Sonar X3 Play List Starting issue

Hello Folks,
 
I am using cakewalk X3 for our midi band. This issue I am having is the play list start. If I put a song on wait for key press I have to hit the space bar twice to start the sequence. If I put a time delay on a song instead of it starting after the time has run out I still have to hit the space bar to start it. I had a version Sonar 5 producer and the play list worked flawlessly. Does anyone know of any updates to fix this issue or is it just X3. Should I upgrade and is the problem fixed in the next upgrade. This is raising hell with live shows. Thank you for your help.
 
Regards,
Mark

I am not seeing this in either x3 or platinum Mark. Check for confirmation dialogues as Rob suggested and also make certain that your play list is enabled.

Hey Mark. You mentioned 'unchecking the modules' in devices. Are these external sound modules? Do you use a different midi interface for your live performance PC to the one you used to create the project? You need to double check that there are no hidden midi tracks looking for an external midi output. Even archived midi tracks that are missing external midi hardware will do this.
 
Just a tip - you dont need to delete any unused/bounced midi tracks. If you load any vst synth and set your midi outputs to that synth, you can then disconnect the synth in the synth Rack and archive the midi tracks. From then on they are using no resources, and you can load the project on any system - even if it doesn't have the disconnected vst synth installed. They will never bother you again until you need them. Unlike external midi ports, Sonar will ignore disconnected synths and the midi tracks that feed them. 

Yes - assign the tracks to tts, then disconnect the tts using either the drop down menu at the top of the synth Rack or the power button if your synth rack is not docked in the browser. You can then archive and hide the midi tracks if you wish and they will no longer look for outputs causing pop-up dialogues that stop projects loading. They will be waiting come time to program your lights, or should you wish to re-edit or bounce to different sounds in the future.
 
Another thing I have found that speeds up playlist project load times is to undock and completely close the projects browser window before saving (make sure your screenset is unlocked when you close the browser. You can lock it again once the browser is closed and you have the screen set up how you want the project to open every time during performance) A project saved with a locked screenset will always open the same way.
 

No - you need to disconnect the synth or it will be loaded with the project. If you undock the synth Rack and make it a bit wider you will see power buttons on the left side of all of the modules in the rack. Alternatively, click on the synth in the synth rack, then use the drop down menu at the top of the rack. One of the options is 'synth connected'. If you select it, it will become unchecked and the synth will grey out.

Just a question for you guys,,, I'm think about going this route, right now I just use stereo audio tracks and Win Amp. But do you use audio tracks only or do you play the midi live into a soft synth?
I was thinking of freezing or bouncing all the tracks to audio for live playback.
 
The reason I wish to convert to using Sonar and the playlist is to have the MIDI control effects and lighting. I would also like to send my Bass out on it's own output.
Thanks.

Cactus Music
Just a question for you guys,,, I'm think about going this route, right now I just use stereo audio tracks and Win Amp. But do you use audio tracks only or do you play the midi live into a soft synth?
I was thinking of freezing or bouncing all the tracks to audio for live playback.
 
The reason I wish to convert to using Sonar and the playlist is to have the MIDI control effects and lighting. I would also like to send my Bass out on it's own output.
Thanks.

Hey Johnny.
 
I have been using the playlist since Cakelive for DOS days when it was just a midifile player. I switched to audio tracks many years ago and have stayed with the playlist for exactly the reasons you mention: the ability to mix tracks separately, sending tracks to different external outputs (no click through FOH) and to control midi devices like dmx lighting and other midi outboard gear. It also means you can go back and quickly change a mix anytime you like. I started by having about 8 tracks (mono kick, mono snare, stereo hats/crash, mono bass, stereo general mix and mono click track) because that would pretty much max out any computer in those days! Now of course there are no such constraints.
 
I do always bounce tracks to audio (as dry tracks), then add track fx and fx busses as required. I generally run around the 16 to 32 track mark now, which doesn't even go close to taxing even a fairly ordinarily specd laptop, so load times are fast and I have no difficulty loading one song whilst another is playing. I also run midi tracks for outboard mixer scene control of live vocal and instrumental fx, guitar patch changes, harmony control and multiple channels of lighting via a great little computer based lighting controller called DMXIS.
 
I personally don't run vst synths for live performance, but there certainly are others on the forum who do.
 
I have always been amazed that the playlist isn't a more heavily used and discussed feature. Once you get into it and get your head around its quirks you realise it is a unique and powerful feature that no other DAW has (Ableton Live comes closest but is not as well equipped for multi track loading and playback). I am sure you won't regret the move.
 
Another very handy device is the x-tempo POK Foot controller, which when combined with a program like Bome Midi Translator, allows you to control Sonar and the rest of your live show without ever touching your keyboard. Pretty neat:)
 
Good luck!

Wow thank for your thumbs up. Your right and there is not much talk about using it here on the forum. I think us live players are pretty much 1% of the user base. 80% are not even musicians  :)  
Anyhow that's good news as I think I need to return to what I did in the 80's when I used an Atari and Pro MIDI player. It played my rack full of midi modules  and changed my guitar and vocal effects for each song. One thing it did that Sonar does not do is it would display a TXT file for lyrics when the song was played. I have that working now with a second laptop and power point and a USB footswitch.  Only bummer is I have to match the order to my playlist and that takes time. 
http://www.jdkoftinoff.com/main/Historic_Projects/The_Pro_MIDI_Player/
 
I won't need to many tracks as I only use Bass, drums and Keyboard. The Keyboard is either piano , Wurly or Organ. I do have a few songs that use Horns, strings or weird percussion but because my interfaces only have 4 outs I'll stick with that. 
Down the road I want to use a harmonizer, but then again I could always cheat and use a pre recorded audio vocal.. The danger is avoiding sounding like a Karaoke idiot.   
 
 
Someone else just started a thread about X3 and the Playlist. 
 

Thanks Bruce, I just found your reply so missed it. I have printed off that page and will try again. I remember trying it a few years ago and it was clunky so I gave up. All I need is a window that pops up while the song plays with very basic text. I don't even need the whole song , just the parts I screw up every time :) and only a few song right now.. But I can see the day coming where I will need more help with my memory.... :0

I will not go back,I`m using Platinum for my live performances,still improving the whole system and i`m taking a fraction of the gear for my shows,everything is soft synth or plugin.
Soon i`m gonna buy the Motu ultralite AVB and that will open much more options because of its powerfull routing.
Go for it.
Peace

I have a simular Sonar X3 play list issue.  I press "wait for key press" for a song and when I press a key to start I get a loud sound and a screen: !Start Next Song: OK.  What's up?  I don't mind the screen but the sound signal can't happen in live performance.  Any Ideas?  Is this a computer warning sound?

Thanks for the reply.  That was it!  I disabled the sound from Control panel.