Sonar MIDI Instrument Defnition system

Yamaha is the worst.  For example, my Tyros 2 has a large number of mostly empty banks.  One sax sound, for example, may be in the bank for "Live" instruments.  Another sax may be in a bank for "Sweet" instruments.  Others may be in the banks for "Super Articulation" or "MegaVoice."  And the banks aren't named with those labels: just with numbers.  Whenever I want to select a sound in a Sonar track, I have to get out a manual, look through the small print, and then figure out the bank and patch number I want.  And, of course, after I audition the sound, I may want to compare it to another which means changing to a totally different bank.
 
If I understand correctly, you are looking for some way within Sonar to catalog your sounds so you could pick "Acoustic Guitars" (for example) and then scroll through all the choices.  Since everyone would have a different set of external and soft synths, the set-up would be pretty intense, but the end result would be cool.

What the other guys (Cubase) did was pretty simple, they allowed for grouping, then assigned a group Level to each sound item.   If it were a group item then its patch text would simply be "[g1,2,3...]"  Then the sound item would contain all necessary data to reach the keyboard [Patch, Bank, MSP, LSB] and Level it belonged too.  The text file would read in first come first served so you could create an alphabetic list or favorites first list.  Using manipulation in Excel I got a nice keyboard screen order list and all was well.  But that was the grass on the other side, and although it appears to be greener, it's taste is not as sweet (sorry Cubase).  It really speeds up the setup time.
 
jvj
 
Example (for use with KN5000):
 [p%L,%n,%n,%n]%s//define program name: %L level [1 - 9], %n program change [0 - 127],%n bank MSB [0 - 127], %n bank LSB [0 - 127], %s program name
[g1]Piano[p1, 0, 0, 0]Piano[p1, 0, 0, 1]Bright Piano[p1, 0, 0, 2]Piano 1 Octave[p1, 0, 0, 3]Rock   Piano[p1, 0, 0, 4]Electric Grand[p1, 0, 0, 5]Electric   Piano 1[p1, 0, 0, 6]Suitcase E.P.