I am a super noob, so I am really lost - I have watched caketv, been on youtube and google, but I can't figure this out...  I am using ASIO with my Tascam 366 as the input and output.  I have an MPK49 hooked into my computer through USB.   I can open midi tracks and play with the default synths using my MPK49 as the controller. Cool.
 
I want to create a drum track, so I installed addictive drums that came with Sonar Professional BUT I can only add them to an instrument track and when I try to drag it to a midi track it will not allow it.  I have seen online people setting up the pads on an MPK49 to correspond to addictive drums in other applications, but none that show how to set it up in Sonar, so I have no idea how to accomplish this. 

Can anyone please steer me in the right direction?  There must be a way to use addictive drums with my midi keyboard.
 
Thanks so much for the help!
Dean

First of all, welcome to the forums.
 
To address your first issue, it is important to understand how midi works.  Soft synths like AD require at least two tracks to work - a midi track and an audio track.  The midi track contains the data which is input into the soft synth.  The soft synth creates sound(s) based on that data and outputs it to an audio track.  Sonar has a special track called a Simple Instrument Track which combines the midi track and audio track into a single track.  The best way to set up AD is to add it from the browser (where you can find the all the synths and effects) and from the dialog box either select simple instrument track or midi and first synth out (two separate check boxes).
 
Regarding the pads on your MPK49, you need to assign them the notes to output from your keyboard.  Sonar only receives the midi data, it doesn't assign any notes to your keyboard.  I am not familiar with your keyboard, but your owners manual will tell you how to assign the pads to the appropriate notes to trigger the drum sounds you want in AD.
 
Good luck and post more questions if this doesn't get you where you need to be.
 

Thanks so much for helping a noob, Dave.  We've all been here once, i guess :-)
 
I appreciate the explanation, after what you said, I have a small improvement.  I have a track that is now set as:
INPUT=MPK49 (my midi controller)
OUTPUT=Addictive Drums 2
 
So when I hit keys, i can see levels moving, but no sound.  So because you said we need two tracks, now I am looking to add a track that has:
INPUT = Addictive Drums 2
OUTPUT = Master
 
This way, the sound would make it out, but the problem is that none of the tracks I add have an option for Addictive drums 2... 
 
Sorry to be a bother, any other advice?  Cool to see i'm getting a signal in!
 
Thanks,
Dean
 

Hi Dave,
 
I did finally figure it out.  Needed to hit the output button on the panel.  I'm not sure what that button is... Anyway, I need to find some resources, CakeTV is good, but I just want to watch someone create a project from scratch - still haven't found a good place to start, but I'll keep looking.
 
Anyway, Thanks!
Dean
 

Hi Dean -
 
Here's another piece of the puzzle: 
 
Addictive drums assigns different drums to different notes. You need to look those up in the Addictive drums manual and then use the Vyzex software from Akai to assign your pads to the keys for the instruments you want to trigger. You can also edit the pad assignments on the keyboard but the software might be easier. If your MPK 49 is like my MPK 88, you also have several banks of pads, so make sure you have the right bank selected.
 
Make sure you have a midi track with the input set to the Akai, the output assigned to the Addictive drums instrument track and the output channel assigned to channel that Addictive drums is using. I don't use Additive drums but it may be set to channel 10, so try that first. If you changed the channel on Addictive drums you set the midi out to that channel instead of 10. 
 
Hope that helps.

Hello Deano7,
 
Here is something that will help you out a lot. You need to create a drum map for addictive drums and Sonar and it will be used for your MPK49.  Just follow the instructions in the link below and download the file associated.  I did this for my M-Audio Trigger Finger and I love using it with Addictive Drums.
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/...ctive-Drums-2-in-SONAR
 
The second way is to manually map Addictive Drums 2 to your MPK49.
 
You  can  access  the  Map  Window  by  clicking  the  “?” symbol (located in the top right corner of the
Addictive Drums user interface). Addictive Drums comes with extensive midi remapping and drum support. You can use the Map Window to change which key/map/controller triggers a certain drum sound.
 
You can also save your own custom created map and load it whenever you want. If you want the currently loaded map to load automatically every time you start up AD2.  Click the “Set  As  Default” button.   There is a Learn button , "L" which will allow AD2 to learn which pad on your  controller will generate the drum sound on the drum drum kit.
 
Search You Tube for videos on drum mapping in AD2
 
 
I hope this helps.

I would strongly recommend working through the tutorials that come with Sonar.  They will help you get started recording and producing music.  They will also help you identify the buttons and knobs in Sonar properly.  When dealing with soft synths always make sure that you have input echo on to hear the soft synth as you are playing.

You guys are the best.  Thank you SO much for the advice.  I've got some tinkering ahead of me, but I'm definitely on the track thanks to you guys.
 
Appreciate it!
Dean