I've had Sonar in its various formats for some 3 years now, and one thing I NEVER use is the step sequencer. Either it's wholly a waste of time for me, or I simply don't know how to use it fully (I'm assuming the latter, hence this query).
 
I get the whole sequencer tools and steps and such. I know how to use it to establish patterns and grooves. The problem is .... once I've done all that, how do I load it into a track or a clip? Back in X2 I learned to 'record' it to a "groove clip", which is then saved in a file location.
What good is that???
It forces multiple extra steps of naming, pointing to, saving, and then loading back into a project. Is it not possible to simply throw a groove together from scratch and then plug it right into a track/clip where you want?
 
So instead of using the added functionality available in the step sequencer menus, I use the piano roll to draw out and build midi note patterns, but of course that is less versatile.

Hi Vanessa,
Insert a synthesizer like Session Drummer. Make sure that it has a program like acoustic Groovykit Brushes.
Then click the sequencer icon in the top line of Session drummer.
In the sequencer window set up the number of beats and steps
In one of the rows click a square which inserts a tick, do that for instance in the first one of every beat.
Go to your track and you will see and hear the result after hitting the play button. if you did 4 beats in a 4/4 measure you can extend it by pulling it over the track until you have enough measures.
 
Jan

IN 1983 I bought a Roland 505 drum machine. Any custom patterns or whole songs had to be entered one note at a time... this took hours to sequence a simple song. Along came the Atari which you could plug a midi controler ( keyboard) and now I can happily play the drum parts on the keys and this takes way less time.. So when I read about step sequencing I scratch my head... ::) 
 
I can think of dozens of way's to create drum patterns in Sonar. It's each there own and a lot depends on the style of music being created. It's very different creating realistic kit drums that sound like the real thing and making electronic music which could never be played on a real drum kit. 

Session Drummer is of course an example. It can be done with any of the synthesizers like Dimension.... as long as it has a sequencer button.

I find its easiest to play drum grooves and then edit them / layer new parts after the initial recording.  Bass, snare, and hi-hat and you've got most of the groove.
 
When you midi record drum parts, its easy to capture dynamics and timing variations that help it sound more human.  Step sequencing doesn't allow any of this.
 
I don't have any use for a step sequencer.  I think they are a relic from another time. 

Cactus Music
...now I can happily play the drum parts on the keys and this takes way less time.. So when I read about step sequencing I scratch my head...

I agree; if you have any kind of chops on a MIDI controller, that would be preferable to step-sequencing. Fixing even a rough performance will generally be faster and easier than sequencing the whole thing.
 
And you can always convert parts of the MIDI clip to SS clips if there's some feature of Step Sequencer that you want to use, or just use SS to add one part that you're unable to perform well enough in real time.

The step sequencer is good for repeated patterns of riffs.  Drum is obvious, but you can enter a 4 bar, basic bass line, pull it out to 8 bars and then make different sequence for the last 4 bars of an 12 bar pattern.  Then copy and repeat, just like an audio clip, until you reach the chorus.  Then write a another bass riff - or just keep repeating the same 12 bars.
 
It is kinda funky, since the step sequencer does a lot of the job automatically and is unintuitive on the time line.  It is another feature that could use some smoothing and ease of use.  I like to produce 8-16 bar patterns, turn them into audio clips and then insert them as a song skeleton or (even more step-intensive) the Matrix to play them.  The matrix and step-sequencer are both separate modules when they should play together easier for loop-style music creation.

The Step Sequencer has many expressive options not found in other step sequencers. For example I use the "Probability" parameter all the time. The editing tools for velocity, timing, offset, etc. are very powerful once you open up the edit strips. The main advantage compared to the PRV is you can keep the SS open and running, with all parameters accessible, while the audio engine keeps chugging along.
 
This article goes into detail about what you can do with the Step Sequencer. Also, Week #43 in "Friday's Tip of the Week" focuses on "Piano Roll View/Step Sequencer Conversion and Synergy."