Hi, dumb question but I am new to Sonar. Do I need a soundcard to load soundfonts, or can certain versions of Sonar do this?
Thanks!

Just use SFZ and load your soundfont file in it.

Do I need a soundcard to load soundfonts, or can certain versions of Sonar do this?

you need a decent soundcard with Sonar..period. not a Creative one..not a soundblaster or onboard stuff.
Sonar itself doesn't load SF/SF2 files and play them..that's a function of a sampler..some versions of Sonar come with a sf2 format compatible sampler..what version do you use?

I haven't upgraded to Sonar yet, but am trying to get an idea on soundfont loading before I do.
I'm currently using Home 9 with SB Audigy. It does fine for my desktop but I'd like to use my laptop on the go and don't want to deal with PCMCIA soundcards just to load SF files.
Which versions come with SF samplers?

I started using Soundfonts with an SB live long ago but wasn't all that impressed. Recently, I reviewed my collection and changed my mind. Now I have a decent soundcard and more importantly, much better acoustics due to liberal application of studiofoam and bass traps, I find they sound much better and quite usable.

I think Sonar SE and PE both have SFZ, and it was always available as a free download anyway.

ORIGINAL: soens

I haven't upgraded to Sonar yet, but am trying to get an idea on soundfont loading before I do.
I'm currently using Home 9 with SB Audigy. It does fine for my desktop but I'd like to use my laptop on the go and don't want to deal with PCMCIA soundcards just to load SF files.
Which versions come with SF samplers?

the Sb cards all do soundfonts atleast my old one does, natively onboard with even with your cakewalk 9, but I agree you gonna want to get a better soundcard later for sure

One other thing, to use SFZ or any other software based sampler, you will need low latency soundchip drivers else you get too much delay between pressing a midi key and hearing the note. Sonar uses something called WDM/KS to speed up a standard WDM soundchip driver, so you should be ok without a special soundcard.

You could test drive SFZ if you also download one of the free VST host programs. These let you run any VST instrument plug in, but don't use Sonars WDM/KS low latency. Instead you'ld have to install ASIO for all, which allow the low latency ASIO interface standard to work with the WDM soundchip driver.
I'll try to get some links...

Links!
http://www.rgcaudio.com/sfz.htm
The SFZ player.

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1015.html
Tobybear mini host. Even shows SFZ being hosted!

http://www.asio4all.com/
The ASIO driver to get your latency down with the mini host.

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll check out sfz and see if it's for me.

Meanwhile, Sonar 6 PE looks like some kinda program. I can see getting lost in it an' never coming out, to actually make music, with all the neat stuff they've packed into it...

Nevermind