BandLab Technologies: Cakewalk Sonar DAW

The latest release of Cakewalk’s PC-only DAW is out, and what a long, strange road it’s been. Is it called Cakewalk now? Or SONAR? Before the 20th century ended, Cakewalk began the new millennium by designing a new audio engine for their DAW and calling it SONAR [Tape Op #116]. SONAR added improvements and features almost every year, and ended up as SONAR X in 2010 [#99]. Then, the company was sold to Roland. In 2013, Gibson bought Cakewalk and continued to add features, updates with new effects, and virtual synths to the line. By 2018, Gibson returned to a core of guitars as part of their bankruptcy, orphaning Cakewalk and other non-guitar products. In 2018, BandLab, a Singapore technology company, bought the intellectual rights to SONAR. BandLab already had a DAW called BandLab Studio; a simple online free starter DAW that also offers a free, easy-to-use website for file playback, much like SoundCloud or SoundClick, with social media interaction. Next, BandLab released the old SONAR program as Cakewalk by BandLab [Tape Op #126]. They also kept a cadre of Cakewalk employees on staff, including veteran programmers. They continue to fix bugs, sprinkle in new features, and all the while BandLab left both DAWs free to download. It has been pretty sweet deal, although BandLab says they make no promises or plans about Cakewalk by BandLab’s future viability.

And now, BandLab (the company) has released two more DAWS. Cakewalk Next is a cross-platform DAW that can transfer files between Mac and PC. Next has a lot more going on DAW-wise than BandLab Studio, and seems to be deceptively deep, reminding me of Cakewalk’s Project 5 DAW, which I loved.

BandLab’s other new DAW is Cakewalk Sonar, which looks and works a lot like Cakewalk by BandLab. Cakewalk Sonar has everything one needs to do a thorough, personalized, and professional job, from tracking through mixing. You can save and open Next files in Cakewalk Sonar via the Cakewalk Interchange Format (CXF), and common settings will match. One major change though is that Cakewalk Sonar and Next are now part of a paid membership subscription, an annual cost of $149.50 or $14.95 monthly. Back in the day, the price for the top-of-the-line original SONAR software was approximately $500, with updates almost every year. Membership is an even better deal today, considering. Cakewalk Sonar and Next won’t save or export projects once your membership lapses, however your latest files should open and save in Cakewalk by BandLab and older SONAR software.

Many moons ago, I checked out the demos for many of the early PC DAWs for use at home. Of all those DAWs, I found SONAR the easiest to understand. Cakewalk Sonar is a traditional, linear DAW, with Tracks and Channels reading top to bottom while the Timeline scrolls left to right. However, there are a lot of PC menus, bars, and dropdowns, which can look intimidating, especially for less-experienced users. But the look is configurable, and how much clutter is shown is variable once you are familiar with the program. If you prefer to work with Clips and Loops, Cakewalk Sonar has the Matrix view with pads to load with MIDI, audio loops, or one-shots. You can fill your touchscreen with Pads and play it live with playback integrated into the linear world. There is a MultiDock I stuff everything into with separate views, synths faceplates, MIDI lines, etc. Otherwise, I’m left with a multitude of open windows stacked on one another. But that is a choice – one can arrange them any way they want. The Cakewalk ecosphere has incorporated a lot of third-party software over the years, so that it can have a bit of a slap-dash look with offline processes. But again, once you know how to use the separate programs and to arrange your sequencer workflow, it is as quick as a cat.

Cakewalk Sonar includes some top-notch software, even with their native tools. The ProChannel is an excellent channel strip, with its SSL-like EQ emulating various console models (tip: start with the G-Type). The 1176-style peak limiter is solid, while the SSL-like bus compressor is downright righteous. There are even some oldie-but-goodie DirectX effects that help flesh out the paucity of reverb and delay programs. ACID files (Groove Clips) scroll out, and you can manipulate the sample itself, as well as the timing and playback. And while everybody upsamples their FX these days, Cakewalk Sonar employs a 64-bit playback engine, leaving the slimmest of room for rounding error noise.

So how, exactly, is Cakewalk Sonar different than Cakewalk by BandLab (other than the paid subscription)? BandLab claims that upgrading takes advantage of high DPI displays, such as 4K, and allows visuals to stretch with fewer artifacts – like VST synths and effects. This new sharpness comes at the cost of visual depth and shadow, but I’ll take the precise representation of Cakewalk Sonar – my eyes are bad enough already. Another big addition to Cakewalk Sonar is the integrated XSampler, originally introduced with Next. After all the bug fixes, the August ’24 update finished a new engine-optimization regime. I’ve had a few problems over the years with crashing or stuttering, but then, I usually don’t over-stress the engine. I learned early to Freeze tracks with high CPU-taxing elements, such as synths and convolution reverbs. Intense granular programs seem to run smoother and tighter with the last build, but Cakewalk Sonar was already pretty good, and I don’t even use the latest and fastest computer. The August update also included new features such as plug-in oversampling, CPU load monitoring for tracks or busses, a new bypass synth function, and half a dozen other improvements and bug fixes. This upgrade to Cakewalk Sonar feels complete.

My switch over from SONAR to the new Cakewalk Sonar was basically seamless. Once I started working, any differences disappeared into the task at hand. Sure, there were moments when I went to online help for the latest info, but for the most part I just recorded and edited in Cakewalk Sonar as I had in Cakewalk by BandLab.

There is a lot to like in this first edition of Cakewalk Sonar. It is easy enough to grasp if you are coming from another linear DAW, especially SONAR. Stock includes most of the tools one needs to do professional work, including ARA support, VST 3 integration, VocalSync, and Celemony’s Melodyne. It has some excellent effects, if light in the reverb department. There are enough synths included to have a “backline,” and the samples are good. Also, don’t dismiss the quality and sheer quantity of BandLab’s own sample and loop library out of hand. I did the spine of a blues song with just their loops, adding live guitars and voice, and it sounded good. Still, I’d like to add some digital flesh to the synth department of Cakewalk Sonar. One of my hopes is that BandLab will upgrade their Rapture Pro sample playback synth. I still use Rapture Pro on at least half of my songs here at home. However, the new XSampler and its multi-timbral upgrade is a good start. The only real disappointment I have with Cakewalk Sonar is the rent-not-own aspect. So far, BandLab has been upfront in dealing with users and treating people fairly. It is a solid and dependable program that will do everything a DAW needs to do. As is, it may not include all the frills, but then it has a price to match. And Next lets one work from PC to Mac and back if you use both. Interoperability is a great new point in favor of renting Cakewalk‘s software. Simply add a favorite synth and reverb, stir, and Cakewalk Sonar can take you as far as you can engineer.