Hi y'all.  So i'm looking at getting a second keyboard so i can have more sounds available at the same time.
So i thought i better check to make sure that i can play and record on separate keyboards (and tracks) to separate virtual-synths at the same time.  Is this possible with X3?  TIA.
 
 
 

Yes it is. I can have 4-6 different input sources running at a time. Haven't tried more ...

Sure you can.
Just set your MIDI track inputs to the appropriate controller.
And be sure none of your MIDI inputs are set to Omni.

Awesome.  Thanks guys.  I just need to know it is possible before i buy a second keyboard. 
All i know how to do is use one keyboard and select a virt-synth track in X3 to play/record it, and it doesn't seem like there is a way to play more than one keyboard/virt-synth, since one can only select one virt-synth doing things that way...

If you set different vstis to different midi channel inputs you can just change the channel out on your keyboard and play the corresponding synth.. I do this live.

Excellent.  Thanks, swamptooth - Regarding controlling X3 transport, fader levels and VST plugin sliders, i know this works fine with my Novation Impulse controller.  My local music store suggested that some but not all DAWs allow you to use more than one control surface at a time, on different parameters for each.  He said some DAWs will NOT allow each controller to control different X3 parameters, for example.  What are the capabilities and limitations of X3 in this regard?  TIA.
 
 

QuadCore
Excellent.  Thanks, swamptooth - Regarding controlling X3 transport, fader levels and VST plugin sliders, i know this works fine with my Novation Impulse controller.  My local music store suggested that some but not all DAWs allow you to use more than one control surface at a time, on different parameters for each.  He said some DAWs will NOT allow each controller to control different X3 parameters, for example.  What are the capabilities and limitations of X3 in this regard?  TIA.

Just add the device as an additional control surface. I've simultaneously used remote mixer apps on both my android tablet and iPad, along with having a functional Korg NanoControl device wired to the PC. It all just works as long as you map the controllers. I haven't tried it since I picked up my Novation SL controller, but I'm sure that would work, too.
 
For keyboards, I've had as many as 3 midi controllers running at one time into Sonar. Just pay attention to your midi routing (you'll also have to manually enable echo on the tracks that aren't focused) and it'll work just fine.

Thanks, Jeebustrain.  So this all sounds good, but is there a place where this is documented?  Cakewalk searches does not come up with anything on multiple keyboards at once.  I'm setting up for live recording sessions, and i need to understand fairly comprehensively and have found nothing so far.  (Except of coarse the great people on the forums here.)  TIA.
 

It is not a limitation in Sonar.
 
I used to routinely have 4 midi keyboard controllers and a midi foot controller at the same time - with no problems at all.
 
Also, as far as setting midi channels and such:
 
1. For a synth instance that has a single instrument, just assign the Input to the appropriate midi controller you want to use for that synth instance.  You do not need to set the midi channel for that one to one association between a controller and a synth instance.
 
2. For a synth instance that has multiple instruments loaded, you will most likely have each loaded instrument for that synth instance set to a different midi channel, to allow each instrument to process its own midi data.  For this situation, you will also almost certainly have a separate midi track for each of the loaded instruments, as well.  Set the Input for each midi track to the desired midi controller, and also set the Midi Output Channel for that midi track to the corresponding midi channel for that track's associated loaded instrument for the synth instance.  The Midi Output Channel is a drop down located just below the midi track's F/X bin.  
 
The only time I would hook up the multiple controllers to Sonar was when I was capturing my complete live keyboard rig.  For Any traditional recording of keyboard parts, I would use a single midi controller, usually a 61-note controller - for its size.  I would swap that out rarely for an 88-note controller when I was doing piano parts that were either more classical in nature, or prog tunes with crazy extended ranges for piano parts.  Otherwise, the single 61-note controller works FINE for almost all that I do, as I normally record a single midi track at a time, whether that is strings, bass, each horn from a horn section, a piano, etc.
 
I hope any of the above helps you.
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks, robert_e_bone.  That lays it out well.  I should be able to make it happen now.