I wish Cakewalk's forums allowed image attachments or linking for newbies.  It's quite difficult asking for help without being able to show you what I'm doing.
 
I found a 13-minute video on YouTube, by an English gent named Karl Rose, titled "Sonar X1 MIDI for Beginners".  I followed his narration to the letter, adapting it for my setup.  He configured a MIDI track to record input from his keyboard and output it to the TTS-1.  Upon realizing there was no sound when he played his keyboard, he configured an Audio track to receive input from the TTS-1.  At 9:20 in the video, he tests the completed track setup and the TTS-1 sounds crystal clear, but I'm still not hearing anything from SONAR when I play a few notes.  I can see that both tracks are receiving a signal from my keyboard but I can't hear anything while performing.  I've tried enabling the Input Echo on the MIDI track but still can't hear anything.
 
Since I can't post screenshots yet, I'll write out what my current setup looks like after following Karl's video:
 
Track 1: Audio
 
Input = Cakewalk TTS-1 1 Output 1: Sterio
Output - Master
 
Track 2: MIDI
 
Input =  Digital Keyboard-1 - Omni (My Yamaha)
Output = Cakewalk TTS-1 1
Channel = 1: Cakewalk TTS-1
Bank = 15488-Preset Normal 0
Patch = Paino 1
 
One thing I found particularly interesting is that, when he played his keyboard, his Audio track's input meter was the only one acknowledging a signal.  When I play mine, both my MIDI and Audio tracks register a signal.  I don't know if that means anything or has to do with the version of SONAR he's using or what.  All I know is that I am really confused right now, and have no idea what I'm doing wrong

You do not need to insert an audio track unless your recording audio.
When you insert a soft synth there will be an audio track placed with the synth in the track view. 

 
In this view you will see that tracks 1 thru 6 are audio 
Track 7 is a midi track I'll set the input for my keyboards and it's output to TTS_1 which is track 8. 
When I insert a soft synth using the browser shown to the right, I'll chose "First synth output". You can also use a simple
instrument track but I like to keep my midi tracks on there own. 
 


 
The TTS-1 track 8 will have it's output to my Master bus which then goes to my audio interface, you can see in the picture this is my us1641. 
 
You can test if the TTS_1 and many soft synth are output correctly by opening their GUI interfce and triggering the sounds. 
 

This is so... needlessly... complicated... and I've got a headache...
 

scook
Were you able to complete tutorial #4?

 
Yes... I can add Audio, Instrument, and MIDI tracks, and record them just fine, I just can't hear squat while recording or while testing the track settings.
 

scook
The Master bus should have its output set to your hardware.

 
What do you mean by "Master bus", and where is it?
 

Cactus MusicYou do not need to insert an audio track unless your recording audio.

 
If I don't insert an audio track, SONAR tells me there's no audio data to export...
 

Cactus MusicWhen you insert a soft synth there will be an audio track placed with the synth in the track view.

 
And where is this audio track?
 

Cactus MusicYou can also see I have set up the track inspector with dialog for 1ckwlkTTS-1 = channel 1.

 
What I'm seeing looks like Greek to me, and I can't make heads or tails of it...

Larry Jones
OK, I really want you to have some success at this...

 
So would I... otherwise, I've blown $100 for nothing...
 

Larry JonesThis is based on SONAR Platinum but it should work in Artist and Professional. If you are using an older version you might be able to adapt this:

• Open SONAR
• In the Start Menu select "New Project"
• Choose the template called "Showcase - Keys.cwt"
• In the resulting dialog just click "OK"

 
I'm using 23.8.0 Build 30 of SONAR Artist, and I have no "Showcase - Keys.cwt" option.  These are my available templates:
 
Basic
4-Track
16-Track
Empty Project
Guitar Amps
Vocals

Nyghtfall4 
I'm using 23.8.0 Build 30 of SONAR Artist, and I have no "Showcase - Keys.cwt" option.  These are my available templates:
 
Basic
4-Track
16-Track
Empty Project
Guitar Amps
Vocals

Sorry. It seemed like a good idea. Now I suggest you follow Johnny V (Cactus Music) step-by-step. I insert soft synths by going to Insert|Soft Synth|General MIDI|Cakewalk TTS-1. When the "Insert Soft Synth Options" dialog opens, see Johnny's graphic above. The only thing I'd add there is to check "Synth Properties Page" box, so you'll see the TTS-1 when it opens. If you do this and your controller makes no sound, try clicking the little eighth notes at the bottom of the channels on the TTS-1 and see if you hear anything.

Nyghtfall4
I wish Cakewalk's forums allowed image attachments or linking for newbies.  It's quite difficult asking for help without being able to show you what I'm doing.
 

A quick way to get your post count up, is to go to http://forum.cakewalk.com/Songs-f89.aspx
Listen and give feedback to some songs. It will increase your post count in a short time, without having to ask questions (that might be difficult to get right, without having an image to point to).
All the best.

Another thing I though of that's a good way for newbies to see how the TTS-1 works is to open a GM midi file. 
 
To set Sonar to automatically open with TTS-1 you need to go to Preferences/MIDI/ Devices and uncheck any output devices. APPLY. 
 
Here's a typical download site. Aviod the ones that require more than one click. 
http://www.midiworld.com/files/G/all/
 
http://www.midiworld.com/files/1045/     Grand Funk Railroad
 
I just downloaded GFR Closer to Home, takes 2 seconds.. midi files are small this one is bigger than normal because the song is long and uses lot of tracks. 86 kb. 
 
Once it has downloaded the icon should show as a Cakewalk associated file. If not set W10 to open this file with Sonar.. If so just double click and it should open Sonar and populate a project with 16 midi tracks and the TTS-1 and play exactly like the author intended. Which sometimes is real bad :) 
Now you can see how it all works and have fun changing sounds and inserting other soft synths to upgrade the sounds.
Example insert  SI drums( or Session drummer?)  and re assign track 10 to that 
Insert SI bass and re assign track 6 and on and on. 
I do a lot of this and when I'm done I'll have a very good version of the song. These files are a great starting point for a lot of top 40's songs. There are also a good way to explore midi and how to edit midi. There will be lots of mistakes and often the files need quantizing. I never use all the parts either, mute the crappy stuff. Or re play it myself. Someday I'll make a site with all my improved files on it. 
 
. Note there will be no master bus when you start a project this way. 
You can add one by dragging the Buss pane up from the very bottom edge and right clicking the buss pane, Insert stereo buss, name it Master, right click the Master Buss and select set as default.  now direct the output of the TTS to the master.