I'm not a Sonar expert -- I have barely a working knowledge of it. Hasn't stopped me from loading it up with a bunch of VSTs though. But I'm stumped in that I haven't found anything like an EQ for MIDI. Why is that? Does such an animal exist, and if so, is there a particular one you like most?
 
There are several TTS-1 instruments I use on a regular basis, and a few instruments from other modules, that could really use a good EQ.
 
Is the solution to record the MIDI tracks to audio tracks, so I can get at the heap of effects available for audio?

You can’t, as such, eq midi.

When you’re working with a Soft Synth, you put the eq on the audio track.

Cheers,
Jerry

You can also add the EQ, as well as any other FX you want, like reverb, compression etc, to a bus in the mixer or console view. The only FX available to midi are things like chorusing, velocity etc.

As joakes indicated, you can't.  MIDI is nothing but an instruction to trigger a sound module/synth/vst, etc. as to what note to play, what channel it is being played on, how long, how hard, etc.
 
The EQ would be applied to the audio that the sound module produces.  In your setup, you should route the audio of the sound canvas module to an audio track to record it.  Then you can process it anyway you want as indicated.
 
You should look into some soft synths - several worthy ones came with other editions of Sonar thru the years... I'm not sure what came with Artist if any.  If you look around some, you can find several - though the ones that are truly worthy will cost something (IMHO).
 
Good luck!
 
 
 

Yeah, okay, this makes sense. I may not like it, but it makes sense. Out of frustration, and telling myself I'd dragged my feet long enough, I bounced a melody track to audio so I could access the Sonitus EQ. And all I gotta say is, what took me so long? Geez, what a difference. I was finally able to filter a couple of annoying characteristics out of an otherwise nice sounding instrument. So I guess this is what I'll do from now on.
 
Now, I have known for quite some time that if I have only a single instrument associated with a soft synth, then I can use FX for the soft synth to get the sounds I wanted for that single instrument, but the stumbling block for me had been what to do with a single instrument when several were being handled by a single soft synth. Well, now I know.
 

mwmcbroom
 
Now, I have known for quite some time that if I have only a single instrument associated with a soft synth, then I can use FX for the soft synth to get the sounds I wanted for that single instrument, but the stumbling block for me had been what to do with a single instrument when several were being handled by a single soft synth. Well, now I know.
 

Or setup a multi-out scenario (look it up). IOW an audio track for each "sound" then apply effects on each of the tracks where it is desired.

Guys please, give me a break... You really never EQed MIDI with sysex messages??

Every VST instrument I use has EQ up the yin yang in the GUI interface. Take Addictive drums, You can EQ each kit piece. Even lowly TTS_1 has EQ   See the pink square at the top, click that and this widow opens. But that said, to the OP- you should really explore the much better VST instruments Go to my tutorial and it shows you how to replace the TTS_1 with better sounding stuff. See my signature. 

For solo instruments, like Bass you can use the Pro Channel EQ on the VST audio track.  
This is not rocket science folks. 
 
 

Nope, chris, I've never had the occasion -- or need -- to delve into sysex arcana
 
Johnny, I've messed around some with TTS-1's pop-up interface, but I never could get it to do anything. Dunno what I was doing wrong. Thanks for the reminder. I do need to spend more time on your tutorials. Hrm -- I've always found TTS-1 to be quite good, for the most part. Couldn't hurt to find something better, I suppose.
 

It's easy to EQ 'midi'.
If it's a vst, when you add the instrument make sure there's an audio output track.

Then you can EQ the audio output track however you like through the pro-channel EQ or other EQs in the effects bin.

If you're feeding a midi sound module into your soundcard, just use Input echo and add a fast EQ and that's it.