Cakewalk SONAR 8.5 Studio  

Features

• New features, optimizations, and enhancements include:
• Loop Explorer 2.0 gives you a view that provides browse and preview of audio and MIDI groove clips and patterns; quickly drag-and-drop loops and patterns into the track view; and MIDI groove clips and patterns can be previewed with the virtual instrument of your choice.
• Dedicated Instrument Track is a single track optimized for mono or stereo virtual synths which simplifies the process of working with virtual instruments. In the pursuit of offering you options of how you want to work, the multitrack method of using virtual instruments employed by previous versions of SONAR is still supported. In addition, you can split and combine instrument tracks to/from discrete audio/MIDI tracks.
• SONAR performance optimizations focus on functionality, including improved performance at high track counts and low latencies, faster launch time, and the ability to change audio devices without restarting. Cakewalk has also streamlined communication with VST plug-ins and improved ASIO performance with output latency compensation.
• User Interface optimizations include smoother display when resizing windows and panes, optimized metering, more responsive zoom and scroll.
• Clip Selection Groups further SONAR's multitrack recording and take management capability. Now SONAR automatically groups clips together across tracks after each recording pass. This is perfect for comping any multitrack ensemble performance, especially drum takes.
• The Aim Assist Cursor gives you a visual guide to assist in lining up tracks for precision editing.
• Split and Mute Tools can now edit multiple clips simultaneously.
• The free Edit Tool lets you perform edits by clips or by time without the need of a modifier key.
• Live Effects and Soft Synth Recording make it so you can play and record effect and soft synth output into audio tracks in realtime using SONAR's live bounce feature.
• The Anytime Recording features means that while the SONAR transport is running or looping, you can now arm/unarm audio and MIDI tracks, punch in, punch out, and toggle between play and record.
• Exclusive Solo Mode with Solo Override is a new solo mode that forces soloing to one track/bus at a time and prevents tracks and buses from being muted when other tracks/buses are soloed.
• The Bus Inputs QuickGroup Command automatically groups all source tracks feeding a selected bus.
• Mono hardware outputs makes it easy to assign tracks and buses to individual hardware outputs in addition to stereo pairs.
• Transport Updates include True Rewind, Fast Forward and Pause buttons; Audition button; improved Jog/Shuttle Heuristics; and optimizations for control surfaces and scrub performance.
• With the Control Surface Enhancements you can now Show/Hide Tracks, Surface can follow either the Track View or Console View, obey visible/hidden tracks, control surfaces MIDI port assignments retained/stored in SONAR, real-world VST parameter values are now displayed.
• Track View and Console View Sync now automatically syncs visible/hidden tracks between the Track View and Console View channels.
• Enhanced Sample Rate Conversion now employs the same fast convolution engine as the LP-64 series 64-bit mastering plug-ins.
• SONAR 8 now includes Vista Audio/WASAPI support, which is compatible with any Vista audio device, including WaveRT PCI and motherboard audio, USB, and FireWire devices. It also has QuickTime 7 Import/Export support for the latest QuickTime 7 codecs, including H.264 and AAC audio.
• The Insert Send Assistant provides a fast and easy way to create effect buses and insert sends to new or existing buses.
• Updated ACT Presets now have mappings for popular plug-ins and controllers.
• Over 400 new production-ready Track Templates and Project Templates.
• Updated Drum Maps and Plug-in Presets enhancing the most popular SONAR plug-ins. New collection of drum pattern presets for the integrated Step Sequencer.
• Instruments
• Dimension LE: a special version of this award-winning instrument that combines real & synthesized sounds
• Rapture LE: modern electronic sounds for today's music
• DropZone: easy-to-use drag-n-drop sampler with REX support
• PSYN II: full-featured subtractive synthesizer
• RXP: easy-to-use REX player/groove box
• Roland GrooveSynth and TTS-1 with genuine Roland Sounds
• Session Drummer 2: create drum parts easily with a live feel, and with included popular drum patterns to get you started
• 11 total instruments included
• Effects
• Sonitus:fx Suite: Reverb, EQ, Delay, Compressor, WahWah, and more
• Boost 11 Peak Limiter for maximum punch from your final mix
• Channel Tools: essential stereo enhancement, utilizing sample delay, MS Decoding, and independent left/right panning
• Lexicon Pantheon SE Reverb based on legendary Lexicon hardware
• 33 audio FX and 7 MIDI FX included
• Content
• Garritan Pocket Orchestra for Dimension LE provides a complete set of orchestral instrumentation
• Preset patterns for the Step Sequencer offering useful beats to get your productions started
• New and updated ACT mappings for popular control surfaces and MIDI controllers
• New Project and Track Templates to get you set-up instantly
• Thousands of inspiring presets for the included instruments and effects
• And much more