RogerPop
In any case using "Volume (default Ch. 1)" for controlling the volume seems to be working fine (even though in this case it's on channel 4 not channel 1 ... I definitely don't completely understand how all this works together!)

I'm guessing you have a forced Output channel 4 set on the track which will rewrite the channel of the volume messages, regardless of what channel the envelope is set for. This is a pretty common way of managing channels these days. Most users record/draw all MIDI events as channel 1 throughout a project, and depend on the Output channel setting of the track to re-write everything when using a multitimbral synth. And every synth having its own virtual port makes it unnecessary to distinguish channels for non-multitimbral synths.

Beepster

brundlefly

Beepster
The volume fader on MIDI tracks in Sonar controls Velocity. Not volume.
 

I'm afraid that's not accurate. MIDI Master Volume, CC7, controls the output level of the synth. The MIDI "Gain" widget (should more correctly be labeled Vel+) is Velocity Offset.

Ah... ya, sorry. You are correct. I knew that.
 
Still likely better/more reliable to automate the audio/instrument track being fed by the synth instead of the roundabout CC way... n'est ce pas?
 
That way you aren't relying on the variables of various synths. It's just a Sonar track fader each time... every time.

Yes, using audio/synth track volume is best, unless you want to emulate a performer's playing harder/softer, in which case Vel+ works better for synths programmed to change timbre/attack time etc. based on velocity.
 
Aria Player doesn't pay much attention to velocity for the most part, though, so that's not relevant here. Just thought I'd mention it.
 
Edit: I'm assuming the OP knows that with Aria it's intended that you'll primarily use Modulation (CC1) or Expression (CC11) to control performance dynamics within the upper limit set by Master Volume...?
 
 

Beepster
 

RogerPop
When I "Insert/Soft Synth" I have my choice of either "ARIA Player" or "ARIA Player (multi)". I think that if I used a separate "ARIA Player" for each instrument I would have an audio track for each midi instrument/channel. But I think I remember reading that performance was better if I had just one soft synth and used all 16 channels up before inserting a second one. I am using Garritan Personal Orchestra, by the way.

 
Using MIDI CC volume is... well unnecessary and likely more convoluted/unreliable than just automating the volume on the track accepting the audio output(s) of your synth.
 

 
I searched around a bit and apparently ARIA uses less memory if you have one soft synth instance for 16 midi instruments rather than 16 soft synths. That's what I'm doing now and I have just one audio channel to handle all 16 instruments coming back from ARIA. So ... I thought I was out of luck as far as being able to control individual volumes the way you suggest. However ... I saw discussions of how to setup ARIA to return each midi channel on different audio channels, so apparently I can have:

• 1 ARAI soft synth "multi" player
• 16 MIDI tracks
• 1 stereo return audio channel (as I have now) - OR - 16 return stereo audio channels!

So configuring ARIA with a separate audio channel/track output for each midi channel should allow me to have automation control using volume, as you suggest.
 
Thanks for the advice and discussion - I learned a lot!
 
-Roger

I don't own/use Aria but yeah... if it has independent outputs just insert a bunch of audio tracks and set the input of each to the outputs of the Aria player (it will show up under your track input options).
 
You will of course have to setup Aria to actually output to each of those tracks. If it's like other synths that can usually be done in whatever mixer page the program has. Should be detailed in the manual... but it seems you figured it out already.
 
If you've ever set up a multi output drum sampler like Session Drummer or Addictive Drums it's essentially the same deal.
 
Next time what you can do though is when you insert the ARIA player using the "Insert Softsynth" dialog use the "All Outputs Stereo" or all "All Outputs Mono" options. That will automatically create and route all the audio tracks you need to cover the synths multi output.
 
You'll still likely have to set the individual outputs TO those tracks inside the synth though but that's usually pretty easy.
 
Cheers.
 
PS: And this is one of the reasons the Simple Instrument Tracks option in Sonar kind of blows (which sounds like what you are using... it's the default Insert Soft Synth option). It's okay for quick mucking around or synths that only have a stereo output but I never use them due to the limitations.