Soundfonts

Hi, dumb question but I am new to Sonar. Do I need a soundcard to load soundfonts, or can certain versions of Sonar do this?
Thanks!

Do I need a soundcard to load soundfonts, or can certain versions of Sonar do this?

you need a decent soundcard with Sonar..period. not a Creative one..not a soundblaster or onboard stuff.
Sonar itself doesn't load SF/SF2 files and play them..that's a function of a sampler..some versions of Sonar come with a sf2 format compatible sampler..what version do you use?

I started using Soundfonts with an SB live long ago but wasn't all that impressed. Recently, I reviewed my collection and changed my mind. Now I have a decent soundcard and more importantly, much better acoustics due to liberal application of studiofoam and bass traps, I find they sound much better and quite usable.

I think Sonar SE and PE both have SFZ, and it was always available as a free download anyway.

One other thing, to use SFZ or any other software based sampler, you will need low latency soundchip drivers else you get too much delay between pressing a midi key and hearing the note. Sonar uses something called WDM/KS to speed up a standard WDM soundchip driver, so you should be ok without a special soundcard.

You could test drive SFZ if you also download one of the free VST host programs. These let you run any VST instrument plug in, but don't use Sonars WDM/KS low latency. Instead you'ld have to install ASIO for all, which allow the low latency ASIO interface standard to work with the WDM soundchip driver.
I'll try to get some links...

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll check out sfz and see if it's for me.

Meanwhile, Sonar 6 PE looks like some kinda program. I can see getting lost in it an' never coming out, to actually make music, with all the neat stuff they've packed into it...