Just thought I'd share something that's been helpful for me. I have Xotopad for Windows and a Surface Pro 2. Xotopad is a control surface that provides pads that can be assigned to MIDI controllers or notes. The thing I use it for mostly is to set up an XY pad with CC1 on one axis and CC11 on the other. That way I can drag my finger diagonally on the screen and increase / decrease volume and modulation at the same time. Makes for a great way to add expression to VSTis like Hollywood Strings.
 
I just downloaded mnet (http://www.humatic.de/htools/mnet/man.htm) which allows me to connect the Surface Pro 2 over WiFi to Sonar. It sets up virtual MIDI ports that work over the LAN. So far it works very well. Running Xotopad on the Surface is much better than running it on my touch screen monitor where Sonar is running.
 
I don't know if you've tried any control surfaces like this, but it's working well for me. Besides Xotopad for Windows (http://feelyoursound.com/xotopad/), there's TouchOSC for iOS which is really flexible (http://hexler.net/software/touchosc) and TouchDAW for Android which also looks great (http://www.humatic.de/htools/touchdaw/index.htm).
 
Also if you do not have a touch screen, Xotopad takes mouse input.

Do you know if Xotopad is capable of receiving midi data from Sonar to move faders in line with automation (e.g. a software equivalent of 'motorised faders')?

Xotopad has just confirmed that current release has no facility for midi input / feedback.
He did say it was a good idea and might consider it in future.... but for now it's not going to work.
 

XotoPad can control DAWs running on the same device via virtual MIDI cables. No need run it through WiFi.
 
Why don't you install Sonar on the Surface Pro?

because Surface has diddly ram I would presume...DRanck does some pretty heavy duty awesome orchestral work... can't imagine a surface keeping up with a desktop or even a beefy laptop...let alone multiple ssd's and such...
 
Wish it weren't so... I've looked into this myself but when I added mobility I went with a beefy Asus ROG... all of the convertables/cool reconfigurables are consumer machines...
 
thanks for this thread, D.... Am gonna be muckin' around with these kinda goodies once I finish relocating up north and set up a new studio space...

For me, the possible benefit of Xotopad on a tablet is 'additional' controller space (using touch screens) - sort of a 'poor mans' hardware midi controller.
I'm still trying to work out exactly what I want from Xotopad (or similar)... I've just been researching apps that allow you to use a tablet as a 'virtual second monitor' - so I could potentially drag Sonar windows onto it. Sounded like a good idea, but I can't see that the 'touch screen' would work on the second 'screen' - so no benefit there.
 
I think my main issues are some of the touch screen controls (on plugins and channel strips - mainly the rotary ones) are not great with a touch screen - which means I have to keep reaching for the mouse (which I'm trying to limit my use of due to RSI issues). Perhaps a simple fader controller page (in Xotopad or similar) on my 8" tablet that links to Sonar's ACT could allow me to control these more simply?
 
I'm also trying to work out if there's a way to create a custom map of touch screen buttons on the tablet to replicate some of the keyboard shortcuts (I know - I could start learning all the various keyboard shortcuts - but there are probably only a dozen or so I want to use all the time, and a nice layout of buttons with names on them would be simpler to use!). I seem to remember there was a function in one of the older Cakewalk versions where you could assign midi notes to keyboard commands?  Is that still available?? Or is that functionality hidden within ACT now?
I've found some iOS apps that allow you to control a PC from the iPhone - it has mouse and keyboard functions, and also a custom option (so you can build buttons for specific key presses etc.). There's a virtual keyboard app in the Windows Store, but I don't think you can customise it.... I've user 'mouse without borders' at work - that might be an option, but I still want some kind of customisable interface.....
 
I'm also experimenting with 'toolbar creator' http://surfaceproaudio.com/surface-session-ep08-touch-toolbar-creator-surface-book/ - but I think that will only work on the primary PC not on a remote one.....
 
Apologies for my ramblings, just trying to make sense of the jumbled thoughts in my head!

Just come up with another alternative for this (assuming you're a Windows only user like me!)
Windows 10 has a number of options for 'projecting' screens; you can configure one W10 device (i.e. a tablet) to be 'projected to', and then extend the desktop of your primary DAW onto the tablet. The best part is there an option when connecting to the wireless display to allow mouse and keyboard input from the remote device.
I tested this last night, and successfully moved the mixer view from my DAW to my tablet, and can adjust the faders on the tablet. 😃
I know this is not quite the same as using Xotopad or similar, but it could be a useful alternative?