Sonar Platinum is free.

Yup, Bandlab has picked up Sonar Platinum and is making it free to everyone who sets up an account.

https://www.bandlab.com/download/assistant/windows

https://www.bandlab.com/download/assistant/mac

If you've ever wanted a top of the line, full featured DAW, completely unlocked and totally legit version..... check this out.

I can not vouch for anything other than.... I use Sonar and love it.

Thanks for the info Herb.


Regards,

Bob

Thanks, Herb. As a fellow SONAR user, I've also been following the changes from the demise of Cakewalk under Gibson and the emergence of a new buyer, Bandlab.

I thought I read that the free version was for the basic version of SONAR. I need to go to your link and see if that's wrong. I hope I'm wrong - if it's for Platinum (their top-of-the-line), what an amazing gift this would be!

EDIT: it says it is Platinum. Amazing. Everyone shouls see the other thread here on this, with the news release: http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=465459#Post465459

I should point out that the Mac version of SONAR never really panned out. It worked but was never supported and the project was dropped by Cakewalk long before they folded. Use it with caution. The Windows version, however, has long been regarded as one of the finest DAW programs.

It should be noted Win 7 or higher is required to run it.

Unfortunately my DAW is XP Pro..... and running rock solid so I am loathe to change the OS just to run SPLAT when I already have Sonar X1 loaded and running extremely well with all my plugs..... so..... I might DL it to a memory stick and load it to my storage drive and when I am forced for one reason or another to upgrade the OS, I have SPLAT ready to install.

I always liked 8.5, but after fighting with it learned to like X1. Lots of users found faults in X1 and more so in X2, but I thought X3 was pretty good. The final state of Platinum, though, was really excellent. You’re going to have to bite the bullet and move on from XP sometime.

Seems to be without the plugins maybe that's where cost occurs, Still be decent I wont complain if they maintain it for future use.

Fewer and fewer vendors support XP because it is no longer supported by Microsoft and because mist everything is going to 64-bit (XP 64-bit had a whole host of issues that want worth working through).

My Windows 10 machines work pretty well, but I've found my Windows 7 laptop to be pretty rock solid at the OS level. Of course Windows 7 loses support in early 2020.

Unless your machine really is too slow, I would take an image of XP (so you can go back if you need to) and upgrade to 10 and try it out.

Seems to be without the plugins maybe that's where cost occurs, Still be decent I wont complain if they maintain it for future use.

Below is from the Cakewalk forum, posted by user BJZ:

As of now install of Cakewalk by Bandlab (as installed on 'virgin' computer):

1. Loses Melodyne, AD2, BlueTubes
2. Keeps Boost11, Sonitus suite, TTS-1, Groove Player, TH3, Studio Instrument Suite
3. Keeps PC modules Breverb2, Console Emulator, PC4K, PC76, Rematrix Solo, Softube Sat, Tape Emulater, Tape Sat. FX Chain and Style Dial
4. Keeps CW's Vocal Sync

Well unfortunately my windows 7 is 32 bit so after I download the assistant and run it, it crashes suddenly due to the fact I think that Splat is only for 64 bit systems.

Would have liked to have downloaded it, so as to keep for the future when I get around to a 64 bit system.

+++ Sound-On-Sound Announcement +++ . 64 bit only. Windows 7 or higher.

John

Since you installed it on a virgin computer, did you install on C:\ or elsewhere?

Reason I'm interested is to see if the "new" team is still putting remnants (i.e., crap) all over the C:\ drive even when the install is told to install elsewhere.

Larry

Hi, Larry -

Sorry, that wasn't my install. That was a user on the Sonar forum in response to the same question about what you get and what you don't get.

I did read, however, that it didn't give you options about "where" to install, and that was prevalent throughout the thread, so my guess is, yes it still sprays everything about.

On my install, it did leave/update the Sonar related content (not the program itself) on my existing E: drive (which is where I told Sonar Platinum to install), so it picked that information up. It does ask you if you want to preserve your previous settings.

