mixing templates

You bet, Native - that's a perfect use for a template.  What I've done in the kind of situation you're describing, is produce the first song, then erase the tracks and tempo map, leaving the empty tracks with their EQ settings and FX sends etc.

There's a current thread by someone who had problems setting a template up like this, but there has to be some undetermined user error in that case.

Randy B.

I have done a few multi track live sessions now and have come up with  system that makes the session go smooth and songs are never lost.
It's a royal pain to be fumbling around with a computer at a session. Even if the band is you and your mates they will not stay patient for long if you are not fast at your set up and re takes.

Before the session pre sets: 
1. I go to the disk location I will be storing the songs and create a "album" folder.
2. Create a folder for each song. I will store any material needed for that song like  2 track demos , lyrics and track sheets. This is sometimes needed during session.
3. Sonar:
I open a 4 track template ( seems to be a good start)
I then add as many audio/MIDI tracks as needed and NAME EACH INSTRUMENT TRACK.  ( Kick, snare, Overhead left , Bass etc. )
This is important if you need to retrieve a particular track from the audio folder later. It will be much easier to find.
I then assign the inputs that will be used from my interface.
I also go to "Transport" - "Record options" and set to overwrite
I will then add any standard plug ins I will use on mix down but will toggle the bypass for them for the recording process. ( save CPU ) ( SEE next post for more detail)
If keyboard is recorded via MIDI I set up the TTS_1 which is good enough for recording . You could also run a Keyboard Audio track and a dummy MIDI track( sans plug in)  if you need to conserve CPU. Sometimes the live keyboard track is the best one. 
Note: Pure audio with no plug ins uses very little resources.
Once I'm happy with my Template-  I then do a "save as" ( CWP )  and browse to each of those song folders I made and name the CWP file "song name". repeating for each song. I also make a few extras.  This will now create a Audio folder for each song within that songs folder. No way to get stuff mixed up.

Now for the session I open the album folder location and keep it open. Then all you do is open that songs CWP file by double clicking and it will open in Sonar. Now hit record and then save.
If you do a couple of takes of the same song  there are a few options. You just record over the first take ( after saving) and do a save as and name it song 2. This will cause one issue that now the audio is all in one audio folder. No biggy,  it can be sorted out if need be.
Other option is that you open one of those extra blank CWP files you had saved and do a save as after recording second take. 

I record live bands this way with my Laptop and the Tascam us1641. It's easy to drag and drop the "album folder"   to an external drive to take home and work on on my desktop system.  I will re name the album folder with the currant date so I know which is which as I go back and forth.