Hello I'm New. Please Help!!!!

Ok so I have many questions about using Sonar...so far I am finding it very frustrating and NOT user friendly.
Anyway my most pressing question is this.
1. When I try to export a midi file I have mixed to a wave file, there is no sound on the wave file. I have checked all sound cards etc. I suspect it is in the way I am "selecting" tracks but I cannot work out what I am doing wrong. I have followed all the instructions in the help menu but I can't work out how to get the selected tracks to appear in the bottom left box listed as:
"Source/Buses Tracks"
I am thinking that this is why there is no sound when I play it as a wave file.
Can anyone help please.
Thanks
Julie

Hi. Which version of SONAR do you have? What kind of Audio Interface do you have? Do you have sound before you try to export?
If you only want to export one track, solo it, and then you could route it to Audio Interface out 1&2. Ctrl+a (select all. In this case the whole length of the song.), Export. Select Main Outputs, and try to export as .wave. Hope it helps.
All the best.
Ps. It is always helpful if you put your specs in your signature (SONAR version, Windows version, Cpu, RAM, Audio Interface. See mine below) It is done on your control panel at the top tight on this (and every page while you are logged in here)

Ok thanks for getting back to me.

My only goal right now using Sonar is to make changes on midi files then export them as a wave or mp3 so I can upload them to my ipad...to use at a gig on THURSDAY...time is my enemy right now.

I guess the first thing you need to know is that I know NOTHING about Sonar. So when you ask about a Master buss...I don't know what you mean. Also "what you hear" is that an option somewhere and if so where can I find it.

Also I have been watching youtube and sonar videos for 2 days and I really can't find answers to specific questions. And as I am new and don't know the "lingo" of this software then it is possible I am not asking the right questions. I wish I could find a step by step guide starting from the beginning


A further question is: can I input a mp3 and/or a wave file so I can make changes to it as a midi then convert it back again? Or does it always have to be a midi file.


I am desperate for help as I have 30 songs i need to sing on thursday and I haven't even got them on my ipad yet.

Hi Noel,
Firstly sorry for the reply above. I tried to send a print screen and tha't what came up.
...what is a syth?
In my attempts to solve these problems I have come across soft syth. I don't know what it is but I may have selected something that is obstructing sound. So To answer your question, no I should not have a virtual instrument, and if I have accidentally selected it, how do I unselect it. If I start there and try again, maybe it might work.
 
Thanks
Julie

Hi John,
I just looked at the glossary and soft syth or syth isn't there!!! So it doesn't help with my question above.
I don't want a virtual instrument but I may have changed something under soft syth accidently.
I have my computer connected the tv so I can see it better. All the sound works fine on the computer and tv.
What settings should I be using under soft syth if I don't want to use virtual instruments?
I have purchased sonar artist. and have window 8
 
thanks
julie

Hi Julie,
 
It's not syth, it's synth.  (short for synthesiser)  
 

1. When I try to export a midi file I have mixed to a wave file, there is no sound on the wave file.

So...  Is it safe to assume that if you simply press the play button in Sonar you CAN hear your mix, but when you try to export it you get a silent wav file?
 
 

Ok so I have many questions about using Sonar...so far I am finding it very frustrating and NOT user friendly.

Sonar is a complete recording studio in a single package, imagine being left alone in Abbey Road with no engineers or musicians or producers.....  It's user friendly IF you know what you're doing, but can be confusing for beginners.  But don't worry, that's what we're here for.

Hey Divas:
 
Don't despair!!  We'll get you sorted out, just hang tough.
 
Try this:
1. Open your midi file in sonar.  When you play it do you hear it?  If you do then do this:
2. Click on the number of each track you want to render while holding down the cntrl key on your keyboard.  The track number is found on the left hand side of each track.
3. While still holding the cntrl key click on the software synthesizer that's feeding the tracks.  It should have a name like "Kontakt" or "sampletank".
4.  Right up above the tracks are a list of names: view/options/tracks.  Click on "tracks" and you'll get a drop-down menu. 
5.  From the drop down menu click "bounce to tracks".  A new screen will appear.  Click "OK".  Sonar will now render your midi files to a new track which will appear at the bottom of your project.  It will be namesd something like "5 New track".  That new track is a wav file that contains your audio data.
6.  To the right of each track name are two letters, "m" and "s".  Click the "s" on your new track.  Click on the audio track too (it will look like a big squiggly line).  It should turn light grey.
7.  On the upper left of Sonar click on "file".  A drop-down menu will appear.  Go down to "export".  Click it.
8.  Click "audio".  A new dialog box will appear.
9.  At the very top of that box set the location you want your file to reside in (I usually create a folder on my desk top).
10.  Then name your file (usually the song name).
11.  Under "type of file" choose either MP3 (though you'll need to buy the encoder to use that option), or Wave.
12.  Decide what sample rate and bit depth you want.  Just to be safe use 41,000 for the sample rate and 16 for the bit depth.
13. Click "export"
14.  Go look in your destination folder and you should see your song!!
 
I hope this helps.  If not then let us know.
 
Good luck!

Hi Jude77,
Firstly thank you and thanks to everyone trying to help me....I'm usually really smart with tech stuff but this has bought me to tears.
Anyway I am following your steps and I'm up to step 3. I don't know where the software synthesizer that's feeding the tracks is located. I also can't find the "Kontakt" or "sampletank".
 
3. While still holding the cntrl key click on the software synthesizer that's feeding the tracks.  It should have a name like "Kontakt" or "sampletank".

Entire Mix or Hardware Output should work. For the latter, if it gives you multiple options, pick the output pair you've been listening to.

Just for the sake of clarity... for exporting, if the MIDI file has been opened via the above so it is loaded in the TTS-1, export steps are:
 
   1. Hit Ctrl-A to select all
   2. File->Export->Audio...
   3. The pop up looks like below. For the sake of time, you want to name the file, choose "Wave" as the type, and depending on playback, 16-bit is probably fine (files are physically smaller than 32 or 24 bit, but you can choose 16/24/32 there).
  
 
   Can cross the other bridges in due order, but as you are pressed for time I will stick to the basics for now.

Or you can call customer support and they will help you out in a few minutes :) It will probably by quicker than going back and forth on the forum trying to describe what you are doing. 
Most likely your core issue is that you do not have a synth inserted into your project. Depending on what sounds you want you want you may be able to get away with just TTS1.
Here is a good article on using virtual instruments in SONAR. Its intended for new users like you so should help get you up to speed with the terminology and mechanism for using synths in SONAR.

Since the OP is hearing sound during playback, I would assume a synth is inserted. But yeah customer support is definitely a good way to tackle this!

I am not having good internet speed.
Can anyone take his PC on Teamviewer [of course if he allows]
Assisting one or two songs on his PC would be much helpful for him. Rest I am sure he will figure out.
He is stuck in some basic position which is unnoticed some how.
Regards
Snehankur

From all of Julie's posts, it seems to me she is using a hardware synth and hearing it from the interface not from Sonar's outs.
Since she doesn't know what a soft synth is, I doubt she has routed the MIDI track to a VSTi.