Hello All--
 
I have a feeling the answer to my question is that I need to adjust monitoring levels with my sound card and routing outside of Sonar, but here it goes:
 
I'd like to be able to adjust a single track monitoring level without affecting the recording level. Is there a way to do that inside of Sonar?
 
If I'm recording, say the bass guitar, and I like the recording level, I seem to get too much of the bass input in my ear and it's hard to keep the groove with the drum playback.
 
Hey, thanks!

The record fader in Sonar has no effect on the recorded signal. With that being the case you can adjust it all you want for monitoring. I don't recommend that because you wont get an accurate meter level. In your case it could be helpful though.

The only thing that will affect the recording level is the input gain on your audio interface.
 
Audio in -> pre-amp gain control -> A/D  -> Disk  ->  Sonar
 
If you're doing all the monitoring with Sonar just play with the controls as much as you like.  If you're using direct monitoring on the audio interface you'll have to read the manual to find out how to control it.

You could set up a cue mix like you'd do on a console and monitor through a different set of outputs.
 
Adjust each channel with the send level to a monitor buss that is sent to an output that feeds your headphones. 
 
Hope that makes since! lol

Awesome! Well I guess that leads me to the next question then.I switch the meter mode in Sonar to record level and get that where I want based on adjusting sound card levels. Is that right?

I can't believe I've been dealing with this for so long and never found out the settings. It came up now because I'm working on a mellower track I guess.

Thanks much,

"Awesome! Well I guess that leads me to the next question then.I switch the meter mode in Sonar to record level and get that where I want based on adjusting sound card levels. Is that right?" 
 
Yes thats right.

If the track fader is set at 0db AND the track gain trim is set at 0 then the usual track meter will give a good representation of your recording level.
 
The best way though, is to watch the waveform being drawn in the track as you record.   Make the track bigger to see it easier.  The waveform is a direct representation of the data being recorded. 

what sound card are you using?
For many years, I have used a smal mixer to create a simple matrix for monitoring purposes.
 
On one (stereo) channel of this mixer I have the output of my DAW.  Everything already in the project plays through this channel.  Right next to it on another stereo track (or two mono), I have the "monitor mix", which is everything that is currently being recorded.  This allows tactile, instant control over the level relationship between what is old, and what is new (so to speak).   My interface is the profire 2626, so it is also possible to make several sub mixes for different headphone mixes.  I rarely find it necessary to do so.  90% of the time, we are recording one thing- one person at a time.  Having very easy control over how well they hear themselves as compared to the existing music is a MUST for me.  This simple setup also allows me to turn up the headphone level for musicians without affecting the level that I hear in the control room.  This is also a must for me.
 
If it helps, I can elaborate or send pics.  
No doubt, all of this can be done within the software environment if you have the right interface.
Still, I like having the faders right there for adjusting monitor mix. 

To monitor through Sonar first set the track to record then play/sing as loudly as you're going to get and set the interface so neither it nor Sonar are showing overloads (like a hardware mixer, Sonar's faders do not affect input level, only playback). Then allow some more headroom to be on the safe side, if you're recording in 24 bit then 12-18dBA is fine.

Then activate input echo on the track you are recording and the track faders will then set the output mix that gets fed to the interface just as they do on normal playback.

Alternatively, especially if latency is a problem, pretty much every interface on the market can balance incoming audio against the playback from the DAW. Usually via a software mixer that is installed along with the interface drivers.

Thanks all. I use the Echo Layla 3G and it's level interface is pretty good, and I have it opened a lot anyway.
 
So, this may start to veer OT, but as I'm setting my record levels from my sound card, and I'm setting my monitoring levels from Sonar faders, I'm guessing the mix down option that would best represent the mix I'm monitoring is using the "what you hear" option. Is that correct?