Do you have the latest EIE Pro drivers - http://www.akaipro.com/product/eiepro#downloads
 
I need a better idea of what the issue is. If I have a Step Sequence happening, I can place the Now Cursor anywhere in the Track View and the sequence plays as expected. IOW if the Now time starts before the Step Sequencer, when it hits the sequence, it starts playing. If the Now time starts at some point in the Step Sequencer, it plays back the sequence from that point.
 
Of course under those conditions I ignore the Step Sequencer play button because the Track View playback takes priority. If you want to be able to trigger from the Track View and edit in the Step Sequencer, you need to loop the step sequencer clip so that it will loop during playback.
 
If you cannot do the above, then please explain in more detail what the problem is. The SS has always been solid for me for years so I'm kind of surprised at the comment "it's been a problem for years." Maybe a clearer description of exactly what you're experiencing would help.
 
 

the problem is random and sometimes works and sometimes doesn't even in the same project.  I notice it especially when exporting to an audio track.   Sometimes you will get 1 bar of drums and the rest goes silent, sometimes it goes in and out....  but ONLY if I leave them in step sequencer clips.  Once I bounce to clips it is fine. 

Been going on for years.   
 
I notice it gets worse the more SS clips you have.   I also notice it is worse if you have a mix of SS clips and standard MIDI clips together (they might have to overlap using take lanes).
 
 

I use the step sequencer a fair bit to drive external hardware and VST drums and don't have any problems with the transport at all.
 
However, since I seem to have stumbled into a bunch of other folk who use it, could I ask you, if you have time to take a look at this problem report and see if you can reproduce it?
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Unlinking-step-sequencer-clips-in-Sonar-Pro-m3597597.aspx
 
Thanks
 
Andreas

SoundRegion
{quote=Kamikaze]
In the Sequencer window, the play will always the sequencer in a loop.
 
In the transport bar, unless you've set loop recording, it play continuously, bar after bar, so it leaves the step sequencer behind. Depending on how you have set up the stop button it will either stop, or return to the 'now time'. If the 'Now Time' is in the middle of the sequencer play position, it will rewind to the middle of the pattern.
 

Thanks for the inof. All of this happening is compeletely random though. The odd thing is that it never happens when exporting the whole audio.






It's would feel random though, if you weren't now marker is being moved, or you are not setting loop points from the project properly. And of course it wouldn't effect export.
 
If you set the loop in the track view, have the now time positioned at the start (with 'On Stop Rewind to Now Marker' selected in the Options menu). The two play buttons sill respond differently.
 
The Play in the Step sequencer will start from the beginning.  
The Play in the Transport, will from where ever you are in the timeline. If you press play, then stop, it rewinds to the beginning (The now marker that you set) and will play from there.
 
This can look random if you are not getting it. Maybe you are, an I'm getting it wrong, but the picture of confusion you have painted looks like this to me.
 
Can you give a screen print of when it's happening.
 
Step Sequencer has been solid for me, I use a lot and I don't run a power computer