[p1, 0, 0, 7]Modern   E.P.1[p1, 0, 0, 8]Harpsichord[p1, 0, 0, 9]Clavi[p1, 0, 0, 10]Mellow Piano[p1, 0, 0, 11]Piano   2 Octave[p1, 0, 0, 12]Honky Tonk Piano[p1, 0, 0, 13]Midi   Grand[p1, 0, 0, 14]E. Piano 2[p1, 0, 0, 15]Tremolo   Electric Piano[p1, 0, 0, 16]Wurly E. Piano[p1, 0, 0, 17]Modern   E.P.2[p1, 0, 0, 18]Cembalo[p1, 0, 0, 19]Synth   Clavi[g1]Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 0]Classical   Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 1]Spanish Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 2]Folk   Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 3]Jazz Guitar 1[p1, 1, 0, 4]Country   Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 5]Bright Solid Gtr[p1, 1, 0, 6]Clean   Solid Gtr[p1, 1, 0, 7]Mute Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 8]Distortion   Gtr[p1, 1, 0, 9]Overdrive Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 10]Jazz   Ac Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 11]Bossa Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 12]Guitar   Harmonics[p1, 1, 0, 13]12 String Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 14]Electro   Ac Guitar[p1, 1, 0, 15]Jazz Guitar 2[p1, 1, 0, 16]Mellow   Solid Gtr[p1, 1, 0, 17]Fusion Solid Gtr[p1, 1, 0, 18]Funk   Mute Gtr[p1, 1, 0, 19]Nashville Steel[g1]Strings   and Vocal[p1, 2, 0, 0]Symphonic Strings[p1, 2, 0, 1]Violin   Ensemble[p1, 2, 0, 2]Viola Ensemble[p1, 2, 0, 3]Cello   Ensemble[p1, 2, 0, 4]Bass Ensemble[p1, 2, 0, 5]Concert   Strings[p1, 2, 0, 6]Pizzicato Str.[p1, 2, 0, 7]Vocal   Ah[p1, 2, 0, 8]Stereo Vocal Ah[p1, 2, 0, 9]Vocal   Ooh[p1, 2, 0, 10]Classical Strings[p1, 2, 0, 11]Violin[p1, 2, 0, 12]Viola[p1, 2, 0, 13]Cello[p1, 2, 0, 14]Bowed Bass[p1, 2, 0, 15]Marcato   Strings[p1, 2, 0, 16]Jazz Violin[p1, 2, 0, 17]Country   Fiddle[p1, 2, 0, 18]Vocal Doo[p1, 2, 0, 19]Vocal   Daa[p1, 2, 0, 20]Slow Strings[p1, 2, 0, 21]Octave   Strings[p1, 2, 0, 22]Bass Strings[p1, 2, 0, 23]Synth   Strings 1[p1, 2, 0, 24]Synth Strings 2[p1, 2, 0, 25]Tremolo   Strings[p1, 2, 0, 26]Pop Vocal Ah[p1, 2, 0, 27]Humming[p1, 2, 0, 28]Synth Vocal[p1, 2, 0, 29]Air   Vox[g1]Brass[p1, 3, 0, 0]Bigband   Brass[p1, 3, 0, 1]Marching Brass[p1, 3, 0, 2]Brass   & Synth[p1, 3, 0, 3]Synth Brass 1[p1, 3, 0, 4]Trumpet[p1, 3, 0, 5]Harmon Mute Trumpet[p1, 3, 0, 6]Flugel   Horn[p1, 3, 0, 7]Bright Trombone[p1, 3, 0, 8]Closed   Fr. Horn[p1, 3, 0, 9]Open Fr. Horn[p1, 3, 0, 10]Octave   Brass[p1, 3, 0, 11]Octave Horns[p1, 3, 0, 12]Brass   Fall[p1, 3, 0, 13]Synth Brass 2[p1, 3, 0, 14]Solo   Trumpet[p1, 3, 0, 15]Orchest. Trumpet[p1, 3, 0, 16]Straight   Mute Tpt[p1, 3, 0, 17]Mellow Trombone[p1, 3, 0, 18]CupMute   Trombone[p1, 3, 0, 19]Marching Tuba[g1]Flute[p1, 4, 0, 0]Piccolo[p1, 4, 0, 1]Jazz   Flute[p1, 4, 0, 2]Classical Flute[p1, 4, 0, 3]Alto   Flute[p1, 4, 0, 4]Pan Flute 1[p1, 4, 