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• Sonar X3 Free Full Download
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Configure This DAW for Any Workflow

Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer DAW software will revolutionize the way you approach PC-based music production. Freakishly powerful, delightfully customizable, SONAR X3 Producer is perfectly suited for seasoned SONAR users and music-production novices alike. And talk about value, SONAR X3 Producer comes packed with 23 amazing virtual instruments, 57 great-sounding plug-in processors (including the awesome new Boutique Suite), songwriting tools, and even mastering and distribution options. And thanks to SONAR X3's brilliantly simple Skylight user interface, going between performance, recording, editing, mixing, mastering, and distribution couldn't be easier. Keep reading to find out all about Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer.

Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer DAW Software at a Glance:

• Play - All the tones and virtual instruments you need live inside SONAR X3
• Record - Flexible tools simplify your recording workflow without limiting your potential
• Edit - Perform pro-level editing techniques effortlessly with the Skylight interface
• Mix - Refine your tracks with a host of amazing virtual processors
• Master - Full suite of onboard mastering tools make polishing your mix easy
• Deliver - Distributing your latest masterpiece is just a few mouse clicks away

Play - All the tones and virtual instruments you need live inside SONAR X3

One of our favorite things about SONAR at Sweetwater is the sheer amount of content you get. Cakewalk packed SONAR X3 Producer with 23 killer virtual instruments, including recent additions such as Applied Acoustics System's Lounge Lizard SONAR and Strum Acoustic, as well as XLN Audio's Addictive Drums. If you play guitar or bass, then you'll really get a kick out of the new TH2 Producer amp simulator. Combined with SONAR X3's awesome low-latency audio sound engine, these fun guitar effects are even perfect for recording.

Record - Flexible tools simplify your recording workflow without limiting your potential

With unlimited audio, MIDI, and instrument tracks at your disposal, Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer sets the bar when it comes to basic recording capability. There's also no limit (other than your interface's I/O) to the number of inputs you can record with at once. But the basics are hardly all SONAR X3 Producer has to offer. For starters, it's built around a phenomenal sounding 64-bit/384kHz audio engine, which keeps your sound as pristine as possible for mixing and editing. It also provides you with a huge collection of useful recording options, including the ability to record multiple takes directly to separate take lanes in the same channel, or to monitor effects while recording. Best of all, all of these powerful functions are super easy to find when you need them.

Edit - Perform pro-level editing techniques effortlessly with the Skylight interface

One of the things that really sets Cakewalk SONAR X3 apart from other DAW programs is its Skylight user interface. Despite being completely modular, SONAR X3 feels solid. What that means is that you can organize the individual modules as you like them (arrangement view, piano roll, mixer, etc.) and then lock them together into a single window. Thanks to the Smart Tool, you can move effortlessly from module to module, without having to memorize a litany of keyboard shortcuts or constantly fumble around with pop-up toolbars. Powerful editing features such as AudioSnap time correction and Melodyne Essential pitch correction, let you polish your sound perfectly. SONAR X3 Producer also includes an amazing tool that make comping multiple take a breeze. Add to that powerful loop construction tools, a unique step sequencer, and many other streamlined editing tools, and it's little wonder so many people are making the switch to SONAR X3 Producer.

Mix - Refine your tracks with a host of amazing virtual processors

When they say 'no limits,' Cakewalk means it. You'll experience the kind of flexibility this affords you when it comes time to mix in SONAR X3 Producer. We're talking about unlimited channels, buses, auxiliary sends, and inserts, all of which give you the freedom to mix the way you like to. And when it comes to advanced mixing tools and plug-ins, SONAR X3 Producer has you covered. The list begins with nearly 60 effects and processors, including the incredible filter and distortion effects of Tone2 BiFilter 2, warm tape sound courtesy of ProChannel TapeSim, world-class recording studio reverb thanks to Nomad Factory BlueVerb. Top it off with a hoard of staple processors and an amazing full-sized console emulation, and getting sweet sound in the box has never been easier.

Master - Full suite of onboard mastering tools make polishing your mix easy

Put in the simplest terms possible, you can easily spend as much as SONAR X3 Producer costs on a suite of high-end mastering plug-ins alone, without batting an eyelash or gaining a thing. Designed specifically for mastering, Cakewalk's newly revamped LP-64 EQ linear-phase parametric equalizer and LP-64 multiband compressor are ideally suited for adding that final polish to your mixes. And best of all, SONAR X3 Producer lets you access these amazing tools at any point in your music-production process, without ever breaking your workflow.

