In the meantime, if you open Sonar, Select the Utlities menu, Cakewalk Ext Encoder config. When it opens press F1 to get to the online help. It gives full instructions on how to complete the necessary details.

Also there are sample configuration profiles installed at C:/Cakewalk Content. Somewhere in there perhaps something like Utilities/Ext Encoder profiles

Hey Mike,
 
That sounds very promising. Just woke up. Going to check it out now. Wil post ASAP with my findings.
 
Did not know about the cakewalk content sample configs that might be thing I missed to get this working. [must not get to entheusiastic]
 
Thanks a lot :D

It used to be included on the disc sets that Sonar came on but not sure about the download content. It should be there but who knows.

There are no examples I could find in the folder. The help file refers to the installations CD so I guess no luck. 
 
I just got Sonar to render a file (i guess .wav) before retuning an error. So You could say some progress :D
 
Still trying to get it to work.... Keep you posted.
 
If I get it setup, would it be a good idea to post a tutorial somewhere? I can imagine I am not the only one who would be content with the functionality.
 
Thanks again

When Sonar came on cd, there used to be a document that explained exactly how to setup an external encoder. Many of us including me used to use it to setup Sonar to export MP3s using the free Lame encoder, instead of having to pay for Sonars encoder. It's the same process except the command line arguments and location of the codec will be different.

Did you try pressing F1 when the Utilities/Cakewalk Enc Config is open. It's supposed to take you to an online document that explains it all.even without the examples.

As its turned out I won't get a chance to get I front of a computer till tomorrow. Only on my iPad at the moment. Sorry I can be of more help.

Hi Mike,
 
Still no luck. The F1 help gets me very general help. Youre explanation summed it up.
 
Still trying all sort of combinations. with some luck I accidently find a working one:P.
 
Is there sombody else there who succesfully setup an external codec? Would you be able to help?
 
Riz 

I've dug out my X1 CDs and found the config profiles which are just examples of how you would create a registry file to make the various entries in the utility. Helpful but not the answer.
 
I've uploaded them to my Onedrive account and here's a link. http://1drv.ms/1AoioIC Cakewalk Encoder Profiles.zip
 
 The problem I'm having is I can't find a stand alone codec that will convert wavs to AAC. There are plenty that do the reverse ie. take an AAC file and convert to all sorts including wav.
 
There is one single one I've found and it only converts from the Windows .wmf format so that's no help either. All the others are part of external programs such as iTunes or are paid for in the area of $24 and up.
 
If you do find one send me a PM with the details where I can download it and I'll set it up for you.

OK. Our good friend scook has found a possible encoder candidate. Give me a bit of time and I'll see what I can come up with. here's the link. https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Encode/AAC
 

I've been reading the stuff on AAC (MP4). While its considered technically better than MP3 there are quite a few limitations. http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=AAC
Do you really want to go to all this trouble. Seems its not released under the GNU licence and therefore isn't considered free. To use it free it will need to be compiled from what I understand and that's a whole area I don't know enough about I'm afraid. I know just enough to realise I don't know much about it at all.

Here is pre-compiled command line AAC encoder http://www.rarewares.org/aac-encoders.php which should work