New features

Below is a list of some of the new and updated features in the latest version of Sonar.

For current release notes, click here.

New in Sonar 2024:

In addition to workflow enhancements and bug fixes, the following new features are introduced in the 2024 release:

User Interface:

Cakewalk by BandLab is now Cakewalk Sonar

UI refresh

DPI awareness

Track Manager enhancements

Spectrum Analyzer display per track

Double-click to expand/collapse docked windows

Additional snap landmarks

Preview Bus enhancements

New Features:

Integrated sampler (XSampler)

New Quick Start Screen

Project preview

Project Start and End markers

File formats:

Cakewalk Interchange Format (CXF)

Cakewalk ZIP Format (CWZ)

Configuration backup/restore

Automation:

Automation smoothing when recording

Specify the default automation curve type

Offset mode enhancements

MIDI:

Live articulations

Time offset for MIDI transform articulations

Delete all articulations belonging to an articulation map, group or specific articulation ID

Key Aftertouch editing in the Piano Roll view Controller pane

Import and export tempo map to/from MIDI files

Multitrack Piano Roll view drag drop optimizations

Dynamic MIDI buffer size management

Cakewalk Product Center

Plugins:

Overloud TH-U Cakewalk amp simulator

ProChannel Concrete Limiter module

VX-64 Vocal Strip

A/B plugin settings

Sidechaining enhancements

Plugin oversampling enhancements

Plugin delay compensation (PDC) UI enhancements

Plug-in Load Balancing enhancements

External Insert enhancements

Plugin Browser drag and drop enhancements

Quick access to plugin settings

Friendly names for plugins in FX racks

Audio processing load tooltips

Usability and Workflow

Click Sonar logo in Control Bar to open Quick Start Screen

Specify default synth for use in Add Track flyout menu

Select all tracks/buses in a control group

Create sends by dragging effects to channel strips

Create audio tracks routed to aux tracks or patch points

Preserve sections in other Arranger tracks when committing an arrangement

Arranger Inspector displays a badge on sections that intersect with the Now Time

In-app hang detection

Key bindings to show/hide tracks

Toast notification when a control surface is disabled on launch

Deleting a tempo in the Tempo Inspector sets the focus to the next tempo in the list

Press F2 to rename markers in the Markers view

Meter scale for Instrument tracks changes to dB scale when frozen

Remove crossfades

Track Scale Zoom is now quick-groupable

Double-click to reset sliders

Export track/bus and project icons as PNG

Process > Length dialog accepts fractional values

Quick Grouping of Mute, Solo, and Archive buttons on track folders

Updated docked Synth Rack and new bypass functionality

Sync Synth Rack strips with current track

Command to ‘Select Associated Tracks/Buses’

Command to ‘Select Associated Instrument Tracks’ via the Synth Rack

‘Left Click Sets Track Focus’ global option

Quick Exit mode

In-app bug reporting

Microsoft GS Wavesynth device no longer available

Misc. enhancements

Optimizations:

Audio engine low latency optimizations for multi-core processors

Performance optimizations for projects with many synths and effects

Optimizations for high track count projects

Misc. optimizations