which midi controller is the best for sonar 8

There is no controller that can map Sonar, because of ACT, and the way it works, you actually have to map Sonar to your controller by using ACT and having Sonar 'listen' to your controller (or map the whole thing manually - increasing your chances of developing carpel tunnel). 

There are only 2 controllers on the market that can map themselves to DAW software, that is the Axiom Pro and the Novation SL MKII, neither of these will map themselves automatically with Sonar as you still have to use ACT, which is a pain in the ass.

There are some presets in ACT, but these give very limited functionality without the user fully understanding ACT and doing quite a lot of work, again a PITA.

By all accounts the best controllers to use with Sonar are Edirol and the new Cakewalk controllers, because Cakewalk and Edirol are owned by Roland they have done the best job of integrating these controllers into the clumsy and out of date ACT plug in.

Unlike the manufacturers of Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Ableton etc. who have all started to work with hardware manufacturers and each other to integrate their software and controllers very deeply, Cakewalk is keeping it's self distanced and isolated for the sake of what I don't really know (controller sales)?  

 

 

Seth Perlstein [Cakewalk
]

Our A-Pro controllers map automatically to whichever plugin or synth is in focus in SONAR through ACT (Active Controller Technology). With the A-Pro you don't have to manually map out controlls, all you have to do is insert the control surface into SONAR and press the ACT button on the controller. From there just click on any plugin or synth in SONAR and it will automatically be mapped out to the A-Pro's sliders and knobs!

We also provide preset templates to use the A-Pro with other DAWs as well as an editor software to remap controls.

Yes the A-Pro controller's the business alright. And who knows, one day I might actually be able to buy one here in the UK. One day.

I just got a Novation SL MKII yesterday. It's incredible.
It's taken over Cakewalk and made it mine to control with incredible ease and a certain amount of finesse.

The Fatar designed keyboard is great and Automap 3 brings midi control and assignment into the 21st century. It leaves M Audios Hypercontrol in the dust and makes their their junky plastic Axiom Pro look like, well... junk! 

The Novation Impulse keyboards come with a Sonar installation file, and the transports and faders map perfectly (on Sonar X3 anyway).