Hi there.  I'm a new user to Sonar X3 so please be patient with me!!!  
I read on Cakewalk's knowledge base that they get a large amount of queries about hardware being out of sync, and asking users to do as much research and experimenting with settings before seeking assistance but I just hoped someone could maybe give me some pointers in the right direction.
OK, HERE'S MY PROBLEM.  I bought a Roland TR-8 back about May and I was using it with Ableton 8 but I was always having problems with it being out of sync.  Anyway, I got a System 1 a few weeks back, so to use the vst3 plug out I decided to go 'back' to Sonar.  
So, I've had a search through the 2000+ manual and searched through the Sonar website and google trying to get advice about the best way to sync up external gear like a drum machine.  I'm using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 Interface.  Incidentally, I notice on Sonar and Ableton, that despite setting my buffer size on my Scarlett to 4ms both DAW's say that my total latency, input + output is 22.4ms.  Seems kind of high???
Anyway, just putting a midi sync into the tr-8 without compensating for any delay, the latency on the kick is noticeable when heard alongside Sonars metronome.  I'm pretty certain the tr8 doesn't midi time code, so all I have done in the preferences is to send out midi sync to the tr8.
 
SO, I"M SORRY TO HAVE BEEN A NUISANCE WITH MY FIRST POAST BUT CAN ANYONE PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO BEST GO GO ABOUT GWTTING MY DRUM MACHINE IN SYNC WITH SONAR.
ANY HELP WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
 
(Also, before I go, can I just add, when I said I'd come back to Sonar, I actually upgraded to X3 from version 5 for an unbelievable price.  I can't believe how far Sonar has come.  Great product!!!)

Hi Michael.
 
Having read your post, the first thing that strikes me is that you're right, the latency round-trip time does seem quite high as I've just checked mine and it's 13.2 secs which some would say is still a bit high but I don't hear any latency problems and neither does anyone else so I'm not worried.
 
There is one thing you'll find and that is a lot of DAW users nowadays use predominately VSTs so what you're asking will be fairly alien to them as they don't have the problem of interfacing hardware with the software and when I first started using Sonar, I found myself out on a limb with this.
 
However, being a huge Roland fan having had and still have loads of their gear and I've got my beady eye on a TR-8 myself, I'd be interested in finding out what's going on here so I'll try my best.
 
The way I interface Sonar with the outside world is by using a couple of Edirol/Roland 8x8 and 5x5 MIDI to USB interfaces and what I would say is firstly, look at the drivers of the Focusrite and the TR-8, ensuring they're up-to-date.  I can't emphasize this enough as while it may seem like a minor point, I once fell foul of exactly this as I refused to believe a driver could cause timing issues - it was an M-Audio interface!
 
Are you aware that Roland have released a newer firmware for the TR-8 as it resolves several issues and have you applied the update?
 
Have you also tried interfacing the TR-8 directly with your computer using USB as this is an option with the TR-8 (I think I read that in the manual)?  That may solve the latency issue.
 
I think firstly you need to identify whether you've actually a MIDI latency or audio latency issue.  The one area I can't help exactly is X3 because I'm using X2 but they should be near identical.
 
To do that, I'd suggest resetting any values you've altered and then following the Cakewalk knowledgebase article, adjust one thing at the time to see what makes a difference otherwise you'll go round in circles.
 
Have you also tried just syncing the TR-8 via the Scarlet, setting Sonar as the master clock and the TR-8 as slave and seeing what that does?  I always run my drum machines like this and never have any problems.
 
Also, what happens if you follow the above and monitor the direct output of the TR-8, even with a pair of headphones as that should rule out an audio latency issue.
 
I've actually made a number of assumptions here as how are you routing the audio of the TR-8, back via the Scarlet?
 
Also, how are you using the TR-8?  Are you just sending MIDI Sync and using the TR-8 natively (as a proper rhythm machine or just as a sound source as that's another option open to you as this is what I do now for simplicity as Sonar has a nice step-sequencer built-in to each track, quite TR-ish actually) as it has certainly come along way from the version you were using.
 
You should also be aware that until X2, Roland owned Cakewalk and as a result, they're very familiar with X2 and I've found their product support guys, some of the most responsive and helpful technical team in the industry so it's always worth bouncing this back to them.
 
Assuming on my part is probably a bad idea but perhaps if you detail the audio and MIDI routing, that'll help others to make more pertinent suggestions.

A couple things you may want to try.
1. Make sure you're using ASIO drivers not WDM, I had a horrible MIDI sync issue a while back and switching the driver mode cured it.
2. Turn on Transmit MIDI Clock on the sync module. I've seen some improvement on some synths using this option.
3. Avoid using the DAW to monitor. I've found the best way to eliminate the effects of latency is to use an external mixer for monitoring and bypass the ITB monitoring altogether. You can use a small mixer if you don't have a lot of inputs (I use an old A&H MixWizard 14:4:2). Route your TR8 into one of the channels and that channels direct out into your audio interface. Route your DAW main outputs to a stereo channel.
With this setup I never hear the slightest trace of latency, everything is in sync when monitoring. This also has the advantage of letting you adjust the instrument levels and monitor mix so you can get an idea of how your external instruments might fit in the mix. This is especially useful when recording vocal tracks, you can balance the singers headphone mix very easily for what they want to hear.
 

Thanks for your advice.
Just a few things to add.  As far as the drivers for the Scarlett interface and tr-8, they're both up to date.  Also, I've tried using a midi cable into the tr-8 instead of using the USB to sync it and that doesn't seem to make any difference.
 
