Coming from Cakewalk by BandLab®?
Here's what's new in Sonar.
- 1000+ bugs fixes and improvements
- Enhanced engine performance
- Scalable, modern UI
- Multi-level folders
- New color schemes
- Resizable Console View
- Integrated sampler
- Per-channel spectrum analyzer
- BandLab Sounds integration
- ...and many more
“I love the new UI, it somehow feels light and fluid.“
Vonko Africa
“Pro Channel is a total game changer, especially the Tape Emulator and Console Emulator modules.”
Gyver
“Wow! :D First impression: I really like it. Cakewalk/Sonar goes modern!”
GreenLight
Record, Edit, Produce
From concept to masterpiece, Sonar's multitrack recording and MIDI editing provide the ultimate tools to capture and sculpt every detail of your music with world class precision.
Professional Tracking
Record with pristine clarity and unparalleled control. Advanced multi-track recording tools, including unlimited tracks, take lanes, and powerful comping, ensure a perfect performance.
Conquer Complexity
Track Manager makes navigating large projects a breeze, with powerful track filtering and adjustment capabilities.
Optimized
Experience ultra-low latency and rock-solid performance, even with demanding projects and high plugin counts. Sonar's optimized audio engine handles your most complex productions with ease.
A Perfect Mix
Mix with powerful tools like Mix Recall, AudioSnap and VocalSync®, then master your sound with the ProChannel, EQ and spectrum analyzer on every track.
Legendary ProChannel
Every single audio track, instrument track, and bus features our legendary ProChannel console emulation natively. Customize your mix workspace by mixing and matching modular compression, tube saturation, surgical dynamic EQ, and console flavor instantly.
VocalSync® & AudioSnap
Tighten double tracks and backing vocals instantly with VocalSync timing alignment. Need to lock an instrument to the grid? AudioSnap’s advanced transient detection engine lets you quantize audio and adjust project tempo without introducing artifacts.
Mix Recall & Scenes
Experiment with different mixing directions completely risk-free. Save multiple Mix Scenes containing distinct level, panning, mute, solo, and plugin states, then toggle between them instantly for immediate comparison.
Craft With Precision
Sonar brings world-class MIDI editing directly in the Track view or multiple tracks at once in the Piano Roll. Take virtual instruments to the next level with articulation maps and built-in Step Sequencer.
Advanced Multi-Track Piano Roll
Sculpt your arrangements across multiple instruments simultaneously within a single, unified grid. Edit note selections, draw expression lines, and manage velocity data with absolute fluidity.
Articulate
Take complex, premium virtual instrument libraries to their expressive limits. Seamlessly map and automate key-switches, velocity boundaries, and continuous controller messages inside the Piano Roll.
Built-in Step Sequencer
Speed up your rhythm composition and synth programming. Build driving electronic drum loops, arpeggiated basslines, and intricate percussive patterns inside an intuitive, step-based creative grid.
What's in Membership?
Sonar is fully functional for free in evaluation mode, but subscribe to Membership for all features, customization, and premium plugins.
Features | Membership Get Membership | Free Tier Download Free |
|---|---|---|
| Workspace & Tracks | ||
All core tools, views and commands | ||
High resolution, scalable GUI (looks perfect on any display) New | ||
Cakewalk Assist New | ||
New Track Manager view New | ||
Unlimited Arranger Tracks | 1 Arranger Track | |
Multi-Level Track Folders New | ||
Advanced Take Lanes & Comping | ||
Custom Workspaces | ||
| Mixing & Mastering Tools | ||
ProChannel Console Strip Modules | All Modules | Limited Modules |
Signal Probe (analyze audio at any point in your chain) New | Premium Only | |
Spectrum Analyzer display in Console view New | ||
Plugin A/B comparison tool New | ||
VocalSync® Timing Alignment | ||
AudioSnap Transient Engine | ||
Mix Recall & Alternate Scenes | ||
| Instruments & Effects | ||
Overloud TH-U Amp Simulator New | Full Edition | Demo Mode |
Core Plugin Suite (9 essential effects) New | Premium Only | |
XSampler New | ||
Theme Editor (easily customize application colors) New | Premium Only | |
| BandLab Integrations | ||
BandLab FX, Instruments, & Effect-Chains New | Full Suite | Limited Access |
CXF Project Exchange (Next Compatibility) New | ||
BandLab Sounds (100k+ Loops & Samples) | Limited Access | |
BandLab Project Library Integration (cloud publish and download) | ||
| Features marked New have been recently developed, and are unavailable in previous Cakewalk products. |
Suggested Specs
| OS | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Version | Windows 11® and higher | macOS Catalina 10.15 and higher |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Processor | 8-core CPU | Intel® Core™ or Apple M-series processor (64-bit only) |
| Other | ASIO-compatible hardware | - |
What is Cakewalk Sonar and how is it different from Cakewalk by BandLab? | |
Will my existing Cakewalk by BandLab projects open in Cakewalk Sonar? | |
What is included in the free tier of Cakewalk Sonar? | |
Are there any limitations in Sonar Free compared to Cakewalk by BandLab? | |
What's included with a BandLab Membership for Cakewalk Sonar? | |
Why are Cakewalk by BandLab activations no longer being renewed? | |
I'm a long-time Cakewalk by BandLab user. Why the change? | |
What does "activation" mean, and how is it different from a "license"? | |
Does Cakewalk Sonar's free license expire? | |
Will I need to uninstall Cakewalk by BandLab to install Cakewalk Sonar? | |
How do I get Cakewalk Sonar? | |
What happens if I don't upgrade to Membership? | |
Can I use Cakewalk Sonar offline? | |
What is the pricing for BandLab Membership? | |
I upgraded to Membership but don’t see the premium features. What should I do? |