Sonar 6

[braincell]

It's more on topic than the release of someone's personal CD. I for one am tempted to try this. How does the chip work with Creamware is what I want to know. Someone mentioned ASIO. I thought Sonar had ASIO a long time ago. Am I missing something?

[firubbi]

http://www.cakewalk.com/sonarupgrade/sneak.asp
sonar 6 released on 2006
sonar 9 is coming on 2009 .... per year a new version.

[pollux]

http://www.cakewalk.com/sonarupgrade/sneak.asp
sonar 6 released on 2006
sonar 9 is coming on 2009 .... per year a new version.

It's sonar 8.5 in fact
and it has some quite nice things, like an arpegiator on eachtrack, a matrix view à la Project 5 / Live and a good step sequencer The routing is quite good, not as good as Reaper's tho. (Scope's routing plays in a different league )
The bundled FX and synths are very good imho, and the voice or percussion strips have everything you need in a single place, but they are not as good as solaris, master it, the C350 or the P100. There's nothing in there like Dynomic or Saw

[johndunn]

I've been following soft synths closely for years both for professional reasons (to ensure my algorithmic music software plays well with them) and because I'm just wired to like big modulars and any software that has a hope of emulating them. I've also followed some of the big studio packages, although less closely. I've had online (that's BBS, pre internet) discussions with Greg Hendershott in the '80s when he was developing what would become Cakewalk and I was working on MusicBox, which would become ArtWonk. Greg was in favor of what amounted to a digital MIDI recorder that captured MIDI then allowed it to be edited; I was more interested in real time algorithmic generation of MIDI. Greg's approach is the one that took and it put him in Ferraris; mine has, alas, remained obscure and I still drive Fords. (But I think I still have more fun with my own software than he does with his.)

I've been involved with beta testing of early versions of VAZ and Reaktor, both of which are excellent modular softsynths. In fact, I've owned most of the major softsynths. Again for professional reasons, to make sure they can be properly driven by my software; and because I just love the damn things.

It has been clear to me for a few years, and it has now come to pass, that modern computer chips can perform well enough to do native DSP based softsynths. You don't really need special DSP cards to do the job.

So what's the deal with Scope?

It is my belief that Scope, both in Xite-1 and PCI card incarnations, have made the DSP/Native argument irrelevant because it has surpassed the limits of technology and become a genuine (if monstrously flexible) musical instrument. I've said it before and I'll say it again: it's become the Stradivarius of soft synths because it's become timeless. While I wish S/C the best and very much hope they live long and prosper, in a sense it doesn't matter whether they do or not. Scope will continue to be the best of the best of the softsynth solutions long after the technology moves on.

Scope is - for me at least - a solved issue. As much as I like the other softsynths, especially Auturia's Moog V, and of course VAZ and Reaktor (and even the AA Tassman although their licensing is buggy and I was plagued with having to beg for a reset every few months), I no longer bother to install any other softsynths besides Scope. Not only are the Scope synths and modulars among the best, but all the studio wiring is included in a visually clean manner that can easily be saved and later returned to and modified. This makes a Scope project a living instrument, rather than an archive of something already done.

Forgive me if I sound a bit obsessive about Scope. I've been working with modular synths and finally softsynths since the 70's and Scope is the first synth sound environment that does it all and does it well enough so that I can stop jonesing for more and better technology to solve all the many problems inherent with synth sound creation. Finally, finally, Scope can put "paid" to all that: problem solved, just go do music now.

PS: I'm feeling a little giddy because finally I got Xite-1 working. So, yes, there are still technology issues, and there always will be. But I still contend that Scope, whether the proven PCI cards, or the emerging Xite-1 box, should be thought of more as musical instruments than technology solutions. Scope has transcended technology.

[netguyjoel]

WOW! You put that better than, I think, any true Scope user could ever have. Well thought out & well put. And no... imo, you are not obsessive....just a realist that recognises and knows the difference....
Hear! Hear! for Sonic Core!

[garyb]

well put, John.

[firubbi]

well said john and scope is one of the best soft synth. the best part of scope is it don't use cpu where powecore,uad,duende does

[garyb]

quit raining on our parade, party pooper. this place if for those who see a benefit in Scope. why else would we be here?

[kylie]

There is someone in a bad mood.

he just realized you've taken the lead as top poster

[garyb]

he's had that for a year or so...

[kylie]

he's had that for a year or so...

yes. he must have had his first top poster anniversary, now that I think about it...
(I didn't even bypass the 2000 mark... )

[kylie]

"Everything counts in large amounts"

ps: yes stardust, dm, who else?