Transferring projects between Cakewalk Sonar and Next

You can exchange projects between Cakewalk Next and Cakewalk Sonar by exporting projects as Cakewalk Interchange Format (CXF).

Cakewalk Interchange Format

The Cakewalk Interchange Format (CXF) is a Cakewalk cross platform inter-app project file format, used to exchange projects between Sonar and Next. CXF files exported from either application can be opened or imported in both apps.

 

Important: CXF is a transitory format only used for exchange. It is not intended for archival storage or backing up since the format can change at any time.

What is stored in a CXF file?

CXF supports a subset of project data used by Sonar and Next, so app-specific feature settings and view-specific states will not be restored.

The following data will be exported and imported:

Tracks:

Audio

MIDI

Instrument tracks

Simple Instrument tracks (Sonar)

Multi Instrument tracks (each track will represent a unique instance of the synth when opened)

Split instrument tracks (not supported)

Bus tracks (Next)

Patchpoints (Sonar; converted to buses)

Aux tracks (Sonar; limited support - treated like patch points and converted to buses) The aux track itself will not route to the patchpoint.

Track data:

Audio/MIDI clips.

Overlapping clips or take lanes are flattened prior to export.

Clip effects are rendered into the clips prior to export.

Automation envelopes

Track/Bus parameters

Volume

Pan

Mute

Solo

Input Gain (Sonar only)

Input Pan (Sonar only)

Track/Bus routing

Outputs

Hardware outputs are not preserved since they are not cross platform. Any hardware outs are automatically assigned to the first hardware output.

Sends to buses and patch points.

Plugins in track and bus effects racks. On opening a CXF file, any missing plugins will be listed. Note: when moving a project between Windows and Mac any plugins used must be installed on both platforms in the same format to successfully load them.

VST2

VST3

DX

AU plugins (only available in Next Mac)

DX plugins (only available in Sonar)

ProChannel (not supported)

FX Chains (not supported)

Plugin settings are stored within the CXF and will be restored if the plugin is available.

Instruments and instrument settings are stored within the CXF.

Exporting a project in CXF format

To export a project to Cakewalk Interchange Format, do one of the following:

Go to File > Export > Cakewalk Interchange.

Click the Export button in the Control Bar’s Export module and select Other > CXF (Cakewalk Interchange).

CXF files have a .cxf file extension.

When the export is complete, a notification appears with a link to open the export folder.

 

 

See also:

Export module

Opening a project in CXF format

To open a project in Cakewalk Interchange Format, do one of the following:

Go to File > Open and choose Cakewalk Interchange as the file format.

Drag a .cxf file to the Sonar title bar or empty background.

Opening a CXF file creates a new project, which must then be saved in Sonar’s native project file format (.cwp).

Importing a project in CXF format

To import a project in Cakewalk Interchange Format into an existing Sonar project, do one of the following:

Go to File > Import > Cakewalk Interchange.

Drag a .cxf file to the track area.

An imported CXF file merges its data into the existing project file.