Is there a link or site to aid a beginner?

Check to see what Driver Mode you are using in Sonar - it should be ASIO, if available.  You access and maintain that setting in Sonar by going to:

Edit>Preferences>Audio>Playback and Recording

If you do change it from WDM to ASIO, click Apply to effect that change, and Sonar will internally change some other things for you, so that you can continue to edit in Preferences using settings set for ASIO.

Also, try setting the Sample Rate and ASIO Buffer Size for your audio interface to 44.1 and 128, (as a starting point) and make sure that the Sample Rate in Sonar Preferences matches the setting from the audio interface.

You may be able to access your audio interface settings through clicking the ASIO Panel button under Edit>Preferences>Audio>Driver Settings (also where you would change Sample Rate in Sonar) - if the ASIO Panel button does not open your audio interface settings screen, it is likely running as an icon down in the System Tray portion of your desktop - which is the very bottom right corner of your Windows desktop.

Also, try plugging your audio interface into a USB 2 port, and not USB 3.

As far as learning to use Sonar, there are a number of YouTube videos, Cake TV, third-party books and videos, this forum, the Sonar documentation, and Sonar tutorials, that all aim to assist you with the learning curve.

Bob Bone

I did what you said Robert and now im not getting any sound at all.  did I do something wrong?

I notice that you don't have an audio interface, or is the MPD32 meant to provide that?

also, just now I was hearing myself in the audio of my wav file I imported and I was able to record but when I play back, I get this super high screeching back at me.  im more lost than before I opened this.  its frustrating

ASIO4ALLv2HD Audio Ouptut1

no the pd 32 doesn't have any sound from it at all. just a straight controller.  I hear sound from the speakers of the laptop, but I use the momiter headphones I got with everything. 

My recommendations were based on an actual audio interface being present.

ASIO4ALL is freeware that essentially wraps around WDM drivers to simulate ASIO, but it can be problematic depending on memory and horsepower of your system.

A dedicated audio interface has circuitry that performs the fairly processing-intensive task of analog/digital conversion (in addition to providing inputs and outputs and usually mic pre-amps and such).  By moving the task of all of that conversion, it frees up your CPU for other things.  Using a dedicated audio interface can make a WORLD of difference with improved audio quality - less dropouts, etc.

Using ASIO4ALL means that your CPU is still responsible for doing all of that conversion - it's just presented to your system using ASIO.  This can lead to distorted sound and dropouts, which sounds like what you are experiencing.

I am no expert on getting things to sound decent when using ASIO4ALL - there are others that use it successfully for that, and there are those for which it just does not do the trick on their systems.  There are some folks in the forum who can hopefully assist in getting ASIO4ALL to sound OK for you.

My recommendation is that you consider buying at least a basic dedicated audio interface for use with Sonar.  ASIO4ALL is potentially not going to give you good results.  Since you are using Windows 8, you MUST do some homework when you are shopping for an audio interface, as not all of them have drivers that work in Windows 8.  Generally, cost for an audio interface goes up quite a bit, depending on the number and quality of inputs/outputs, pre-amps and converters (digital/analog).  If you do not need many inputs and outputs, you can look for one of the more basic (and less expensive) interfaces.

Bob Bone

hmmm... A bunch of us already pointed out that you need an audio interface in another thread you started. We offered quite a few suggestions as well.

Bob Bone and CJ have confirmed my suspicions and they're much more experienced than me; I also strongly recommend that you get yourself an audio interface.  Sonar is placing too much demand on your laptop when you are using the onboard soundcard.  An external audio interface will free up your machine from the audio conversion burden and then it will fly.

I had a look at the link you provided - that's not an audio interface, although I think there's something similar that does combine an audio interface as well.  I'd be more inclined to go with a Roland for piece of mind:-

http://www.musiciansfrien...re-usb-audio-interface

All the best ...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/nady-smps-usb-phantom-power-supply-and-usb-audio-interface more like this?  you said earlier I needed phantom power for the mic earlier.  so if that's needed something like this maybe?

And I'm pretty sure I gave you a whole pile of interfaces to look at in the lower price range in that earlier thread. Go look at that again.

While I won't argue that using an external audio interface will make things sound a lot better, it should certainly be possible to get your system running without one. Your audio device surely has a microphone input and it can be used (though you'll probably have all sorts of background noise).

I made music all last summer on my laptop using only headphones and the onboard mic port. Not studio quality but usable enough to have some fun and explore musical ideas.

Equipment is expensive. Once you get the interface you'll need either good headphones, good powered monitors or a good sound system. It quickly adds up. Not everyone has money overflowing their pockets. Doesn't mean you can't make music. Or learn how Sonar works in the meantime.

If you get a decent USB interface it will be first and foremost an interface that works using ASIO drivers AND.... it will have phantom power built in.....don't go the other way around. 

Get a good interface.....everything will work out well from that point forward. 

Ceasar Haphazard


also, just now I was hearing myself in the audio of my wav file I imported and I was able to record but when I play back, I get this super high screeching back at me.  im more lost than before I opened this.  its frustrating

This 'super high screeching' noise can also be caused by close proximity to one's spouse, generally caused by your wanting to do something for yourself, like recording music.  :)

Bob Bone

The Desktop Music Handbook