MESSE09: Control Surface For Sonar

US Cakewalk announces VS-700C V-Studio Console now available for SONAR 8 Producer 01/04/09

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Cakewalk have announced that the VS-700C centre-piece of the SONAR V-Studio 700 production system is now available separately as a control surface for SONAR. Here's their press release...
The release of the SONAR V-Studio 700 system â€“ the first joint Cakewalk and Roland product â€“ marked a new era of inspired hardware and software music production solutions. In response to many requests from the SONAR community the VS-700C control surface from that system is now available separately.
Matched with SONAR 8 Producer, VS-700C provides the deepest hardware/software integration of any control surface available today, offering fluid control over all aspects of SONAR 8 Producer's creative, editing, and mixing capabilities, maximizing workflow and productivity.
The VS-700C's dedicated implementation of ACT (Active Controller Technology) further sets it apart from all other hardware control surfaces. ACT dynamically remaps controls based on how the user is working in SONAR. Also, with the press of a button, the VS-700C provides instant control over any V-Link compatible video and imaging hardware, including the EDIROL DV-7 line of direct linear video editing systems.
VS-700C Highlights

Channel Section

Nine 100mm touch-sensitive, motorized faders arranged in a bank of eight channel strips with a master channel
Users can tab between fader banks and lock/unlock tracks and buses to faders for maximum efficiency when mixing large projects
Channel Branch Mode is an innovative new mixing mode, where Channel Strip 1 will control the volume of a selected track while the remaining channels control the associated sends for that track
One-level undo for all faders and encoders, using the 'Revert to' feature
Total control over SONAR 8 mute and solo functionality including Dim Solo, Exclusive Solo, and Layer Mute/Solo

EQ, Send, ACT Section

Dedicated section of 12 continuous push-button rotary encoders that can be used for EQ, Sends, or ACT control
When controlling EQ, the rotary encoders edit four stages of parametric EQ gain, frequency, and Q for whichever channel has the focus
In ACT mode, encoders automatically remap to control effect, instrument, or mix parameters of whatever view or plug-in has focus within SONAR

Surround and Video Implementation

Full surround implementation with Joystick Panner, F/R Balance, LFE Send, and Width controls
Multifunction T-bar for surround F/R balance and video hardware control
Automate multiple surround parameters simultaneously
Control video mixers/editors/presenters that support V-LINK protocol

Access, Project Navigation, Editing

Control plug-in for SONAR provides user-definable presets that change the functionality of the VS-700C depending on tasks or workflow preferences
Access Panel provides one-button functionality to call up different views and utilities; allows custom assignments from over 45 SONAR commands
Joystick can move plug-in windows around your screen
In addition to F/R balance and Video hardware control, the T-Bar offers: X-Ray option to fade plug-in windows in/out to allow access to the views below and the T-Bar can also be used as a dedicated ACT controller
Complete SONAR transport functionality not available from any other control surface, including Audition, Rewind, Fast Forward, RTZ/GTE, and Pause
Jog and shuttle wheels and Free Edit cursors for project navigation, scrubbing and zoom; provides complete scroll and zoom functionality, including flyover mode which lets you navigate around a project
Use jog wheel to move, crop and fade clip(s), as well as time-stretch
Select clips and time ranges, even across tracks and layers
Split and mute clips with the touch of a button
Insert, delete, bypass and control any VST effect from the control surface
Mackie Control protocol support, provides basic compatibility (transport, faders, jog/shuttle, etc.) with other Windows DAWs

Display

A 2 x 13 LCD display for track names, parameter values, and markers
7 Segment LCD display for time-code and now time position
Responsive metering for each channel
More about SONAR V-Studio 700
SONAR V-Studio 700 addresses the gap between under-powered 'budget' solutions and over-priced competitive solutions by offering a feature-rich music production system that is accessible by a broad range of users. SONAR customers who purchase the VS-700C can later purchase the VS-700R I/O to experience the full benefits offered by the complete SONAR V-Studio 700 system, which includes hardware control of the VS-700R from the VS-700C, 19 input channels, 8 digitally-controlled mic pres with compression on each channel, and onboard Fantom VS synthesizer featuring 1,400 patches with ARX expansion board capability, among many other features.
Pricing and Availability of VS-700C:
VS-700C console for SONAR Producer is now shipping and available through Roland and EDIROL distribution partners and select retailers worldwide. More information: