I notice this setting is gone.
 
SOMETHING is causing my preset on my softsynth to change its sound slightly upon stop and then start of play.

Perhaps replaced by midi event chace on play setting?
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2016000053/SONAR-2017-01-Update-Fixes-and-Enhancements#ChaseMIDINotes
 

tenfoot
Perhaps replaced by midi event chace on play setting?

but isnt it two different things?

SilverBlueMedallion

tenfoot
Perhaps replaced by midi event chace on play setting?

but isnt it two different things?

Ah - I see what you mean. 

Doesn't one make the other redundant though?

tenfoot
Doesn't one make the other redundant though?

 
does it?  this new setting has to do with playing a note that was started before the current NOW time, the other one was about setting a patch.  Not sure what one has to do with another.

Not at my computer, but read the link I sent. I think there is a setting for both.

Just checked - it seems you can't have midi note chace enabled without also enabling midi event chase on play. The project preference menu is only available with a project loaded. 

SilverBlueMedallion

tenfoot
Perhaps replaced by midi event chace on play setting?

but isnt it two different things?

no it's not IMHO ...
 
previously searchback was for controllers only (and not always working as expected, like e.g. if the controller changes were too far back in the timeline X3 did not always apply them when starting at a later point in the timeline) ...
 
now seachback includes MIDI notes and apparently was improved in general as now the projects which caused issues with controller searchback in X3 work fine in 2017.01 i.e. I can arbitrarily jump between section in the song with playback running and MIDI CC/PRG CHG is applied as it should be (searchback finding proper patch change and CCs before the starting point of playback)