SONAR X1 Power!: The Comprehensive Guide 1st Edition

I am new/noob/rookie to Sonar X1 Producer. My DAW skillset includes heavy user experience in Ableton Live, Cubase, and FL Studio. I am not an expert of DAWs but I can do a nice Trance version of Merry Had A Little Lamb. Mr. Garrigus's book is the Godzilla of all guides. Of all the guides that I've read for DAWs which include Pro Tools, Ableton, and Cubase, this book from Mr. Garrigus totally demolishes and tramples all the other DAW guides. The best way to learn a new DAW is to get a solid footing on the basics and slowly work your way deeper and deeper into the more complex tools of the software. Mr. Garrigus's book starts off with putting you right into the basics, explaining everything from setting up your Sonar X1, to naming your files. Basics..very important. In fact, Mr. Garrigus spends about two to three chapters preparing the user on the basics so that when the chapters get really complex, the user will have a sufficient skillset to at least manage his/her way around Sonar X1. I always believe in setting the basics right at the start of every learning process, and Mr. Garrigus does it perfectly!Mr. Garrigus also uses a very casual form of writing style which makes the reader feel that the author is actually there sitting next you explaining Sonar. English is not my first language and I didn't have any problems whatsoever understanding his words and sentence structure. Complex parts of the Sonar X1 are explained in a step by step pattern. Half of the book will actually touch on the different virtual instruments and FXs available to Sonar X1 Producer. Very helpful for someone new to Rapture, Session Drummer 3, and Dimension Pro. The book will not make you an expert on these different instruments and FX but it will give you the right tools to get you started. What I like about Mr. Garrigus's book is that he doesn't hold your hand every step of the way. By doing so, you get to focus more on the software itself rather than being glued to the book all the time.Now, a few reviewers mentioned a few things they didn't like about the book and I'd like to respond to those comments.To those who said this book didn't have sufficient illustrations. I have a simple solution to this. Try turning on your Sonar X1 software while you are reading this book. The book was designed for you to read and operate Sonar X1 at the same time. It's called multi-tasking. If you can't multi-task, then you have no business operating this DAW, much less drive a car.Furthermore, if the author provided illustrations to every procedure he mentioned in the book, this book would run to about 1000 maybe 2000 pages; it'll probably weigh close to your audio desktop, considering all the plug-ins, windows, control panels, this DAW has. This book is sufficiently illustrated. Turn on your Sonar X1 and follow the book. Simple.THis book is for people who know how to read and comprehend. This is not your kid brother's "Learning ABC" book where each letter of the alphabet has a visual representation of an object or figure e.g. "A" for Apple and there's a picture of an Apple on the next page with a smiley worm sticking out of the fruit. If you are having problems reading this book, you can either go back to pre-school or go to your nearest bookstore and ask for "The ABC Book of Sonar X1" at the children's section (good luck matey), or cut down on texting and Facebook time. You should try and grab a book and learn how to read. Reading is good for you. Didn't they tell you that in school?This book is for people who are willing to put time and effort mastering Sonar X1. This is not an instant guide. Check the definition of "Comprehensive" if you are still confused. This is not a video game manual, where it's about five pages and off you go. If you wish to squeeze out every ounce of power Sonar X1 has, then read this book and PRACTICE. Sonar X1 is a complex DAW, just like Pro Tools, and Ableton. If you think you can master Sonar after a few pages reading this book, then you are gravely mistaken. I suggest you just stick with Guitar Hero or Band Hero if you are not willing to spend time and effort reading this book to learn Sonar.And to the other reviewers saying the book didn't touch on Sonar X1; all I can say is that they should really stop going through their parent's medicine cabinet.I've said my views, time for me to go back to learning this new program. Making music pays part of my house bills , and this book is the key to guiding me to my next paycheck. If you are only learning Sonar X1 so you can impress your friends on YouTube about how cool your music is with a few simple loops, then you should look for the book "Learning Sonar X1 with Winnie the Pooh- colouring book and PlayDoh included".Get this book if you want to learn Sonar X1 the right way.

