Fantom G and Sonar 8

23 Aug 2009, 02:05

I've been thinking about buying a DAW. I've been doing a lot of research and have pretty much decided on buying Cakewalks Sonar 8 Producer. I downloaded the trial version, it seems to run fine on my PC, but it is very limited bacause most of the things I wanted to try out are disabled in the trial version.

Also, I've watched a lot of videos about it and really like some things - for ex. better more realistic pianos, guitars, stings and vocal editing features. Also I think mixing and mastering might be better and easier with it.

I'm mostly a songwriter, composer and usually record Christian music and stuff for Film, Tv. I'm not exactly new to recording. I've been doing it at home and in recording studios for years, but I never really got into using a DAW on the computer. Also, I have a Tascam 2488 neo (it works well but it's clumsy to work with.)

Since i'm really not that familiar with using a DAW and since Sonar 8 Producer would be a big investment for me, I thought I'd ask about it here and try to get a better idea of whether it would be worth it or not.

I intend on buyin the "Sonar 8 Power!" book so I don't necessarily need the in's and out's and specific instructions of how to operate it. Instead I'm just trying to get a feel for if you think it would be worth the investment and why.

So, with that in mind - Does anybody use their Fantom G with Sonar producer?

If so - How do you use it?
How do I hook it up to the computer?
Do I need a midi interface?
Do you connect directly to the computer through USB
Do you use any of the instrument sounds in it?
Do you record directly into DAW using the Fantom?
How?
Do you think it would be worth investing in?

Any ideas, hints, techniques, etc would be appreciated.

I know I'm asking for a lot but right now I'm setting on the fence and trying to decide, before I jump off and spend the money.

Thanks - Jim

Re: Fantom G and Sonar 8

23 Aug 2009, 04:20

I've been using Sonar 7 Producer Edition with my Fantom-G, so moving to Sonar 8 Producer Edition has been really seamless and transparent. Now I use Sonar 8 exclusively (I tend to use Reaper only for some dedicated projects), and integrating the Fantom-G into it is a breeze. Of course it depends on what's your other hardware equipment. For me that I have a dedicated firewire audio interface (Focusrite Saffire Pro 40), I use Fantom-G's USB connection only for MIDI. For audio I connect the Fantom-G via SPDIF for main I/O plus the analog outputs 3-4 to an analog input pair on the Pro 40. When using the Fantom-G mainly as a controller, engaging Single Mode and switching the External mode is all I need. Changing the MIDI channel changes the virtual instrument I play into Sonar. When I need to integrate Fantom-G sounds into my Sonar projects, I use Studio Mode. The Fantom-G's sounds are selected into the Studio Set itself, while I can switch to the External mixer page and control all the external MIDI channels I want.

Re: Fantom G and Sonar 8

23 Aug 2009, 05:44

"I know I'm asking for a lot but right now I'm setting on the fence and trying to decide, before I jump off and spend the money.
"

You can't really go wrong with Sonar 8 producer, if you have all your hardware compatible with it. As far as I know all of the features of the DAW are available on the demo, only the plugins are disabled....

Once you go through that Sonar power book, you should have all the answers to your questions you listed.

I have been using Cakewalk Sonar for a loooong time... it has come a loooong way since the pro audio days... the MIDI features have lagged behind a bit and aren't up to the modern features like some other DAWs out there... but it's pretty good....

I like it for the ease of setup, unlike some other DAWs, you can be up and running very quickly, and if you stick to a methodology for recording and organizing your work (sonar power book will help) things should be good....

Another DAW that you should try is the SONY ACID Pro 7 ...

Good luck..

--------------------
Fantom-G6, Motif XS6, Korg M3-m, Korg Z1, Roland MC808 and MC909.

live a musical life

Re: Fantom G and Sonar 8

24 Aug 2009, 07:42

Hi Jim

I write and record songs using Sonar 8 and a Fantom X6. Let me see if I can answer your questions, short and sweet:

If so - How do you use it?
---------------------------------------
I'm a guitarsit so I compose using guitar. I usually put my chord sequences into Band In A Box or Jammer Pro when I need keyboard or bass parts. I export that work as midi and then work entirely in Sonar.

How do I hook it up to the computer?
-----------------------------------------------------------
Fantom midi out to computer interface midi in.
Computer interface midi out to Fantom midi in.
Fantom audio outs (L and R) to computer interface audio ins.
You can also connect digital between Fantom and Sonar if you wish.

Do I need a midi interface?
----------------------------------------
Yes, see above. See MAudio's products.

Do you connect directly to the computer through USB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't. See above,

Do you use any of the instrument sounds in it?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
'It' meaning the Fantom I assume - yes, comprehensively.

Do you record directly into DAW using the Fantom?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midi from Sonar drives the Fantom's sound responses and you record the audio back in to Sonar via the audio (or digital) connections mentioned above.

How?
-------
Already covered.

Do you think it would be worth investing in?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd have thought so. Working in midi is highly flexible and straight forward, e.g. auditioning of Fantom sounds can all be requested within a Sonar track, and you needn't commit to audio until you're ready. Actually, in Sonar you can mix down both midi and audio tracks together if you want, but you have to do it in real time as the midi data plays and the Fantom makes the commanded sounds.

There's a lot more to it than just the above, but that should suffice for now in terms of giving you info to make a decision!

John

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