i presently need to type R 3 times quickly for an audio recording to take
(i had to work that out myself: support could not help)

Hi. Do you have show waveform during recording enabled? Could it be that it only shows the waveform during recording (while recording MIDI)?
Best of luck.
 

Both of your questions are due to lack of knowledge and experience. I strongly suggest you do the tutorials included.

While Sonar is open press F1. Or in the help menu select Tutorials. Do them all.

i fixed it, no thanks to you guys:  press R three times quickly   (audio)

I try to fly plane. I step on gas, it goes nowhere.........Crappy plane

mudgel
Both of your questions are due to lack of knowledge and experience. I strongly suggest you do the tutorials included.

While Sonar is open press F1. Or in the help menu select Tutorials. Do them all.

If you are insinuating that I have a lack of knowledge and experience, you might be right.
But I was only trying to help out OP.
If I am wrong in my assumptions, I am man enough to be corrected, without taking offence. 
I was only trying to help here. 

From here, it seems it was directed to the OP, not you....

charlyg
From here, it was directed to the OP, not you....

Ok, and thanks for clearing up (my sort of paranoid mind) But as I said, I don't take offence if I am wrong in my assumption(s)

unfortunately, it's not over with sonar artist:
although typing R three times quickly, did keep the .wav audio recording, it is not heard during playback.  
the midi trx are heard playing back, but their meters are not reading. 
audio inputs are heard.
 
this happens only with pre-existing cwps, even home generated ones. but not with virgin 'new' projects.
same with x2 x3.
 
i sent a sample .cwb to support...   

This kind of recording failure is sometimes caused by having Allow Arm Changes During Playback/Record enabled. Try disabling it if that's the case. Preferences > Project > Record