I'm finding that the Step Sequencer produces unreliable results. I'm using it to create drum patterns or to insert insert presets into the time line. A couple examples of unpredictable results:
 
I insert an 8 beat pattern into the time line. If I move that clip it truncates to 7.26 beats and throws off the timing between clips.
I select a location where I want the Step Sequencer to place a new pattern by setting the Now Time. Instead of inserting the new pattern at the Now Time it seems to be inserted randomly. If it is inserted on top of an existing clip, it deletes and replaces the existing clip.
 
What am I doing wrong? I find Sonar midi editing to be very frustrating and assume it's all my fault because I don't see a lot of problem reports.

These are two issues, not sure if they got fixed or not...
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Platinum-and-X3E-Step-Seq-Am-I-the-only-one-seeing-thisstill-not-working-reliably-m2903727.aspx
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/CWBRN25700-Step-Sequencer-row-name-does-not-update-when-using-nonemouse-click-m3029623.aspx
 
 

hmm...
 
Wild guess, have you checked your Snap settings? Almost sounds like a Snap "to" vs. "by" or to "Landmarks" type issue.
 
Other than that I do recall seeing other reports of this type of odd behavior but I did not fully understand what was up or how it was resolved (may have actually been Snap related).
 
Good luck.

ampfixer
 If it is inserted on top of an existing clip, it deletes and replaces the existing clip.

Could this be the result of the clips being created in different take lanes with the most recent clip displayed on top?

scook

ampfixer
 If it is inserted on top of an existing clip, it deletes and replaces the existing clip.

Could this be the result of the clips being created in different take lanes with the most recent clip displayed on top?

Yeah, John... check that out. Break open the Take Lanes to see what's up. New clips/takes will populate the "Parent Track" which is what you see when take lanes are closed. I recall the Lanes/Comping/Parent track stuff fudging you up before (and understandably if you ain't used to them).
 
That doesn't explain the off time increment stuff so check the Snap settings too.
 
Cheers.

Take lanes are turned off. Snap is set to "snap to" and non destructive midi editing is turned off. If I turn snap off it makes no difference. Drag and drop is set to blend old with new. I've got it set this way because of other midi editing problems I had earlier. 
 
I've tried unlinking the pattern from the step sequencer and it still behaves this way. Audio recording is great but I just waste time when I try and work with midi. I did a lot of midi stuff decades ago and I remember it as being far more stable. Although I was using an Atari with Master Tracks Pro. I miss that rig.

Doktor Avalanche
These are two issues, not sure if they got fixed or not...
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Platinum-and-X3E-Step-Seq-Am-I-the-only-one-seeing-thisstill-not-working-reliably-m2903727.aspx
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/CWBRN25700-Step-Sequencer-row-name-does-not-update-when-using-nonemouse-click-m3029623.aspx
 
 

These have nothing to do with my issue, but thanks for the links.

I did a quick sanity check, and did not encounter any problems with the clip not being created at the Now cursor position. And the first time I created a second clip at the same position, SONAR created a new lane to accommodate the overlapping clip as expected.
 
But the second overlapping clip I created at a different location landed on top of the existing clip in T1, and stayed that way after toggling lanes closed and open. This was easily rectified by manually dragging the clip to the empty part of T2 created by the previous overlap, but should not have happened.
 
Same lane overlaps are mostly disallowed, but this is one of a couple cases in which it can happen.

Not sure what the bigger problem is (the timing stuff... sorry) but there isn't actually a way to "Turn Off" lanes. Only hide them.
 
Anything thing done to the "parent" track with lanes closed is pretty much guaranteed to cause a chaotic mess in the hidden lanes unless there is only one clip/take hidden.
 
The relationship between the parent track and lanes is a bit of a contentious one with me (and I have suggested improvements in the past) but all in all there ain't much that can be logically done to fix such things because the Parent track is merely a summation of the take lanes. If you try to edit the parent track without consideration to the lanes that are hidden bad things happen.
 
This is why whenever I'm tracking/editing/etc in a specific track I keep the Lanes open to keep an eye on what's doing what then use the Flatten or Bounce features to get my desired final track together, move it to a blank track and THEN I can safely screw with it in the Parent track.
 
I honestly think we need some kind of added edit "mode" for more old school type workflows where the Parent track responds more like tracks used to before Layers and Lanes.
 
For now though the Comping/Lanes stuff is pretty cool and useful (I actually love 'em) but they really are jarring and quite different than just being able to edit what you see in the tracks (which are just an image/composition of the hidden lanes and depending on the Record/Edit modes will do some CRAZY unwanted crap when trying to edit like in older DAWs).
 
Once MIDI and SS clips start getting involved? Oh crap... it gets even nuttier. However a simple bounce of composite performances/edits/whatever so it's all one long MIDI clip can help.
 
Meh... I'm probably not really helping but this is most likely related to new features getting in your way.
 
Otherwise maybe it is some kind of SS or Snap bug I'm not aware of.
 
I don't use SS often and if I do I convert to standard MIDI clip rather quickly.
 
CHeers.

ampfixer
Take lanes are turned off. Snap is set to "snap to" and non destructive midi editing is turned off. If I turn snap off it makes no difference. Drag and drop is set to blend old with new. I've got it set this way because of other midi editing problems I had earlier. 
 
I've tried unlinking the pattern from the step sequencer and it still behaves this way. Audio recording is great but I just waste time when I try and work with midi. I did a lot of midi stuff decades ago and I remember it as being far more stable. Although I was using an Atari with Master Tracks Pro. I miss that rig.

There are two things you need to do to unlink clips fully, one is to unlink the clip the other I forget and I'm not at the daw...is it ungroup?
Check snap is set to the bar and that you're not trying to move a four beat bar to a three time (or whatever). For me ss is mostly stable with the odd weird issue.
I really wish you could have a default template to load when you open a new clip though