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Summary |
Sonar X1 |
Cubase 6 |
Pro Tools 10 |
Live 8 |
Digital Performer 7 |
FL Studio 10 |
Logic Pro 9 |
Category |
Audio Environment |
Sample Rates |
192 kHz max listed |
192 kHz max |
96 kHz max |
96 kHz max |
192 kHz max |
192 kHz max |
192 kHz max |
Project Bit Depth |
16, 24, 32 & 64-bit floating point; multiple bit depths per project |
16, 24, & 32-bit floating point; multiple bit depths per project |
16, 24, & 32-bit floating point; multiple bit depths per project |
16, 24, & 32-bit floating point; multiple bit depths per project |
16, 24 & 32-bit floating point; multiple bit depths per project |
16, 24, & 32-bit floating point; multiple bit depths per project |
16 & 24; single bit depth per session |
Dithering Algorithm |
POW-r, rectangular |
Apogee UV22HR |
POW-r, TPDF (triangular) |
POW-r, triangular |
Not stated |
Not stated |
POW-r |
Stereo Pan Laws |
6 stereo pan laws |
4 stereo pan laws |
4 stereo pan laws |
single stereo pan law |
single stereo pan law |
2 stereo pan laws |
3-stereo pan laws |
Track Channel Format |
Track format can be mono, stereo, or surround |
Track format can be mono, stereo, or surround |
Track format must be either mono or stereo |
Track format can be mono or stereo |
Track format must be either mono or stereo |
Track format can be mono or stereo |
Track format can be mono, stereo, or surround |
Freeze Tracks |
Yes |
Yes |
Bounce & auto import |
Yes |
Yes |
Track mixer record |
Yes |
Batch Processing |
All realtime plug-ins plus additional functions |
All realtime plug-ins plus additional functions |
All realtime plug-ins plus additional functions |
No |
All realtime plug-ins plus additional functions |
3 FX available for batch processing |
All realtime plug-ins plus additional functions (Soundtrack Pro) |
Plug-in Types Supported |
DX & VST |
VST |
RTAS & AAX |
VST & AU |
MAS & VST |
DX & VST |
AU |
Plug-in Delay Compensation |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
External FX Integration |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Audio Interfaces |
Most interfaces supported |
Most interfaces supported |
Most interfaces supported |
Most interfaces supported |
Most interfaces supported |
Most interfaces supported |
Most interfaces supported |
Audio Driver Support |
ASIO, WDM, MME |
ASIO, MME |
ASIO, Core Audio |
ASIO, Core Audio |
Core Audio |
ASIO, WDM |
Core Audio |
Meters |
Meter Routing |
Pre/post fader displays |
Pre/post fader displays |
Pre/post fader displays |
Post fader displays |
Post fader displays |
Post fader displays; pre-fader displays with WaveCandy plug-in |
Post fader displays |
Meter Display |
Peak & RMS, Peak Markers |
Peak |
Peak |
Peak |
Peak |
Peak |
Peak |
Meter Scaling |
Adjustable scaling |
No scaling control |
No scaling control |
No scaling control |
MeterBridge |
Scaling on WaveCandy plug-in. |
Exponential & linear scaling |
Overall Rating |
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Summary |
Sonar X1 |
Cubase 6 |
Pro Tools 10 |
Live 8 |
Digital Performer 7 |
FL Studio 10 |
Logic Pro 9 |
Category |
Mixing & Mastering |
Fades |
Real time fade in/out for individual clips; automatic cross-fades; fade curve control |
Real time fade in/out for individual events; automatic cross-fades; fade curve control |
Real time fade in/out for individual events; automatic cross-fades; fade curve control |
Real time fade in/out for individual events; automatic cross-fades; fade curve control |
Real time fade in/out for individual events; automatic cross-fades; fade curve control |
Batch fades only for clips; no crossfades |
Real time fade in/out for individual regions; automatic cross-fades |
FX
Plug-ins |
Delay & Echo |
Basic |
Basic & Multitple |
Basic & Multitple |
Basic & Multitple |
Basic & Multitple |
Basic & Multitple |
Basic & Multitple |
Distortion |
Variety of Distortion FX |
Variety of Distortion FX |
Variety of Distortion FX |
Variety of Distortion FX |
Variety of Distortion FX |
