Hi Sonar Users,
 
I am looking for a 61 key Midi Controller to replace my Arturia Laboratory 61 Midi Controller.  I already have a Roland A800 Pro, like it, and am not planning on getting rid of it.  However, I want a keyboard controller that will save settings like keyboard split/zone information with midi settings for each zone.  As far as I have read in the Roland manual on the A800 Pro, it will not save zone/keyboard split/MIDI per zone, and other settings.  I am looking into the Novation SL MKII 61.  They are on sale at Sweetwater for $399.00.  I always wanted one, but they were more than I wanted to spend several years ago.  I read the Novation SL MKII 61 manual and it seems to do what I want it to.  
 
Do any of you have any experience with the Novation SL MKII 61 with Sonar Platinum? 
 
Does Automap work well with Sonar?
 
How good are the velocity settings on the Novation?
 
Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

I have an Impulse 61, but I think I can answer some of your questions.
 
Automap works well with VST effects and instruments.
Automap works reasonably well with the mixer.
 - On the Impulse, the sliders are dedicated to faders and the knobs can be set to control pan, sends, etc.
 - Automap does not control the bus channels
 - Automap does not control the Pro Channel
 
I think that the SL MkII has a bit more flexibility, but I do not think that it will allow you to control either the bus or the prochannel
 
If I really want a knob on a prochannel, I will put the Impulse into MIDI mode and have it control things via an ACT controller. This is a somewhat limited way to work, but suffices for those times that I want knobs on the PC.
 
Hope that helps.