Hello

Hi guys, I'm new in everyway both to this Forum and to Sonar X1 Essential. I've been using Qbase for really a long time and Sonar presented few issues to me that i can't find a solution anywhere to my particular problem. Here's the issue:
 
1) I have the Midi file imported and I could: change sounds, mute instruments, change the Metronome into a different sound, and whatnot. All cool and fine till this point.
2) Evertyhing seems to work fine untill I get to the stage of saving the file, from the actual midi into an audio or an MP3. It won't just allow me to do that in the tab where it says: Export: Midi, Audio etc etc. It just let me save it as a "track template" but I don't want that although I did "highlighted" and put the markers on the top bar and got all those tracks "highlighted" as mentioned, in "Black". Now I'm pretty sure that everything is set up correctly, otherwise it won't play the sounds on my pc as far as the internal sound software (I'm not using an external Keyboard or midi stuff). One thing though i did notice is that if i go in the Midi Set up Inputs tab, there is no actual Instrument shown in there, like Microsoft GS Wavetable syth. It is shown in the Outputs though the internal softsynth. Would that be probably the issue? I don't have a clue guys so please any help will be vital for me that I'm working as a teacher (drum-teacher) in an Academy and I need those Audio or MP3 converted files to let my students to ass drums on the cuts.
 
OK Thank you in advance, and may God bless you all.
Regards
Ermz :-)

Sorry, I'm being a bit slow this morning, and am struggling to follow what is happening here.
 
There are several queries I have about audio interfaces and assigning synths/GS Wavetable, but lets cut to the chase.
 
The project is sounding fine when you press play, yes?  Then we should be able to export it as audio.  Try this:
 
-Click on any track in the track view and then press cntrl+a on your computer keyboard.  This should select all the tracks.
-Go to top left of Sonar window, and choose "File-Export-Audio.  A window should open.
-Navigate to where you want to save the file in the "LookIn" box at the top.
-Make sure "Entire Mix", "What You Hear" or somesuch is chosen in the Source Category.
-Bit depth should be 16.
-File type should be "Wave", unless you have separately purchased the Cakewalk MP3 encoder, in which case you can choose MP3.
-Press "Export.
 
Please post back with the results.
 
Hope that helps.

Hi Ermezio,
 
you will need to create an audio track and record the output of your Microsoft Wavetable synth to it.
 
Then you can export that audio file to mp3 etc.

Ok guys thanks again for your: time, help and tips. Well at least now in these past few hours, I've come up with a little progress.
Please read what follows below:
 
1) I've finally found out how to export the Midi File with the changed: Sounds, different click, no drums and whatnot. I went into the: File> "Save as...." and then another window opens up telling me which format I would like to save that midi file. As you all know, it gives us when you open that window these options: 1) "File name"; and then other options just below that: "Save as type": 1) Normal, 2) Template, 3) Cakewalk bundle, 4) Midi format 0, 5) Midi format 1, 6) RIFF Midi Format 1, 7) RIFF Midi Format 2. I guess we are kinda getting there, however when i save that File into Midi, it does save it in midi but, the sound and all the stuff in it, once saved and played, it goes back to the original format, as if i didn't touched the midi song at all. Basically it didn't change anything. Arrrrrrrrrrrgh.....what the hell man.......Luckly i don't have the booze tonight, otherwise i would been drunk already by now. Anyways, sorry about this but, I really hope this is clear enough. It's hard to write down these things because i always miss bits and pieces here and there, I'm totally new to this Sonar X1 which indeed is a fantastic software but, not knwoing this system very well, it causes me to go out there in the bottle shop and get some booze to relax me a bit ;-).
 
OK now to answer to: 1) Shambler: I probably should try that too and eventually i will tomorrow, I didn't do it yet because I would like to get to the bottom of this through the normal process; it just drives me crazy the fact that i can't save that damn file with the normal way of saving it, but thanks for the tip. In the worst case scenario i will go with your tip for sure. 2) Stevec: OK my version is the one that I've bought and not the demo version. 3) To Mike; I have a program that can convert Audio into MP3....uhmmmm, not too sure if it will conver a midi file into the mentioned formats, but once I will be able to save in midi or audio the arrangement that i want, i will deal with it at that point.
 
