hello
there's probably an obvious answer to this , but I cant find it!!!
When I record a midi track it starts recording when I play my first note not on the 1st bar like audio does
can I get midi to record from the 1st bar??
thanks
 

That's correct, midi is data. How would it record something that you haven't given it to record yet?
 

 

Sorry no answer for the question.
Just a comment.
I can't imagine why anyone would want to start any song ... midi or audio at the far left absolute beginning.
Not having 1 or 2 bars of silent head room at the front would drive me crazy.

This can happen (MIDI laid down one bar late) with some interfaces when using Count-in. If a reboot doesn't fix it, try disabling the count-in. If that solves the problem, you may need to do as Steve suggested, and give yourself an empty bar to use for the count-in, and start recording at 2:01.

Yeah, you are not going to have a MIDI clip recorded until you hit the first note (or send the first MIDI message).  What you can do after recording is just left drag the end of the MIDI clip to the beginning of the project, if you prefer it that way.

It's been a topic for a long time and a popular feature request to have a couple of Negative Measures  to use for count in so your song will start on #1. Sheet music often has a pre Measure 1 intro as example. 
Most of us are just in the habit of starting on measure 2 or 3. I always leave 1 silent.  Sonar has trouble spitting out data that is on 1. And your exported song needs a silent top to work with.  

Thanks for the replies
sorry i think i have confused some of you!!  i didn't phrase the question very well
It has nothing to do with the first bar or the count in - it is about starting a midi clip at the start of a bar so that it can be easily moved.
 
The main reason i was asking this question is when i drag and drop the midi i have created in Sonar into another package unless i can place the midi on the exact bar/beat in the new software the midi will be out of time.(dragging the midi clip to the left in sonar before moving the clip into the new software doesn't work)
 
Someone has pm'd me with a good work around which is inserting a unplayable  note on the first beat of the start bar which will work fine for me.
thanks
 

As technot said, after you record, simply use the cursor to click on the left end of the MIDI clip and drag the beginning of the clip (not the whole clip and data) to the left.  Its easier if you have "snap to" turned on and set to whole note.  Then the clip will be visibly moved to align to the measure, and your first note will stay where you put it.  Now you can drag the whole clip wherever you want it and it will properly aligned to the start of the measure.

godino
it is about starting a midi clip at the start of a bar so that it can be easily moved. 
 

Probably not possible, as far as I know, but there's a very easy fix that can be made right before moving.

Have your Snap in Track view set to "Move To"
Grab the front of the clip with the Smart Tool and snap it to the most recent previous bar line.

I do it all the time and it's very quick and easy.
Same can be done with the end of the clip.

Well I never thought about this but I guess what I do is put the clip in exactly the same place in the new location.. Where  ever the first note of the clip belongs. Usually this will be on the first 1/4 line. Stop thinking about the start of the measure and think about where the first note actually belongs and use the grid lines and the snap feature to put it there. Simple. 
 
I'm not sure slip editing to the start of the measure works, if that does then that's also an easy solution.