I'm trying to add the Blacksmith kit from Analogue Drums as a multi-out VST.  

 
1. If I load as a simple instrument track (which I've done just as a test case) my MIDI controller works just fine.  I can hear the kit, play the kit, etc.  If I check "All Synths Audio Output" when inserting the VST, I get no interaction/sound when trying to play the kit with my MIDI controller, but I can still use the virtual keyboard in Kontakt to play/trigger sounds.
2. I have tried every Kontakt tutorial, every forum posting I can find to get the individual kitpiece channel routing to work with this kit, to no avail.  Is anyone using these kits now that could lay out a simple process for pulling this together?  I've never had so much trouble getting a $25 plugin to work. 
 
A virtual pint to any that can shed some light.

Hi. Sorry if this is obvious, but have you checked the MIDI input echo on your MIDI track?
All the best.

 
That was one of the problems!  I figured out - by trial and error - that I needed to check the "MIDI Source" box in the insert synth dialogue box.  I think I'm most of the way there - took me a while, but I got a bit more familiar with Kontakt in the process, so no regrets!  My issue now is that, while I can play the kit via my MIDI controller, I still get no meter signal in the individual track view; the main midi track for Kontakt shows response in the levels, but not the snare, toms, hi hat, etc.  I think this may be limited now to the routing path in SPlat.  I copied a couple of MIDI files to the drum tracks but they are invisible in the clips and when I go to PRV, the notes are there, but they're black.  So frustrating to be so close, but much further along than I was this morning.  Now, if the chores would stop getting in the way....

I am not familiar with Kontakt but many times with multi out synths (like drum samplers) you have to go into the synth's "mixer" page and select the outputs to the DAW manually.
 
So just like you set the outputs from a track in Sonar to go to specific busses you need to go to the Mixer page in the synth/sampler and set the output for each channel to send to a specific output (which then gets routed out to the DAW).
 
That process then sends signal to all those individual tracks in Sonar so you can hear them.

OK - I've got a signal at the individual track levels but the MIDI notes in the track view are still invisible and when I click on a clip to bring it into the PRV, the notes are there, but they are black.  One other thing: the virtual keyboard in the PRV responds to my MIDI controller, but not to my mouse when I click on an individual piano roll note!!!

june61944
OK - I've got a signal at the individual track levels but the MIDI notes in the track view are still invisible and when I click on a clip to bring it into the PRV, the notes are there, but they are black.  One other thing: the virtual keyboard in the PRV responds to my MIDI controller, but not to my mouse when I click on an individual piano roll note!!!

Yeah... I don't even really know what you're up to here but remember... all those tracks that you just got set up are actually audio tracks. You don't drag MIDI clips into those. There will be one track that feeds them all which is an actual MIDI track. So one MIDI track to feed all the audio tracks associated with the synth (and in Sonar those audio tracks are actually called Instrument Tracks which makes things extra confusing... lol).
 
 
If you do not have a specific MIDI track visible then try reinserting the synth/sample and make sure "MIDI Source" is selected or you could manually insert a MIDI track and route it to the synths "instrument" tracks.
 
I don't know what the "black" notes is all about.

Are you sure the notes are "black" and just not a really dark shade of some other color (like red)?

I'm on my way out the door but just read what you said and got the "a-ha" moment: they're AUDIO tracks and NOT MIDI tracks!!!! A huge blunder on my part--thanks for mentioning it!!! I'll now go to dinner with my wife and try to keep my mind on our date and not on the project.

Thanks for your help, folks--I'll confirm success after dinner. Or the movie.

I'm on my way out the door but just read what you said and got the "a-ha" moment: they're AUDIO tracks and NOT MIDI tracks!!!! A huge blunder on my part--thanks for mentioning it!!! I'll now go to dinner with my wife and try to keep my mind on our date and not on the project.

Thanks for your help, folks--I'll confirm success after dinner. Or the movie.

Right on. Let us know how it works out (the MIDI stuff... not the date... lol).