It's pretty normal when we first start using a DAW to have trouble in getting the MIDI working. If you think Sonar is frustrating, try Cubase!
As said, midi is data and you won't hear any sound unless you choose a sound generating device to play the sound. Your Keyboard has no sounds so you need it to drive a playback device. The options for midi sound playback are:
1-VST instruments or Soft(ware) Synths. These are what 99% of us use to make our music backing tracks. To use these you need to
"insert" the synth and point the midi tracks
output at it.
2- Hardware Synths, Digital Pianos and Drum Machines. To use these you need the midi data to pass through Sonar and send it back out of a physical MIDI port. ( this is also USB now on new equipment)
3- MS Wavetable soft synth. This is the worst choice so don't bother. It's OK for auditioning downloaded files in Media Player.
Your version of Sonar comes with a few Soft synths.
- Premium Cakewalk instruments including Studio Instruments Drums, Cakewalk Sound Center and Square I
I have X1 LE and it has very little to work with in the way of soft synths. The quality goes up as you upgrade through the better versions of Sonar. The better VST's use sample based libraries. Example, your drum synth is a bottom of the line PCM (?) based player. In better versions of Sonar you get very good drums with Session drummer or Addictive Drums which are sample based. ( real drums)
I never actually used LE, I just used it to upgrade to x3 Studio, then Professional which was only $99. I too got it with my A 49 Keyboard.
The A 49 is a very solid controller and is a perfect companion to any DAW.
Your almost there, just study up on using soft synths and seriously consider upgrading to at least Artist.
Another option is you can log on to the KVR website and download a few freebies to try.
post edited by Cactus Music - 2015/04/20 20:19:33