0, 5]Recorder[p1, 4, 0, 6]Ocarina[p1, 4, 0, 7]Whistle[p1, 4, 0, 8]Shakuhachi[p1, 4, 0, 9]Penny   Whistle[p1, 4, 0, 10]Chiff Flute[p1, 4, 0, 11]Flutter   Flute[p1, 4, 0, 12]Alto Ensemble[p1, 4, 0, 13]Pan   Flute 2[p1, 4, 0, 14]Synth Calliope[p1, 4, 0, 15]Blown   Bottle[p1, 4, 0, 16]Quena[p1, 4, 0, 17]Ney[p1, 4, 0, 18]Marching Whistle[p1, 4, 0, 19]Chopper   Flute[g1]Sax & Reed[p1, 5, 0, 0]Soprano   Sax[p1, 5, 0, 1]Alto Sax[p1, 5, 0, 2]Mellow   Alto Sax[p1, 5, 0, 3]Tenor Sax 1[p1, 5, 0, 4]Breathy   Tenor[p1, 5, 0, 5]Baritone Sax[p1, 5, 0, 6]Jazz   Clarinet 1[p1, 5, 0, 7]Oboe[p1, 5, 0, 8]Harmonica[p1, 5, 0, 9]Blues Harmonica[p1, 5, 0, 10]Tenor   Sax 2[p1, 5, 0, 11]Rock Tenor Sax[p1, 5, 0, 12]Distortion   Sax[p1, 5, 0, 13]Unison Saxes[p1, 5, 0, 14]Jazz   Clarinet 2[p1, 5, 0, 15]Mellow Clarinet[p1, 5, 0, 16]Classic   Clarinet[p1, 5, 0, 17]Bass Clarinet[p1, 5, 0, 18]English   Horn[p1, 5, 0, 19]Bassoon[g1]Mallets   & Orch Percussion[p1, 6, 0, 0]Glockenspiel[p1, 6, 0, 1]VibraPhone[p1, 6, 0, 2]Marimba[p1, 6, 0, 3]Xylophone[p1, 6, 0, 4]Celesta[p1, 6, 0, 5]Tubular   Bells[p1, 6, 0, 6]Gong[p1, 6, 0, 7]Harp[p1, 6, 0, 8]Timpani[p1, 6, 0, 9]Orchestral   Hit[p1, 6, 0, 10]Vibes&Jazz Guitar[p1, 6, 0, 11]Bottle   Marimba[p1, 6, 0, 12]African Mallet[p1, 6, 0, 13]Caribbean   Mallet[p1, 6, 0, 14]Music Box[p1, 6, 0, 15]Carillon[p1, 6, 0, 16]Wind Chime[p1, 6, 0, 17]Sleigh   Bell[p1, 6, 0, 18]Dance Hit 1[p1, 6, 0, 19]Dance   Hit 2[g1]World Percussion[p1, 7, 0, 0]Hawaiian   Guitar[p1, 7, 0, 1]Hawaiian Guitar 2[p1, 7, 0, 2]Banjo[p1, 7, 0, 3]Bouzouki[p1, 7, 0, 4]Steel   Drum[p1, 7, 0, 5]Kalimba[p1, 7, 0, 6]Bonang[p1, 7, 0, 7]Sarrons[p1, 7, 0, 8]Kenong[p1, 7, 0, 9]Slentem[p1, 7, 0, 10]Mandolin[p1, 7, 0, 11]Koto[p1, 7, 0, 12]Shamisen[p1, 7, 0, 13]Sitar[p1, 7, 0, 14]Dulcimer[p1, 7, 0, 15]Kanun[p1, 7, 0, 16]Cumbus[p1, 7, 0, 17]Ukelele[p1, 7, 0, 18]Metal   Kalimba[p1, 7, 0, 19]Talking Drum[g1]Organ   & Accordian[p1, 8, 0, 0]Perc Organ[p1, 8, 0, 1]Full   Drawbars[p1, 8, 0, 2]Chapel Organ[p1, 8, 0, 3]Full   Organ[p1, 8, 0, 4]Cathedral Organ[p1, 8, 0, 5]Jazz   Drawbars[p1, 8, 0, 6]16' & 1'[p1, 8, 0, 7]Bright   Accordian[p1, 8, 0, 8]Musette[p1, 8, 0, 9]Folk   Accordian[p1, 8, 0, 10]Accomp Drawbars[p1, 8, 0, 11]Pop   Organ[p1, 8, 0, 12]Soul Organ[p1, 8, 0, 13]Rock   Organ[p1, 8, 0, 14]Organ Bass[p1, 8, 0, 15]Theatre   Organ[p1, 8, 0, 16]Theatre Accomp[p1, 8, 0, 17]Theatre   Novelty[p1, 8, 0, 18]Mellow Accordian[p1, 8, 0, 19]Bandoneon[g1]Orchestral