Hi Guys 
I recently purchased an A&H Sq5 console and want to play WAV files created in Sonar (my DAW of choice "since the DOS days") on the SQ DRive (usb drive) of the Mixer.
The drive wont play WAV files that includes header info or Broadcast info etc. and it will not play WAV files that I created in Sonar.
I unchecked all options that I thought is relevant to creating metadata in Sonar preferences but the SQ Drive wont play the files.
 
The first DAW I ever owned was a program called SAW Pro and I still have an old version installed on my PC, it only creates WAV files and every one plays on the SQ Drive. 
 
I know I am missing something in the Sonar process but I just can't find what I'm doing wrong. 
Please would someone guide me to be able to create "clean" WAV Files.
 
 

Something to try (to narrow down to a resolution hopefully). Have you tried dragging/dropping an audio clip from the timeline out to your desktop. (Sonar auto-creates a wav file to your desktop.) Maybe that wav file/clip has less header stuff? Does it play in you device?

Did you export at 44.1/ 16 ? 
Sonar can export Wave files that are not standard for playback on most consumer systems. 
When you export change  32 bit to 16.  And if your working in 48 z or higher you need to change that to 44.1. 
Most of those mixer uSB music players will also play MP3 files. 

I just did a quick survey of wave files here, and concluded that SONAR does not insert metadata aside from the standard RIFF file header. Generic as can be.
 
It does, however, preserve any metadata that was already in a file when you imported it from elsewhere. Easy workaround for this scenario: bounce the wave file to another track.
 
 

Hi Guys
Thank you for your replies.

• "Something to try (to narrow down to a resolution hopefully). Have you tried dragging/dropping an audio clip from the timeline out to your desktop. (Sonar auto-creates a wav file to your desktop.) Maybe that wav file/clip has less header stuff? Does it play in you device?" (czyky)

I tried this but the file does not play in the SQ drive, I think it is because Sonar renders at 32 bit.
 

• "Did you export at 44.1/ 16 ? Sonar can export Wave files that are not standard for playback on most consumer systems." (Cactus Music)

The Export was at 44.1/16 although the manual states : These can be mono or stereo, uncompressed PCM *.wav files, 44.1, 48 or 96kHz and 16 or 24-bit.
They must not contain any headers (such as BWF) or data (such as markers).
 

•  "It does, however, preserve any metadata that was already in a file when you imported it from elsewhere. Easy workaround for this scenario: bounce the wave file to another track" (bitflipper)

I did a bounce but had to export it again to get it to 16bit but the file did not play. I also tried the bounced file and that did not play either.
The files that I am trying to play are all files that was originally created in Sonar. They are backtracks from albums created in Sonar from sctratch to be played for live performance. It is not possible that these files can include any metadata from elsewhere because they've only been in Sonar. 
 
While trying the different options you guys suggested, I decided to try another WAV export process.
I have been using the "Wave" file type - ([uses Cakewalk wave exporter] The standard digital audio format used under Windows and for CD’s, with a file extension of .wav.) MANUAL EXCERPT
I decided to try the "Wav (Microsoft)"  file type - ([uses Libsndfile wave exporter] The standard digital audio format used under Windows and for CD’s, with a file extension of .wav.) MANUAL EXCERPT
 
I selected the "signed 16 bit PCM" sub format and the files created in this way played perfectly. The "signed 24 bit PCM" sub format option also worked.
 
Thank you very much for all your input, it did guide me to be able to create "clean" WAV files.