Cakewalk Sonar 8.5 Producer & Studio

SONAR 8.5 includes enhanced beat creation and arrangement tools, a new drum instrument loaded with kits and patterns, an enhanced audio timing toolset, new multi-stage effect plug-ins for drums and percussion sounds and vocal tracks, engine optimizations and stability improvements, and many additional workflow and technological advances, notably Windows 7 compatibility, according to the company.

New Features, according to Cakewalk:

• Matrix View: simple and flexible cell-based, non-linear audio and MIDI arranging with live triggering capability.

• Step Sequencer 2.0: powerful step sequencing.

• Integrated Arpeggiator: trigger Arpeggiations on MIDI or instrument tracks with in-depth control over all arp parameters. Includes hundreds of presets.

• Session Drummer 3: latest version of Cakewalk’s virtual instrument for easy and fast creation of drum tracks with a new UI, kits and patterns from top sound designers and drummers.

• AudioSnap 2.0: updated audio quantizing and time shifting technology with new look and refinements to all the core controls, significantly improving workflow, plus improved offline rendering.

• Media Browser: the new hub for content access within SONAR; supports multiple formats to preview and import all your loops, grooves, and MIDI patterns; features presets to quickly grab content from your favorite locations.

• PX-64 Percussion Strip: seven-stage processor designed specifically for use with drums and percussion.

• VX-64 Vocal Strip: seven-stage processor optimized for shaping and sculpting vocal tracks.

• Windows 7 Support: tested, ready, and recommended for use.

• Engine optimizations and stability improvements for recording audio, and while looping.

• “Hotswap” audio and MIDI devices, including control surfaces, without restarting SONAR.

• VST plug-in compatibility improvements.

• Native REX loop support featured in Track View, Media Browser, and Matrix View.

• BitBridge XR: run 32-bit plug-ins in 64-bit environments, with memory access now extended up to 128 GB RAM.

Pricing and Availability
SONAR 8.5 Producer has a street price of $499, SONAR 8.5 Studio $299, and are available at select music and sound retailers.

Registered SONAR 8 Producer customers can download the SONAR 8.5 Producer upgrade for $99 and SONAR 8 Studio customers can download the SONAR 8.5 Studio upgrade for $79 directly from Cakewalk.com.

All SONAR V-Studio 700 customers and those SONAR customers who purchased SONAR 8 after July 1st are eligible for a free download of the 8.5 upgrade. An upgrade DVD is also available for an additional nominal fee for those customers with slower connection speeds or who prefer physical media.

International Pricing
SONAR 8.5 Producer and Studio software is available in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian; English, German, and French boxed versions come with a printed multi-language User’s Guide; Spanish and Italian boxed versions come with a PDF format of the User’s Guide. SONAR 8.5 is available through Roland and Edirol distribution partners.

Europe’s recommended retail price for SONAR 8.5 Producer and SONAR 8.5 Studio are €499 and €299 RRP inc VAT respectively; U.K. pricing is £435 and £265 RRP inc VAT respectively, and are available at select music and sound retailers around the world.

Registered SONAR 8 Producer customers can download the SONAR 8.5 Producer upgrade for £89, €99 and SONAR 8 Studio customers can download the SONAR 8.5 Studio upgrade for £69, €79, directly from Cakewalk.com.

Registered SONAR 8 Producer customers can purchase the boxed version of the SONAR 8.5 Producer upgrade for £109 / €119 and SONAR 8 Studio customers can purchase the boxed version of the SONAR 8.5 Studio upgrade for £89 / €99 directly from Cakewalk.com or a Roland and Edirol distribution partner.

All SONAR V-Studio 700 customers and those SONAR customers who purchased or upgraded to SONAR 8 after July 1st (worldwide excluding Japan) are eligible for a free download of the 8.5 upgrade.

For more detailed info on this product, visit Cakewalk.com.