Sonar 6 Power! : The Comprehensive Guide

Get the most out of SONAR 6 with the definitive guidebook! SONAR 6 Power! picks up where the manual leaves off, teaching you how to dig deep into the program with step-by-step examples and exercises. From initially customizing SONAR 6 to creating and producing a surround sound mix, youll learn everything you need to know to make your composing and recording sessions run more smoothly. Learn about audio and MIDI effects and how to use them in offline and real-time situations. Explore mixing music via software and discover how much control you can have when youre using an on-screen software mixer. Take a look at the advanced features of SONAR 6, including AudioSnap, Active Controller Technology (ACT), and Session Drummer 2. Wrap things up as you learn how to prepare your completed SONAR project and burn it to a CD.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. MIDI and Digital Audio Basics
What is MIDI?
What is Digital Audio?
So, What's Really the Difference?
Chapter 2. Getting Started with SONAR
What Version of SONAR Do You Have?
Get the Latest Product Update
Register Your Software
A Quick Tour of SONAR
What's New in SONAR 3?
A Basic SONAR Studio Setup
Find Help When You Need It
Chapter 3. Customizing SONAR
Organize Your Files
The Workspace - Colors, Toolbars, Window Layouts, Key Bindings
MIDI Settings
Optimal Audio Settings
Chapter 4. Working with Projects
Opening Projects
Create a New Project
Save Your Project
Chapter 5. Getting Around in SONAR
The Now Time
The Go Menu
Markers, Oh My!
Chapter 6. Recording and Playback
Preliminary Parameters
MIDI Track Recording and Playback
Audio Track Recording and Playback
Multiple Track Recording and Playback
Loop Recording
Punch Recording
Step Recording
Importing
Synchronization
Chapter 7. Editing Basics
Arranging with the Track View
Using the Piano Roll View
Using the Event List View
Using the Tempo View
Chapter 8. Exploring the Editing Tools

Advanced Data Selection
Advanced Audio Editing
The Edit Menu
Chapter 9. Composing with Loops
Groove Clips
Working with Groove Clips
A Groove Clip Exercise
Chapter 10. Software Synthesis
DX Instruments
The Virtual Sound Canvas
The DreamStation
The Tassman
The GrooveSampler
SoundFonts
Chapter 11. Exploring Effects
Offline or Real-Time?
Audio Effects
MIDI Effects
Chapter 12. Mixing it Down
The Console View
Opening the Console View
Configuring the Console and Track Views
Taking Snapshots
Automating the Mix
Grouping
Remote Control
Envelopes
Automating Effects and DXi's
A Mixdown Exercise
The Next Steps
Chapter 13. Making Sheet Music
The Staff View
Changing the Layout
Dealing with Notes
Dealing with Symbols and Lyrics
The Fretboard and Tablature
Printing Your Music
Chapter 14. Studio Control with StudioWare and SysEx
System Exclusive
Intro to StudioWare
Chapter 15. CAL 101
What is CAL?
Running a CAL Program
The CAL Files
View CAL Programs
Chapter 16. Advanced CAL Techniques
Intro to CAL Programming
Master Presets
CAL References
Chapter 17. Take Your SONAR Project to CD
Appendix A: Sample Project Roadmap - From Recording to Mixdown
Appendix B: Backing up Your Project Files
Appendix C: Producing for Multimedia and the Web
Appendix D: SONAR Resources on the Web