Thanks Erick. Typing from work but as soon as I get home I'm buying out the cheap options you referenced!
 
I will have to watch a YouTube video because while I figured out how to create drum tracks with MT Power Drums just finding synth instruments was difficult.  Going on memory here but I had to add a synth rack from bottom right window and there were only a few synth instruments available, like Strings or Piano.  Isn't there a way in the new free Sonar to pull down a massive menu with all synth instruments that come with this free version? 

I'm suffering with disappearing post syndrome.
 

DanielVogel
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Isn't there a way in the new free Sonar to pull down a massive menu with all synth instruments that come with this free version? 

Use the Browser (type B to open).
Select the Plugins tab.
Select Insert Virtual Instrument (the little piano keyboard symbol).
 
Oh ... and the new free Sonar is called Cakewalk by BandLab. Use of the word Sonar brings back all the grieving.

It almost sound like the OP has opened a template or something and the synth rack was populated with a few VST's.
 
Check out my tutorial and it will show you how to load the instruments, and I only cover using instruments that came with Home Studio which is more or less what CbB has too.
 
For bass my fav is Ample http://www.amplesound.net/en/pro-pd.asp?id=19  free.
 
You can squeeze some OK drums out of SI drums but it takes a bit of trial and error. Try playing with the tuning.