BOSS BR800 but no Sonar LE software. Any ideas?

[Super 8]

Just got a good deal on a BR800 which will (hopefully!) enable me to do some field recordings ie: quite literally doing acoustic takes .... IN A FIELD (LOL!) Thing is, I got it cheap 'cause it didn't come with the bundled Sonar LE licence SO ... there's no activation code for registering with Cakewalk. Any ideas? I don't mind paying (but not too much) but, having NO knowledge in this area (namely: linking a BR800 to a laptop) I'd appreciate any advice as to what to do this end. CHEERS! 

[Oldrottenhead]

it should pretty much work with any DAW software as an interface etc. i had it set up to cubase 5, but never really used it that way, i prefer to use it as a standalone. tho i have on occasion imported individual wav tracks into cubase for mixing down, when i have lots of tracks, but like i say i prefer to use it as a standalone.

i am sure there are lots of DAWs that come free that can be used, tho i am sure someone like ^$guitars will be more informed than i am.

congrats on your purchase, i am sure you will have lots of fun, expect a learning curve, but the more you use it the easier it becomes. i love mine.

[Super 8]

Cheers Mr Rotten Heid!
I don't have any DAW software on my laptop so I was a bit miffed that the BR800 didn't have the (free?) bundled Sonar LE software. I've set up an account on the Cakewalk site but I can't find the SOnar LE 8.5 software on there. Packages appear to start from $99 with summat called: 'Sonar Artist'.

[64Guitars]

SONAR isn't necessary to connect your BR-800 to your computer. All you need is the BR-800 drivers. You don't even need a DAW, but if you want to use one, it doesn't necessarily have to be SONAR. You can convert your BR-800 tracks to WAV files using the free BR Wave Converter software, then import those WAV files into any DAW. If you want to use the BR-800 as a control surface for your DAW, it will work with any DAW that supports "Mackie control". I believe that most of them do.

[64Guitars]

Did you buy your BR-800 new or used? I can find no mention of SONAR on the BR-800 and BR-80 product pages of the Boss site, so I'm wondering if they've stopped bundling SONAR LE with their recorders since they no longer own cakewalk? If you bought your BR-800 new, then that would appear to be the case.

[Super 8]

Ahh! Thanks for clearing that up. It was 'New/Old Stock' (but I think someone must have robbed the licence card from the box prior to me buying it!) It does say (on a sticker in green font): 'SONAR LE LICENCE INCLUDE WITHIN BOX'. OK, next question .... can anyone recommend a good/simple DAW that'll work on my (fairly old now!) 8GB of RAM laptop running Windows 7? (Ideally FREE but I don't mind paying a bit!)   

[Oldrottenhead]

i bought my br800 second hand and couldnt use the packaged sonar as it is only licensed for one user. so if activated cant be used again.

[Oldrottenhead]

some freeby DAWs

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=23665.0


https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=21739.0

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=20740.0

https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=14954.0

[Super 8]

i bought my br800 second hand and couldnt use the packaged sonar as it is only licensed for one user. so if activated cant be used again.

I'm beginning to see the light ...... CHEERS!

[Super 8]

some freeby DAWs

COOL! Will go check those links out. THANKS DUDE!!!!!