They are both "assigned to the same synth" as X1 suggest but I can't figure out how to merge/combine to form an instrument track.
 
-Rock    

rockoman


They are both "assigned to the same synth" as X1 suggest but I can't figure out how to merge/combine to form an instrument track.
 
-Rock    

Why don't you just insert an instrument track if that's what you want? 
 
Brian

Stone House Studios

rockoman


They are both "assigned to the same synth" as X1 suggest but I can't figure out how to merge/combine to form an instrument track.
 
-Rock    

Why don't you just insert an instrument track if that's what you want? 
 
Brian

Maybe I'm not following what you're saying. How do I insert/create and instrument track? I don't see an option for that (only see creating midi or audio track).

why do you want to change your MIDI/OUTPUT tracks to instrument tracks?  what function will it serve you to change them? 

also, if you have these MIDI tracks going to one synth, you can't change them to instrument tracks.  instrument tracks require one softsynth per instrument track.  so for example, if you're using TTS-1 and your 10 MIDI tracks all have their output set to the same TTS-1 using different channels, you'd have to insert 9 other instances of TTS-1 to convert over to Instrument tracks since an instrument track uses 1 instance of the softsynth per instrument track.
 
to insert an instrument track from the beginning, you choose it in the  pop up window after clicking to insert a softsynth.  instead of choosing MIDI/SOURCE track, choose "SIMPLE INSTRUMENT TRACK" in the checkbox.

Beagle,   

also, if you have these MIDI tracks going to one synth, you can't change them to instrument tracks.  instrument tracks require one softsynth per instrument track.  so for example, if you're using TTS-1 and your 10 MIDI tracks all have their output set to the same TTS-1 using different channels, you'd have to insert 9 other instances of TTS-1 to convert over to Instrument tracks since an instrument track uses 1 instance of the softsynth per instrument track.
 
to insert an instrument track from the beginning, you choose it in the  pop up window after clicking to insert a softsynth.  instead of choosing MIDI/SOURCE track, choose "SIMPLE INSTRUMENT TRACK" in the checkbox.

Thanks Beagle, I understand much more clearly now. This whole instrument track/kontakt thing is a slow learning experience for me. I get what you're saying...makes sense. 

So for me to be able to add effects and/or route separate outputs from (say TTS, or Kontakt), I have to create an audio track for each midi track and associate it that way, correct? 

So for me to be able to add effects and/or route separate outputs from (say TTS, or Kontakt), I have to create an audio track for each midi track and associate it that way, correct?

 
Don't make a 1:1 connection between MIDI and Audio tracks.
MIDI tracks just record/playback performance information. 
You can have multiple MIDI tracks playing the same Kontakt instrument... or you could have a single MIDI track playing several Kontakt instruments.  It's not always a 1:1 relationship.
 
Think about the scenario from a routing perspective.
If you want to isolate each Kontakt instrument, it has to be routed to a separate Kontakt output (or outputs).
In Sonar, you need to create an audio track for each of these Kontakt outputs.
Each isolated Kontakt instrument can now be independently processed/mixed  in Sonar (just like it were an audio track/s).
 
 

Jim Roseberry

So for me to be able to add effects and/or route separate outputs from (say TTS, or Kontakt), I have to create an audio track for each midi track and associate it that way, correct?

   
Think about the scenario from a routing perspective.
If you want to isolate each Kontakt instrument, it has to be routed to a separate Kontakt output (or outputs).
In Sonar, you need to create an audio track for each of these Kontakt outputs.
Each isolated Kontakt instrument can now be independently processed/mixed  in Sonar (just like it were an audio track/s). 
  
 

I understand and that's what I've done. I was only associating the whole audio/midi thing when talking about virtual instruments :) Thank you very much everyone!

To answer the original question:

Right-click either the MIDI or Audio track, and choose Make Instrument Track.

But you can't make multiple Instrument Tracks with a separate MIDI track for each output of a multi-output synth, because SONAR doesn't know how MIDI and Audio are being routed inside the synth. So if it sees more than one MIDI track assigned to a synth, regardless of how many audio outputs that synth has, it will just say no-go on creating an instrument track.

Jim Roseberry

So for me to be able to add effects and/or route separate outputs from (say TTS, or Kontakt), I have to create an audio track for each midi track and associate it that way, correct?

 
Don't make a 1:1 connection between MIDI and Audio tracks.
MIDI tracks just record/playback performance information. 
You can have multiple MIDI tracks playing the same Kontakt instrument... or you could have a single MIDI track playing several Kontakt instruments.  It's not always a 1:1 relationship.
 
Think about the scenario from a routing perspective.
If you want to isolate each Kontakt instrument, it has to be routed to a separate Kontakt output (or outputs).
In Sonar, you need to create an audio track for each of these Kontakt outputs.
Each isolated Kontakt instrument can now be independently processed/mixed  in Sonar (just like it were an audio track/s).
 
 

+1 to what Jim said here.
 
if you want to control each track individually then use make more outputs in kontakt and route them to the output/audio tracks appropriately.  but I would NOT recommend making an instrument track for each MIDI track, that means you'd need an instance of Kontakt for each MIDI track, 10 of them in this scenerio you're describing.  that would most certainly be an unnecessary tax on your resources.  use kontakt's outputs to control what you want to send to separate output tracks. 
 
when you insert kontakt, choose 4 or 16 outputs (I think that's the choices) depending on your needs for individual outputs.

I Finally figured out how to make an Instrument Track using an existing synth in the synth rack.
1. Make sure only one MIDI track is assigned to the synth.
2. Make sure only one AUDIO track is assigned to the synth.
3. Make sure no other tracks are assigned to the synth other than the two in steps 1 and 2.
3. Right-Click on either track in the first two steps and select "Make Instrument Track".
 
Voila! You'll have an Instrument track.
You'll then be able to assign other MIDI tracks as needed to the synth.