I have a recording and I want to apply a track template to the existing track.  Right now the only way I know how to do this is to create a new track based on the template and copy the audio and paste it into the track created with the template.
 
I record multiple channels live.  I have several templates I use as starting points for effects, EQ, etc.  I want to apply the templates after recording.
 
Am I doing this the wrong way?
 

Sounds like a plan. That's what I would do.

this is a feature request right here.
I would love to be able to "replace track with template"
what I typically do is:
 
1- save my plug ins as an FX chain, then open them in said track.
2-drop the track template in and move the data to the new template track.
3-load the pro channel template, FX chain to the said track.
 
as of right now, 2 seems to be my fastest method.

If you want to replace the content of a track or bus with saved fx and settings, today the only way to do that is via a mix recall templates. i.e. you can save multiple mix recall settings in a project template. Then as long as you have created a new project from that template you can flip through the mix recall presets and swap in different FX, volume and pan etc, to the same effects.
 
Importing to the same tracks would be difficult since there is no easy way to pair up tracks in a template with a different project since the track identifiers are completely different.

The main goal here is not to insert recordings from a track template, but to apply existing plugins and Pro Channel settings to a newly recorded track.
 
Kind of like MS Word would do when you set a style to a paragraph.  The words don't change, just the format.
 
In Sonar's case, the recording wouldn't change, just all of the settings.
I know you can do this with the Pro Channel, but I would like to not only apply the Pro Channel, but all of the sends, patch points, FX, pan, volume, gain etc.
 
 

Maybe I need to look at the Mix Recall more.  Can you share these between projects?

Mix recall is the closest to what you are looking for. However the limitation presently is that you cannot copy Mix recall settings from one track to a different one. i.e. the settings are keyed to the track (or bus) identifier. As long as you save the mix recall settings for the SAME track you can then recall them at any time.
 
You can use mix recall files from a different project but it will only affect tracks that have the same identifier as explained above. To use a different mix recall file just drag and drop it into the project (drop over the track view) and it will be applied...

Why not save an FX chain with your usual plugins?
 
Dan
 

dcumpian
Why not save an FX chain with your usual plugins?
Dan

Can I then bring back the FX Chain?  How do you do this?

They are simply presets that you create, but you can have any number of plugins in the chain:
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Mixing.33.html#1428849
 
I use them for custom things all the time. A real time saver.
 
Regards,
Dan