With a software synth, the number of voices fluctuates depending on what else the computer is doing, how many tracks you've recorded, latency, the phase of the moon, and so on. Granted, you can 'freeze' tracks with soft synths, but that can add another level of complexity to the recording process.Īnother advantage of hardware is being able to count on a fixed number of voices. Conversely, with software synths, the more parts you create, the harder the computer has to work, and this may require you to increase the latency to prevent audio drop‑outs, which interferes with feel when playing through the computer in real time. Any CPU loading is minimal compared to using a software workstation, so if you're a guitarist who plays through amp sims and monitors the computer's output, this is a big deal: musicians can create drum, bass, guitar and keyboard tracks using the multitimbral workstation, yet keep the latency really low for the best feel when playing.

One advantage of using external hardware is that it's ready to go as soon as you turn it on - especially if you create a startup template that incorporates the synth (we'll cover how to do that in a moment).

One option is to integrate external hardware with Sonar, rather than trying to do everything 'in the box.' For example, many newer hardware synths (particularly models from Korg) are designed to function as if they were VST plug‑ins within a DAW such as Sonar, and Cakewalk's upcoming V‑Studio system includes the Fantom VS, a hardware synth built into the V‑Studio's rackmount interface that can act as an external hardware synthesizer and a VST plug‑in within Sonar. Those who remember when 'booting up' required simply turning on a tape recorder and mixer have often longed for the same ease of use with computer‑based recording setups. No matter which DAW software you use, there's always the desire to use it more efficiently and transparently. The top track is the instrument's audio output.

This screenshot shows six MIDI tracks assigned to six different parts in the Korg M3.

Is it time to lighten the load on your CPU and put that external hardware to work inside your DAW?

Exhale by output in sonar x3