Any Cakewalk "SONAR" themes?

[LCipher]

Not for me - I personally don't care for the SONAR style.

But with the demise of Cakewalk - might appeal to a lot of refugees. There's a thread over in cw land if anyone has a theme or is working on one that you might want to respond to.

http://forum.cakewalk.com/Reaper-is-...-m3693671.aspx

[vanhaze]

This is a neat idea !

[Reno.thestraws]

Using a Theme that looks like your Ex DAW is the WORST WAY to approaching REAPER

[crimsonmerry]

Mmm don't know man.. Feels like trying to attract a person by dressing like her ex...

[Doc Brown]

Originally Posted by crimsonmerry

Mmm don't know man.. Feels like trying to attract a person by dressing like her ex...

Wouldn't that repel said person?

[hopi]

Originally Posted by crimsonmerry

Mmm don't know man.. Feels like trying to attract a person by dressing like her ex...

hahahaha.... ROTFLMAO

[trtzbass]

https://stash.reaper.fm/theme/1795/ReaSkyline%201.0

I did start working on the color scheme a while ago.
It would be great if someone who's in the know would pick it up and make it awesome!

[crimsonmerry]

Originally Posted by Doc Brown

Wouldn't that repel said person?

Uhhh I'm not sure either... IRL i do have a friend who married a girl that looks like his ex-wife. So...

[vanceen]

Originally Posted by Reno.thestraws

Using a Theme that looks like your Ex DAW is the WORST WAY to approaching REAPER

That's a good point.

I'm a 29-year SONAR/Cakewalk guy, and I've been learning Reaper the last three weeks. I have been surprised at how difficult it is to learn to do all the things I used to take for granted, in a different way. But I've mostly been delighted with how powerful Reaper is once you learn its ways.

Having the screen look like SONAR would tend to make me think I'm still in Kansas. A sharp break is sometimes the best way.

[tls11823]

Originally Posted by vanceen

Having the screen look like SONAR would tend to make me think I'm still in Kansas. A sharp break is sometimes the best way.

Agreed 100%. I left Sonar at 8.5.3 for Reaper. While I realized that I could map keys to act the same as Sonar and to otherwise make Reaper work closer to Sonar, my best bet was to just learn the new ways of doing things and within a few days I could use Reaper easily. By the end of a month, I was doing things the Reaper way without thinking. It was a great decision, and I recommend it to any of our recent Sonar converts.

[Musicianaire]

Originally Posted by Reno.thestraws

Using a Theme that looks like your Ex DAW is the WORST WAY to approaching REAPER

Originally Posted by vanceen

That's a good point.

I'm a 29-year SONAR/Cakewalk guy, and I've been learning Reaper the last three weeks. I have been surprised at how difficult it is to learn to do all the things I used to take for granted, in a different way. But I've mostly been delighted with how powerful Reaper is once you learn its ways.

Having the screen look like SONAR would tend to make me think I'm still in Kansas. A sharp break is sometimes the best way.

Originally Posted by tls11823

Agreed 100%. I left Sonar at 8.5.3 for Reaper. While I realized that I could map keys to act the same as Sonar and to otherwise make Reaper work closer to Sonar, my best bet was to just learn the new ways of doing things and within a few days I could use Reaper easily. By the end of a month, I was doing things the Reaper way without thinking. It was a great decision, and I recommend it to any of our recent Sonar converts.

Agreed, Agreed and Agreed! My thoughts exactly, and y'all saved me the trouble of typing it out.

All you other SONAR refugees - the dream is over so get over it. Reaper is the future you've been waiting for, you just don't know it yet.

[cubic13]

Originally Posted by Reno.thestraws

Using a Theme that looks like your Ex DAW is the WORST WAY to approaching REAPER

I disagree, sorry. I made my Cubicpack themes essentially because I couldn't use the default one and nothing in the stash made for me an alternative which would make me feel really at ease.

It took me a while to get something fully functional, but I don't regret it : I have learned a lot about how Reaper is working in the process and how to combine as efficiently as possible both Cubase and Reaper world. I made several other themes, since, but actually and for serious work with Reaper, I'm only using my Cubicpack as I simply feel at home with it.

[LCipher]

Originally Posted by cubic13

I disagree, sorry. I made my Cubicpack themes essentially because I couldn't use the default one and nothing in the stash made for me an alternative which would make me feel really at ease.

I agree - I've been using CubicPack (mainly Frema) as my default and it works better than anything else I've tried. And I've tried a bunch!

I have Cubase (Essential 8, 9.5) and I love the GUI - but with Frema and REAPERs speed and flexibility I find myself using REAPER more and more.

[new2reaper]

Ok... so I forget about "making music" for how long? Maybe a month or more. If Reaper is touted for its ability to “configure things then why not make it work like something I already know. Save time, trouble and make some music instead. If I wanted to learn something new, I would tackle the Chinese language. I want to make music and not hit the wrong button over and over again while trying to keep my creative thoughts from fading away.
This would be like driving in England on the other side of the road while thing to look around at the sites, you can do it but it’s not the best thing to do.

[uncleswede]

Originally Posted by new2reaper

Ok... so I forget about "making music" for how long? Maybe a month or more. If Reaper is touted for its ability to “configure things then why not make it work like something I already know. Save time, trouble and make some music instead. If I wanted to learn something new, I would tackle the Chinese language. I want to make music and not hit the wrong button over and over again while trying to keep my creative thoughts from fading away.
This would be like driving in England on the other side of the road while thing to look around at the sites, you can do it but it’s not the best thing to do.

The choice is yours, of course. There are plenty of other DAWs :-)

[JamesPeters]

Originally Posted by new2reaper

Ok... so I forget about "making music" for how long? Maybe a month or more. If Reaper is touted for its ability to “configure things then why not make it work like something I already know. Save time, trouble and make some music instead. If I wanted to learn something new, I would tackle the Chinese language. I want to make music and not hit the wrong button over and over again while trying to keep my creative thoughts from fading away.
This would be like driving in England on the other side of the road while thing to look around at the sites, you can do it but it’s not the best thing to do.

Reaper is touted for its flexibility but it's not intended to be a precise copy of some other software. Don't be absurd. Why isn't other DAW software trying to work like Reaper. See? It's just as absurd in reverse so that tells you something.

Do yourself a favor and learn how Reaper works. Soon you won't even believe you made the sort of complaint you just typed on this thread.

And if a theme alone is what's holding you back...really? You're equating getting used to a somewhat different DAW appearance to learning a completely different language? LOL!!! Have you only used ONE piece of DAW software until now? You do realize in their basic functionality and UI they're all quite similar, right?

[new2reaper]

Refer back to Vanceen’s post… what’s wrong with Kansas?
How about the post from Cubic13… it’s not about the color or the way the console looks, it trying to do something in a more efficient way. Why is the space bar used so often the same way in other DAW’s.
It just makes things “flow” smoother… get that idea down on paper while it’s fresh.
PS… I’ve use a few DAW’s in my over 25 year doing this stuff.

[new2reaper]

Don’t get me wrong. I really like Reaper. I just want things to move along smoothly… before the “grim reaper" gets me. Currently I use Sonar, Cubase, and Reaper. Sometimes the mind just moved faster then the fingers do.

[ivansc]

N2R: Sadly that aint gonna change any time soon. Try and remember back to when you first tried your SECOND daw.

My first experience was with a MIDI only sequencer and when my 2xFostex hard drive driven by Allen and Heath auto desk and Commodore Amiga (!) setup died I cursed and swore at Cakewalk 9 for months.
Stuck with it and finally got fairly comfortable just in time for Sonar Producer version 8.5.3 to crash all the time on my PC.
Enter reaper version 1.something.
Cursed and swore at that & went on to also try Tracktion, Cubase, Studio One (bought that one and it really DID drive me nuts) and several others at the same time, always coming back to Reaper in the end. These days I don't bother even lighting up anything else as Reaper does 99% of what I need and I have a workflow that I like.

So all that is a long roundabout way of saying "Come on in the waters lovely" but you wont find Reaper any easier to learn than any of the other DAWs you have used. Give it time and an open mind.

[Musicianaire]

Originally Posted by ivansc

N2R: Sadly that aint gonna change any time soon. Try and remember back to when you first tried your SECOND daw.

My first experience was with a MIDI only sequencer and when my 2xFostex hard drive driven by Allen and Heath auto desk and Commodore Amiga (!) setup died I cursed and swore at Cakewalk 9 for months.
Stuck with it and finally got fairly comfortable just in time for Sonar Producer version 8.5.3 to crash all the time on my PC.
Enter reaper version 1.something.
Cursed and swore at that & went on to also try Tracktion, Cubase, Studio One (bought that one and it really DID drive me nuts) and several others at the same time, always coming back to Reaper in the end. These days I don't bother even lighting up anything else as Reaper does 99% of what I need and I have a workflow that I like.

So all that is a long roundabout way of saying "Come on in the waters lovely" but you wont find Reaper any easier to learn than any of the other DAWs you have used. Give it time and an open mind.

^^ +1000!

