The only time I've ever need to assign other than default Midi channels is when using Play with EWQLSO to route different instruments & articulation within a given instance of Play.
 
If you insert any number of soft synths via the "Insert Soft Synth" option you'll find they all use what is in effect "Channel 1"

OK- No big deal- I like to have things on different midi channels so I can assign commands, be it pitch wheel, expression, whatever to each instrument as I please. I guess I really am unorthodox here-- but after using midi since the 80's, yes 80's.using a Kawai Q-80 and\or mastertracks before I bought Cakewalk Pro audio 6. So this is the way I do things. Why would you want to send the same midi messages to , say a bass guitar synth as you would an electric piano? Hmmm. I must really be weird I guess.
Anyway, I am happy with my methods. Thanks

stratman70
OK- No big deal- I like to have things on different midi channels so I can assign commands, be it pitch wheel, expression, whatever to each instrument as I please. I guess I really am unorthodox here-- but after using midi since the 80's, yes 80's.using a Kawai Q-80 and\or mastertracks before I bought Cakewalk Pro audio 6. So this is the way I do things. Why would you want to send the same midi messages to , say a bass guitar synth as you would an electric piano? Hmmm. I must really be weird I guess.
Anyway, I am happy with my methods. Thanks

I don't think that's weird at all. Makes total sense and from what I understand that's kind of why MIDI channel's exist.
 
It would make sense to want to see a full map of a project (and preferably an editable one). I've been wanting something like this but more for audio routing.
 
I am not being helpful because a) I don't think such a thing exists and b) am not familiar enough with MIDI routing in Sonar to concoct a reasonable workaround for your needs.
 
I just don't think it's weird.
 
And sorry for the slight thread derailment back there... but willie was trying to glom on to your topic to engage in his usual ill informed whinging and it irked me.
 
Hope you find a suitable answer/workflow.
 
Maybe there is a third party MIDI routing plug that could link things up how you want. I've seen such things but don't know how well they would integrate in Sonar or if they even apply to your use case.
 
Cheers.

Hey Beepster-Thanks---I kind of thought it was fine also......I understand what Bristol, Jatoh, etc meant.....It really depends how you work. I usually always try to use the same midi channels and actually match the track. Just habit and also easy to remember. But sometimes I cannot do that.
 
You didn't derail the thread-I understood perfectly.
Thanks for chiming in
 
Frank

In the track Inspector for a MIDI track the channel is listed or made none. With Kontakt it will display the MIDI channel along with audio out in the Instrument Header for each instrument. One important point is it doesn't matter within Sonar which MIDI channels are used as long as they are assigned to a particular port. A port is either a physical one as in hardware or a VSTi or a DXi. 
 
Here is the Instrument Header for Kontakt

Output is the audio out and MIDI channel is the input channel. 
 
 
Here is the track Inspector from Sonar for MIDI

Notice that (I) above is the output meaning port. (C) is where one chooses the channel and the bank and the patch. 

stratman70
Hey Beepster-Thanks---I kind of thought it was fine also......I understand what Bristol, Jatoh, etc meant.....It really depends how you work. I usually always try to use the same midi channels and actually match the track. Just habit and also easy to remember. But sometimes I cannot do that.
 
You didn't derail the thread-I understood perfectly.
Thanks for chiming in
 
Frank

It works as is but your idea is interesting. I once made a Feature Request to have an overview of a project. One where all ins and outs were listed with routing. I can see a use for a display for all the MIDI ports and channels used in a project along with their patches in a single overview.  
 
So I would ask you to do a feature request on this and I will be happy to support it. I am sure others would like it too. 

Not so much how you or I work.
What I was getting at was, separate channels are only necessary if you are sending all the MIDI to the same device or VSTi. When I use Kontakt with bass, strings, horns all in the same instance of Kontakt, I must use separate channels. If I'm using VB3, True Pianos, EZDrummer, then channels don't matter as much to me. That being said, if I'm controlling VB3, TP, EZD all from my Kurz, then I would need separate channels on the Kurz.
And I agree, it is a bit "clearer" to assign each instrument to a different MIDI channel, just not always necessary.
 

John

stratman70
Hey Beepster-Thanks---I kind of thought it was fine also......I understand what Bristol, Jatoh, etc meant.....It really depends how you work. I usually always try to use the same midi channels and actually match the track. Just habit and also easy to remember. But sometimes I cannot do that.
 
You didn't derail the thread-I understood perfectly.
Thanks for chiming in
 
Frank

It works as is but your idea is interesting. I once made a Feature Request to have an overview of a project. One where all ins and outs were listed with routing. I can see a use for a display for all the MIDI ports and channels used in a project along with their patches in a single overview.  
 
So I would ask you to do a feature request on this and I will be happy to support it. I am sure others would like it too. 

OK _john-I will do that tonight-Thanks very much-Frank

Jatoth- Ok I understand...so there I are times I do "not" need to worry about the midi channel. That's good to know. Most of the time I will add the instrument to am instance of Kontakt that I already have. But not always......
 
Thanks
Frank

stratman70
Guys-Sometimes I want to add, say a fender Rhodes thru Kontakt, I need to assign a midi channel and I want one that is not used. If I already have 10 midi tracks, I really don't remember the channel of each one. Maybe I don't work th normal way, but what can I say. Thanks

It's very easy to assign MIDI channells in Sonar (I'm sure you know this, but I'll post screenshots for those who don't)
Method A:

Method B:

 
Then use F key for low track count or AutoZoom feature and mouse wheel scrolling for high track count to view all tracks' I/O assignment.
 

 
Well, it's not exactly what you were looking for. But once you have your project organized checking assigned MIDI channel isn't difficult.
 
I like to use separate MIDI source tracks and soft synths in dedicated folders. Then you can use Console view to see routing of MIDI strips to soft synths and what MIDI channels are used. Not the simplest solution, yet it's rock-solid and bullet-proof.
Hope that helps.