Variety of Distortion FX |
Variety of Distortion FX |
Dynamics |
Basic & Multiband |
Basic & Multiband |
Basic |
Basic & Multiband |
Basic & Multiband |
Basic & Multiband |
Basic & Multiband |
Modulation |
Basic |
Basic & Special FX |
Basic & Special FX |
Basic |
Basic & Special FX |
Basic |
Basic & Special FX |
Reverb |
Track, Mastering & Convolution |
Track, Mastering & Convolution |
Track & Mastering |
Track & Mastering |
Track, Mastering & Convolution |
Track |
Track, Mastering & Convolution |
Harmonics |
Warming & Guitar Amp Sim |
Warming & Guitar Amp Sim |
Guitar Amp Sim |
Warming & Resonator |
Warming & Guitar Amp Sim |
Guitar Amp Sim |
Warming & Guitar Amp Sim |
Spatial |
Spatial Imaging |
Special Panning & Stereo Imaging |
Stereo Imaging |
Special Panning & Stereo Imaging |
Special Panning & Stereo Imaging |
Special Panning & Stereo Imaging |
Special Panning & Stereo Imaging |
Spectrum Analyzer |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Included in EQ |
Panning |
Separate & combined panning (plug-in) |
Separate & combined channel panning |
Separate channel panning |
Combined channel panning |
Separate & combined panning (plug-in) |
Combined channel panning |
Combined channel panning |
Routing |
Multi-Level routing to buses&main outputs |
Multi-Level routing to buses&main outputs |
Multi-Level routing to buses&main outputs |
Multi-Level routing to buses&main outputs |
Multi-Level routing to buses&main outputs |
Multi-Level routing to buses&main outputs |
Multi-Level routing to buses&main outputs |
Inserts |
No limit stated on inserts, all pre-fader |
8 FX insert slots, 6 pre-fader & 2 post-fader |
5 inserts, all pre-fader |
No limit stated on inserts, all pre-fader |
No limit stated on inserts, pre & post fader |
8 inserts, all pre-fader |
No limit stated on inserts, all pre-fader |
Sends |
No limit stated on sends, both pre-fader & post-fader |
8 sends, both pre-fader & post-fader |
10 sends, both pre-fader & post-fader |
No limit stated on sends, both pre-fader & post-fader |
No limit stated on sends, both pre-fader & post-fader |
64 sends, post fader |
No limit stated on sends, both pre-fader & post-fader |
Sidechain |
Yes (selected plug-ins only) |
Yes (selected plug-ins only) |
Yes (selected plug-ins only) |
Yes (selected plug-ins only) |
Yes (selected plug-ins only) |
Yes (selected plug-ins only) |
Yes (selected plug-ins only) |
EQ |
6-band EQ including high & low pass/shelving curves |
4-band EQ including high & low pass/shelving curves |
5-band EQ including high & low pass/shelving curves |
6-band EQ including high & low pass/shelving curves |
8-band EQ including high & low pass/shelving curves |
7-band EQ including high & low pass/shelving curves |
4-band EQ including high & low pass/shelving curves |
Overall Rating |
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Summary |
Sonar X1 |
Cubase 6 |
Pro Tools 10 |
Live 8 |
Digital Performer 7 |
FL Studio 10 |
Logic Pro 9 |
Category |
Audio File Management |
File Types |
Import |
19 file types including Wave, AIFF, MPEG, Windows Media |
15 file types including Wave, AIFF, MPEG, Windows Media, Ogg, Wave 64, REX |
MPEG, Sound Designer, Wave, Windows Media, AIFF, REX, MP3 |
WAV, AIFF, Ogg |
12 file types including WAV, AIFF, MP3, CAF, SD |
WAV, MP3, Ogg, REX |
AIFF, Wave, CAF, Sound Designer II |
Export |
RIFF Wave, Broadcast Wave, Real Audio, Windows Media |
Wave, Wave 64, AIFF, Ogg, RealMedia, Windows Media, |
Wave, Windows Media, AIFF |
WAV, AIFF |
WAV, AIFF, CAF, SD II |
WAV, Ogg |
AIFF, Wave, CAF, SD II |
CD Ripping/Burning |
Ripping & burning |
Ripping |
Ripping |
No |
Ripping & burning |
No |
Burning (Soundtrack Pro) |
MP3 |
License Fee |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Download LAME encoder |
Yes |
Yes |
OMF |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Project Physical Folder |
Optional |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Project Logical Folder |
Project Files panel facilitates tracking but no management |
