Hi
Is there a troubleshooting guide available for beginners? I'm new to all of this and cannot get any sense out of it but plenty of frustration and horrible static/white noise through the speakers. I've been in and out of Edit/Preferences several hundred times but (probably due to complete idiocy and confusion) nothing seems to work.
 
Also, how do I set my spec list as part of my forum signature?
 
Software: Sonar Artist. Windows 7(64bit)
PC: Dell i5-2320 CPU. 3GHz. 8 Gb Ram
Video: Nvidia GeForce GT 350
Displays: Dell U2312HM, DVIBenQ E2200HD D-SUB
Audio Interface: Creative SB X-Fi Surround 5.1
Midi input: Novation Xio 49 Synth/MIDI Controller
 

DavidA23
Hi
Is there a troubleshooting guide available for beginners? I'm new to all of this and cannot get any sense out of it but plenty of frustration and horrible static/white noise through the speakers. I've been in and out of Edit/Preferences several hundred times but (probably due to complete idiocy and confusion) nothing seems to work.
 
Also, how do I set my spec list as part of my forum signature?
 
Software: Sonar Artist. Windows 7(64bit)
PC: Dell i5-2320 CPU. 3GHz. 8 Gb Ram
Video: Nvidia GeForce GT 350
Displays: Dell U2312HM, DVIBenQ E2200HD D-SUB
Audio Interface: Creative SB X-Fi Surround 5.1
Midi input: Novation Xio 49 Synth/MIDI Controller
 

Hi Dave,
You'll likely have may audio issues using that Creative SB card as that's not really upto the demands of what Sonar requires. You may have some 'luck' in using ASIO4All drivers on that Creative card, but it can go either way.
 
I'd suggest looking for a good audio interface (depending on how manyin/outs and features you need) which will solve a lot of these issues you're having.
 
I can highly recommend Focusrite products (my Scarlett 2i4 is excellent) as they make very good ASIO drivers and their support is also very good. Not sure wwh it's going for now, but I got it for under $150. There's also a lower end model 2i2 (if that's all you need).... 
http://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-2i4

Yes, I am looking around for a different sound card mainly because there's no ASIO drivers for my current one which means there's unacceptable latency using the keyboard controller.
I had this set up working fine the other day for simply creating midi files using Staff view (forgoing using the keyboard until I get a better sound card) but then I tried to a play a few midi files I had from a few years ago using Sonar 7.
Whatever I did to get them to play properly has messed up something in Preferences that I can't undo.
There's a whole host of other problems I also have which the Help files fail to solve so I guess I really need a Complete Idiot's Troubleshooting Guide.
Oh well, since I'm only renting Artist at present I haven't lost a lot if/when I ditch it.

DavidA23
Yes, I am looking around for a different sound card mainly because there's no ASIO drivers for my current one which means there's unacceptable latency using the keyboard controller.
I had this set up working fine the other day for simply creating midi files using Staff view (forgoing using the keyboard until I get a better sound card) but then I tried to a play a few midi files I had from a few years ago using Sonar 7.
Whatever I did to get them to play properly has messed up something in Preferences that I can't undo.
There's a whole host of other problems I also have which the Help files fail to solve so I guess I really need a Complete Idiot's Troubleshooting Guide.
Oh well, since I'm only renting Artist at present I haven't lost a lot if/when I ditch it.

You don't have to ditch it as Sonar is proven to be an excellent product. Don't get discouraged.........your current soundcard will more than likely cause many different issues that you'll need to troubleshoot and will frustrate you. Hang in there and just get a decent interface to eliminate a LOT of these issues......your PC/other hardware seems to ok as well to use for a DAW.
 
A possible quick fix (until you get another interface) might be to try out different driver modes: http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Dialogs2.053.html
ASIO is the most popluar where latency/stability is concerned.....so when chosing an audio interface, make sure their support for (Win 7 or higher) is very good.  
 
Have you also checked the Knowledge Base section? http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Browse?product=SONAR+Artist&type=all  

One other point to consider, even if you did ditch Sonar for another product, you will probably have exactly the same problems until you invest in a proper interface.
 
It's the Soundblaster you need to ditch - not Sonar.

That's likely so but until I can get something out of this, investment in a new audio int. seems pointless.
Is there a way to completely re-install Sonar as I think I've broken it. The only sound I can get out it now after 2 days of frustrating preference editing is horrible white noise.

Hey, gentlemen! Let's soften little bit: You do know it is quite possible (to some extent) to use  SONAR with a laptops internal sound card as well as with a Sound Blaster. There are people who have recorded succesfully with such for years. They just adapt to the limitations and necessary workarounds.
With ASIO4ALL (which is not ASIO) or WDM drivers and following the tutorials you should be able to get something out of SONAR. Just make sure that you use either the internal card or SB, don't try using both of them simultaneously.
You give us no hint of how you've tried to do things and what are your settings. Do you know how to use soft synths (tutorial #4, at least used to be)? Don't use the Wavetable synth of your PC.
That's the first thing if you want to play back or build MIDI tracks?

Thanks, but there's a serious issue with my installation so now an audio interface is way down the list.
See my posts at:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Sonar-Artist-problems-m3190979.aspx
and
http://forum.cakewalk.com...truments-m3190980.aspx

I looked up the specs on the sound card - and it might actually have ASIO support, if I looked at the right one.
 
I will take another look at the specs, just to make sure, and will post back in a couple of hours, when I get back from running a bunch of errands.
 
Bob Bone
 

Go to Control Panel, System, Device Manager ... look under audio ... how many sound cards do you see?  My Toshiba, for some unknown reason, had 2 sound card drivers.  I disabled one, and now it plays OK.  I don't say "fine" because my laptop is a piece of junk ... but it works.  I just use it when I am travelling.
 
In Sonar, change whatever device interface you have to something else, and at some point the WaveProfiler will pop up and run, test your soundcard, and make the appropriate settings.  I used to use a SoundBlaster and I got it to work.  It actually had a nice little synth on it.
 
In conclusion, as far as frustration goes ... do you ever stop to think how complicated the software must be to function as a DAW?  Blows my mind that any of them even work at all!  So if you run into a glitch, you should expect a glitch.  You are on a STEEP learning curve - the Sonar Platinum manual is over 2000 pages.  Its like when you start learning to play guitar, all frustration and bleeding fingers ... but once you get over the hump, its still all frustration and bleeding fingers.  Nothing in life worth doing well is easy.  And nothing in music is ever easy.