HEY GUYS, I AM BARELY STARYING MY OWN RECORDING STUDIO.. I'M HAVING EVERY ISSUE IT SEEMS. I CANT GET MY MIC TO RECORD, HAVIN ISSUES FIGURING OUT HOW TO CHANGE INSTRUMENTS ON MY MIDI (CARBON 61) ALSO HAVING ISSUES WITH MYU MIDI STAYING ON AND ACTIVE. IS THERE SOME KIND OF STARTER TUTIORAL ON ALL OF THE BASICS? ANY FEED BACK WORKS
I ALSO HAVE THE M-AUDIO FAST TRACK PRO ANDA STERLING AUDIO MICROPHONE

Hi, and welcome to this forum. Which version of SONAR do you have? Did you set up your Audio Interface in SONAR? https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Troubleshooting.14.html
 
I would suggest that you watch these videos to start. https://www.cakewalk.com/CakeTV/SONAR-University/Get-Started
All the best.
 

There are also a lot of videos on Youtube.
 

What's with the all caps?

Thank you, I'm glad to part of Sonar. I have Sonar Artist. I will probably upgrade, but I want to make sure I know what I'm doing. It's been ten years since I last touched Sonar. I'm pretty sure I have everything hooked up. I've followed the YouTube vids about setting up the audio and I'm still not getting anything. I also got my midi working for a brief moment, but I wasn't able to change from the piano sound.

I usually have my keyboard on all caps...

You will have to insert a Vsti to play back your MIDI / keyboard  sounds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7YvO-LXXts
And set up your Carbon 61 for use in SONAR: https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2003191/Basic-MIDI-SETUP-Instructions
 

I can't get my Sterling Audio mic to work for the life of me

Is it a Condenser mic? If so, you will need to engage Phantom Power on your Fast Track mic input.
If it is not, and you have engaged Phantom Power, you might have fried your mic. Hope that is not the case.
All the best.

Go to the basics and make sure that:
1- check it out if The Audio Interface its showing up in sonar device list (Press P to see preferences) 
3- select the most compatible Driver mode and driver settings for your set up.."i totally recomen ASIO Mode"
if you sound card does't support Asio get ASIO4 ALL... its free!
4- once you are sure that audio interface its fine , arm an audio track and dont forget to select the apropiate Input from your device, then try to record something
5-check it out if you Audio interface set up its correct, cables, Phantom power, Input levels, sample rate, routing etc
6- Make sure  Usb devices like Keyboards controllers etc.. are showing up in the Midi imput list. them insert a Vst instrument and select the appropriate input from that device.
 
This is like a basic check list procedure...