harryh999
where is act midi explained, I have az controller and introducing programming and the sonar guides are lessons, can't find a chapter 40,

ACT MIDI Explained: http://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,107.0.html
Sonar Reference Guide.pdf you can find in the Sonar folder. It looks like they have reformatted it since X times... Search for "ACT MIDI Controller plug-in", page 1478

I've read it all and don't understand much, once I follow a link to another page I get lost, seems like a huge performance to programme a few sliders and transport buttons, do you use act and az at the same time controlling different controls?

AZ Controller is a replacement for (any) other plug-ins. But it is much more complex then "ACT MIDI".
 
Define several controls is "simple" at first look, but think of:
1) on AKAI side you can configure each of these controls different way. Each option has own advantages and disadvantages, these has to be explained to use effectively
2) on Sonar side you can configure each control to control different parameters, also several parameters depending on other controls and options. Also what you set in (1) should be defined correctly in Sonar. And so there is quite lengthy explanation required.
3) AZ Controller is even more complex, you can define complicated reaction on your controls (for example, you can define that "Play"+"Stop" insert marker, "Play"+"Record" toggle current track record arm and so on), that also depends from (1).
 
You was fast in "reading it all". Have you really tried to follow the text (I mean configure what is explained)?

sorted, I've taken an existing preset in Max 25 and changed it to suit, just took time to find one that worked, thanx for help tho, I understand the mechanics if it all a bit better

You are welcome. And not that no one is thinking how to improve the situation and simplify what users should "program" to make there controller working. Best approach will be to prepare something working out of the box, the problem is:
 
a) hardware producers are not considering Sonar as a "major DAW", and so there is no support from them
b) if Cakewalk will do that for every controller on the market, not only they have to pay for all these controllers, they also have to have someone for that job. I guess most users agree they better invest into the program major features
c) "power users" with music background do not have time to help and normally they luck "programming skills"  to accomplish the task, "noob users" with programming background (like me) have skills but no idea which assignment is good for particular controller

I just wanted transport and faders, whilst I play the guitar, grabbing for the mouse is impractical, the rest of the time, mouse no prob , I will continue to develop the preset though, for fun, and read more

By the way, do you know if there is an existing Template for the Akai Advance 49  keyboard?
 
Thanks in advance.

no, sorry