Cakewalk
SONAR Home Studio XL (Windows)
Key
Features
Create & Record
64 audio tracks and unlimited MIDI tracks
Record your whole band with support for multi-input audio interfaces
Pristine audio quality up to 24-bit/192kHz
Start your projects faster with Track Presets and Project Templates
Use ACID™-format loop library to create backing tracks
Includes real, playable instrument sounds: drums, bass, guitar, keys,
orchestral, and more
Expand your studio with VST and DX synths and effects, and ReWire™
compatible applications including Project5™, Kinetic™, and Reason™
The Synth Rack provides a control center for all of your virtual
instruments
MIDI Input Quantize corrects your MIDI performance as you record
Arrange & Edit
Edit Audio and MIDI from one central view
Edit and print music notation
Powerful non-destructive editing: fades and crossfades, multi-clip
editing, slip editing, more
Organize your projects with Track Folders and Track Icons
Freeze instruments and effects to save CPU power
Zero in on edits and navigate quickly with Fast Zoom
Score soundtracks with video thumbnails and video window
Easy-to-use controls can be customized to suit your way of working
Mix & Share
Responsive mixing with a 32-bit floating point audio engine
Automate your mix on the fly with powerful automation tools
On-screen mixing console with integrated Sonitus:fx EQ on every track
Mix your tracks with professional effects including reverb, delay,
dynamics, modulation effects, tape, amp simulation, and more
Use your keyboard or other MIDI control surfaces to control effects,
instruments and your mix with ACT (Active Controller Technology)
Export your mix: WAV, ACID-format WAV, AVI, MIDI, MP3 (30-day trial MP3
Encoder included), Windows Media Audio (WMA), and Windows Media Video
(WMV)
Upload your songs to the Web and build your own song player for your
website, MySpace page and more with Cakewalk Publisher
Burn your mix directly to CD
Overview
1. Easy as Plug-n-Play
Recording any instrument is easy. Just plug in, check your levels, and
hit record. Confidence Recording will draw the audio on screen as you
record so you know you're getting the take. Hear internal effects on
input, even while you record. If you need help getting a project
started, use Track Presets for access to hundreds of sounds that will
help ignite your creativity. Once you have recorded your tracks, you
can visually arrange, edit, and mix your music with point-and-click
ease—all in one view.
2. Create Backing Tracks Fast
Create backing tracks in a matter of seconds. Find the perfect loop or
sample in DropZone or the Loop Explorer, then click and drag it to
start building your arrangement. You can chop up your beats, add
dynamics, and create remixes with just a few clicks of the mouse. The
enhanced Loop Construction View allows you to take control of your
loops—tweak the pitch, pan, and gain of slices in any ACID™-format loop.
3. Edit with Powerful Tools
Edit and arrange audio and MIDI together in one view with simple tools
that give powerful results. Zoom in and make pinpoint edits to your
project. Change the tempo and pitch; normalize or reverse the audio;
preview, move, extend, or cut certain sections; add track envelopes.
Use many of the same powerful features found in SONAR Producer Edition
including multi-clip edits, loop-rolling, fade drawing, and more. And
with SONAR Home Studio 6 you can feel free to experiment with
non-destructive editing and unlimited undo/redo.
4. Mix & Share Your Music
Mixing in SONAR Home Studio 6 is easy with Track Icons—no more guessing
which track contains guitar or which track has the vocals. Mute, Solo,
Pan, and change the Gain all in one view to achieve the best mix. Add
effects to your mix, and A/B them with just a click of a button.
Professional metering provides the visual feedback you need for better
real-time mixing. Mix in a more traditional studio console view or use
your own control surface hardware to get the feel of real knobs and
faders.
Create & Record
Audio & MIDI Recording
Everything is laid out in an intuitive interface that lets you quickly
record, edit, arrange, and mix your music. Record guitars, keyboards,
vocals, live turntable scratches, CD samples, or any other sound. Even
correct timing of MIDI performances while you play with Input Quantize.
SONAR Home Studio puts it all together seamlessly.
Enhanced Synth Rack
Use the new Synth Rack to control the VSTi and DXi instruments in your
project from one easy to manage window. Find instruments quickly with
customizable Synth Icons and display customized controls for each
instrument, putting the most needed controls right at your fingertips.
Get more synth sounds by patching Project5™, Kinetic™, Reason™,
ReBirth™, and other ReWire compatible synths.
Instruments
SONAR Home Studio 6 includes four new instruments with thousands of
sounds ranging from drums, bass, and guitar to keys, horns, and
strings. Spark your creativity and layer your tracks using these new
instruments:
-- DropZone Drag-n-Drop Sampler—Perfect for creating remixes or for
building the perfect hook for your song. Includes real instrument
sounds, drums, vocals, REX-format loops, and more.
-- Roland GrooveSynth—Get sounds from the classic Roland synths and
beat boxes that shaped hip hop and electronica.
-- TTS-1 GM2 synth—A high quality, multitimbral, multi-out GM2
synthesizer with a Roland® synth engine to generate amazing,
expressive sounds. Includes high quality reverb, chorus, delay, and EQ
-- Square 1—An easy-to-use vintage analog synthesizer, oriented to the
serious music enthusiast. High quality sound with a warm and easy
layout, perfect to learn synth programming.