OK Guys thank you again and if you have any idea I thank you in advance. I think that to get to the bottom of this, probably it will be in that window where it says: "Save as type": 1) Normal, 2) Template, 3) Cakewalk bundle, 4) Midi format 0, 5)Midi format 1, 6) RIFF Midi Format 1, 7) RIFF Midi Format 2. and try all the situations in there. God bless you all and thanks again.
Ermezio :-)

You really don't want to use the Microsoft Wave table synth. First it sounds awful. And it means you are probably using MME as your audio driver. You will probably need a pro quality sound card. You can get one for around $100. 
 
You need to load a soft synth such as the TTS-1 into your project and then output your MIDI tracks to it. Do the tutorial as suggested above and it will step you through how to do this. 
 
Welcome to the forum.
 
P.S. Mike's comment should be taken in the light that he doesn't own X2 and the comment offers nothing for you to use. 

Try this:-
 
-Watch the video called "Inserting SoftSynths" on the Cakewalk website - http://www.cakewalk.com/CakeTV/SONARU.aspx/Get-Started
 
-Insert the Cakewalk TTS-1 synth. Don't choose "Simple Instrument Track", choose First Synth Audio Output".
 
-Go through each MIDI track an choose "TTS-1" in each track's "Output To" tabs.
 
-Play the song from the beginning.
 
If it sounds okay, try the steps I outlined above to export it.
 
There are better ways to do this, but I felt this was the easiest option for now.  Scook's suggestion to run through the tutorial is a good one.
 
Post back if you have any luck.
 
As for Mike - his posts on this forum are not normally intended to be helpful, but instead to make repeated snide digs at Cakewalk and the X series.  I think it was time he moved on.  It is a pity, as apart from this childish vendetta, I sure he has a lot that he could contribute to this forum.  I believe constantly bad mouthing Cakewalk, and insulting other members, as he did John here, are against the TOS. 

Another twisted thread... 
 
Mike probably nailed the answer by stating how SONAR handles the GS Wavetable synth.  That's good information IMO.  But apparently he couldn't do so without first making the requisite dig at CW as JB and John mentioned.   It is a shame as Mike's had a number of useful posts in the (classic) past.
 

No. its all in how you save the project. If you import a MIDI file it will take on the project setup and will save that setup as a normal file. If you open it as a native file then it will set the project to it. When it comes time to save it is also important to note that a loaded MIDI file will default to MIDI when you save the project. You need to save the project as a CWP file in order to keep all the settings. 
 
There is no copy protection for MIDI files that I know of. 
 

1. As has already been suggested, ignore the Microsoft synth. Even better go into preferences and untick it in the list of MIDI devices. If you want the kind of "general MIDI" sounds that the MS synth provides the TTS software synth included in Sonar does the job much better and will also be easier to work with once you understand how Sonar does things.
 
While you're in preferences click the "Advanced" button at the bottom and go to the Playback and Recording tab. Near the bottom is "Playback". Where it says "Prepare using xxx Millisecond buffers" if xxx is less than 500 set it to 500 (the default is 250 which is too low for reliable operation for lots of people).
 
2. Open Sonar's help and run through tutorials 1 and 4. These walk you though opening and closing projects and setting up new ones and using software synths in Sonar.
 
3. If you want to use a pre-existing MIDI file then the best way is to set up a new project. Then insert a TTS software synth. In the dialogue that pops up tell it you do not want a simple instrument track but a MIDI source track and the first synth audio output.
 
That will create an audio track and a MIDI track. The MIDI track's output should point at the TTS (check to be on the safe side). The audio track will receive the output (audio) of the TTS. Import or drag your MIDI file into the MIDI track. Assuming there's nothing odd going on in the original MIDI file (which can happen) that should basically work. You may need to set up the TTS to get the right instruents for the MIDI track but even if the sounds don't match you should at least get sound. Once things work then if you mute the drum outputs in the TTS then export the audio to a wav file that should so the trick.
 
