Sonar does a pretty good job with MIDI however there is definitely room for improvement.  A number of suggestions are well documented elsewhere in the Forum so I assume this post is more about direction setting for Sonar development  in 2016.  I am about to move back to Cubase after spending 10 years with CW.  I have fond memories of Cubase's MIDI editing and saw a video on Cubase 8.5 that shows some interesting features.  Maybe that would be a good place for the CW programmers to look for ideas.
 
Cheers.

Indeed. The Select tool has only just been fixed in Manchester! All this time nobody noticed?
 
I am suffering under a MIDI-heavy project right now. The smart-tool idea of putting the mouse over different parts of a note to access different functions is fine with few notes, but as things progress you zoom out to get the overview, then manoevering over the right bit of note gets difficult. Result? I'm constantly zooming in and out.
 
I'd rather have a key+mouse model to decide if I want to stretch, shrink (NB: one for stretch, one for shrink!) move, etc. and put the default key layout under the left hand (with options for the right side) - NOT function keys like now.
 
Also, the pre-empting auto-clip algorithm reduces the utility of clips to only simple scenarios. I posted a detailed feature request already.
 
Accidental double-cloned notes remaining unseen is also a problem.

Sonar isn't the only software that I use. When it comes to midi, I think it's absolutely the worst, especially when it comes to drum programming. It's soo bad that I was surprised that no one had ever brought it up before this thread. I really believed, and I still believe, that the majority of Sonar users don't really compose midi in Sonar.

Audio editing is flawless in Sonar, but the midi implementation is ridiculously bad.

I didn't really want to get into specifics on this for lots of reasons.  Serial/episodic software is a little new, strange and different for lots of companies/developers/customers.  For it to work well a short/medium-term overall theme and direction can be useful.  Looking at the future features for Sonar in spring 2016 I'll admit I'm a bit concerned that the MIDI side of house is being neglected.  I like mastering and audio editing tools as much as the next guy, but I'd rather see improvements in more MIDI/Soft Synth areas.

For ME, a 64 bit P5 Version 3 that can plug into Sonar would do nicely 

tenfoot
Good call Matt - though I guess still more easily achieved if you come up with some suggestions of what you might actually like to see. 

There's an entire subforum that is pouring over with excellent suggestions for improving MIDI in Sonar.  Unfortunately, the number of those suggestions that are marked as "implemented" is hovering somewhere around none.

Hello.  I use MIDI a lot in my productions, and I am happy to see that others continue to make use of MIDI: I was beginning to think I was the last person on earth still using MIDI.
 
Here is my suggestion: in the PRV, I wish it was easier to change the left-sided diatonic keyboard into the list of drum names.  I have found this very difficult to do: if memory serves, you have to first tell Sonar the track is a drum track and first select a drum instrument definition.  This seems unnecessary, and i wish I could just tell Sonar show me a GM drum name list now in the PRV.  I use JamStix and Addictive Drums, which means I have to create my own instrument definitions for these programs before I can get my PRV to show me a list of drum names.  For what I do, the GM drum name list would be just fine, but I have had trouble getting such a list displayed.
 
There may be easier ways for Sonar to do what I what it to do, and I just don't know what they are.  In which case, I apologize for my ignorance.

msorrels
Make MIDI Better.  That's it.  Figure out what that means and do it.

That's more than vague, as are some comments that followed.  In my mind, Cakewalk has a historic responsibility to be at the top of the midi world.  It still has access to some heavy hitting contributors, so if it isn't currently at the top, it should be.  But I'm in no position to judge where it stands.
 
It would be very interesting, and more useful, to hear what changes you'd like to see implemented.  I don't use Sonar for much recording.  To me, Sonar is just a huge complex synth to create music with (which may include recorded elements), so I'm interested in having as much midi functionality as possible.  But for the moment, my meager needs are met and I'm still learning to use what there is.
 

BbAltered
Hello.  I use MIDI a lot in my productions, and I am happy to see that others continue to make use of MIDI: I was beginning to think I was the last person on earth still using MIDI.
 
Here is my suggestion: in the PRV, I wish it was easier to change the left-sided diatonic keyboard into the list of drum names.  I have found this very difficult to do: if memory serves, you have to first tell Sonar the track is a drum track and first select a drum instrument definition.  This seems unnecessary, and i wish I could just tell Sonar show me a GM drum name list now in the PRV.  I use JamStix and Addictive Drums, which means I have to create my own instrument definitions for these programs before I can get my PRV to show me a list of drum names.  For what I do, the GM drum name list would be just fine, but I have had trouble getting such a list displayed.
 
There may be easier ways for Sonar to do what I what it to do, and I just don't know what they are.  In which case, I apologize for my ignorance.

Hi,
this is already possible:
Right click on the diatonic keyboard and in the following menu check:
"Use these note names instead".
There are several drumkits available, including GM Drums.
 

+1    Midi and User Interface is all I care about.    Except, oddly, I seem to use SoundForge for everything to do with audio on a per-track basis, and Samplitude for putting together multiple audio tracks into a mix.    I'm sure Sonar can do much of that but somehow it seems so .. "pro-channel", so "dials", about everything, i.e., so hobbyist.  
 
Maybe other than getting everything to do with midi entry and editing fast, what I'd really love is a Sonar on a diet, get rid of all the crap that needs to be turned off in order to get work done, while keeping the mini-bar available for those who want to indulge optionally.   Do I really want an "amp-simulator" in every project (part of prochannel)?  No, it's absurd.     Do I want to dial in how much grunge to add to every project?  No.  Make it optional, exceptional.   Do I want a "tube", whatever that is, on every track?  Hell no.   Do I want a line in the PRV for every controller on every midi channel on every track?   NO NO NO.    I can appreciate that some people do want some of these things, but Let .  Them . Be . Optional !!
 
edit -- And then MENUS ... they are outrageously EVERYWHERE.    Slim down, menus in ONE place only.   This goes back to User Interface ...