Deliver - Distributing your latest masterpiece is just a few mouse clicks away

With all of the tracking, editing, mixing, and mastering behind you, there's only one thing left to do, and that's to share your work with the rest of the world. Whether you need to simply burn a CD or you want to toss your latest tune up to SoundCloud, Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer lets you do it all - without ever leaving the program. Complete integration with Gobbler provides you with essential access to cloud data storage. That's not all. SONAR X3 Producer will also let you export video straight to YouTube. You can even print notation right from SONAR X3 or export it in MusicXML format. So don't be shy - show off your music with the amazing tools in SONAR X3 Producer.

Sonar X3 Free Full Download

Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer DAW Software NEW Features:

• Skylight Interface enhancements and color customizations
• Craft the perfect vocal performances with Melodyne Essential
• Sculpt your mixes with precision using the new flyout QuadCurve EQ/Analyzer
• Comp multiple takes together instantly for the ultimate performance
• Play vintage piano sounds with Applied Acoustics Systems Lounge Lizard SONAR
• Get authentic drums sounds with the full version of XLN Audio Addictive Drums
• Have a session guitar player with you at all times with AAS Strum Acoustic SONAR
• Fine tune your mixes with the 19 included Nomad Factory Blue Tubes FX
• Get incredible filter and distortion effects with Tone2 BiFilter 2
• Bring back the vintage, warm sound of tape with the ProChannel TapeSim
• Access Vintage-style world-class recording studio reverb with Nomad Factory BlueVerb
• 57 total FX including the new Boutique Suite
• Improved video support including YouTube export
• Save your projects to the cloud with Gobbler integration
• Full support for VST3 synths and effects

Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer DAW Software Features:

• Unlimited audio, MIDI, and instrument tracks lets you take full advantage of your computer's resources
• Enhanced award winning Skylight interface provides smooth and seamless workflow that you can customize to your needs
• Pristine 64-bit/384KHz audio engine sounds absolutely amazing
• Supports surround mixing
• Modular ProChannel lets you create complex processing chains with incredible detail
• BREVERB SONAR and BREVERB SONAR ProChannel modules provide powerful and easy advanced processing
• Also includes FX Chains, FX Chains 2.0, QuadCurve, Softube Saturation Knob ProChannel Modules
• ProChannel Console Emulation Module lets you add analog-style warmth to your whole mix
• 23 x Virtual instruments including Rapture subtractive synthesizer and the Z3TA+ Classic provide you with tons of amazing sounds
• Matrix performance view makes creative songwriting easy
• Integrated per track arpeggiator lets you create cool synth and keyboard effects
• TH2 Producer Guitar Processor lets you get killer guitar and bass tone in the box
• Linear, phase-accurate Mastering EQ and Multi-Band compressor provide mastering-grade processing
• Automation and Take Lanes streamline mixing and comping
• AudioSnap 2.0 time correction built in
• Flexible export and delivery options include MusicXML score format and SoundCloud direct audio uploading
• Native 32/64-bit application for Windows PC computers
• Compatible with VST plug-in processors and virtual instruments

Maximize your efficiency with Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer DAW software!

• Pros

  Unlimited audio, MIDI, and instrument tracks. 64-bit engine with VST3 plug-in support. Netviewer 2.0 dvr software download. Contains enough plug-ins to mix a professional-sounding record. Crisp, clearly laid out Skylight user interface, complete with full mixer view.

• Cons

  Some dated-sounding plug-ins. Needs better notation editing. Some disparate elements of the user interface remain. Skylight UI really needs a 1080p screen to come into its own.

• Bottom Line

  Cakewalk retools the least expensive version of its flagship SONAR X3 digital audio workstation with exceptional results.

If you cut your teeth on a portable digital multi-track recorder—or, and I'm dating myself here, a 4-track cassette studio—then prepare to be amazed. Cakewalk SONAR X3 ($149.99 list) may be the least expensive version of SONAR available, but it's no cut-rate digital audio workstation software. In doing this review, it would be easy to look at all the things taken out from the higher-end Studio and Producer versions of SONAR X3, and list them all as cons for this product. But that's irrelevant to someone who lacks the extra cash. More usefully, let's look at it from the other side: Does SONAR X3 offer everything you need to produce professional results, or do you really need to spend more than that? Thankfully, I can report the former is true. Cakewalk SONAR X3 is a seriously flexible program for the price.

