FCC & Stickman-Thanks so much for these suggestions.  I will give them a try!
 
John B.

Stickman-I can get to the point already that you have outlined above.  I need to know how to use the Smart tool to pick the best take.  That's exactly where I need to go next!  Thank you so much!
 
John B.

John, I don't think I can explain it better than this video does, at 1:12 - 2:30:
X3 Comping
 
Watch that segment a couple of times, then come back here with questions.
 
The rest of the video is pretty clear, actually, but it took me a couple of practice sessions before I understood what I was supposed to do to use the feature the way it was designed.

OK.  How do I get the Smart tool to become the comping tool?  I have the Smart tool highlighted on the tools menu, but when I run the tool across the take it stays an I bar and does not become the Comping tool as indicated on the video.  I'm obviously missing a step.  What is it!?  This is getting frustrating!!  Please note that I have "Comping selected in the record menu at the Record button.  I have everything there selected as in the video.
 
John B.

Hmm. It shouldn't be that tricky. In my test, I made sure that the smart "Star" tool was selected, and when I expand the take lanes, and moved the cursor over the clips, it changes to the I-bar + stacked clip icon.
 
I'm not sure what else to try... when all else fails, save and close the project, close and re-open SONAR, and open the project again ... and see if it works.
 
Are these audio or MIDI clips? I'm testing with audio. I don't know why that would make a difference...

Something may have gotten corrupted there.  These are audio clips.  I just did 4 takes with just my voice saying "This is comping test.  Take one.  Comping test" with a few seconds in between to simulate a line per line vocal take in a song.  I'm going to do what you suggested and just start a fresh project doing the same thing and see if that works.  Maybe I screwed something up there and didn't realize it.  Thanks.  I'll let you know how I make out.
 
John B.

You have to have the cursor hovering over the lower part of the clip to get the comping option. When you are in the top half of the clip you get the option to move the clip left or right on the timeline. The comping cursor looks like the normal I-beam insert cursor with three little stacked rectangles to the lower right of it. I woukld post a screenshot but they don't show the cursor.
 
Don't get frustrated - if I figured this out then you can to. I used the video on youtube that stickman linked to earlier to learn.

Johnbee58
I'm sorry, but I'm still not clear on some of this process.  I did manage to do a test recording creating 4 takes.  Now I need to know what to do next.  I make sure I select the Smart tool and when I run the Smart tool over a take it turns into the isolate icon.  But when I left click over a region I want to promote and click on it, the entire track turns white as if to highlight the entire track.  What am I doing wrong?
 
Thanks
 
John B.

In this particular case it sounds like the entire clip is being promoted. Have you already split the clips? If not try click dragging in the lower half of the clip to highlight the region you want to promote. That will auto split the clip for you an promote it.

Thanks so much, all.  raweber, you were RIGHT!!  The mystery is finally solved for me.  I did what you said and hovered the mouse over the lower part of the clip and it works!   I'm getting the comping tool and the crossfade tool.  Thanks again!!
 
John B.

It sounds like you're on your way, but this page (and links from it) might be a good reference source in the future.
 
http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Arranging.45.html#1832832