Is there any way of setting manual markers of where a final mixdown of a project should begin and end?  I know it defaults to where Sonar thinks the project starts and ends, but I'd like to be able to set these parameters myself but can't figure out how.

Very simple: insert two markers, one at the start and another at the end of the project and name them "start" and "end" (duh). When you're ready for mixdown, select all (Ctrl+A), switch snapping to markers and swipe the ruler between "start" and "end".

dilletant
Very simple: insert two markers, one at the start and another at the end of the project and name them "start" and "end" (duh). When you're ready for mixdown, select all (Ctrl+A), switch snapping to markers and swipe the ruler between "start" and "end".

Brilliant, thanks.  I could figure out how to place markers, but not how to set them as the beginning and end points.
 
I've come from a different DAW and the learning curve has been a little steep, as it often is when you get used to one DAW's way of doing things! 

There is no actual need for the markers. If you select all (to get all tracks and clips) and then drag along the timeline it will export exactly the selected range.

Sonar handles exporting a bit differently than most DAWs, it makes it easy to make a subselection of tracks and ranges, but it's a bit confusing at first.

Kevmsmith81,
 
I recommend you visit the Cakewalk Sonar You Tube channel for more insight on how to use Sonar. There are a host of great videos to view that will instruct you on how to navigate through Sonar and use it productively.
 
https://www.youtube.com/user/CakewalkSoftware
 
 
 

Incidentally, I use start and end markers on every song. Another good way to use them is by clicking "Views", then "Markers". You can then click (or click drag, or cntrl/shift-click) on the markers in the view to select portions of the timeline to export or manipulate.
 
Dean

I also use start and end markers with the end marker set to ensure any effect tails are included. I trim any silence during mastering.

Jesse G
Kevmsmith81,
 
I recommend you visit the Cakewalk Sonar You Tube channel for more insight on how to use Sonar. There are a host of great videos to view that will instruct you on how to navigate through Sonar and use it productively.
 
https://www.youtube.com/user/CakewalkSoftware
 
 
 

Thanks all.
 
I have looked at some of the videos, but I must check more of them out, as there's probably loads of stuff I'm missing.

There is a Cake video where they demonstrate using single note MIDI clips in a do nothing MIDI track that represents song sections.
 
Basically you stretch the clips out to cover song sections.  Selection becomes really easy - just click the clip or shift-click the clips and selection on the timeline happens automagically.
 
You could easily do the same with a single clip that covers all of the measures in your tune.  Then a single click makes the selection.
 
I know it sounds fiddly, but it's really easy.  I even added a 1-note clip to the root of my media tree.  Now that it's made, I can drag it in and copy/paste stretch and have a whole song structure laid out in just a few seconds.
 
I'll update this post if I find the video again.  Somebody else posted this tip in another thread ...

For song sections, I've done the same as BobF, but taken it a step further. I color code each section such as verse: green; chorus: red; solo: yellow etc. 
 
Just go into the Inspector under Clip Properties and change the Background & Foreground colors. Name the clip also if you like. For the single note Bob mentions, drop the volume on that note to zero. Now you won't have to mute the track.
 
On large projects with many tracks in view, I may copy or clone the color track to the bottom of the screen as an added roadmap.