Reference Guide

1462 New features in SONAR X3

Misc. enhancements

Default to ASIO audio device

On first launch, SONAR will attempt to detect and configure an ASIO audio device. If no ASIO

devices are found, MME mode will be used by default for playback and recording.

See also:

“ASIO drivers” on page 1305

“Audio - Playback and Recording” on page 1786

Always Stream Audio Through FX option

The Play Effect Tails After Stopping global option has been replaced with a new Always Stream

Audio Through FX option.

If any tracks or buses contain active plug-in effects, the audio engine will be activated and stream

silence through the effects, even if the tracks have no audio data or Input Echo enabled. There are

several benefits to having this option enabled:

• Any effect with a “tail” (reverb, delay, etc.) will finish playing when playback is stopped.

• Effects will respond to automation envelopes, even on empty audio tracks.

• Many plug-ins do not update their UI properly until they receive audio input.

This option is enabled by default, and can be configured under Edit > Preferences > Audio -

Playback and Recording. You will typically only disable this option if you want to conserve a bit of

CPU processing if you play a project that contains lots of empty audio tracks with effects.

Automatically insert TTS-1 soft synth when opening MIDI files

When opening a standard MIDI file, a suitable MIDI output device is required in order to hear any

tracks during playback.

If you do not have any MIDI output devices enabled, SONAR will automatically insert the Cakewalk

TTS-1 soft synth (see “Cakewalk TTS-1” on page 1504) when you open a MIDI file directly with the

File > Open command, and assign all tracks to the Cakewalk TTS-1 output. This will ensure that

sound is produced when you play back MIDI files.

Search for color elements

The Preferences dialog box (Edit > Preferences > Customization - Colors) lets you search for

screen elements by name when customizing colors.