Also, as far as using USB to transfer the audio from the tr-8 to the DAW, I don't do that as I just use the Scarlett as the audio interface.  I've read articles on the internet about using ASIO4ALL so you can use multiple audio interfaces, but I've never tried that.  I just figured that using the proper focusrite driver would give the best performance.
 
I should also add that I don't really notice any latency when using my other hardware, but there again, they are all synths like the system 1.  No drum machines.  And as for how I use the tr-8, normally with the DAW triggering the tr-8's internal sequencer, but there again, when I have sequenced midi notes from the DAW, that seems to have noticeable latency as well.  I was actually thinking that using Sonar X3, my best option for syncing the tr-8 might be to send midi notes and have a time offset for the midi track, but I haven't tried that yet, so perhaps someone could tell me how exactly to do that.
 
The strange thing about the tr-8 is that you can find quite a lot of posts online from people who own the tr-8 who are all experiencing midi sync issues, although some people have no issues.  Incidentally, I see that Roland have added a sync box, the SBX-1 to their Aira range.  Personally I would buy it if I knew it would eradicate the midi sync issues with the tr-8 but at £300, it would be like paying £700 just to get 808/909 sounds.  I just wonder if Roland added the SBX-1 to the aira range because of issues.  I don't really know enough about midi and clock to know whether a) I really need it and b) whether it will solve the problem.

Hi Michael.
 
Tom is right when suggesting ASIO drivers as that was also an issue for me as I was originally using WDM drivers which caused me more latency issues.
 
What you need to do is make sure the Scarlett has the ASIO drivers installed (normally Focusrite provide an installer with WDM and ASIO drivers within the package).
 
To use an ASIO driver use the following procedure to enable SONAR for use with an ASIO driver.
 
1.  Go to Edit > Preferences > Audio - Playback and Recording.
2.  Click the Driver Mode list and select ASIO.
 
SONAR then re-profiles your audio hardware.
 
Try that!  Also, I note that you state that sync problems with the TR-8 are reported all over the internet but I've also noted that Roland have a system update posted here: http://www.roland.co.uk/products/productdetails.aspx?p=1314
 
Resolved problems include several issues with MIDI.  Have you applied that update?
 
Maybe that's why a lot of users are having problems because they've not updated the firmware.
 
You maybe also interested to know that Sonar has a great product called Session Drummer 3 which comes with a good working set containing scores of samples from the TR-808 and 909, which for quickness and certain other sounds work well and I've used them as you can't tell the difference as the original TRs had certain sounds which weren't editable.
 
Cakewalk actually went over to Roland HQ in Japan to record the samples from Roland's own pristine units.
 
I use those sounds in conjunction with my Novation Drumstation v2 which is an 808 and 909 VA sound module only (no inbuilt sequencer).
 
Lastly, the reason I suggested using the TR-8's USB and cutting out the Scarlett was just to see if it's that which is causing the latency.  I'd try it just to rule it out.

A few questions if I may? I don't know the TR-8 but I have several synths all of which sync to X3 without problems.

Sending MIDI clock/start/stop is done via the project page in preferences. Are those preferences set correctly to send clock via the MIDI port the TR-8 is attached to?

Is the TR-8 correctly set to receive clock?

I doubt the Focusrite is at fault here, at least not as far as MICI sync is concerned. MIDI clock has nothing to do with ASIO, and if the TR-8 is receiving its MIDI via its own USB then other than acting as somewhere to receive the TR-8's audio output Focusrite won't be involved at all. It is possible that the TR-8 is sync'd but the audio playback is getting delayed for some reason.

Taking one thing at a time, if the TR-8 can output MIDI as well as receive it, try setting up a MIDI track to record the MIDI from the TR-8. Program in a nice, simple four kick drums a bar pattern then record that MIDI. Does Sonar place the MIDI correctly when examined in the piano roll view? Then mute that MIDI track, add an audio track, and replay the sequence on the TR-8, this time recording only the audio sent by the TR-8. Does the audio line up with the earlier recording of the MIDI track?

Is the drift away from the metronome a steady, regular interval or does it vary? It might be worth mentioning that Sonar's metronome isn't always as correct as it could be.

Finally, and I apologise for going on a bit, it's not unknown for a hardware synth not to sync properly. The Waldorf Blofeld, for example, has gone through all kinds of sync issues and firmware upgrades as a result.

Ps. As for the audio latency, what latency does Sonar say you have if you load a fresh project containing one audio track and just a master bus, no plugins at all?

Sounds like what RickJP909 mentions in terms of firmware updates might be the go too.
 
Also I have a question.  What audio plugins have you got running or are you running any high latency audio plugins on the audio side of the program while trying to sync up the TR8.  I suggest also what tlw has just mentioned and that is setup a session with no audio or audio plugins anywhere and just have the metronome on and see what the situation is then.
 
Also how does the TR8 respond in just sound generator mode as well and keep all the midi data in Sonar instead and don't use the sequencer at all.  (That is how I would run it)  So if you setup a four on the floor kick pattern in Sonar and it is all nice and tight with the grid, how does the TR8 respond then.  (Also try this without any audio or any audio plugins either)

I have found that I have to have count-in disabled for my TR-8 or TB-3 to sync via midi.  With count-in disabled it works like a charm.

I have a Roland 505 and I keep it hooked up for a handy quick and easy pattern player for starting songs out. I have it in MIDI sync mode so Sonar starts and stops and sets the tempo. 
Sonar can of course play the sounds too. 
But what I will notice is a tiny bit of delay coming back from it if I trigger it from a Sonar drum track and I can hear both. It is probably 3 ms. I think there is always a touch of latency in any midi system. Always has been. I think there was less when using an Atari! 

Thanks to all of you for your help. 
I'll get on with trying out some of your suggestions and get back to you later.