Pool facilitates tracking & management |
Project Browser and clip List facilitate tracking and management |
Project file management function |
Soundbite Window facilitates tracking & management |
File tracking not included in Current Project folder |
Bin facilitates tracking & management |
Consolidated Export |
Save As & .bun |
Save to New Folder |
Save Copy |
Collect All & Save |
Save Copy |
Save as .zip |
Save As |
Fast Bounce |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Logical Library |
No |
Media Manager |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Apple Loop Library |
File Metadata |
No |
Can maintain extensive metadata in MediaBay |
Can store some metadata using Project & Workspace Browsers |
No |
Can store some metadata using Sound File Info Window |
No |
No |
Cleanup |
Facility for finding unused audio files |
Facility for finding unused audio files |
Facility for finding unused audio files |
File Management function |
Facility for finding unused audio files |
No facility for finding unused audio |
Facility for finding unused audio files |
Overall Rating |
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Summary |
Sonar X1 |
Cubase 6 |
Pro Tools 10 |
Live 8 |
Digital Performer 7 |
FL Studio 10 |
Logic Pro 9 |
Category |
Surround Mixing |
Output Formats |
30 formats |
9 formats |
No |
No |
6 formats |
No |
6 formats |
Surround Panner Views |
1 panner view |
3 panner views |
No |
No |
4 panner views |
No |
1 panner view |
Low Frequency Effects (LFE) Control |
Volume & cutoff |
Volume |
No |
No |
Volume & cutoff |
No |
Volume |
Surround FX |
SurroundBridge |
Independent channel routing, common plug-in settings |
No |
No |
17 surround FX |
No |
Multichannel FX Configuration |
Stereo Mixdown |
Center level, LFE level, & surround level controls in project setup |
Plug-in available to control individual surround channel volumes |
No |
No |
Automatic downmix, but no control of surround channels |
No |
Plug-in available to control individual surround channel volumes |
Export |
Interleaved & split mono for multiple file formats |
Interleaved & split mono for multiple file formats |
No |
No |
Interleaved & split mono for multiple file formats |
No |
Interleaved & split mono for multiple file formats |
Overall Rating |
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Summary |
Sonar X1 |
Cubase 6 |
Pro Tools 10 |
Live 8 |
Digital Performer 7 |
FL Studio 10 |
Logic Pro 9 |
Category |
Recording & Editing |
Multi-Track Recording |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Multiple Takes |
Separate clips in a single track displayed vertically or stacked |
Separate events in a single track displayed vertically or stacked |
Separate clips stacked and listed in clips List |
Single clip for all takes |
Separate audio soundbites in a single track displayed vertically or stacked |
Multiple takes create multiple channels |
Separate events/parts in a single track displayed vertically or stacked |
Composites |
Separate clips in a single track displayed vertically or stacked |
Separate events in a single track displayed vertically or stacked |
Separate clips stacked and listed in clips List |
Single clip for all takes |
Separate audio soundbites in a single track displayed vertically or stacked |
Multiple takes create multiple channels |
Separate events/parts in a single track displayed vertically or stacked |
Overlay Modes |
Sound on Sound, Overwrite |
Merge, Replace |
Destructive, Non-Destructive |
MIDI overlay only |
Overdub & replace |
Merge, Replace |
Merge, Replace |
Punch In/Out |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Input Monitoring |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Editors |
Clips Pane |
Sample Editor & Audio Part Editor |
Edit Window |
Sample Browser |
Waveform |
Edison |
Sample Editor & Soundtrack Pro |
Overall Rating |
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Overall Rating |
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