If you want to add convincing keyboard parts but are more of a guitarist at heart, then EZKeys is a good addition. But really, Sonar has so many great toys to learn before you buy additional stuff.

jude77
The "Event List" in SONAR might do what you're looking for.  To access it go to "views" then "event list" or "Alt+8".
 
 

That looks like it might be it, but it does not show any midi data when I play a Vsti.

are you by any chance maybe thinking of the Piano Roll View ?
 

Actually, I am looking for something like this:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upbnd7DzaQ0

husker

jude77
The "Event List" in SONAR might do what you're looking for.  To access it go to "views" then "event list" or "Alt+8".
 
 

That looks like it might be it, but it does not show any midi data when I play a Vsti.

It will show any events you have already recorded on a track.
 
Be sure you have the correct track selected in the Event View

husker
Actually, I am looking for something like this:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upbnd7DzaQ0

Take a look at MIDIOX. It's probably most people's "go to tool" to look at what's going on with MIDI in a Windows system.
http://www.midiox.com

 

Are you sure you want local control off?  If you do that, the keyboard will not do anything and you won't be able to send MIDI to Sonar.
 
I think you just want to (1) turn the volume down or off on the Roland or (2) mute the track that is receiving the audio from the Roland.  (Of course, you don't have to have a track for the Roland audio if you only want to use the virtual instrument.)
 
I use external keyboards a lot.  I used to use a synth to play the notes I wanted, but lately, I use a controller keyboard that doesn't make any sound, if which case LOCAL OFF is fine for the synth.
 
You can add an effect to just a clip within a track, but I find it easier just to turn the effect off and on using automation.  Turn WRITE ON for the track, play the track, and then click the power button on the effect off and on as desired in the effects bin (or in the Pro Channel).  You can see these ONs and OFFs and automation events and move them around later if you want.  That takes more explanation so I will wait to see if you need help with that.
 
For MUST HAVES, I can't live without RealGuitar, Ivory Grands, and my Vienna Orchestra--but it all depends on what kind of music you do and how much you want to spend.  If you don't really know how to arrange for orchestras, Vienna would cost more than you'd want to spend.  ***The full version of Kontack will pay you back what you spend 100 times because 1-you will get most virtual instruments you will need bundled with it (except for something like RealGuitar) and 2-with the full player, you will find a whole world of free or very inexpensive VIs.***
 
For effects plug-ins, I am usually happy with what came with Sonar although I do use GuitarRig a lot, and I really like Abbey Road's ADT (Automatic Double Track).  Guitar Rig gets a lot of use.  ADT is super cool, but more for special situations.  I just used it to create an awesome fake double-tracked 60s-sounding flute solo in a rock song.  The solo on my record was a complex, but I had fun playing Swinging Safari on the ADT flute because of the retro sound.  I could almost see Marcia Brady coming up the walk.

konradh
Are you sure you want local control off?  If you do that, the keyboard will not do anything and you won't be able to send MIDI to Sonar.

I've several MIDI-equipped keyboard synths and when using them with a DAW I always set them to local off.

The keyboards still produce MIDI output and the synth side still responds to MIDI. I set up a MIDI track with the synth as input and output and enable echo on the track. The DAW then receives the MIDI, records it and spits it back out to the synth. Which means I can then edit the MIDI if required or mix "live" playing with sequenced stuff.

If left set to local on then if the MIDI is being recorded in the DAW the synth triggers the note twice. Once when it receives the MIDI from the keyboard and again a few milliseconds later when it receives the MIDI being echoed from the DAW. While turning off MIDI echo while recording can prevent this happening it's just simpler to set the synth to local off. One exception in my setup is the Dark Time sequencer which responds to incoming MIDI in a way that makes letting it's output be echoed backmto it is a non-starter - it changes the sequence pitch when it receives incoming MIDI notes which is great when you want that to happen, but it happening every sixteenth note or whatever the clock speed is set to is generally less than musical.

Which means, as a plus point, the synth's keyboard and wheels can also be used as a controller keyboard for other hardware and software synths. Usefull if you've a mix of hardware, maybe including rack or tabletop modules without dedicated keyboards, and software sound generators.

Thank you all for the replies.
 
Midi OX was exactly what I was looking for, thank you.   I have been going through the Groove 3 Midi videos, and it is interesting for me to follow along in my own environment.
 
Setting local off did the trick, turning the keyboard volume down just muted everything for me.  I'm sure it is just the way I have everything hooked up right now.  I don't know much about Sonar, the tracks, or inputs yet.  I am brand new to all of this, once I finish with the Midi videos, I'm going to delve into Sonar.  I'll be much better versed in asking questions when I learn a bit more about DAWs.
 
Problem is (for me) that I just love to play around too much.
 
Thank you all for your replies.