Arrange & Edit
Remixes
Just drag and drop a sample into DropZone, and make it part of your
beat. Perfect for creating remixes or for building the perfect hook for
your song. Includes real instrument sounds, drums, vocals, REX-format
loops, and more. You can also preview ACID™-format loops in the tempo
and key of your song, and quickly drag them into your project to create
layers of tracks.
Video Soundtracks
SONAR Home Studio provides a fast and effective way to create, edit,
and dub soundtracks for digital video files. Just use SONAR Home Studio
to import and sync any Windows AVI or MPEG video. With video thumbnails
and easy video export, you can quickly score, edit, and share
soundtracks and sound effects for band videos or home movies.
Music Notation
SONAR Home Studio integrates notation tools that allow you to create
and print your own musical scores. Record and transcribe performances
using any MIDI instrument, or just point and click to edit notes
directly on the staff. Print up to 24 staves per page, with chord
charts and symbols, lyrics, dynamic markings, and more.
Mix & Share
Effects
Make your tracks shine with studio-quality effects. SONAR Home Studio 6
has you covered with 10 new effects that can be used to mix your tracks
or can be used while you record, in real-time. Effects include:
-- Sonitus:fx EQ integrated into every track
-- Alias Factor
-- Tempo sync modulation filter
-- Tempo sync delay
-- High frequency exciter
-- Tempo syncing classic phaser with feedback
-- Studio reverb
-- Multi-voice chorus/flanger
-- 2-band parametric EQ
-- Compressor/gate
Active Controller Technology
Using your favorite MIDI controller or control surface has never been
easier with new Active Controller Technology (ACT). Easily control and
automate effects, instruments, volume, pan, and their mix from MIDI
controllers by automatically remapping controls to whatever has the
focus. It includes templates for some of the most popular MIDI
controllers and control surfaces on the market today.
Share Your Music
SONAR Home Studio 6 introduces Cakewalk Publisher, an innovative new
tool that helps users publish and present their music online. Cakewalk
Publisher allows SONAR Home Studio customers to create a customized,
online, streaming music player with playlists of their music that can
then be directly uploaded from SONAR Home Studio to band websites,
MySpace pages, and other Internet sites.
SONAR Home Studio XL Exclusives
SONAR Home Studio XL adds exceptional value and more power with a
selection of over one gigabyte of instrument sounds, Boost 11 Peak
Limiter, Dimension LE, Session Drummer 2 drum instrument, and more.
Boost 11 Peak Limiter
Get more volume and punch from your final mix with this easy to use
limiter/maximizer. Boost 11 gives you professional results with a
simple to use interface.
The Boost 11 Peak Limiter provides transparent peak limiting and volume
maximization without coloring the sound of the source material. Boost
11 employs a "look-ahead" limiter algorithm to prevent output clipping
and PDR (Program Dependent Release) to minimize pumping (fluctuations
of the volume) and maximize the loudness.
Boost 11's features include:
-- Look-ahead peak detection prevents clipping
-- Program dependent Release minimizes pumping
-- Dynamic waveform displays of input vs. output
-- Stereo peak and RMS input/output meters
-- Operation at sampling rates up to 192 kHz
-- 64-bit double precision signal path
-- VST Automation
Dimension LE
A special version of the acclaimed synth from Cakewalk. Features over
400 sound programs, ranging from real bass, organ and electric piano
samples to cutting-edge synth sounds and rhythmic grooves.
Dimension LE is powered by Cakewalk's Expression Engine providing
several types of synthesis capabilities including multi-sample
rendering, wavetable synthesis, waveguide synthesis, and, REX playback
and manipulation; also includes an extensive DSP library of effects,
with over 400 sound programs, ranging from real bass, organ and
electric piano samples to cutting-edge synth sounds and rhythmic
grooves.
Garritan Pocket Orchestra
Expands Dimension LE with more instrument sounds from the industry's
standard bearer of quality for orchestral instrument libraries. This
special edition of the Garritan Pocket Orchestra expressively,
programmed for Dimension LE features orchestral instrument libraries of
unrivaled quality that include strings, brass, woodwinds, keyboards,
and percussion sounds.
Session Drummer 2
Create the perfect drum track for any project. Build a foundation for
your song with Session Drummer 2's customizable drum kits. Play drums
or trigger built in live-feel patterns from your MIDI controller for
ultimate control.
Session Drummer 2 was designed from the ground up to provide the
fastest way to create inspiring, realistic drum tracks. Session Drummer
2 includes real, multi-sampled drum kits paired with professionally
recorded drum and MIDI patterns from Smart Loops, an industry leader in
rhythm content. You can build an accompaniment by simply loading a drum
kit and dragging and dropping patterns into your project. You can also
play patterns or individual drums from any MIDI controller to perform
their own drum tracks. Session Drummer 2 also provides the flexibility
of custom drum kits, which can be built by loading individual
components on pads (including the user's own WAV, AIFF, or OGG format
samples) and then adjusting volume, pan, width, and tuning on each drum.
Video Tutorials
Get Started Quickly
SONAR Home Studio is easy-to-use and will get you down to the business
of making music in no time. Use Track Presets, Project Templates, and
the Quick Start guide to help you get a project started. In addition,
you also get unparalleled free customer service and access to an online
user community.
SONAR Home Studio 6 also includes video tutorials, which are included
on the first disc, and are also available below. The player below
streams through 14 Videos on SONAR 6 Home Studio, with the last 3
videos covering SONAR Home Studio 6 XL Exclusives.
