I'm a newbie.  I have sampletank and would like to use it with Sonar as a multi-timbre instrument.  I.E I want to run 16 different MIDI tracks (outputting on different channels) to SampleTank.   (well, I think that's what I want to do...)
 
Can someone shed light on what the best way to do that is?  Should I be creating a template so I can easily repeat the process?  Should I be using a track folder to organize all the tracks?  Can I use one audio track for output of all 16 midi channels?
 
Or is it better to just use multiple instances of sampletank and send each MIDI channel 0 data?  (In practice, I think I'd only use 2 or 3 midi channels sent to sampletank...)
 
Thanks for the insights.

You can route as many MIDI tracks to one ST (or other VSTi) instance as you need. Just set MIDI track output (for example in Inspector) to ST.
ST detects which input to use for particular instrument based on MIDI Channel information. That you can force (independent from real Channel in recorded MIDI Events) in the Track Inspector (where you normally see "C: None", under FX section).
 
Folders and templates are for your convenience only, use them if you think that is better for you.
 
By default any VSTi produce one stereo audio output (which you see/control from the Instrument track), independent from the number instruments it plays. But that can be changed.

Many ways to do it - here's one to get you started!
 
Insert > Soft Synth > Choose your version of Sample Tank
 
In the dialogue box tick:  midi source, Synth Track Folder and First Audio Out then click OK
Right click on the midi track just created in the Sampletank Folder and choose Clone Track
In the dialogue box that pops up choose 15 repetitions and click OK
You now have 16 midi Tracks in your folder. Set the first midi track output to Ch 1, the second to Ch 2 right through to Ch 16.
You now have 16 midi tracks that line up with the 16 Instrument slots in sampletank.
 
You can rename the midi tracks appropriately (ST1, ST2 etc.)
Now click on the ST folder to select all of it's contained tracks. Right click on any of the now highlighted tracks and choose 'Save as track template'.
 
You now have a multi timbral, 16 track template for sampletank, all playing back through a single stereo output. Next time you insert it from the template it will create the Synth track, folder and all 16 midi tracks.
 
Hope this helps - have fun:)