SONAR 2 Power!

In the new SONAR 2 Power! book by Scott Garrigus, you will find helpful tips on an assortment of topics within SONAR 2.0. We have collected a small sampling of tips from chapter 1-5 that will optimize your computer system's performace and maximize your productivity with SONAR. Throughout the coming months we will bringing you more tips from SONAR 2 Power! Registered SONAR 2.0 users can purchase SONAR 2 Power! for the special price of $21.95 If you haven't already, upgrade to SONAR 2.0 today.

SONAR 2 Power! Tips from Scott Garrigus

Optimizing your computer

One of the reasons I'm able to still get away with using an outdated system is because I have optimized it for audio work. There are a number of things you can do to your PC that will make it run more efficiently for the purpose of making music. These include adjustments to the system itself as well as to the windows OS. If you'd like more information about how to optimize your audioPC, check out my feature article in issue 14 of DigiFreq. You can download the issue free at http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/issues.asp.

MIDI Key Bindings

If your studio is set up so that your computer isn't located next to your MIDI keyboard or controller, using MIDI Key Bindings is a great way to still have acces to SONAR. For example, if you want to be able to start and stop recording of SONAR via your MIDI keyboard, you can just assign one MIDI Key Binding along with the shift key or controller to the Realtime > Play function and another MIDI key binding along with the "shift" key or controller to the Realtime > Stop function.

Using the Patch Browser

You can also choose patches for a track using the Patch browser. Jut right-click the Pch or Bank parameter of a MIDI track to open the Patch browser dialog box. You will see a list of all patches available from the instrument definitions you set up earlier. To search for a particular patch, type some text into the Show Patches Containing The Text parameter. To choose a patch, select it from the list. Then click OK.

Template for Sequence Setup Parameters

When inspiration hits, you don't want to waste your time fiddling with sequence setup parameters. You want to be able to start your software and get right to work. If you create a template file that contains everything set just the way you like it, you'll have a much better chance of getting that cool lick down before you forget it. For instructions on how to setup the ultimate template, check out my Sequencer Techniques feature article in issue 11 of Digifreq. You can download the issue for free at: http://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/issues.asp.

Using the Event filter

Because setting these search criteria every time you need to find specific data in a project can be tedious, it would be nice if you could save the settings for future use, wouldn't it? Well, you can. Just type a name in the Preset box at the top of the Event Filter - Search dialog box and click the Save button (the button with the little disk icon on it). All your current search criteria settings are then saved under that name. The next time you use Go-Search, you can simply select the name from the Preset box drop-down list, and all your previous settings will be loaded. You can save as many Presets as you'd like, and if you ever wanted to delete one, just select it from the list and click the Delete button (the button with the red X on it).