Bought Sonar X1 need help.

[Glenn Mitchell]

I feel so stupid and frustrated when I try to follow the basic instructions in the manual and can't find the files or items they refer to so I get stopped. Over and over.

I managed to hear the demo tho I am listening thru the BR and not the computer (is that expected?)
next
I opened a new file I called Test controller
None of the BR controls do anything.
I can hear the guitar that is plugged in thru the BR headset.

I'm assuming the first thing I want to do is record something from the BR to Sonar using the BR as the controller.
But the BR is not doing anything and when I use the Sonar console nothing gets recorded tho I see the meter responding (I must be Sooo close)
I'm thinking I don't know which preferences to use? (I learned about silent buses and how to set them. )
The Audio devices and driver settings are set to BR800 in and out but occasionally it seems to lose them and there are no choices.
Wild and random clicking of just about anything eventually will get things to sound but not record.

What should the Recording and playback be set to? (WDMKS/ ASIO or MME 32 are the choices)
I have also learned how to get the in out enabled on the master and I'm assuming it should be BR800 but again I don't know what these things mean so I am blindly guessing.

Next time I open Sonar I go thru a whole new set of preference hangups.
I need a system here because there seem to be so many things that need setting and I have no clue.
I'm sliding down the learning curve as if it's made of ice.
If there is someone who can walk me thru this?
I'd be happy to phone.

[TPB]

Hey Glenn
I stayed with 8.5 have you tried the CAkewalk forum there are a few experts over there and they should be able to get you going. If you need the link let me know
Tim

[64Guitars]

I just downloaded the SONAR X1 Reference Manual from here:

http://www.cakewalk.com/support/doc.aspx?DLID=943

Instructions for setting up a Control Surface are on pages 1140 to 1143.

Is that what you needed?

[64Guitars]

This might help too.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVT77XRuCT8

[Glenn Mitchell]

Thanks again. I'll look into these too. I did download the manual previously and started with the tutorials.
I'm exhausted from studying Sonar all day now but look fwd to finding the fixes soon.
I'm determined not to be an "old dog" that can't learn some new tricks.
I've been using the "getting started" under Help in the program.
It will all start to come together in the next few weeks I'm sure.
I'm mostly retired (from Home design) now so have the time it takes.

[Glenn Mitchell]

I got a good reply form Sonar on setting up the BR as a control surface. and it worked.
The tricky bit was in Control surfaces -finding the little "star" to get to Mackie control.
To me it wasn't obvious.

Hello Glenn,
To use your BR-800 with SONAR as a control surface, go to Edit | Preferences, then Devices in the MIDI category. Make sure the MIDI ports for your BR-800 are enabled. Then go to Control Surfaces. Click the star button to add a new surface, choose Mackie Control for the surface and set the BR-800's MIDI ports for the in and out. Then hit Apply then Close in the Preferences and the BR-800's controls should work in SONAR.
Best Regards,
Jon Sasor
Technical Support
Cakewalk, Inc

[64Guitars]

The tricky bit was in Control surfaces -finding the little "star" to get to Mackie control.
To me it wasn't obvious.

Yes, I'm not a big fan of icons without text, especially when they're as small and ambiguous as that star. A larger button that said "Add Controller/Surface" on it would have been much better.

On the other hand, step 3 on page 1140 of the SONAR X1 Reference Guide does have a picture of the star button right where it says "Click the Add Controller/Surface button". So I think the instructions are clear enough.

When learning new software, it often helps to hover the mouse pointer over unfamiliar controls (such as the star button) and look for a clue to its meaning. Usually, a hint bubble will pop up with a short description of the control's purpose. Or sometimes the description will be displayed on the status bar of the program instead.

[Glenn Mitchell]

Lol, ok fair enough, I hadn't gotten to page 1140 yet.
Time to sit down and RTFM for a few days or weeks.