Cakewalk has announced version 8.5 of SONAR Producer and SONAR Studio. New capabilities including enhanced beat creation and arrangement tools, a new drum instrument loaded with stellar kits and patterns, an enhanced audio timing toolset, new multi-stage effect plug-ins for drums, percussion sounds, and vocal tracks, engine optimizations and stability improvements, and many additional workflow and technological advances — notably Windows 7 compatibility.
New Features & Workflow Enhancements:
- Matrix View — simple and flexible cell-based, non-linear audio and MIDI arranging with live triggering capability.
- Step Sequencer 2.0 — the most powerful step sequencing capability in any DAW.
- Integrated Arpeggiator — trigger arpeggiations on MIDI or instrument tracks with in-depth control over all arp parameters. Includes hundreds of presets.
- Session Drummer 3 — latest version of Cakewalk’s virtual instrument for easy and fast creation of drum tracks with a new UI, stellar sounding kits, and patterns from top sound designers and drummers, more.
- AudioSnap 2.0 — updated audio quantizing and time-shifting technology with new look and refinements to all the core controls, significantly improving workflow, plus improved offline rendering.
- Media Browser — a new hub for content access in SONAR; supports multiple formats to preview and import your loops, grooves, and MIDI patterns; features presets to grab content from your favorite locations.
- PX-64 Percussion Strip — 7-stage processor designed specifically for use with drums and percussion.
- VX-64 Vocal Strip — 7-stage processor optimized for shaping and sculpting vocal tracks.
- Windows 7 Support — tested, ready, and recommended for use.
- Engine optimizations and stability improvements for recording audio and while looping.
- “Hotswap” audio and MIDI devices, including control surfaces, without restarting SONAR.
- VST plug-in compatibility improvements.
- Native REX Loop support featured in Track View, Media Browser, and Matrix View.
- BitBridge XR — run 32-bit plug-ins in 64-bit environments, with memory access now extended up to 128GB RAM.