Hi there, sorry for yet another newb question...
 
I used to use RealGuitar in my old DAW, Acid Pro7. I'm new(ish) to Sonar X3 though and am unsure how to set it up. I see nothing in the RG manual about this.
 
To keep it simple: suppose I have a an existing chord sequence in the form of a pre-recorded midi file. Suppose the chords are just simple sustained, block triads.
 
How do I feed these chords to RG? Just drag RG into the project as a Synth, as normal, and then set the output of the midi track to RG?
 
Also -- suppose I want RG to articulate the chords using more than one RG playing pattern (e.g. using one picking pattern for the verse, another for the bridge, etc) without having to launch more than one instance of RG. I recall that RG is supposed to let you drag and drop the patterns clips (some kind of specialised midi files, I believe) from RG's pattern lists directly to a track, though in Acid I could never get this to work.
 
Assuming it does work in Sonar, how? Where would I drag these pattern clips? To the RG synth track? Or is somthing more elaborate involved?
 
I'd be grateful for any help.

Yes, RG works very well in Sonar.  It's a VSTi instrument.
 
You'll need two midi tracks feeding RG.  One for the chords and on for the patterns.  I think this should set up automatically when you insert the instrument but I've used a template for years so I'm not going to swear to that.  Of course the midi tracks will need to use the same midi channel.  Of course you'll also have a synth track.
 
The patterns are in RG, (as you probably know), or you can make your own.  You simply audition them while your chords are running and then drag the patterns from RG into your 'pattern' midi track.  Once those are chosen, switch the mode to 'chords' and RG will then read the chords and patterns from Sonar.
 
HTH
 
Paul

I am not familiar with the program you are talking about but you should...
 
1) Insert RG into your project (Press B on your keyboard to open the Browser, click the Plugins Tab, click the Instruments button, go through the menus to find Real Guitar, drag and drop it into the track pane)
2) In the Insert Synth Dialog that pops up select the following: MIDI Source, Synth Track Folder, All Synth Outputs Stereo (or Mono depending on what you want), Enable MIDI Output (probably not necessary but leave it), Synth Property Page (which will pop open the GUI... again not necessary).
That will create a track folder with one MIDI track and audio output tracks for all the outputs the synth has.
 
Now you want to get your MIDI clip into the MIDI track. It will have different icon than the audio output tracks. Your MIDI track icon is a circle with some dots at the top and a notch at the bottom (it's supposed to look like an old DIN MIDI connector). You audio tracks will have a different icon that is that same circle superimposed over a little keyboard (do not drag the clip onto those).
 
I'm saying "drag it" onto the track but there are many ways to do it. Drag and drop would involve the Browser again so if you do not see the Browser cpress B on your keyboard again, click the Media tab and this will show a file folder structure of your computer. Move up or down through the folders to find the MIDI file you want to insert. Once you find it click and drag it to the MIDI track I described earlier and release it when it is hovering over the spot on the timeline you want. If it does not land exactly where you want just click in the bar at the top of the clip to drag it where you want (enabling Snap will help).
 
The other way would be to select the MIDI track by pressing the number on the track so it turns blue (make sure you do not have any other tracks selected). Set the Now Time to where you want the MIDI clip to start at. Then in the Global menus at the top of Sonar (the Windows style menus at the top of your Sonar screen) click File > Import > MIDI. A wWindows Explorer dialog will pop up where you can navigate to the file. Once you find it click Open and it will import the file into the track strating at the Now Time.
 
As far as the other stuff regarding different styles I guess that depends on the synth. If it has multiple channel outputs you could maybe feed different clips into the multiple channels. This would require creating some new MIDI tracks and importing the appropriate clips at the correct time and setting the output to the correct channel in the synth. Or you could do it through automation of the synth so it changes sounds as the project plays back.
 
If there is only one channel then I think you are stuck with multiple instances and creating a set of MIDI and output tracks for each.
 
Be forewarned that if you are using Sonar 64bit and this Real Guitar thing is 32 bit it will be "bridged" and may cause glitches.
 
Sorry if that was too elaborate or not elaborate enough... or completely wrong.
 
Cheers.

Or of course you could listen to the guy who actually knows what you are asking (Paul G). lol
 
Just didn't want to leave the dude hanging. Sorry.
 

I was hoping the Beepster would jump in here with all the technical stuff!  Thanks.
 
How do you type so fast?  That's practically a book!
 

 
 

I may or may not be mildly insane. ;-)

It is probably a good idea to disable "Enable MID Output" unless you really need it. This is because the default input for any new MIDI track is Omni, which means everything from all MIDI controllers as well as (gasp) all output from all VSTis sending MIDI out.
 
The VSTi MIDI output functionality was basically an afterthought and was never really tested since it was broken for many many years. I assume this was because there weren't many VSTis sending MIDI data out at that time. The most severe of the issues with it have now been fixed (somewhere in one of the X3 releases I believe), but there are still enough issues that it is probably a good idea to not tempt fate.
 
Some of the remaining issues are that sometimes even though you set a MIDI track input to something specific, MIDI data from VSTis would still bleed into that track. You need to temporarily set the MIDI input to something else, and then back again to make it work right. Also, sometimes when a song is playing and you highlight a different MIDI track, for a brief moment MIDI data will bleed all over the project causing a loud noise as different synths play some garbage notes. Strange but true.
 
Just saying, leaving Enable MIDI Output on if you don't absolutely need it isn't harmless.

Hey, there.  I use RealGuitar on every project and have since it came out. (I also use RealStrat and RealLPC often).  I love RealGuitar.
 
Here is what I do personally:
• Click the + in the synth rack and select RealGuitar from the list.
• I check MIDI Source and First Synth Audio Output.  (Not required to do it this way, but I'll explain.)
• Now that I have one audio track and one MIDI track, I immediately clone the MIDI track.  That way I can put chords on one MIDI track and patterns on another.  That makes it easier for me to copy strumming patterns, but that can all be on the same MIDI track, if you like. I name the tracks RealGuitar (for audio), RG Notes, and RG Patterns.
• I have a basic set-up of controllers I always insert in one of the MIDI tracks to set up all the modes and switches for RealGuitar.  If you send me an email, I will send you a very small Sonar file so you can copy those events.  Text in the event list shows you what each controller does and what values to use.  As you may have found out, Pattern Playing mode and some other things are important to get right for strumming.
• I have learned that with RealGuitar, the frequency of the chords makes a small difference.  For example, let's say you are strumming every 1/8 note.  You can put one whole note chord at the beginning of the bar, but more strings will sound more fully if you repeat the chord every 1/4 note.  Also, if a chord ends before the strumming note ends, the chord will cut off.  You probably know all this. 
 
Good luck and apologies if I am saying a bunch of stuff you know--but it may help someone.

I defer to the knowledge of the other posters on this. I'm just starting to finally get my head wrapped around MIDI stuff but it's still a little fuzzy for me so what I posted was more a general outline.
 
@Silktone... thanks for the extra info.
 
Cheers.

Man, you guys are awesome, thanks so much! konradh, I will pm you re your generous offer there.
 
As it is late here, I will try this tomorrow.
 
Until then, one question , about RG's midi output feature: has anyone gotten this to work in Sonar? I used to use it in Acid and also Studio One I believe; it was pretty awesome, in that you could use it to have a RG performance played back through a better-sampled-library, e.g. Orange Tree Sample's guitars. 
 
Thanks again, everyone. This is a great forum.