How do I get my external Roland Fantom synth midi and analog sounds into Sonar Producer?

Currently using my Roland Fantom FX as a MIDI keyboard, and then using various virtual synths to produce sounds in Sonar.  This works well but I have some sounds in my Fantom that I would like to use in Sonar. How do I connect  my Fantom sounds to the midi notes I produce in Sonar?  Probably a simple explanation but I am in the dark.
Midi and analog connections from Roland FX external synth connected to Tascam 1884, then to computer.  Tascam firewire to computer.  

As noted above with a midi track set to output to your Fantom and an Audio track set to receive audio from the Tascam.
 
The quickest way would be to create as above then put in to a track folder and save as a template.

I did load a .ins file into sonar, but it seems to be invisible to Sonar. How do I get Sonar to show all the possible sounds?
Sorry about these basic questions.

Its uncertain the level of complexity you are operating at so, without making any assumption, I will answer your exact question, which was to get sounds from the Fantom x from a midi track in Sonar..
 
1. You need to direct the Sonar Midi track to the Fantom X. ...I assume that you have the Fantom X input port enabled in Sonar>Preferences>midi>devices>input as you are playing softsynths, so enable the Fantom X in Sonar>preferences>midi>devices>output.
2. Direct the midi track output to the Fantom X midi port, ch 1.
3. Whatever patch you have selected in patch mode of the Fantom should sound.
 
If you wish to record that into the project then insert an audio track and record the Fantom X output.
 
Good advice above is to create a track folder, and if you are using performance mode, use one midi track per Fantom Channel... Add one audio track per channel (though you will need to record one audio track per run-through) then save this as a track template... go nuts and find a bmp of the Fantom X and create a track icon :)
 
You have 3 choices for saving projects..
1. record everything as audio and be done with it.. downside is that you cannot edit the data as you will not have recorded the patch assignments..unless you make paper notes.
2. save the patch/edit settings in a performance on the Fantom X.. load this performance when you open the Sonar project.
3. Save any user/edited patches in the Fantom X, and save the locations in the individual midi tracks as PC (program change) information.
4. Do 2. above and recall the performance setup in the sonar project.
 
To get fancy, and recall the preset sounds by name (doesnt work for user sounds) the ins file referred above is a script with these names so that you can select the patches via a mouse... personally (I have Fantom G) its quicker to dial them in on the synth, but the file for the fantom X is here.. http://www.roland.com/sup...8/updates_drivers/1744
 
 
 
 

vads11
Currently using my Roland Fantom FX as a MIDI keyboard, and then using various virtual synths to produce sounds in Sonar.  This works well but I have some sounds in my Fantom that I would like to use in Sonar. How do I connect  my Fantom sounds to the midi notes I produce in Sonar?  Probably a simple explanation but I am in the dark.
Midi and analog connections from Roland FX external synth connected to Tascam 1884, then to computer.  Tascam firewire to computer.  

vads11
What is the difference in function with the local control on or off? Thanks.

If you are referring to "Local Control" as a setting on the Fantom, it should be off.
"Local Control" refers to what is controlling the Fantom. It's LOCAL keyboard or an external device.
In your case Sonar is an external device controlling the Fantom.
HTH
 
Jesse is correct. It is all about wrapping your head around MIDI routing. (Ins and Outs)

Thanks very much. I cleaned up my midi routing...and now the Roland synth sounds are coming through. Appreciate the help.

Is the Fantom multi-timbral? If so, you can set each MIDI track to a different MIDI channel and have 16 patches playing back.

I play a FX-8 as well, and have tried for months to incorporate the patches from the fantom onto midi tracks in Sonar Pro for all the versitility afforded. I'm setup with the FantomX-8 through an OctoCapture interface into SP. (back when Roland had Cakewalk I thought it best to keep it all in the family)
In the past I have just recorded as direct audio and made do. I have read the article in SOS (referenced earlier) repeatedly and frankly have a hard time "wrapping my head around midi inputs and outputs". For some reason it just seems backwards to me. I have been able to get the synth voices from the Fantom onto a midi track and got it to change voices from the Fantom. (I partook in vast amounts of distilled libations to celebrate that one!) I would love to understand how to transfer the .ins file into Sonar, the instructions provided through the PDF file in the above link did not apply or I couldn't find the screens provided in the examples except in 'preferences' (from which I'm sure all this needs to be done indeed) and they didn't (or I didn't) follow well. And the idea of a midi track folder to utilize all 16 channels of the Fantom would be marvelous! If somebody could just direct me to a link (as I don't mind reading at all) I would be most grateful as I'm sure this is a newbie topic. Thanks again for all of your time and effort!

I used a Fantom X6 for years, it's got some great sounds. I've retired it for the time being but here is what I did:
1. Use the Fantom USB driver for MIDI, check the Roland site, it should still be available.
2. For audio, route the main outputs into your audio interface. I use an external mixer for monitoring so I never had any problems with latency. YMMV if you're monitoring inside Sonar. Note: Fantom outs are TRS (balanced), so you should be able to get a clean, no buzz signal.
3. I hacked the XG ini files to give me all the patches and drum sounds, they matched the patches on my synth perfectly including all the expansion ROMs I installed, I still have them if you want them. Send me a PM with your email address and I'll send them to you. I also reformatted them for Pro Tools, gotta luv vim. :)
Setting it up this way allowed me to select any preset on the keyboard from inside Sonar and use the keyboard for midi input and output. Monitoring through the mixer let me capture performances regardless of the PDC settings. Not quite as nice as having a VST control like Virus, but it worked quite well.
P.S. You'll have to bounce in real time.