[JamesPeters]

Originally Posted by new2reaper

Refer back to Vanceen’s post…

My point stands. You're blaming Reaper for being a bit different, instead of the other way around. You can get used to it. Also those differences are relatively small. If you can't jump into almost any DAW and start recording/editing music these days, I don't know what to tell you. I had no problem using different DAWs 15 years ago. I had my preferences but I never struggled to record music in any of them. You say you haven't made music in over a month because of the differences in Reaper? Seriously? Take a step back and look how ridiculous that statement is.

If you like Sonar X1/2/3/whatever's specific layout/workflow, you might be surprised to find others have a difference of opinion. I hated when Sonar went to X1. I was willing to learn the new layout/tools but I wasn't happy about it. When numerous serious bugs for basic things in X1 drove me to try other DAWs again, and I tried Reaper, its layout/workflow seemed like a breath of fresh air by comparison. (Not that I expect you feel the same way, but just to show you not everyone shares your sentiment about Sonar being the best.)

Anyway if you want Reaper customized to be like another DAW...well...which one? Some Cubase users will complain Reaper isn't like Cubase enough and some ProTools users will complain Reaper isn't like ProTools enough (etc.) Why not just customize Reaper for your own workflow.

You don't like the default action of the spacebar (for example)? Change it (see the actions list). While you're at it, change whatever else you want. Unlike other DAWs, you *can* change those things.

[SteveE9C6]

Uh, what would be the purpose of different themes then folks?

I've used Sonar since before it was Sonar. I've been recording since the 60's. I also have PT12.8, Cubase 9.5, Studio One Pro 3.5, and last but not least Harrison Mixbuss.

Reaper is powerful and fast. I like that. My favorite? Heck, my old Soundcraft 40 channel into a 24 track 2 inch machine. All DAW's are an imitation of what we use to have.... Fancy imitations no doubt, and can do things that the original analog recording process could not. I don't miss splicing tape, head maintenance, degausing, etc....

I took a look at Reaper years ago after some noise on Gearslutz and Home Recording forums. What turned me off was not the software.... no, it was the level of "snarkiness" some of the frequent Reaper proponents came across as. I just couldn't get past that and wrote Reaper off as a tool for amateur kids in their bedrooms.
Now, admittedly... it has grown in to a very nice application. Clearly, it is the most effecient DAW I am aware of. Perhaps my first impresssion years ago was hasty.
However... some of the remarks here, well. It's just an application, nothing more, nothing less.

I'm currently using the old school theme "Abbey Road". It's kind of cool. I just don't see anything wrong with helping a newcomer to Reaper. IF something will help them, then why not?. Sonar theme? I'd try it...

But folks... a daw, is a daw, is a daw.... I am no longer in the commercial studio business, but I have a home studio that is the equal of many commercial spaces when it comes to tracking songwriters, small groups, etc.

Whatever works.. works. If I find a tool that makes it easier, well that is cool.
Y'all have a great day and a happy new year.

[JamesPeters]

Originally Posted by SteveE9C6

Uh, what would be the purpose of different themes then folks?

...

I'm currently using the old school theme "Abbey Road". It's kind of cool. I just don't see anything wrong with helping a newcomer to Reaper. IF something will help them, then why not?. Sonar theme? I'd try it...

I have nothing against someone wanting Reaper to look different, and using different themes. I'm currently modifying its Default 5 theme to my own tastes.

There's another aspect to this discussion though: expecting Reaper's workflow to be the same as Sonar's. There are ways it can be (changing mouse/keyboard modifiers, using dockers for different purposes etc.) but other ways it can't be (there's no default "channel strip" and even if you set one up it won't behave identically, some tools work differently etc.) So even if someone makes Reaper look as close as possible to Sonar, it won't work quite like Sonar anyway. Because of that I might recommend just picking whatever theme looks most appealing from the stash, and moving on from Sonar. But if the person realizes a "Sonar theme" won't make Reaper into Sonar, I'm all for that too. I used a Cubase-type theme for a while for fun, as well as a ProTools-type theme.

[Juca]

Originally Posted by vanceen

That's a good point.

I'm a 29-year SONAR/Cakewalk guy, and I've been learning Reaper the last three weeks. I have been surprised at how difficult it is to learn to do all the things I used to take for granted, in a different way. But I've mostly been delighted with how powerful Reaper is once you learn its ways.

Having the screen look like SONAR would tend to make me think I'm still in Kansas. A sharp break is sometimes the best way.

I recommend you read this Cockos document. It will guide you in this transition.
https://www.cockos.com/reaper/guides/SONARtoREAPER.pdf
Greetings

[Valle]

Originally Posted by crimsonmerry

Mmm don't know man.. Feels like trying to attract a person by dressing like her ex...

LOL!