I know this must be very basic, so forgive me. New to Sonar X3.  
 
Can someone direct me to step-by-step instructions in this forum on "how to load a Midi file into Sonar X3, then assign a plug-in (like Omnisphere or any other VST) for it to properly play the sequence"? There must be some asy way to do this...I hope. I've tried & tried and can't get anything to work/play.  The Sonar "help" is not very user friendly and can't find it there that I can understand.
 
Thanks for any suggestions on where to find this!

Hi. I would insert a Simple Instrument Track, and add MIDI to that. Here is how I would do it: When project is open, or after creating a new project, go to Insert in the top menu line, and choose insert soft synth (of choice). Make sure Simple Instrument track is selected, Synth Property page and Synth rack view. Now you have a track that is both MIDI (in) and Audio (out). Next go to File, Import, MIDI, and choose your MIDI file. You can also drag the MIDI file from the Browser to the track.
Later, when you have this figured out, you might also want to check using separate audio and MIDI tracks for more control. Hope it helps.
All the best.

Ken:  
 
Thanks for the quick reply!  Sorry...need more info and can call this "lesson for dummy 101". Here's what I did and what sonar did. I know there's any easy way to fix this. Have tried a lot of things and can't get it to cooperate.
 
- Opened Sonar X3
- Quick start popped up and I selected "create a new project".
- Then selected "Normal" (should I have selected "blank project" or something else)?
- Project opens with track 1 as audio, and track 2 as midi track
- Inserted soft synth (selected simple track & the two views as suggested)
- Track 3 became my my soft synth track
- Imported a midi file and it loads into tracks 4,5,6,7,8, and 9 (has more than 1 track)
- I click "play" and it plays ONLY track 3 where my soft synth is located.
 
So now how do I get the other tracks to play with additional soft synths to be added?
 
Thanks for your help on this!

SONAR will automatically map a MIDI file to TTS-1 when opened (not imported) if there are no MIDI Outputs selected in Prefrerences > MIDI > Devices. This is the easiest way to get started. Tutorial #4 may help with SONAR MIDI routing basics.

Hey, this works for me!
 
1. Open a new "normal" Sonar project.
 
2. Click on File>Import>MIDI> (here I selected a random MIDI file on my hard drive with 11 tracks). This results in 11 MIDI tracks with MIDI data shown in the Sonar track pane. The console view in the docker below shows the channel strips.  You will notice that the channel strips don't have any output assigned at this point.  See step 3 below ...
 
3. This is an example using the Cakewalk TTS-1 General MIDI synth.  (You could substitute any multi-timbral softsynth if you wish at this point.)  Click on Insert>Soft Synth>DirectX>Cakewalk TTS-1. The "Insert Soft Synth Options" menu has a few choices. Select "First Synth Audio Output" to assign all MIDI channels to the same stereo audio output (best choice for TTS-1), or select "All synth audio outputs stereo/mono" to assign all MIDI channels to separate stereo/mono audio outputs.  Audio track(s) will appear corresponding to your choice during the insert options. You should now see one or more audio tracks in the track pane and in the Console.
Edit: this function will be limited with TTS-1. Some soft synths only have one pair of outputs, so this will be dependent on the synth you use.  For example, Kontakt can have multiple audio outs.
 
Hit "Play" and your MIDI file should play through the TTS-1 now (assuming the tracks were assigned as GM.  If not you will have to assign instrument voices as desired for your arrangement).
 
A quick note on the routing details via the Console - simple version:
You should see the MIDI tracks routed to the Cakewalk TTS-1.
You should see the audio track(s) routed to "Master".
You should see "Master" routed to your audio hardware outputs.
 
Good luck and have fun!

Hey Harry
Use Zargs tips above but what i would do first is this.  You see your own steps above where the New Project added in a midi and audio track by default?   I get the same when I start a new project but I just delete both of those and start my midi track from scratch.    It will get confusing if you have a default midi track installed by Sonar and then you insert the new midi track for you soft synth.  Start with a blank canvas and go with Zargs steps.  Hope this helps. 

Hey all...
 
Thanks for all of the tips. I will check them out today, see what works, and reply back. Guess this is a little tougher than I expected...but seems like it shouldn't be.

dirtracer25
Hey all...
 
Thanks for all of the tips. I will check them out today, see what works, and reply back. Guess this is a little tougher than I expected...but seems like it shouldn't be.

It seems that you may have received answers to two different goals. 
 
Do you wish to create a new MIDI file from scratch with track assignments to a soft synth, or do you wish to import an existing MIDI file with pre-recorded MIDI data and have it played back by your soft synth?
 
Although somewhat related, the least confusing approach depends on what you wish to accomplish.
 
Your comments seem to imply that you wanted to import an existing MIDI file that contains multiple tracks.  If you follow my steps 1-3 above, I can guarantee that will work (with TTS-1 at least), without any extra tracks installed by Sonar to confuse things.
 

dirtracer25
 
- Imported a midi file and it loads into tracks 4,5,6,7,8, and 9 (has more than 1 track)
- I click "play" and it plays ONLY track 3 where my soft synth is located.

 
The other suggestions should be followed if you wish to record a new MIDI file from scratch.

Also, many soft synths are multi-timbral, meaning they can play more than 1 MIDI track at a time. TTS-1 is one of those.
Other soft synths can only play 1 MIDI track at a time.
If the MIDI file is loading multiple tracks and the synth isn't multi-timbral, you'll only hear 1 of the MIDI tracks play.
Insert more soft synths.
And welcome to the forum.

Follow scooks advice, never import a midi file you've most likely downloaded. 
For me I simply double click the file ( I have Sonar set as default program for midi) 
This will open a new project and TTS-1 is set to play the file the way the author intended. 
It's pretty easy. 
Importing will loose a bunch of important data like tempo so always OPEN a midi file. 
The down side is you will now have to set your project with your own preferences and add the Master buss etc. This is easy with track templates. 
 
In the off chance that the TTS-1 does not automatically load it's not hard to add TTS-1 from the synth rack and then do the following: 
Highlight all tracks using ctrl A
From the menu select "tracks/ output/midi/TTS-1" this sends all tracks to the TTS-1.
 
The TTS-1 is a good starting point and you can then improve the sound by adding other synths and point tracks to them. Example I use the SI Bass and Addictive drums.