Sonar 5 Recording Tips

Audio - Vocal Tips

Vocal Clips - change the pitch, format, gain, timing, and vibrato of a vocal recording
- Turn audio into a vocal clip
  - Select the audio clip
  - Edit-Create V Vocal-Clip.
  - Use the V Vocal Editor to modify the audio

Sonar 4 Recording Tips

(Note: Should work with Sonar 5 - I hope)

Sonar Setup Items

Per Project Audio Folders
You want Sonar 4 to save every project in a separate folder. The default is to use one big folder.
- Options, Global, "Audio Data" tab, click "Use Per-Project audio folders.
- Convert old project to "Per Project Audio Folders"
  - Make sure you have the "User Per-Project Audio Folders" option turned on. (see above).
  - Open up one of your old Projects ".cwp" that reside in the directory "C:\Cakewalk Projects"
  - Save the project as a "Cakewalk Bundle" (.cwb).
    - File Save As, then change the file type to "Cakewalk Bundle".
  - Close the project.
  - Now open up the .cwb file and it will create the new project in a Per-Project audio folder as it unpacks the bundle. It will also show you the location & audio path directories. Make sure you leave the default options checked: 1) Store Project Audio in its own Folder, 2) Create one file per clip.
  - Save the project.
  - Your finished.
  - To check, click on "File", "Project Audio Files" and check the directory that the files are in. You can also go to the "C:\Cakewalk Projects" directory and check for a directory by the name of the project. In that directory should be a .cwp file if you saved the project.
  - Clean the Audio Folder
    - Tools, "Clean Audio Folder"
    - Click "Find"
    - Then "Delete All"
- Make a copy of a Project
  - Save the project as a "Cakewalk Bundle" (.cwb)
  - Now open the file in Sonar (File, Open, click on the .cwb file).
  - You will be asked for the Project name. Here is where you change the name of the project (thereby making a copy of).
Audio Driver Error - when Sonar starts up. This can be hard to troubleshoot/fix.
Audio Driver Error: The following driver(s) either do not support the current audio format, or are in use by another application.
Sound Card: SigmaTel C-Major Audio
- You have to get the following to work without an errors: (Example using a DELL Inspiron 9300)
  - Options, Audio, General Tab, WaveProfiler - this is what is run at startup.
    Below is an example of what the output should look like:
    ==== SigmaTel C-Major Audio (1 in, 1 out) ====
    11025 Hz: OK
    22050 Hz: OK
    44100 Hz: OK
    48000 Hz: OK
    88200 Hz: OK
    96000 Hz: OK
    176400 Hz: OK
    192000 Hz: OK
    
    When I had the issue the only one that passed was: 48000 Hz: OK
- Here is the fix that worked for me: (Audio Card built into a laptop: SigmaTel C-Major Audio)
  - Change the Driver Mode:
    Options, Audio, Advanced.
    Driver Mode: MME (32 Bit) (Note: Mine was set to WDM-KS - which didn't work).
  - Driver Bit Depth
    Options, Audio, General
    Audio Driver Bit Depth: 16
    Sampling Rate: 44100
    File Bit Depth: 16
  - Click "OK"
  - Exit Sonar, the re-launch Sonar
  - This worked for me. Good Luck!!!
- Windows Sound from the Control Panel (FYI)
  - Control Panel, "Sounds and Audio devices."
    I'm using the Custom Settings. I didn't have to choose "No Sounds"
- Read the support page at cakewalk: http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/kb/kb2003174.asp
  1. Go to Options > Audio > General and reduce the Driver Bit Depth to 16 and the Sampling Rate to 44.1. This is CD-quality and is the best option for most users. Please keep in mind that while many consumer cards such as the Creative Labs Audigy advertise 24-bit capabilities, their drivers only support 16-bit recording/playback.
  2. If your soundcard's clock can be controlled via an external connection (ie Word Clock, ADAT, etc) or via a control panel, please make sure that the device's current sampling rate matches the settings in SONAR.
  3. Your card may also be in use by another program on the computer. To eliminate this problem, please close all applications running in the background such as Real Player, Winamp, etc and turn off all Windows Sounds from the Control Panel. You may then need to restart SONAR.

Sonar Tips

SONAR 4 - DC voltage offset / DC 0 Volts - this makes the wave file fluctuate from 0 volts (db). The helps the "Normalization" work properly. Other signs: click sound when a clip starts to play, can't get enough volume without clipping.
- Apply as an Offline effect to the individual tracks.
  Process, Audio Effects, Sonitus:fx, Equalizer
  - Click on bands 2 - 6 to disable them (should be greyed out)
  - "Filter" drop down = "High Pass".
  - Frequency = 10hz.
  - Leave the other defaults: Q=1, Gain=0, Output=0,
  - Saving the Preset
    - Using the save feature at the top doesn't work with this effect. Use the steps below.
    - Make the settings above.
    - Click the tab "Presets", then Add preset.
      Name = "Custom: Normalize DC 0 Volts"
      Add to bank = "Sonitus:Fx"
      (You can also update the preset if you made a mistake.)
  - Restoring the Preset
    - Click the tab "Presets", then Add preset.
    - Click "Sonitus:FX"
    - Then choose the custom preset.
  - (Note: I like to then normalize the track after making sure that the wave form is DC 0volt offset. Process, Audio Effects, Normalize)
- Applying as an Online effect on the "Master Bus".
  You can apply this audio effect as an online effect to the "Master Bus" and the export to a wave file. This will ensure that the output is DC 0 volts.

