Cakewalk SONAR vs Cakewalk by BandLab (Should You Switch?)

Are you still hesitant to make the leap from Cakewalk SONAR to Cakewalk by BandLab? Hopefully this will help assay your fears and allow you to make a better decision when migrating from SONAR to BandLab. 

 

In this video I answer some of the most frequently asked questions including: ☑ Is Cakewalk by BandLab the same program as SONAR Platinum? 

☑ Is it really free?
☑ Will I lose any SONAR features I paid for?
☑ Will SONAR be updated?
☑ Can I keep SONAR if I install Cakewalk?
☑ Does Cakewalk by BandLab require an Internet connection to work?
☑ Have existing bugs in SONAR Platinum been fixed in Cakewalk by BandLab?
☑ Will Cakewalk by BandLab support my SONAR Platinum plug-ins?
☑ Why do I need a BandLab account?
☑ Does this mean I have to be active on BandLab’s social music platform?

 

 

Side-by-side comparison of Cakewalk and SONAR

FeatureCakewalkSONAR
Updated since Oct 2017, over 1,000 bug fixes✔️
Integrated BandLab library access✔️
Tempo track✔️
Arranger tracks✔️
Articulation maps✔️
ARA 2 support✔️
zplane élastique v3 audio stretch and pitch shift✔️
Comping and take enhancements✔️
Smart tool customization✔️
VST sandbox scanning✔️
Advanced Piano Roll editing✔️
Ripple Edit indicator✔️
Dynamic waveform scaling✔️
Custom channel colors in all themes✔️
Multi-clip slip stretching✔️
Language switching✔️
Export Control Bar module✔️
Center Control Bar modules✔️
Selection markers✔️
Duplicate clips✔️
Play List enhancements✔️
HUI protocol support✔️
ProChannel module presets✔️
Max number of tracksUnlimitedUnlimited
Max Bit Depth / Sample Rate64-bit float / 384kHz64-bit float / 384kHz
Max number of effects / instrumentsUnlimitedUnlimited
Max simultaneous I/OUnlimitedUnlimited
Internal mixing engine64-bit64-bit
Windows x64 SupportNative x64Native x64
Windows x86 32-bit native app
✔️
ProChannel • PC76 U-Type Channel Compressor
• PC4K S-Type Bus Compressor
• QuadCurve Equalizer
• Tube Saturation
• Softube Saturation Knob
• Console Emulator
• FX Chain
• BREVERB 2 Cakewalk ProChannel
• Tape Emulator
• REmatrix Solo
• Style Dial FX
• PC2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier
• PC76 U-Type Channel Compressor
• PC4K S-Type Bus Compressor
• QuadCurve Equalizer
• Tube Saturation
• Softube Saturation Knob
• Console Emulator
• FX Chain
• BREVERB 2 Cakewalk ProChannel
• Tape Emulator
• REmatrix Solo
• Style Dial FX
• Bark of Dog
• Panipulator
Drum Replacer✔️✔️
Melodyne✔️
(trial)
✔️
(essential)
Surround mixing✔️✔️
Theme Editor✔️✔️
VocalSync automatic audio alignment✔️✔️
Mix Recall✔️✔️
Patch points and Aux tracks✔️✔️
Plug-in load balancing✔️✔️
Plug-ins:

MFX MIDI plug-ins✔️✔️
Essential Suite (Sonitus fx)✔️✔️
Boutique Suite • TH3 Cakewalk Edition
• BREVERB SONAR
• TH3 Cakewalk Edition
• BREVERB SONAR
• Analog TrackBox
• PX-64 Percussion Strip
• TL-64 Tube Leveler
• TS-64 Transient Shaper
• VX-64 Vocal Strip
• Tone2 Bifilter2
Classic Creative Suite✔️✔️
Studio Mixing Suite (Nomad Factory Blue Tubes bundle)
✔️
Engineering Suite
✔️
Instruments • Studio Instruments Suite
• Cakewalk TTS-1
• Studio Instruments Suite
• Cakewalk TTS-1
• AAS Lounge Lizard Session SONAR Edition
• AAS Strum Acoustic Session SONAR Edition
• AAS Ultra Analog Session 2
• Cakewalk Sound Center
• Cyclone
• Dimension
• DropZone
• PSYN II
• Rapture
• Roland GrooveSynth
• RXP REX Player
• Session Drummer 3
• sfz Sound Font Player
• Square I
• True Pianos
• XLN Audio Addictive Drums 2
• Z3TA+