I have been using SONAR Power Books since Sonar 7 which was when I started using Sonar. It was then, and still is the only real guide to SONAR. It written in way to teach you how to use the program not just to tell you what the program does and how it does it. The 2000+ page PDF that comes with SONAR is very good for looking up certain Parameters and other odd things and variouse details and parametrs, but it doesn't teach you much in the way of using the program, it is only a reference. I would also like to mention that to print it would cost between $100 and $300 depending on how it was done and if it is done professionally you will need to get a Copywrite release from Cakewalk/Roland first. I have 2 x 27" screens a 24" screen and it still is a bother to use the pdf even though the format has finally gotten up to a usable speed. Books are just easier in this case. It is the same as with Windows book as compared to the help files, for instance. You also get support from Scott's Web Site, for free. So it seems to be a good deal at about $30.00 for an approx. 500 page book. No it doesn't have a lot of graphics or pictures, but it has enough and it makes up for the lack of graphics and pictures with good writing, and in this case a picture is NOT worth a thousand words as pictures don't explain anything and they take up a lot of space and who wants a 1000 page + manual the costs $150 just to get a bunch of nice color pictures with yellow arrows pointing out what the text is talking about? Why not just turn the program on while you are reading the book? An option would be to include a companion DVD with pictures to go along with the text. I now have quite a bit of the program learned, but I still find the Power Books indespensible, and buy each new one that comes out just for the new features. Scott really does know SONAR and knows how to explain how to use it. It's a much better thing to spend your money on a book that explains the whole program than a 30-60 minute video on the Cakewalk site that explains one or two features. I am looking forward to getting SONAR X2 POWER!Peace,Brian Burke

As usual, Scott does a great job of helping bring out the small details that make a difference how Sonar works. Sonar X1 is a different animal than previous versions and at first glance seems to be more cumbersome and not a very user friendly way of working. But, if you just persevere and leave the "I hate change" attitude behind, most will find that it is a better way of working than the previous versions. This book will go a long way in helping you reach that level quicker. Scott of course covers all features in depth and in a way that makes sense. There are countless suggestions on how to customize the program for your way of working and many tips on features that are present, but not immediately obvious. The two chapters on editing are especially valuable to me and will be cause for me to keep the book beside my computer for a long time. I haven't read the complete book yet, but I look forward to getting into all the details of included plugins and learning new things about them. All this, and the fact that Scott is accessible via his web site and Sonar's forum, in my opinion, makes this a five star book for any owner of Sonar X1. Just for your reference: I have been a Sonar user for about five years, but am not a professional user. I use it as a hobby and usually record instrumental pieces using softsynths and guitar audio, with hardly anyone else being on my recordings. So, I am familiar with past versions, but am not what some would call a power user. However, I think this book would benefit even the powerusers, because of all the new features and methods stuffed into Sonar X1.

Hi - I write this as a very amateur home-recording type, doing some singer-songwriter stuff with guitars, midi-drum backing, several vocal tracks, a few virtual instruments etc - not interested in electronic/synthy stuff. Have played with Cakewalk products for years but never got very deep - thought this would help me get to grips with X1 Producer edition I'd just bought. I've used it now for a few months and my verdict is...it does that - sort of.There are definitely some good walkthroughs in there for common functions (eg inserting a soft synth, which continues to trip me up !), and some useful tips.The downside is that they are buried between loads and loads of stuff which Basil Fawlty would characterise as 'the bleedin' obvious'. You know the sort of thing - "The MUTE button is used to mute this track"....What I was hoping for was explanation from the perspective of the end-result you are trying to get - ie more emphasis on things like - WHY would I do this ? WHICH tool should I pick to achieve a given result? common do's and don'ts. Some of that is there, but what I find mostly is a collection of chapters which go through settings and options of each tool in remorseless detail, without putting them in context. I'm guessing this is because the book has built up over many years and what Scott has done is to add content each time a new Cakewalk tool appears, without deprecating the old ones. So for instance there are individual descriptions of the many general soft synths provided(TTS1, Rapture, Dimension, Cyclone, Old Uncle Tom Synthy....) without a general intro that help the newbie understand 'Here is how I would approach choosing the right tool for my particular case".V-Vocal for instance seems a very powerful tool , but I'm stuck to understand what some of the key concepts are (formants ?) since these aren't really explained - guidance on some starter settings are helpful, but a description of those basic concepts and terms would help us to experiment more fruitfully.So Scott - hope you take that as constructive criticism for future versions. There's good stuff in here, but do some weeding, and consider more 'results-oriented' chapters please !

This is a nice big book, with easy-to-read text. However, there aren't enough screen shots (a picture speaks a thousand words, as the saying goes) and the focus is on MIDI instruments, rather than audio. I know this is down to personal preference, but I record audio more than midi, so would have preferred the focus to be on audio.

Constant source of info well written and logical in its approach. Use of it and the online videos at Cakewalk will help considerably.

A handy reference for Sonar usage

Augments the Sonar help file for this very intensive music program with a steep learning curve.