That’s probably the ideal working configuration: it allows us to keep a track plus the inspector maximized on one screen while other elements are displayed on the other screen. Like all other windows, the Multidock can be moved to a second monitor. You can browse among the different elements using tabs. You can also drag the browser, virtual instruments, etc. The Multidock (on the bottom by default) can host any element: the content of the current track, the mixer, the step sequencer, the matrix, etc.

This way you can create different working environments depending on the task and instantaneously switch between them. The different screen configurations can be saved in ten screen sets, six of which can be directly accessed by clicking on the tool bar. The new default screen layout recalls the old one… The Global View displays the main elements (see screenshot below).Īll these elements can be floating, and the user can move, enlarge or reduce them. Everything is much clearer, much more easily readable, and all functions -especially the most interesting and powerful ones- are now easily accessible. It’s almost as if Cakewalk developers asked themselves: if we could create a new software from scratch, how would we do it? The result includes new windows, a new menu and function structure, and loads of work on graphic aspects. Experienced users got on with it and liked to have a lot of information in front of their eyes, but new users could get easily lost and even miss interesting functions the software offers.įor this new version, Cakewalk put most of its efforts in redesigning the user interface. The review was done at 24 bits/88.2 kHz with a 256-sample buffer size for 3.3 ms nominal latency and 7.3 ms total latency.Ī recurrent reproach about previous Sonar versions was its confusing interface. The notebook is a Dell Precision M4400 running Seven 64 bit on a Core 2 Duo T9400 CPU with 4 GB RAM. Except for some utilities, the only music applications I had used, until this test, with this computer was the Virtual DJ and the Hercule DJ Console last summer. I use it a lot for office and web applications and also a bit for photo editing. I also have a Behringer BCF (to control the sound card), a Mackie Control (for the sequencer) and a Novation Remote SL 25 with Automap (2.5) for virtual instruments. We reviewed the software with a release candidate version and two different computers: my studio computer is a Q6600 (quad core) with 4 GB RAM running Win XP, it has two 20″ wide screens and my sound card is an RME Multiface. Cakewalk actually decided to completely rebuild the interface of its sequencer. However, instead of being version 9, it is named Sonar X1.

Cakewalk sonar x1