Can't record other than at 16 bit

Sounds like Windows is also using your soundcard.  as windows sounds are all in 16 bit you can't change the settings in SONAR. What you need to do is change windows to not use your 1010.

That's your problem. If you allow windows to use the Fast track then it will lock it into only playing in 16 bit because Windows sounds are all 16 bit and Windows grabs the sound card long before any other program can eg SONAR>

Don't disable your on board soundcard. re-enable it and allow Windows to use it for Windows sounds. Either that or turn windows sounds off completely.

I'm a bit confused though in your first post you say you're using a M-Audio 1010lt and in your last post a Fast Track pro.

still the same principal applies as I said in the very first post.

I have 2 desktop and 1 laptop running X1.
 
On my I7 based desktop I am using the delta 1010LT; with my old XP bases desktop and vista based laptop I am using the fasttrack.
 
Note: I will further play with the windows sound but note that when I upgraded all my machines to X1 (from S8.5) I made no changes to the audio devices available on each machine.
 
For now I'll continue wasting more time with this; I have been a Cakewalk user since version 1 (yes 26 years) and this by far my most difficult upgrade ever.
 
Mario

Well,
 
1) I enable my onboard sound chip
2) I set windows so that it uses the onboard audio chip
3) I set the windows sound option to "no sounds"
4) In preferences I set my devices to run at 48K/24 bits and I have confirmed that the
    audio is in a 48K/24 bits mode
4) I run the wave profile; as it is looking for WDM devices is doesn't see my
    on-board audio.
 
---- no good......X1 is still stuck at 48Khz/16bits ; note that I can change to 44.1K without
                         a problem.
 
Note: Render is something I know was in S8.5 but unless it has changed name I can't find
          under Audio in the preferences.
 
 
I found something interesting/odd: The "Record Latency Adjustement (samples) device is
set to my onboard audio and CAN'T BE CHANGED to my Fasttrack device; 
 
So now I have it. I go back to what was working (on-board audio disable, windows sound
set to no sounds, windows set to use my fasttrack device by default) I remove X1 entirely
anddo a fresh install; I'm running in circle and I have 0 patience for stuff like that.
 
But thanks for the suggestions/comments; it was worth trying.
 
Mario 
 
 

I found something interesting/odd: The "Record Latency Adjustement (samples) device is set to my onboard audio and CAN'T BE CHANGED to my Fasttrack device; 

Make sure the Fastrack is your Record Timing Master, and as John has pointed out, File > Audio Data is where you set the bit depth for recording. The one under Audio Drivers is for playback only.

That was a nice report. I'm glad its fixed.