Connecting Sonar X1 with Behringer BCF2000

Start Sonar After turning on the BCR first.

More info on OS etc would help but if you are on Windows 7 x64 IIRC you need the Windows driver NOT the Behringer ones. Uninstall them and let Windows use it's own driver when you connect it.

It's been a while since I connected mine in Mackie mode I use it as an ACT device now but it sounds like a driver issue to me.

If you run BCFEdit and do a scan what do you get? I agree that it sounds like a driver issue.

I'll have to try BCFEdit again and get back to you. I did try it, and from what I remember it didn't find anything. But I didn't understand what it was supposed to be doing at the time, so I didn't pay much attention.

The unit is happily sending MIDI messages over USB when I move the sliders, and I can record these in Sonar if I set the track to the right input, instead of attempting to set it up as a controller. Wouldn't that indicate that the driver itself was working correctly?

When you do get it running here's a link to a user guide I put together

There's some links in that to a user's site on here called Blades who put together some videos that you may find helpful.

I know you've probably done all this but might be worth just double checking....

The BCF drivers are showing in Preferences->MIDI->Devices. There should be 3 different in port drivers and 2 out IIRC correctly, which relate to the USB port in/out and the 1 out/2 in on the rear (or is it the other way round - can't remember)

Anyway they should all be showing and checked. You also need to make sure that you have the correct ports selected in the control surface dialogue. Again working from memory that's something like BCF2000[A].

I'd also try a different USB cable just in case. If you have NcSO showing on the BCF when turned on (before starting X1), and the ports correctly assigned it should work but again IIRC it took me a while to get all of the drivers to install properly. If you have all of that and know the cable to be good, I would start to suspect the BCF itself. Is it new? Have you had it working in previous versions or elsewhere?

MIDI devices in Sonar shows only one Input and one Output device for the BCF2000, labelled "BCF2000" (this was the same before and after I removed the drivers BTW). I have selected these ports as the In and Out of the control surface. Is there supposed to be more than one of each?

My money is still on a driver issue then. There should definitely be more than one IIRC it's 3 in, 2 out. I'll need to check or perhaps someone who is using a BCF in Mackie mode can confirm that.

Does it work via the MIDI ports. i.e. MIDI cables to MIDI interface?

It's no DRIVER issue but USER issue. First go to manual and set BCF into U4 (or U3?) mode - USB4 or USB3. THEN you'll see THREE inputs (first two working) and THREE outputs( all three working) on SONAR. Add Mackie device, as an input and output set BCF2000 PORT 1. Done :)

The U mode will definitely make a difference on driver numbers you see, but it should still work in U1 AFAIK.

Adrian4U I believe is using his in Mackie mode so he's in a better position to offer advice than myself. It's been a while since I used a BCF in Mackie mode and I'm working from (a hazy) memory

BCFView is the virtual scribble strip for the BCF in Mackie mode. Set the driver as you described and then you'll get the info displayed that a MCU displays. Track name/numbers parameter settings etc. etc. It's a huge help with navigating the BCF. I could never use the BCF in Mackie mode without it TBH.

There is a sequence to starting BCFView, Sonar and the BCF though which I can't remember now, I'm sure a current user will know.

Well it sounds like BCFView is great but I never could get the display to work on Win7/64

Depends on how long ago you last tried. There were issues with x64 but it was definitely working okay when I last used a BCF, probably 12 months or so ago.

There's also a definite sequence you have to follow, I think it's BCF on, start BCFView and then Sonar but I'm not completely sure that was it.

Ok glad you got it going. That's something for JWalsh to try then, after me spreading duff gen (again - sorry JWalsh) although I'm sure mine is on Windows drivers, I'd need to check to be sure.

Having said that it still doesn't explain why it wasn't working when the OP was on Behringer drivers.

Anderton - there's a smart tool which allows you to "unbind" USB-MIDI drivers from USB ports. You can find it into USB-MIDI driver package from KORG. It works perfectly.
 
FBB - I use U3 or U4 mode because I have some external synths and I want to use MIDI IN-OUT ports in BCF/BCR.
I found no problems at all with this modes, moreover - I tried to run BCF in USB mode with re-transmission to BCR (in standalone mode) with MACKIE mapping on BCR - it runs well too.
 
Unfortunatelly SONAR (and ONLY SONAR) can't just work with BCR with Mackie map loaded.
It seems like SOnar waits for any kind of "handshaking".....
Epic fail, because merging BCF in Mackie Mode and BCR with Mackie map would allow to use all the best sides of having both controllers merged together as one.
What's funny - there's no such problems (handshaking) with any other DAW.

JWalsh - maybe it's a problem with binding drivers to USB ports.

you can unbind all (or choosen) by installing... KORG USB-MIDI drivers from www.korg.com - then running "Uninstall USB-MIDI drivers" from KORG / USB-MIDI Drivers Tools folder.
After running this app, uncheck "show Korg devices only", then uninstall all unneccesarry driver bindings.

And - what works with my BCF and my computer:
- it doesn't matter if I use dedicated Behinger drivers or just Win7 drivers
- I use BCF and BCR the same time
- depending on which device you install first, the name shown in Sonar / MIDIOX and other programs will go as "2BCF" or just "BCF"
- I use BCF and BCR in U3 or U4 mode (i can't remember now)
- I launch BCF in Mackie SONAR mode
- after running BCView I do rightclick and check BCF MIDI 1 port
- I launch SONAR
- in MIDI Devices I can see BCF MIDI IN 1 to 3 (check first two, MIDI IN3 is inactive)
- in MIDI Devices I can see BCF MIDI OUT 1 to 3 (all three are active)
- in Control Surfaces I add MACKIE (not XT or C4), with: MIDI IN - BCF MIDI IN 1; MIDI OUT - BCF MIDI OUT 1
- that's all.

What you should to know - if there's only one way communication between Sonar and BCF, go to Preferences / MIDI Devices and check if BCF name didn't change - it happens sometimes, and when it happen - you have to check INsand OUTs, confirm, then go to Control Surfaces tab and map ports once again.

I had no problems with Behringer or native Windows7 (32 or 64bit) drivers.

Try this utility from KORG. You don't have to delete any binding, but alt least you'll see if any of bindings is broken.