Problem: Midi recording to Sonar X1 Producer

Equipment: Windows 7 -64bit with 8GB Ram: Sonar X1: Tascam 144 mk II interface: Roland XP 10
 
Problem:  I open a new project. I select the midi track and arm the record button. I play a note on the synth and I can see the signal bar respond. I click on record in the tape-deck console and play notes on the synth. The time clock on the tape-deck console does not advance...i.e. not recording.
 
Here's the odd thing. About every 5th time I try this it actually does record and I can play it back through my synth???
 

You do realize that MIDI is not sound, right? MIDI is a list of computer control commands that tell a synth (real or softsynth) what to play and when to play it. Therefore, the output of the MIDI track has to be set to some type of synth that can convert those control commands to sound. That can either be a real synth connected to your computer via USB or a MIDI cable, or a softsynth that you insert into your project using Insert-Softsynth. If using an external synth, it has to be set to receive the MIDI data on the same channel that the computer is sending it on. Usually you will want to put the synth in General MIDI mode and then it can play multiple voices at a time. There is much more on this at this link: http://www.cakewalk.com/support/kb/reader.aspx/2007013075

Detailed steps on the MIDI recording process from  http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation/default.aspx?Doc=SONAR%20X2&Lang=EN&Req=Tutorial4.3.html#1156321
 
Click the track's Record Enable button . This enables recording on the track. Now, click the Record button in the Control Bar’s Transport module. The Now Time cursor starts to roll. Play some notes and click the Stop button when you're done. You have just recorded your first MIDI performance through a software instrument. Press the Play button to hear it play back.
 

georgesmith707
Scook:
As I said above, I have done exactly what you have suggested but the Now Time Cursor doesn't move.
However every 5th time or so  it does move and I get the midi to record (and playback) . Why the sporadic behaviour??

Could it be that your mouse is defective.

georgesmith707
OK ...I made a discovery. I have no idea why this happens but...
Opened a new project
If I record an audio track FIRST, the midi recording works fine.
If I try to record midi first, the time cursor doesn't move???

go figure??  any ideas?

That shouldn't be necessary to record audio first. My first thought when reading this post was that the MIDI engine was stopping, and needed to be re-clicked.
 
Up in the Control/Transport bar [Press 'C' to toggle on & off - *maybe for X2 only*], there should be Audio and MIDI 'engine' buttons. Locate those and see how they behave. They normally stay on, unless there is something adverse happening.
 
Based on past experiences, this would be my first idea. 

It sounds more like a clock problem than anything else.
 
In Project>Audio>DriverSettings what is your playback and record timing master set to?
In Project>Project>Clock what is the source set to?