• $499.00
• $499.99
• $499.00

Setup, Recording, and Interface
For this review, I tested SONAR X3c on a Core i5-powered Lenovo ThinkPad running 64-bit Windows 7. As with the Producer and Studio versions, there's no copy protection the way there is with Pro Tools and Cubase, which is a huge relief when using an ultrabook or other laptop with few USB ports. Installation is as easy as purchasing and downloading the software from Cakewalk's website, although you may find a better deal with a boxed version in a music store, depending on whether there are any sales at the time you're reading this.

For recording, what's great about SONAR X3 is that, unlike Avid Pro Tools Express, which comes bundled with audio interfaces like the Avid Mbox Mini and limits you to 16 audio tracks and just eight instrument tracks, Cakewalk's entry-level DAW version has no recording restrictions. You get unlimited audio, MIDI, instrument tracks, sends, and busses. You also get the same 64-bit audio engine and VST3 plug-in support from SONAR X3 Producer. SONAR X3's audio engine seems faster and smoother than before. I had noticed odd hesitations on occasion with SONAR X1, even when running on fast quad-core PCs, but I saw none of this behavior with SONAR X3.

Sonar X3 Producer Guitar

The modular Skylight user interface is a gem, and one of the best things about the entire SONAR lineup. It manages to stay reasonably uncluttered and attractive, while simultaneously letting you do everything you need to do when recording, arranging, and mixing, depending on how you lay out the windows. The home screen lets you arrange just about any combination of the track view, track inspector, score view, piano roll, and event list, and lock it so that everything is on one screen, similar to the way Logic Pro works on the Mac. Four shortcut keys (C, D, B, and I) toggle the four main elements on the display on and off. As before, you can create extra screen sets, letting you arrange the various interface elements, windows, and plug-ins across multiple monitors, and then calling up each one with the corresponding numeric key.

Note: The slideshow below is of Cakewalk SONAR X3 Producer, which has the same interface but extra plug-ins not included with the base version.

This program begs for a 1080p (1,920-by-1080-pixel) touch screen or external monitor, either of which makes SONAR X3 downright pleasurable to work in. But it's a lot more cramped on, say, the ThinkPad's 1,366-by-768-pixel laptop display. All major DAWs, including Pro Tools, Logic, and Cubase, are easier to use at higher screen resolutions, but none seem to require one quite the way SONAR X3 does.

Editing Tools
As before, the Control Bar at the top contains oversized track control buttons and easy access to the metronome, recording resolution, tempo, and meter. You can expand the control bar to add sections for loop recording, editing, and other features; and you can set the bar to float as well as stay affixed to the top. You can drag and drop the various Control Bar sections around. Cakewalk also improved the Control Bar's Smart Tools; for example, you can highlight an audio clip, click near the top header, and drag it left or right—or down, in which case the system creates a new track automatically. You can hold down CTRL to double the clip as well.

One of the new signature features in SONAR X3 is the comping tool, which lets you assemble the perfect track from a series of take lanes. Each time you record, it creates a new lane. A special mode lets you quick comp without the mouse; just hit shift and the space bar and you can toggle between the various tracks using the arrow keys. Each time you hit Enter for each piece, it jumps to the top, so you can assemble the take very quickly without stopping the audio engine. This makes quick work of assembling lead and background vocals, and (arguably) can be even faster than it is in Pro Tools, assuming you take the time to learn SONAR X3's way of doing things.

The step sequencer and matrix view offer many possibilities for beat programming, and you still get SONAR's workable-if-not-class-leading notation view. Unfortunately, once you begin to dig deeper into the interface, and especially with regard to MIDI editing, MIDI plug-ins, quantizing, and hardware configuration pages, you'll see practically the same UI elements you would have seen in Cakewalk Pro Audio nearly 20 years ago. There's still way too much 'Windows 95' underneath Skylight. It all works well enough, but it looks dated, complete with too many crowded dialog boxes and the old Windows system font.

Cakewalk SONAR X3

Bottom Line: Cakewalk retools the least expensive version of its flagship SONAR X3 digital audio workstation with exceptional results.

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