Automations clips

What synth are you trying to control?

Sounds like you need to record midi continuous controllers, most easily done thru Piano Roll View (PRV)
But it's a very deep subject, you'll have some reading to do to find out which controller numbers affect the cut off frequency , resonance , modulation etc. on the synths you're using . . . do you have a control surface interface ?
A control surface makes it much easier. Another option is to draw it in . . . in the controller area of PRV.
 
Here's a standard list of continuous controller numbers:
 
CC number and Description 

• 0 Bank Select (MSB)(followed by cc32 & Program Change)
• 1 Modulation Wheel
• 2 Breath controller
• 4 Foot Pedal (MSB)
• 5 Portamento Time (MSB)Only use this for portamento time use cc65 to turn on/off
• 6 Data Entry (MSB)if you follow cc100=0 & cc101=0 this is pitch bend range
• 7 Volume (MSB)Note: CC7 and 11 both adjust the volume. Use cc7 as you would the control on the amplifier - set it and leave it at the beginning of the MIDI track
• 8 Balance (MSB) Some synths use it
• 10 Pan position (MSB)
• 11 Expression (MSB)Note: CC7 and 11 both adjust the volume. Use cc11 for volume changes during the track (crescendo, diminuendo, swells, etc.)
• 12 Effect Control 1 (MSB)
• 13 Effect Control 2 (MSB)
• 14 Undefined
• 15 Undefined
• 16 Ribbon Controller or General Purpose Slider 1
• 17 Knob 1 or General Purpose Slider 2
• 18 General Purpose Slider 3
• 19 Knob 2 General Purpose Slider 4
• 20 Knob 3 or Undefined
• 21 Knob 4 or Undefined 
  
• 22-31 are undefined, available for use by synths that let you assign controllers. 
  
• 32 Bank Select (LSB) (see cc0)
• 33 Modulation Wheel (LSB)
• 34 Breath controller (LSB)
• 36 Foot Pedal (LSB)
• 37 Portamento Time (LSB)
• 38 Data Entry (LSB)
• 39 Volume (LSB)
• 40 Balance (LSB)
• 42 Pan position (LSB)
• 43 Expression (LSB)
• 44 Effect Control 1 (LSB) Roland Portamento on and rate
• 45 Effect Control 2 (LSB)
• 46-63 may be in use as the LSB for controllers 14-31 in some devices, but I have not seen one yet.
• 64 Hold Pedal (on/off)Nearly every synth will react to 64 (sustain pedal)
• 65 Portamento (on/off)
• 66 Sustenuto Pedal (on/off)
• 67 Soft Pedal (on/off)
• 68 Legato Pedal (on/off)
• 69 Hold 2 Pedal (on/off) 
• 70 Sound Variation
• 71 Resonance (aka Timbre)
• 72 Sound Release Time
• 73 Sound Attack Time
• 74 Frequency Cutoff (aka Brightness )
• 75 Sound Control 6
• 76 Sound Control 7
• 77 Sound Control 8
• 78 Sound Control 9
• 79 Sound Control 10
• 80 Decay or General Purpose Button 1 (on/off) Roland Tone level 1
• 81 Hi Pass Filter Frequency or General Purpose Button 2 (on/off) Roland Tone level 2
• 82 General Purpose Button 3 (on/off) Roland Tone level 3
• 83 General Purpose Button 4 (on/off) Roland Tone level 4 
• 91 Reverb Level
• 92 Tremolo Level
• 93 Chorus Level
• 94 Celeste Level or Detune
• 95 Phaser Level 
  
• It's probably best not to use the group below for assigning controllers.�
• 96 Data Button increment
• 97 Data Button decrement
• 98 Non-registered Parameter (LSB)
• 99 Non-registered Parameter (MSB)
• 100 Registered Parameter (LSB)
• 101 Registered Parameter (MSB) 
  
• It's very important that you do not use these no matter what unless you want to invoke these functions
• 120 All Sound Off
• 121 All Controllers Off
• 122 Local Keyboard (on/off)You might actually crash your keyboard if you use this one.
• 123 All Notes Off 
  
• You typically don't want your synths to change modes on you in the middle of making a song, so don't use these.
• 124 Omni Mode Off
• 125 Omni Mode On
• 126 Mono Operation
• 127 Poly Operation

Your korg is a control surface, somewhat dated, but you should still be able to set joystick or sliders to send controller messages to Sonar.

P 85 - External Control
http://i.korg.com/uploads/Support/USA_M50_OM_E3.pdf
 
Parameter guide mentioned in External Controls (Page 225 & 386): http://i.korg.com/uploads/Support/M50_ParamG_E2_633659302887860000.pdf
 
Looks like you can assign CC71 to one of the knobs for filter resonance level, CC74 for cutoff frequency, etc

Well, it's late here, and I don't have a korg M50 kb
Basically, the value slider on your korg can be set to manipulate cut-off, resonance etc. while playing it.
So you just have to set up Sonar to record these controllers to midi channels, as well as the notes you are playing.
Sonar may record them automatically if you have the cables patched correctly, and the korg set to send midi cc's out.
Then, when you playback through midi out, to your korg (if set to receive midi cc's) you should hear them applied to the sound.
 
Perhaps someone else here with a korg will give you more specifics, but also please help yourself by reading about midi continuous controllers in your korg manual as much as you can.
 
 
EDIT, looks like Jeff has jumped in already !

u can also trigger automation envelopes by MIDI notes, it needs MUX Modular which has a brilliant multi-point envelope editor which can be assigned to any VST(i) control, by putting clips with triggering notes into the different takes, just created a video about it in the automation topic in kvr

http://www.kvraudio.com/f...tart=60#p6214456 

the in-built automation in Sonar can be used only to the basic things especially if u are EDM, so worth to learn MUX for sure (for layering and easy to create modulation things and it knows zillion other things)

hope it not count some kind of advertisement  if yes please delete this