I am a user of Sonar since Cakewalk 3.1 version. I currently use, for live performances, Sonar Platinum as a sequencer, a roland GR-55 guitar processor and a TC-Helicon Voicelive 2 voice processor. I need to change patches and effects in real time of both devices via midi. 
 
My question is: is it possible to do it with Sonar Platinum?
 
If it is possible. How can I do it?

I can describe several ways to do this but there can be other.
 
There are 2 possible use cases, I am not sure which one you need (may be both):
1) during the song is playing in Sonar, so with Sonar transport in the "play" mode. Send pre-made changes to devices. In this case natural approach is to create MIDI tracks (one per device) and set outputs to corresponding devices. Then you can put required MIDI events into time line. Since probably you will need CC and PC type of messages, the "Event view" can be better then PRV.
 
2) you want manual control in "real time", independent from the song played, using some additional controllers. Apart from Studioware (which I could see still works in current Sonar, but there is no modern editor), there is no "build-in" tools. You can use external MIDI translators which can route MIDI directly, use MIDI FXes in Sonar on track with the input set to controlling device and the output to controllable or program Control Surface plug-in to do this (in C++ or my plug-in in the signature).
 
My own practical experience is limited to TC-Helicon LivePlay GTX and changing patches on my Kawai CN.  
 

If the device can accept patch change messages, then yes you can. However, Sonar (any version) has to be told how to communicate with the device you want to control. It does this using configuration information stored in the MASTER.INS file, which is the currently active instrument definition file. Most of what is defined in there comes straight out of the midi implementation manual that came with your device(s). You can edit much of this information in Sonar preferences, or using a test editor.
 
Regards,
Dan

I used to do this with midi sequences I made on my Atari. 
I know people here use Sonars Playlist mode for live performance and not just for the backing tracks but for program changes to effects.
With the Atari it was dead simple because the PG event was simply added to the sequence at the point you say, wanted your guitar effects to change for a solo. Or special echo effects at a point in song. 
This was using an event list editor. Sonars event list does not include PG events. The only place I know where to put PG events is in the track inspector  at the Start of a song. I'm not sure how you would add a PG event in the middle? I would like to know myself? 

If you are not using backing tracks with your live performances and just using Sonar to set up VST instruments and then switch presets and effects for playing live, then you might consider looking at one of the VST Host programs that are out there, as they are really designed for live performance and are very effective with that set of challenges, versus really sort of warping Sonar into doing stuff not really in its set of anticipated use by its design.
 
Cantabile has both a free and a paid VST Host that works well, and I use another one from a company called Brainspawn - their software is called Forte.  
 
Take a look at those and see if they might give you the kind of live performance functionality you need for what you do and want to be able to do.
 
I am taking nothing away from Sonar with the above - Sonar EXCELS at recording and editing and mixing and all of that - IF you are just using Sonar for these purposes to load up some VST plugins and play them live, then the VST Hosts out there may help you better meet those needs.
 
There are also other VST Host software out there beyond what I had mentioned above - you can search for them, or look for a recent/current forum thread authored by Bitflipper, on which VST Host would meet HIS needs.  :)
 
Bob Bone

Cactus Music
Sonars event list does not include PG events

You can actually add Program Change events in Sonar's event list any where in the sequence.  Initially insert it as a note and then change it to a Program Change event. 

 

You can actually add Program Change events in Sonar's event list any where in the sequence.  Initially insert it as a note and then change it to a Program Change event. 




 
Thank you for this. I have posted about this issue ( for me and many others)  a number of times and you're the first one who actually knew how to do this.
At first I just went and tried what you said, but I couldn't seem to change the text. All of a sudden a dialog box popped up I swear in my 13 years of Sonar I've never seen before. After that It all made sense. 
It's certainly a feature that no matter how many times I looked in the manual etc eluded me. Yet another hidden menu. 
 
Interesting factoid, Home Studio does not include an events list, (or a synth rack) This is a major bummer as I bought Home Studio just for live playback.