gbowling
Just curious (I might learn something here) as to why you hit CTRL-Z to undo the previous recording? Seems like if you set it to overwrite recording you can just hit space and r. 
 
At least that's what I do, but maybe I'm missing something. 
 
gabo

If you use "overwrite" to record and your first recording is 1 min. and the the second recording is 30 sec., then you still leave 30 sec. of the old recording that still needs to be cleaned up. "Undo"ing the bad recording gets rid of the entire unwanted part and leaves no mess. (I'm pretty sure this is how it works, I'm not at my DAW right now.) Also I believe "undoing" will erase the bad track from the disk drive where the other methods may not. (I may be way off on this one)

Yes you are correct that if the first recording is longer there is a piece of it still there. I guess most times I eventually do a longer take so it doesn't bother me as much. 
 
Not sure about the disk usage. I usually do so much in a project at the beginning, I eventually save to a new folder just to clean all that up. Saving to a new folder will only copy over what's being used in the project.
 
Thanks, gabo

I have a logitech gaming keyboard with 12 "G" keys.  I program many keystrokes like the ones you describe all the time.   What is really nice is I program similar functions the same in different apps...so some of things I do repeatedly are the same in SONAR, Sibelius and Vegas Movie studio.   Makes my day go faster.    
 
 
http://support.logitech.com/en_us/product/gaming-keyboard-g510
 
 

here's a quick tip + free (if you have an iPad) 
I use Avid's free PT Control app on the ipad - it works really well as a touch based mixer & track navigator with Sonar & you can create macros and assign them to virtual buttons on the ipad.

• install the Sonar Eucon support as per this KB article
• download & install the Pro Tools Control app as per the instructions here ( you need to create a Avid account but that is free & you don't need to be an owner of any Avid gear) 
• once Eucon is installed, make sure you add Eucon to Sonar (Preferences->Control surfaces->add Control surface & Choose "Eucon Controller" under the drop down menu - dont worry about the midi ports as they aren't used but you can't deselect them entirely)

Now - you have a free touch mixer for Sonar ! 

1. to set up the macro, with Sonar Running, switch to the Eucon setup by double clicking on the E icon in the notification area of Windows.
2. Select "Softkeys" 
3. It should say Application: SONARPLT in the top left corner - if it says "explorer" or "Chrome" go back to Sonar & straight to the Eucon app - it sets up App sets for the program you switch from.
4. sleect a softkey via the Comand... dialogue
5. you can add multiple commands sequentially

i added

• Eucon - Stop
• ctrl + Z
• R

 
this works exactly as expeted & you will have a free mixer also !
 
i will try to get a couple of screenshots to guide you if that would help.
 
Chuck

I'm glad to hear that there are several paths to take a look into. I do have an IPad, really like the idea of using voice recognition, a gaming keyboard with programmable extra keys, autohotkeys, and azslow3's
Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR all look like the direction that I need to explore. Many thanks to all who replied!!!!

Perhaps a different work flow might be your answer.... sounds like you are erasing your last take and then re recording the take until you like what you have done?
 
Perhaps COMPING is a better solution... you can keep performing the part until you NAIL IT, then delete all the previous takes and keep the one you like best.
 
Not sure if your reason for space bar, CNTL Z, record key stroke sequence is for your manual comping process but if it is, check this out, you may like this more.
 
Jim
 
PS - after you do get a good take remember to hit CNTL S before SONAR crashes and you lose your good take. :-)
 
 

I've considered using comping, but I haven't tried it since it originally came out (and crashed my machine left and right). However I have a new DAW computer since then and I should revisit that option. Quick question, when you finish with the comp takes, and you delete them, does it really delete them from your hard drive, or does it leave them on your machine just taking up space, until you do a new save as "save and create clips" to another area on your hard drive then manually delete the old project? 

Comping just saves one of the 3 keypresses, right? :)
 
There are other reasons I don't like that approach, mostly because it silences everything on the track at that point, which I don't want if I'm recording overlapping parts.

No comping would save all three of the keystrokes, in essence, you would loop the section to record and it would rewind and start recording the next take automatically until you hit STOP. I think when you hard delete the non keeper tracks, it is no longer on your hard drive... like it is gone forever (at least once you leave the session) but someone more technical than me would have to confirm this.
 
Jim

Right, but we talked earlier in the thread about why looping isn't always an option.