John

Thanks

yea with that, I did install the Band Lab (for about 5 minutes) app that then installs Cakewalk. But I am NOT a fan of this kind of blind install app and the fact it inserts itself not in the Start Up where you can disable it (i.e., ctrl-alt-del -> task manger - > start up) but in the Registry under HKEY user

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

so you have to hack the registry to make it a user MANUAL start. At least I didn't; see any settings in the Band Lab App that allowed you to disable it at startup

so I don't; even have it installed since when its running you are also in touch with Band lab site, nothing nefarious I just don't want the overhead or the connection when I enable network access


The fact that SONAR, which is a very, VERY, capable DAW, is free with the above caveats (no control on install and that nuisance Band Lab Assistant app) should make make new users on a tight budget very happy (and old users like me folks wonder what did I spend thousands on it over the years - LOL)

Good luck
Larry

Well, I know that since I've built many of my computers, I've spent a lot on Windows upgrades over the years, and then Windows 10 comes along for free (and you can still get it for free if you have special needs). Windows 7 Pro was not cheap, nor was Windows 8 (at least 8.1 was a free upgrade from 8, but not from 7).

I could have save a little with the "home" editions, but I want more control over my machine than that.

But as they say, free is my favorite price (although in the end TANSTAAFL).

Seems I am not the only one..


http://forum.cakewalk.com/How-to-get-out-of-Demo-Mode-m3744810-p2.aspx

Loaded up one of the demo songs. Ugh, what a mess of a GUI! I’ve been using Tracktion for so long that just about any other DAW interface looks cluttered. Tracktion, with its signal flow centric, ‘modeless’ UI just matches my brain wiring. But I will give Cakewalk another go just to get access to the notation and tablature functions, if it doesn’t first drive me nuts

Larry,

I tried to do an uninstall for Bandlab assistant in order to try and reinstall and it kept popping up. I did a manual easter egg hunt search to root it out and found at least 8 other places where executables and folders were stored, in numerous folders in app data, local, roaming and local low too I believe. Also in program files and another location I am forgetting off the top of my head.

Is it necessary to have a Bandlab assistant folder in every directory in your computer???

Am I missing something here??

I think they are all gone now.

I will wait a few months on this one now.

Thx

thanks exactly what Sonar has been doing since the version that came out to work with Win Vista (so about sonar version 6?) it's a sloppy mess - no need for it.

But, to be fair, given the quick turn for Band Labs acquiring CW to this "release" I didn't expect them to waste time on cleaning up install code or doing anything major or radical.

But the fact that brought some of the same people over that caused this mess in first place - means it will never get better and probably only worse. Yes, this has (currently) virtually no "use" impact, and for 99.% of users this is "under the hood" stuff they don't care about

Larry

Larry,

Yes but...

Unless you open task manager and see 20 instances of power shell running using up more memory than a small rodent should be consuming.

Crazy man.

I just downloaded and installed the free Sonar, but have no idea how to use it. Any good tutorials for beginners around?

Thanks

Mike B.

Mike, Groove3 has a tutorial series of 49 videos +++ HERE +++ that takes 5 hours and 50 minutes to view.

You can pay for the ALL ACCESS pass or purchase the series. I prefer to purchase so I can download and have as a resource forever. Presently the series cost is $28 US. The series was created in 2015 so some newer features are not covered. A description is quoted below.



I should note that Groove3 also has a great video tutorial series for Band-in-a-Box. You can find out more about that +++ HERE +++

The Cakewalk University is still up https://www.cakewalk.com/CakeTV/SONAR-University also there is a heap of stuff on YouTube (start here https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qyqNJhSUGfI ) just look for what you want. The Cakewalk University has several levels and is often based on older versions but you'll get the idea. The best if you can get a copy to read is one of the Sonar Power books by Scott R Garrigus also look him up on the WEB he has more on Sonar. Another really good book (if you can get it) is the Simon Cann book Cakewalk Synthesizers From Presets to Power User this really shows how to get the most out various Synth plugins it is very useful beyond Sonar even helpful for BIAB. Simon Cann is worth looking up on the WEB as he also has much more on sound creation.


Hope it helps

Tony

Thanks for the answers guys, I'll check them out.

Mike B.

Hi all I cant seem to get to get to the download page for cakewalk.Ive installed bandlab assistant and then google chrome and it leads me to a mix editor,any help thank H

Got it ,its under apps thanks