From your description, I'm not sure what your MIDI saving problem is exactly. If you edit the MIDI data in the piano roll or using one of the other methods Sonar provides then those MIDI edits will be saved if you save the project as a "Cakewalk project" (.cwp). I've used Sonar for years and never seen this fail. If you want to use the raw MIDI in other software then you need to export the edited MIDI. At this point I will run the risk of insulting your intelligence by reminding you that MIDI and audio are not the same thing - you doubtless already know that, but I always say this because it's surprising how often people forget or simply don't know. MIDI is instructions that tell a synth what to do and that's is. There's no sound in MIDI.
 
To export the edited MIDI you can either use the export function in the file menu or simply drag the clips to the desktop or anywhere else. If all you want to do is mute the drums I suggest it's not even worth editing the MIDI itself - just mute the drums in whichever synth you're using to turn the MIDI into audio then export the audio. Far simpler. If you do edit the MIDI I suggest using the "bounce to clips" function before exporting it to make sure the edits "take" and the clips are trimmed properly etc. Or even bouncing the edited clips to a new track first.
 
MIDI outputs. Sonar when it launches looks for any external MIDI inputs and outputs it can find attached to your PC - hardware interfaces or the MIDI ins and outs presented by other software on the PC. As far as Sonar is concerned the MS synth's MIDI inputs are external synth/device because that synth is not part of Sonar or running in Sonar. If you had e.g. a MIDI interface to connect hardware synths then that would show up under MIDI devices. Software synths (VSTis) that you load into Sonar do not show up there. "MIDI devices" in Preferences is only concerned with outside Sonar. Software synths loaded into Sonar show up in the output box pull-downs for MIDI tracks within Sonar, as do the MIDI devices as well.
 
I hope that helps. If it doesn't make sense or answer your problems then that's my fault not yours so please say so.
 
Apologies for any typos - I've a new PC keyboard and it's quite different to the old one. It's a bit like someone took my oldest and most-played guitar, changed the neck length, moved the frets around random amounts, switched round the volume and tone pots and moved the selector switch. It's all there, but not quite how or where I expect :-/.

this is a real easy dumbed down way to learn midi im sonar (no offence to the dumbed down part)
it can sometimes be confusing for new users and its really easy.
theres 3 basic ways to use midi in sonar:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juIu9Rlt6v8
 
this is called basic midi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k83UVo1OiKA
 
the site has videos as well I just find those a little robotic.
its really easy when it comes down to it.
 
good luck.

Hi guys, sorry but today i was out all day for work and on the weekend I will be very busy @ the Drum-Academy.
 
Thank you for your great tips.....on Sunday I will try them all and also i will watch carefully the Utube videos about midi.
Now I'm off to bed because tomorrow morning I have to be up very early.
 
I will let you all know about my Sonar X1 midi progress on Sunday.
 
Thanks a lot and may God bless you all.
 
Bye for now and catch you all in a few days
Cheers
Mr Ermezio :-)

Just to jump in , I work with pre made MIDI files so will offer a few tips.
 
First off you need to "open" the MIDI file or you will loose certain data that is embedded in the original file. If you "import" it into Sonar it will be overlayed with different data used by the  project template , like tempo and tempo maps will be gone. 
 
Then you insert TTS-1 to the new project. 
At this point you can use CNTL A to highlight all the tracks. 
Now this is in 8.5 so might be a little different but you can globally assign all tracks to the TTS-1 by going to - Tracks/ Output/ MIDI/ TTS-1 accsess to this menu may have changed. 
 
Don't worry about your MIDI in and out assignments, it's got nothing to do with playing a soft synth unless you input from an external keyboard. 
 
You sound like you have not set your audio properly. If you using an on board sound card then set your drivers to MME and go to audio options and make sure the sound card is selected.
Then make sure the output of the TTS-1 is pointed there. 
 
I normally insert a Master buss and assign it to the audio device. Then the TTS-1 is output to the Master instead. 
 
After you edit you file and like the way it sounds you will 
have to use select all or select none and go to Export Audio
Change the format to what you want and put it where you want and that's it. You should have a audio file of what your heard in sonar.