When I get a MIDI file that I want to use as a backing track, for years I've been painstakingly opening each track and assigning its output to one softsynth – usually Cakewalk TTS-1 – and later, if I end up using any of the parts, then I'll insert better synths and change it up. But it's always been annoying to open each track, click the Output pull-down, and assign it to the TTS-1 – especially when there are many tracks, like when the drums have a single track per piece of the kit. It occurred to me that maybe there is a quicker way to do this that I have overlooked. I was working with a MIDI file today and noticed that all the tracks seem to be assigned already to the Microsoft GS Wavetable synth. Is there way to have TTS-1 assigned by default instead when first opening a track? Or a way of telling all the MIDI tracks to send their output to TTS-1 or any other synth in one fell swoop?
 
Thanks, all! 

Disable all MIDI Output devices in SONAR preferences. With no MIDI outputs defined, SONAR automatically inserts and maps TTS-1 to track outputs when opening MIDI files.

Hi. In Preferences, MIDI, choose none as output. As far as I know, this will automatically route your MID tracks to TTS1. 
To choose several tracks to have the same output, select tracks, Ctrl click, and choose output.
Hope it helps.
All the best.

Again, scook beat me to it 
 

Wow, thanks for the fast replies! I have one more MIDI file today to load up and set up for practicing over, I'll try it!

That worked a treat! It seems to automatically insert the TTS-1 and use it just as you said!
 
At the risk of exposing my ineptitude, how long has SONAR had this behavior?
 

AlChuck
That worked a treat! It seems to automatically insert the TTS-1 and use it just as you said!
 
At the risk of exposing my ineptitude, how long has SONAR had this behavior?
 

As long as I can remember having TTS-1, which doesn't say much 

AlChuck
At the risk of exposing my ineptitude, how long has SONAR had this behavior?

Introduced in X3.

Whew, I was worried it was like fifteen years ago or something...

If you don't want to disable all your other MIDI inputs, and your song is already created, you can save time assigning MIDI inputs to TTS by selecting all those tracks you want to feed it and then clicking on "Tracks" at the top of the "Track View" window and scrolling down to "Selected Track Outputs." Then you can assign them all at once. Same goes for assigning MIDI inputs.