Ok so I have many questions about using Sonar...so far I am finding it very frustrating and NOT user friendly.
Anyway my most pressing question is this.
1. When I try to export a midi file I have mixed to a wave file, there is no sound on the wave file. I have checked all sound cards etc. I suspect it is in the way I am "selecting" tracks but I cannot work out what I am doing wrong. I have followed all the instructions in the help menu but I can't work out how to get the selected tracks to appear in the bottom left box listed as:
"Source/Buses Tracks"
I am thinking that this is why there is no sound when I play it as a wave file.
Can anyone help please.
Thanks
Julie

If I am understanding you, there should be an option that says "What you hear". I think we need a little more info about how you have your tracks assigned. Are you using a master buss? Things of that nature.
By the way, welcome aboard! Sonar is not easy to learn but the people in this forum are some of the best support around. I would also suggest tutorial videos both on the Cakewalk site and YouTube. There is a ton of knowledge to get you started there. Some are vids about older versions of Sonar but they are still relevant.
Give us some more detailed info and be patient. Someone here will get back with you.

Hi. Which version of SONAR do you have? What kind of Audio Interface do you have? Do you have sound before you try to export?
If you only want to export one track, solo it, and then you could route it to Audio Interface out 1&2. Ctrl+a (select all. In this case the whole length of the song.), Export. Select Main Outputs, and try to export as .wave. Hope it helps.
All the best.
Ps. It is always helpful if you put your specs in your signature (SONAR version, Windows version, Cpu, RAM, Audio Interface. See mine below) It is done on your control panel at the top tight on this (and every page while you are logged in here)

Hello and welcome .
You are not the first and will mot be the last one who has difficulties 
making the first steps with a DAW.
To help you it needs some more info´s ,
buit I will try a shot into the "blue".
Have you marked the midi track and the midi (vst= instrument) before you bounced it?
if yes:
Have you marked the area in the timeline?
if yes:
 
Then go to track-bounce
 tracks (not the whole mix)in stereo or mono,
with fx and buss or not
no dithering and important-
choose the track where it has to be bounced to
Also mark the option :hear during bouncing or so
So you hear immediately if the source tracks are marked right and you are
in the right mood.
Hope it helps
 
Pragi

Ok thanks for getting back to me.

My only goal right now using Sonar is to make changes on midi files then export them as a wave or mp3 so I can upload them to my ipad...to use at a gig on THURSDAY...time is my enemy right now.

I guess the first thing you need to know is that I know NOTHING about Sonar. So when you ask about a Master buss...I don't know what you mean. Also "what you hear" is that an option somewhere and if so where can I find it.

Also I have been watching youtube and sonar videos for 2 days and I really can't find answers to specific questions. And as I am new and don't know the "lingo" of this software then it is possible I am not asking the right questions. I wish I could find a step by step guide starting from the beginning


A further question is: can I input a mp3 and/or a wave file so I can make changes to it as a midi then convert it back again? Or does it always have to be a midi file.


I am desperate for help as I have 30 songs i need to sing on thursday and I haven't even got them on my ipad yet.

Might be obvious but are you playing MIDI through a soft synth (virtual instrument) or are you triggering a hardware synth? By default only virtual instruments will be included in an export unless you route audio from a hardware synth back into SONAR.
If its a virtual instrument and you hear it in SONAR, make sure you select everything in your project before you export (or select nothing) - then choose the "what you hear" preset.

Hi Noel,
Firstly sorry for the reply above. I tried to send a print screen and tha't what came up.
...what is a syth?
In my attempts to solve these problems I have come across soft syth. I don't know what it is but I may have selected something that is obstructing sound. So To answer your question, no I should not have a virtual instrument, and if I have accidentally selected it, how do I unselect it. If I start there and try again, maybe it might work.
 
Thanks
Julie

Julie welcome to the forum. 
 
To start you are going to have a lot of terms thrown at you that you may not have heard before. I suggest you get the manual for the version of Sonar you have. If its the current version you can see it here https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=toc.html
 
There is a Glossary in the manual to help with terms you may not know. 

Hi John,
I just looked at the glossary and soft syth or syth isn't there!!! So it doesn't help with my question above.
I don't want a virtual instrument but I may have changed something under soft syth accidently.
I have my computer connected the tv so I can see it better. All the sound works fine on the computer and tv.
What settings should I be using under soft syth if I don't want to use virtual instruments?
I have purchased sonar artist. and have window 8
 
thanks
julie

There are two kinds of synths the first is a hardware synth the kind used live. They can also be used with Sonar. The other kind is a Softsynth or software synth. One that is programed to run within Sonar. They are essentially the same in what they produce which is sound. However they very different in how they function. The hardware synth is like a guitar its a full fledged musical instrument. It can be controlled by Sonar via MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) Sonar is a MIDI sequencer as well as a audio workstation. By hooking up a hardware synth to Sonar with MIDI you can control it. A soft synth is run within Sonar and uses MIDI internally to control it.
 
I will stop here to leave you time to digest what I just wrote. Please ask any questions you may have. One at a time.