Pad[p1, 9, 0, 0]Strings   & Horns[p1, 9, 0, 1]Strings & Flutes[p1, 9, 0, 2]Piano   & Strings[p1, 9, 0, 3]Heavenly Strings[p1, 9, 0, 4]Dreamy   Strings[p1, 9, 0, 5]Warm String Pad[p1, 9, 0, 6]Chamber   Orch[p1, 9, 0, 7]Movie Musical[p1, 9, 0, 8]Big   Band Pad[p1, 9, 0, 9]Field of Voices[p1, 9, 0, 10]Orchestra   Pizz[p1, 9, 0, 11]Unison Strings[p1, 9, 0, 12]Springtime   Orch[p1, 9, 0, 13]Dark Movie Scene[p1, 9, 0, 14]Synth   Orchestra[p1, 9, 0, 15]Orchestral Sweep[p1, 9, 0, 16]Moonlight   Pad[p1, 9, 0, 17]Cathedral[p1, 9, 0, 18]Horns   & Woods[p1, 9, 0, 19]Many Horns[g1]Synth[p1, 10, 0, 0]Square Lead[p1, 10, 0, 1]Saw   Lead[p1, 10, 0, 2]Sine Lead[p1, 10, 0, 3]Chiffer   Lead[p1, 10, 0, 4]Block Synth[p1, 10, 0, 5]Mellow   Ensemble[p1, 10, 0, 6]Spacy Pad[p1, 10, 0, 7]Fantasia[p1, 10, 0, 8]Multi Sweeper[p1, 10, 0, 9]Bell   Pad[p1, 10, 0, 10]Charang[p1, 10, 0, 11]Metallica   Solo[p1, 10, 0, 12]Talking Lead[p1, 10, 0, 13]Digi   Stack[p1, 10, 0, 14]Warm Synth Brass[p1, 10, 0, 15]Warm   Synth Pad[p1, 10, 0, 16]Star Theme[p1, 10, 0, 17]Bowed   Glass[p1, 10, 0, 18]Dream[p1, 10, 0, 19]Mist[p1, 10, 0, 20]Bass & Lead[p1, 10, 0, 21]Steamy   Keys[p1, 10, 0, 22]Olymp Synth[p1, 10, 0, 23]Voco   Synth[p1, 10, 0, 24]80's Solo[p1, 10, 0, 25]Sweep   Pad[p1, 10, 0, 26]Halo Pad[p1, 10, 0, 27]Atmosphere[p1, 10, 0, 28]Poly Synth[p1, 10, 0, 29]Goblins[p1, 10, 0, 30]Talking Synth[p1, 10, 0, 31]Synth   Harp[p1, 10, 0, 32]Afro Dance[p1, 10, 0, 33]Digi   Bells[p1, 10, 0, 34]Crystal[p1, 10, 0, 35]5th   Wave[p1, 10, 0, 36]Metal Pad[p1, 10, 0, 37]Echo   Drops[p1, 10, 0, 38]Ice Rain[p1, 10, 0, 39]Soundtrack[g1]Bass[p1, 11, 0, 0]Acoustic   Bass[p1, 11, 0, 1]Mellow Acoustic Bass[p1, 11, 0, 2]Electric   Bass[p1, 11, 0, 3]Bright E. Bass[p1, 11, 0, 4]Funky   E. Bass[p1, 11, 0, 5]Fretless Bass[p1, 11, 0, 6]Picked   E. Bass[p1, 11, 0, 7]Slap Bass 1[p1, 11, 0, 8]Analog   Bass[p1, 11, 0, 9]Wow Bass[p1, 11, 0, 10]Fusion   E. Bass[p1, 11, 0, 11]Mute Bass[p1, 11, 0, 12]Slap   Bass 2[p1, 11, 0, 13]Soul Bass[p1, 11, 0, 14]Dance   Bass[p1, 11, 0, 15]House Bass[p1, 11, 0, 16]Plastic   Bass[p1, 11, 0, 17]Basic Synth Bass[p1, 11, 0, 18]Killer   Bass[p1, 11, 0, 19]Techno Bass[g1]Digital   Drawbar[p1, 12, 0, 0]Jazz Drawbars[p1, 12, 0, 1]Rock   Drawbars[g1]Accordian Register[p1, 13, 0, 0]German   Accordian 1[p1, 13, 0, 1]German Accordian 2[p1, 13, 0, 2]German   Acdn 3[p1, 13, 0, 3]German Acdn 4[p1, 13, 0, 4]German   Acdn 5[p1, 13, 0, 5]German Acdn 6[p1, 13, 0, 