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Top-level workstation software for devotees to digital audio

Top-level workstation software for devotees to digital audio

Vote: (79 votes)

Program license: Trial version

Developer: Cakewalk

Version: 8.0.2

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(79 votes)

Trial version

Developer

Version

Cakewalk

8.0.2

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Much improved design on the skylight user interface from previous versions with higher customization
  • Stock ProChannel effects and instrumentation can now be mapped to individual channels
  • Vocal comping and Melodyne pitch correction are excellent

Cons

  • Notation editing is not very good or easy to use
  • Skylight UI would be better in a higher resolution
  • Addicting Drums plug in not mapped to standard MIDI keys

Cakewalk's SONAR X3 Producer is one of the better, more affordable music and audio editing, creation, and manipulation tools available on the market. While it still has a ways to go in order to achieve perfection, it has improved by leaps and bounds with every version and gone out of its way to fix problems identified by users. This makes Cakewalk one of the more responsive companies creating software in the industry.

One of the first things you'll notice when you open the program is that the skylight user interface has become much more intuitive since the last version. The windows are customizable and can be moved around at will in order to provide the easiest interactions with the program itself.

Another improvement from the previous version is that the stock ProChannel effects have gotten a lot better, as has the instrumentation, and now both can be accessed on any channel. This means that you have a lot more options as far as mixing goes, but also that you can manipulate other audio files in a far more detailed manner.

The new vocal comping and built in Melodyne pitch correction should also be mentioned since they are absolutely a dream and make adjusting small aspects of recording, not to mention correcting mistakes that would be too difficult to re-record, much simpler.

That being said, it's not quite as good as it could be. For one thing, the notation editing just isn't very well made at all. It's difficult to use, not very intuitive, and can be pretty frustrating after a little while of fighting with it. Similarly, while the skylight UI is much better than its predecessors as far as actual use goes, now is the time to focus on things like making it look good and a higher resolution would be a welcome change. The Addictive Drums plug-in is great, but it isn't mapped to the standard MIDI keys, so if you're used to working a certain way than it can be hard to have to relearn a new key configuration for something that ought to work just like everything else.

Overall this really is a great program, and you end up with quite a bit of power for the price you pay. While it's not recommended for people who simply dabble in audio editing, if you're serious about your work this application will give you everything you need at a fraction of the cost of some of the competition. Newer versions will continue to improve, but this one is solid and well worth the purchase.

Pros

  • Much improved design on the skylight user interface from previous versions with higher customization
  • Stock ProChannel effects and instrumentation can now be mapped to individual channels
  • Vocal comping and Melodyne pitch correction are excellent

Cons

  • Notation editing is not very good or easy to use
  • Skylight UI would be better in a higher resolution
  • Addicting Drums plug in not mapped to standard MIDI keys