this month we're going to show you how to use them.
News & Updates
News this month includes more about 64-bit computing and details of a Mackie Control update for Sonar users — plus we offer handy tips on taming mute tools and MIDI notes.
Making The Most Of EQ In Sonar v4
Workshop
When is an EQ not just an EQ? When it's the Sonar v4 Producer Edition Sonitus EQ and you use it for some of the amazing processing tricks we're about to explain!
Sonar LE, utilities and more...
Sonar Notes
Sonar LE appears, we find a utility that lets you zoom with a mouse wheel, and Project 5 slightly changes direction...
Creating Easier Drum Parts In Sonar&4
Workshop
Producing great drum parts can be quicker, easier and more fun with the dedicated facilities Sonar&4 provides. We explain.
Cakewalk Z3TA+ Bandlimited Waveshaping Soft Synth
Sonar Notes
Cakewalk go global, and release a new soft synth.
Exploring Sonar 4's TTS1 Synth
Workshop
The TTS1 soft synth bundled with Sonar 4 has many hidden talents — but you have to know where to find them. Read on...
Sonar Notes
It's time to address the Studio versus Producer question, as well as looking into a new Sonar remote-control option.
Composite Vocal Recording (Using Sonar 4)
Masterclass
The audio sequencing facilities we have at our disposal these days make it easier than ever before to produce world-class vocal recordings by taking the best parts from a series of takes and producing a composite from them. Here's how to do the job in Sonar 4.
Sonar Notes
A quick look at the Project 5 update and news of Sonar's rewrite for 64-bit processors.
Sonar: Metering options explained
Sonar Notes
Sonar offers lots of useful metering options you may not even be aware of, so this month we run through them and why you might want to use them, as well as getting clever with colours and explaining how to make your screen setup a hint more transparent...
Sonar: Hands-free Recording & Other Tips
Sonar Notes
This month, find your way around projects, undertake hands-free recording, configure an external MP3 encoder and create pseudo-Track Folders for MIDI.
Sonar Notes
We present everything you ever wanted to know about SysEx (System Exclusive) but were afraid to ask, plus the whys and wherefores of Sonar 4's cool new Freeze functions...
Sonar v4: Workflow Improvements
Sonar Notes
Not every new feature of Sonar 4 is a headline-grabber — there are many new facilities and tweaks to existing features that you might not initially notice, but which could make a big difference to your workflow.
Organising Tracks & Plug-ins in Sonar
Sonar Notes
Organise your tracks with Sonar 4's Track Folder feature, nudge them into place with sample accuracy, and reclaim older plug-ins for use in newer versions of Sonar.
How To Remote Control Sonar Effects
Sonar Notes
This month, how to use the handy Scrub tool, how to customise your track view, and an explanation of the procedure for setting up remote control of Sonar effects parameters.
Sonar Notes
We bring you yet more Sonar stratagems, including further adventures in envelope copying, some handy track tricks, and advice on using Arturia's Storm with Sonar.
Using the Pantheon reverb & Clip linking
Sonar Notes
This month, fun things to make and do with the Pantheon reverb, plus how linking clips can make your life easier...
Using OMF to transfer Sonar files
Sonar Notes
This month we look at clever envelope tricks, as well as how to transfer projects between DAWs that speak OMF.
Sonar Notes
This month we investigate a new DXi option that makes vocal manipulation as easy as editing MIDI data. Plus the usual haul of Sonar power tips...
Loading REX Files... and more tips
Sonar Notes
Find out how to load REX files into Sonar, discover which digital audio editors work best with loops, and explore some useful envelope techniques.
Sonar Notes
The latest Sonar update optimises the software for multi-processor PCs, as well as adding new operational features. Read on to find out what they'll mean to you, and explore another crop of tips and techniques.
Sonar Notes
Sync your VST effects perfectly with Sonar tempo, find out when snapshot is better than dynamic automation, and catch up with the latest Cakewalk software news.
Sonar's Hidden Useful Features
Sonar Notes
This month we're taking a break from examining Sonar 3 to look at some useful features, available in previous versions of Sonar, that we haven't yet covered in this regular column.
Sonar Notes
This month, get the most out of your meters, locate that missing patch, beef up your bass, and discover the hidden EQ bands in your console.
Sonar Notes
Extremely flexible bussing and assignable effects controls are just two of the extra features brought to Sonar by the 3.0 upgrade and explored this month...
Sonar Notes
Sonar's version number has just been incremented by a Significant Digit, so it's time for some exploration of what this new release means to Sonar aficionados.
Sonar Notes
There's more to plug-ins than audio, as we discover when digging deep into the world of MIDI plug-ins and effects.
Drag Techniques/Backing Up In Sonar
Sonar Notes
It's not a drag to drag-and-drop, nor is it a drag to export your way to a truly universal backup solution. Craig Anderton explains all...
Sonar Notes
Can't get rid of clicks when comping takes? You need to learn how to crossfade, and here's how... plus plenty of other Sonar-related tips.
Sonar Notes: ASIO Support; Dithering
Sonar Notes
This month we explore Sonar's new ASIO support, explain the advantages of recording dry while monitoring with effects, and shed some light on the knotty topic of dithering.
Hardware Controlled Automation; Arturia Storm; Cwenc MP3
Here's some advice on getting the best out of Sonar's automation using a hardware controller, and some pointers for working with Arturia Storm as a virtual instrument. Plus, there's the free Cwenc MP3 encoder to check out, as well as another great selection of bite-sized sequencing tricks.
Sonar As A Waveform Editor
Can Sonar also serve as a waveform editor? Craig Anderton thinks that with a little bit of work, it can...
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Sound On Sound : Est. 1985