Cubase or Sonar?

**paw1** · 01-26-2013

Gonna get myself a new DAW. After looking at different ones I've decided to go with either Sonar X2 Producer or Cubase 7. I come from ProTools LE 7.3.

I am a student, so I can get Cubase for about half the price, so that's nice. But I've heard that it has a really steep learning curve, and can be a bit frustrating to work with if you don't know it well. Also, the plugins that come with it isn't as good as the ones in Sonar, supposedly. I think that Sonar comes with more instrument plugins as well, which is nice!

What do you think? Why do you like one over the other? Would you agree with the things statements above?

Hope some Cubase fans will pop in here as well so I can get a balanced view

Best regards,

-paw

**jbltwin1** · 01-27-2013

Don't know anything about Cubase 7 but I have one of the lower lines of Cubase and honestly, I can't stand it. I have a hard time understanding it and have NO luck getting it to work. I use Producer 7 and amd used to it so Sonar gets MY vote.

**Jonesey9** · 01-28-2013

I was in your situation back in 2007, agonising over whether to buy for my first DAW, either Cubase or Sonar
After a lot of internet browsing I settled on Sonar, and I'm glad I did
What really tipped my decision was the forums - the Cakewalk forum is full of helpful, knowledgeable people
The Cubase forum on the other hand seems to be a closed shop for closed minds
Just telling it like it is......

**c7sus** · 01-28-2013

Sonar has a steep learning curve too, partly because there are so many editing and FX functions available.

If you are on a budget you might want to look into Reaper. SonarX2 is pretty spendy for the full "Producer" version if you are a first time Cakewalk customer. It has extensive functionality without any of the add-on stuff like compressors or concrete limiters, but the add-ons sound great too.

But yeah, you are posting in the Sonar Forum so people are gonna say "buy Sonar".

I can say in my experience Sonar plays very well with other VST's as long as you put them where Sonar can find them.

I would also suggest watching the tutorial videos at the CW site. They are pretty short but cover a lot of the functionality and how to access different features.

**jimmys69** · 01-28-2013

Originally Posted by Jonesey9

I was in your situation back in 2007, agonising over whether to buy for my first DAW, either Cubase or Sonar
After a lot of internet browsing I settled on Sonar, and I'm glad I did
What really tipped my decision was the forums - the Cakewalk forum is full of helpful, knowledgeable people
The Cubase forum on the other hand seems to be a closed shop for closed minds
Just telling it like it is......

Telling it like it is from your perspective. You are entitled to your opinion.

I however, have found more support in forums for Cubase, than any other DAW. Well, Reaper users seem to be the most helpful actually, but it was the Cubase forums support that made it work for me. What Cubase forum are you referring to? The users of Cubase here, are very friendly. Even the steinberg site is full of immediate information from dedicated users. I don't see where you got the 'closed shop' feeling. Did you ask a stupid question that the manual would have answered, and got your feelings hurt by someones comment?

Sorry man, but 'telling it like it is' is just your opinion, and not a good form of advice to someone that is new to this stuff. Just because you have had a bad experience, is not enough reason to give such a judgment. 'Telling it like it felt for me' would be more appropriate, though it sounds quite soft that way.

I will bow out of this forum now with one point; Give advice based on your actual knowledge, not your personal feelings. The OP was asking for insight from those who actually use the software, not those who did not get it. Software is a very personal thing. Some just work better with one over another. Most all of the top software's do the same thing. It is just how an individual is able to work with it, that makes it work for them individually.

@ paw1, download demo version of Cubase and find out for yourself, if it seems workable for you. Nobody can tell you what you like. Every DAW has a steep learning curve. They damn well better, or the software would be worthless. There is no 'easy' button for anything. Whether Reaper, Protools, Cubase, Sonar, Studio One, Garageband....... it is you that will decide what works best for your brain.

**paw1** · 01-29-2013

Thank you for your replies! Jimmy, the problem with Cubase is that you have to buy a key even to try out the demo.

I have a problem..been set on different DAWs a few times, but always end up over thinking something and changing my mind. For a time I was set on getting Reaper. What "worries" me, is if it's not extensive enough (although I doubt that), and I would have to learn another DAW all over again, which is a hassle. I'm not too worried about the economic part of it. I just want to get something that's good, and settle with it.

I know the answer here. It goes something like this: Just get a F-ing DAW, you'll be fine! But which?

**tnrocks** · 02-18-2013

I have been a rabid fan of Sonar. I recently switched to Studio One Pro. Since the switch I am more than happy. I can't explain it but the overall clarity of my mixes are way more pristine. In all honesty I wish I would of tried something else out earlier. Try some free demos, see which ones you like the best.

**fuzzsniffvoyage** · 02-19-2013

Never used Cubebase. I use Sonar X1. It has more features than I know how to use. I don't think it really matters what daw you use, they all have excellent sound quality, and so it's a personal decision.

**WhiteStrat** · 02-21-2013

Originally Posted by fuzzsniffvoyage

Never used Cubebase. I use Sonar X1. It has more features than I know how to use. I don't think it really matters what daw you use, they all have excellent sound quality, and so it's a personal decision.

^^^This^^^

It's a personal decision. I've been using Cubase since v3. Just upgraded (like literally tonight) to v7. I can say I love it, but I can't say it's the best. I happen to love it, because it's what I know. It's what I started on, it's what I've grown up with. I've got tons of VST instruments and plugins, and while I'm sure I could make them work with another DAW, I already know HOW to make them work with Cubase--so I stick with what I know, and get on with making music.

Having said that, I'll also say this: I've jumped into editing sessions in studios that had ProTools--took me about 5 minutes to figure out what was what. Not a problem. I needed to do some recording at work on a PC in the field--so I went cheap and got Reaper for that one. I was blown away by how full featured it was, and again, after already knowing Cubase, the learning curve for Reaper was about 5 minutes.

In other words, the concepts are the same. All the major DAWs try their best to emulate a physical/analog studio environment with a console, inserts, racks, etc. The execution varies, so the workflows are a bit different. For me, that's the most important part--the workflow. What allows me to get the most done in the least time? Since I already know it, that's Cubase for me.

But if I were just starting out (or starting over), I would download and try as many trial versions as I could. I'd dig into 'em and record a few tunes. Whatever felt best, fit me the best, is what I'd go with. The results can be achieved with any number of DAWs--it's what you do with it. So slow down, take a couple/few weeks, and play with some demos.

**fuzzsniffvoyage** · 02-21-2013

One piece of advise I will give, what ever you decide to use, stick with it and learn it. Try to use all of the features, learn the key board short cuts.