Mixing MIDI controllers?

I have a similar kind of setup, in that I have a keyboard controller (actually a Minak that also functions as a synth) plus a bunch of other hardware synths. I need to record not only the MIDI from the keyboard, but the MIDI output by the synths own controls as I tweak them as well.

My way of doing this is as follows:

Create one MIDI track for the keyboard controller, route output to synth (in my case the synths are MIDI ports outputting to hardware not a VST, but the principle's the same).

Create a second MIDI track to handle the output from, in my case hardware synths, in yours the FCB. Point that track's output at the synth as well. The synth will now take MIDI input from both tracks.

Two tracks rather than three, and no need for LoopBe to be involved.

Once done, bounce the two tracks down to one if felt necessary.

Another method is to create one track, input set to the keyboard controller, record the output from that then re-set the track input to point at the FCB and overdub the control messages etc. Only one track but the input has to be changed over and each "set" of MIDI data recorded seperately. Which is my usual approach as I only have two hands and need at least three to play and tweak the synths at the same time.

Of course, if Sonar's MIDI tracks could have more than one MIDI device/port as input this wouldn't be a problem at all. I put in a feature request for this back on version 6, but no joy yet.

Anyone got any better ideas?

If you just want two separate midi inputs into the same track, it works; just set the input of the track to "omni". Sonar's midi configuration should show two midi ports, your keyboard and your midi interface. You need to make sure they are both enabled. (This is assuming that your USB keyboard appears as a midi device.) Here's a snippet from the manual: "With the default behavior, all MIDI input from all ports and channels is merged and sent through the current track. Notice that the track’s Input field says Omni."

If you use Omni be careful nothing you don't want sending MIDI is transmitting it.

If (like me) you've synths that have internal sequencers that output MIDI while playing, the result can be entertaining (which is why I don't use the omni method).