6]German   Acdn 7[p1, 13, 0, 7]German Acdn 8[p1, 13, 0, 8]German   Acdn Bs1[p1, 13, 0, 9]German Acdn Bs2[p1, 13, 0, 10]Italian   Acdn 1[p1, 13, 0, 11]Italian Acdn 2[p1, 13, 0, 12]Italian   Acdn 3[p1, 13, 0, 13]Italian Acdn 4[p1, 13, 0, 14]Italian   Acdn 5[p1, 13, 0, 15]Italian Acdn 6[p1, 13, 0, 16]Italian   Acdn 7[p1, 13, 0, 17]Italian Acdn 8[p1, 13, 0, 18]Italian   Acdn Bs1[p1, 13, 0, 19]Italian Acdn Bs2[g1]GM   Special[p1, 14, 0, 0]GM Tinkle Bell[p1, 14, 0, 1]Rock   Harmonics[p1, 14, 0, 2]Ochestral Tuba[p1, 14, 0, 3]Bagpipe[p1, 14, 0, 4]Shanai[p1, 14, 0, 5]Harmonium[p1, 14, 0, 6]Agogo[p1, 14, 0, 7]Wood   Block[p1, 14, 0, 8]Taiko Drum[p1, 14, 0, 9]Reverse   Cymbal[p1, 14, 0, 10]Melodic Tom[p1, 14, 0, 11]Synth   Drum[p1, 14, 0, 12]Fret Noise[p1, 14, 0, 13]Breath   Noise[p1, 14, 0, 14]Seashore[p1, 14, 0, 15]Bird   Tweet[p1, 14, 0, 16]Telephone[p1, 14, 0, 17]Helicopter[p1, 14, 0, 18]Applause[p1, 14, 0, 19]Gun   Shot[g1]Drum Kits[p1, 15, 0, 0]Jazz   Drum Kit[p1, 15, 0, 1]Brush Drum Kit[p1, 15, 0, 2]Trad   Kit[p1, 15, 0, 3]Standard Kit[p1, 15, 0, 4]Room   Kit[p1, 15, 0, 5]Light Rock Kit[p1, 15, 0, 6]Power   Kit[p1, 15, 0, 7]Funk Kit[p1, 15, 0, 8]Soul   Kit[p1, 15, 0, 9]Electric Kit[p1, 15, 0, 10]Dance   Kit[p1, 15, 0, 11]House Kit[p1, 15, 0, 12]Synth   Kit[p1, 15, 0, 13]Orchestral Kit[p1, 15, 0, 14]Sound   Effect Kit[p1, 15, 0, 15]User Kit[g1]Memory   A[p1, 16, 0, 0]Rock Piano 2[p1, 16, 0, 1]Mid   Grand 2[p1, 16, 0, 2]Bell Piano[p1, 16, 0, 3]Crystal   E.P.[p1, 16, 0, 4]Jangle Piano[p1, 16, 0, 5]Fancy   Folk[p1, 16, 0, 6]Midi Guitar[p1, 16, 0, 7]SynthJazzGuitar[p1, 16, 0, 8]Synth Strings 3[p1, 16, 0, 9]Synth   Strings 4[p1, 16, 0, 10]Mute Brass Ens.[p1, 16, 0, 11]Stereo   Brass[p1, 16, 0, 12]Uni Horns[p1, 16, 0, 13]Bright   S. Brass[p1, 16, 0, 14]Old Wow Brass[p1, 16, 0, 15]Digi   Organ[p1, 16, 0, 16]Misty Flute[p1, 16, 0, 17]Straight   Bass[p1, 16, 0, 18]Wet Bass[p1, 16, 0, 19]Analog   Bass 2[g1]Memory B[p1, 17, 0, 0]Clavi   Lead[p1, 17, 0, 1]Telstar[p1, 17, 0, 2]Sleigh   Synth[p1, 17, 0, 3]Sweppy[p1, 17, 0, 4]Synth   Chimes[p1, 17, 0, 5]Knock Whistle[p1, 17, 0, 6]Fusion   Lead 1[p1, 17, 0, 7]Fusion Lead 2[p1, 17, 0, 8]Synth   Slap[p1, 17, 0, 9]Voxmosphere[p1, 17, 0, 10]Glimmer[p1, 17, 0, 11]Happy Ensemble[p1, 17, 0, 12]Synth   Voices[p1, 17, 0, 13]Dark Universe[p1, 17, 0, 14]Windy   Sweep[p1, 17, 0, 15]Piano Trio[p1, 17, 0, 16]Funk   Stack[p1, 17, 0, 17]Bonanza[p1, 17, 0, 18]Multi   Pitch[p1, 17, 0, 19]Under Water