Features in SONAR?

[TXBamanut]

I'm currently looking for the next software that I will use to record some demos.

I'm looking at PowerTracks, but am partial to the Cakewalk stuff (having be a Pro Audio owner for a few years before I stepped out of the computer recording deal for a while).

Two things that I'm intrigued about with PowerTracks Pro (besides the price) is the "pitch to midi" option and the "auto harmony" deal. Does SONAR have anything like this?

Also, how is the pitch changing things on SONAR? For example, I have an analog track that I want to keep the same tempo, but I want to raise it to another key...how is SONAR on that? I don't know if PTP does that or not, but I'm just checking around for info.

Thanks.

 

[TXBamanut]

Just bumping this up to see if anyone can answer the question. Thanks.

 

[AlChuck]

Two things that I'm intrigued about with PowerTracks Pro (besides the price) is the "pitch to midi" option and the "auto harmony" deal. Does SONAR have anything like this?

Not that I'm aware of. There are probably plug-ins that do this.

Also, how is the pitch changing things on SONAR? For example, I have an analog track that I want to keep the same tempo, but I want to raise it to another key...how is SONAR on that? I don't know if PTP does that or not, but I'm just checking around for info.

Yeah, you can do that, it has looping capabilities like ACID. But raising an entire track to a different key is probably not going to sound very good no matter what tool you use.

 

[gullfo]

Two things that I'm intrigued about with PowerTracks Pro (besides the price) is the "pitch to midi" option and the "auto harmony" deal.

Also, how is the pitch changing things on SONAR?

the pitch to midi can be accomplished with some plugins: midifier or "TheExtractor" (TheExtractor is an audio VST plug-in controller that can detect audio parameters and convert them into MIDI.)

autoharmony sounds like another plugin - SONAR does come with things like pitch and chorus so in theory you could put some combination together. As far as using Groove Clips to pitch things, it depends on how drastic you get... going up or down a third or fifth might not be a problem...

Since SONAR supports VST and DXI you have a large number of options for pitch, audio to midi, and so on available. It all comes down to what you're trying to achieve in your music. I chose SONAR as a platform because of the power to leverage a lot of effects, MIDI, excellent work flow (IMO) and so on, without really looking at specific effects since I knew I could get those as I needed. If you're on a realy strict budget and must have the builtin effects offerings to make your music happen then it may be a good choice to go with Power Tracks, or even Adobe Audition.

 

[TXBamanut]

Thanks for the replies, guys...

...I really do more demos than finished product. I lean more to writer than producer or performer, although I have done some of both.

The transposition thing is a lot about the demo and who I'm pitching it to. If I'm pitching it to a female artist, I'd like to be able to make it a little more range friendly. As you guys know, the makeup of the song is sometimes so dependent on the instrumentation and some of the things I put in, I can't play in the key with the most friendly vocal range.

The pitch to midi was just cool to me as far as creating vocal lead sheets with having to write the stuff out. It's true, most folks will just listen to the recording, but it's a nice touch (in my opinion) to have a decent lead sheet quickly available, especially when you are working in a time crunch. (Although I NEVER work in a time crunch... )

The plugins you talked about(midifier or "TheExtractor"). What kind of price range are we talking about? Also, where's a good place to check these out on the web?

You know how it is, a lot of the time the money comes in all at once and I have to stretch it out. I'm not terribly limited, but I've REALLY learned to try to get the most of the dollar when it comes in.

Thanks.

 

[gullfo]

KVR-VST has most of what you'll need for plugins...

The price for midifier (last I checked) was around $50 US. I think TheExtractor is a bit more but may be more advanced as well.

From a producer standpoint, the more complex the project, the more likely SONAR will be a better choice, esp Producer Edition 4 because of the number of subtle and not so subtle workflow enhancements. + if you're going to do videos, the ability to import video and write sound tracks (etc...) is very useful (I just put a small video together for the first time using SP4 to work on the audio and music tracks... very effective).