I just upgraded to X3 (the comping is great), but I am really disappointed in the lack of support for control surfaces that are useable in most other DAW's;  I have played with ACT, but so far it has been a real PITA except for the meager interface with the VS-20 (no pan, solo, mute buttons, etc...).
 
For example, I have a Maschine Mk2 and its integration with Live 9 is just superb; and probably even better with then new Maschine 2.0 software.  I'd like to use the Maschine MkII to control Sonar, but if there is an easy way, I sure don't know it.
 
Other controllers (nanoKontrol, etc) do well with Live as well.....
 
But Sonar only plays well with its very expensive surface controllers (Vs-500, 700),  and even then, only in a very limited way....  I guess Frontier Audio's design works OK, but is that all there is?
 
Or am I missing something

Mackie protocol is supported, most serious controllers support this. I use V-Control Pro on my iPad and it works well.
A cheap piece of hardware that supports Mackie protocol is the Behringer BCR2000. I have no experience with that one, just saying you don't have to splurge on the VS-series necessarily.
 
Honestly I don't think actual mixing is in the end very useful to do with a control surface. Or not for me. Modern mixes rely a LOT on automation (which IS nice to program, at least the initial "curve", with a control surface) and extreme precision. I end up using the mouse or entering the exact value with the keyboard more than I do with a control surface. For basic transport controls, I don't think it's too hard to program something like Maschine?
 
EDIT: Just my opinion, based on my personal workflow. I see your point, just trying to throw out some perspective and alternatives.

But Sonar only plays well with its very expensive surface controllers (Vs-500, 700), and even then, only in a very limited way

That is not true! It works well with allot of inexpensive controllers and mid priced controllers. I use the Euphonix (not expensive) and it works great with Sonar X3b
 
Cj

I must be missing something then.  I selected Mackie Control Surface, and Machine MK2 for both MIDI in/out, and no result. (Can't even get it to Learn.) Oh well, at least I have track select/volume and machine control with the VS-20....
 
I'll keep reading, but last time I tried this it didn't work after spending a lot of time with it...., so there is a point where I just give up (I really don't need another control surface in my possession..)

Thankfully my FW-1884 still works well in X3.
 
I was really concerned about that!

Huh, funny, I had never realized Maschine even had a Mackie Control template. I just tried it with Sonar and you're right - it doesn't work. It's stuck on connecting. After googling some, it turns out this happens with some other devices too, but nobody I saw got Maschine to work. It seems Sonar is looking for some kind of handshake that's not happening or something. It would be great if this could be fixed, since apparently Maschine Mackie protocol works fine in other DAWs.
 
A half work-around I've found is that it kinda works if you select the VS-700 protocol instead. Keep Maschine on the Mackie control. I haven't tested everything yet but you seem to get at least basic transport and navigation control and probably more. Someone recommended it for the Behringer X32, which apparently also doesn't work with Sonar via Mackie Control (I can verify it works fine with Logic 9 via Mackie protocol, as I used it yesterday). I'll start a more specific post and see if we can get some more attention for this.

Sanderxpander
...
Honestly I don't think actual mixing is in the end very useful to do with a control surface. Or not for me. Modern mixes rely a LOT on automation (which IS nice to program, at least the initial "curve", with a control surface) and extreme precision. I end up using the mouse or entering the exact value with the keyboard more than I do with a control surface. For basic transport controls,....

 
I agree. I have both a Sonar V-Studio 100 and a Novation Impulse. I bought the Impulse before I could build my home studio since it was cheap (<$200), light and I could use it my office temporarily to enter midi stuff. I thought I would like all the faders and control knobs, but found it was easier to use the mouse or on occasion the fader on the 100.
 
I used Sonar for several months until I realized that you didn't have to click on a control and move the mouse up or down to move the control. You can also click on it and use the mouse wheel. DUH! Much easier and better resolution.
 
Walt

I got it to recognize play, stop, FFW, and reverse using the Mackie in Sonar, but I had to delete the VS-20 to work with it.  When I tried to "learn" a fader for one of the knobe , the fader jerked back and forth between two values and it would set to a cc. 
 
The VS-20 is the best option for me, but it is kind of underwhelming (I don't use the V-Studio software)...

I use a Mackie Control with X3 and it works very well indeed for mixing. What we MC users are not too happy about is the non support for plugins or PC with the MC. 
 
Precision is a function of the CS in question. The MC has a 14 bit fader precision. Not all CSs have this.  

I don't really get what you mean here. Delete the VS-20?