Organizing Busses

Bus Hierarchy - What I use. This way I can vary key volumes quickly, mute vocals to create soundtracks, etc...

Master - output to your sound card or DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

I try to keep the output under 0.0 db

#	Effect
1	0 Volt DC Offset: I add a "Sonitus:FX" EQ to take out DC Voltage here (see above notes)
2	Compression: "Sonitus:FX" , "Compression", Presets Tab (left of ? Tab), Music, Complete Mix or Cakewalk, "FX:Compressor/Gate", Final Mix Compression (preset)

Master Vocal - output to "Master"
Master Music- output to "Master"
Intro Music - output to "Master Music"
Reason: This normally has a unique volume.
All music intro tracks output to this bus.
Intro Vocal - output to "Master Vocal"
Reason: You may have a vocal in the intro.

Vocal Lead - output to "Master Vocal"

All vocal lead tracks output to this bus. I do separate tracks for each verse, bridge, chorus, etc...

I add vocal effects here!

#	Effect
1	Equalizer Sonitus:Fx, Equalizer. (Note: Make your changes and save the preset.) You may want to lower the gain so that it compensates for the raising of volumes for any of the bands that you raise.
2	Reverb Sonitus:FX, Presets Tab (left of ?), Sonitus:FX, Default Reverb. or Cakewalk, FX-Reverb, then pick one of the vocal presets. I like Vocal - Big Bright w/ reverb mix changed to .10
3	Compression I add "Sonitus:FX", "Compression", Presets Tab (left of ?), Music, "Average Low Level (prevent clips)" (or Cakewalk, FX:Compressor/Gate, then choose a vocal setting).

Vocal Harmony - output to "Master Vocal"
- All vocal harmony tracks output to this bus.
- I add vocal effects here! (Same as Vocal Lead)
Drums All - output to "Master Music"
Drums V - output to "Drums All"
Drums C - output to "Drums All"
Drums B - output to "Drums All"
Music All - output to "Master Music"
- I add "Sonitus:FX", "Compression", Presets Tab (left of ?), Music, "Average Low Level (prevent clips)"
Music V - output to "Music All"
Music C - output to "Music All"
Music B - output to "Music All"

Effects added to tracks
- Compression - may be needed on the Bass track and other instruments like Organ etc...
- Guitar Effects - If your effect doesn't require a foot pedal then consider adding effects via Sonar. If you feel like you can't get what you want with Sonar (and plugins) then apply the effect externally.
- Hiss - to cut try:
  Cakewalk, FX-Eq, High Frequency - Cut

Creating a Bus
- Right click on the Bus that you want to insert your new bus before and choose "Insert Stereo Bus".
- Moving a Bus - put your mouse on the title of the bus until you see an Up/Down arrow. Now click and drag to the new spot.
- Change the output of a bus to go to another bus - just click on the "O" (Output) pull down and select another bus.
Clean Audio Folder
- Why does it take so long?
  I don't know for sure but I think mine is looking for the following file:
  Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\lan\miniime.tpl
  Also, I don't know why SONAR is looking at files outside of the designated directory.
  Error: Unreadable files
  The following files were unreadable by SONAR. Unless they were created by a different application, you may wish restore them from a backup copy before proceeding with Clean Audio Folder. Press Help for more information.
Bounce-to-Track
- Create 1 track from 1 or more tracks - I use this to create Drum loops from individual drum sounds. After bounce-to-track then I bounce-to-clip.
  - Select the tracks
  - Select the measures
  - Edit, Bounce to track
  - Make sure that you have the following selected
    - Source Category = Entire Mix
    - Destination - the tract you want to bounce (copy & mix) to. Make sure all the Mix enables are checked (unless you want to eliminate some).
    - Click OK
Export Audio
- Preset: What You Hear
- Source Category: Entire Mix
- Channel Format: Stereo
- Sample Rate: 44100
- Bit Depth: 16

Recording Tips

Vocals
- Record without reverb. Add reverb with Sonar.
- You can use a vocal preamp (tub etc...) on the mic and compression/limiter only if it is necessary because of the singer. The goal is to use Sonar for the Compression/Limiting.

Sonar and Hardware Recording Equipment

Sonar and Tascam US-224 - my notes on using the Tascam US-224 with Sonar.