I am interested in this mixer I was wondering if anyone has it and their thoughts how it works with Plat? I am also new to hardware is Plat setup in a way that I can mix within a mixer and then send that mix into Plat?  Any education on using external mixers and hardware I would appreciate it
http://www.zenproaudio.com/yamaha-01V96I

Disclaimer: I have never seen any digital mixer other then on pictures...
The first part of my reply can be too general or simplistic for you, but you will understand why I decide to reply
 
Digital Mixer == Audio Interface which is (a) able to work standalone (b) can mix signals in standalone mode (many interfaces can work in standalone, but only as pre-amps, so One input -> One output). So you have already one Digital Mixer, your Motu MK3! Less inputs/outputs, less effects, but the principle is absolutely the same.
 
They call these devices "Digital Mixers" and your MK3 just an audio interface because DM also have some direct control possibility, just like analog mixers. Either "virtual" on iPad (new trend, f.e. Bahringer X32 Rack) or real hardware (like this Yamaha). And so it is easy to control live mixing without computer (something not manageable with your Motu).
 
As an audio interfaces, DP are working live only, unlike "compact studios" (f.e. Tascam DP) they are not able to record audio (so no "mix within").
 
But there is a "second mode" for hardware controls (pots, faders, buttons, etc.) of DPs which have them (this Yamaha) in which these controls no longer operate with DP parameters, but transfer signals to change parameters in the DAW. For Yamaha it is called "Remote control (layer)" in the reference documentation. And here is the point: this Yamaha can only send signals suitable for ProTools and other DAWs which support such commands (so called HUI protocol). Sonar does NOT have native support for HUI protocol and so you will be unable to use that... Till you use my plug-in: http://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,223.0.html (look later in this thread for currently implemented functionality, but as you can read the work is still in slow progress).

azslow3
Disclaimer: I have never seen any digital mixer other then on pictures...
The first part of my reply can be too general or simplistic for you, but you will understand why I decide to reply
 
Digital Mixer == Audio Interface which is (a) able to work standalone (b) can mix signals in standalone mode (many interfaces can work in standalone, but only as pre-amps, so One input -> One output). So you have already one Digital Mixer, your Motu MK3! Less inputs/outputs, less effects, but the principle is absolutely the same.
 
They call these devices "Digital Mixers" and your MK3 just an audio interface because DM also have some direct control possibility, just like analog mixers. Either "virtual" on iPad (new trend, f.e. Bahringer X32 Rack) or real hardware (like this Yamaha). And so it is easy to control live mixing without computer (something not manageable with your Motu).
 
As an audio interfaces, DP are working live only, unlike "compact studios" (f.e. Tascam DP) they are not able to record audio (so no "mix within").
 
But there is a "second mode" for hardware controls (pots, faders, buttons, etc.) of DPs which have them (this Yamaha) in which these controls no longer operate with DP parameters, but transfer signals to change parameters in the DAW. For Yamaha it is called "Remote control (layer)" in the reference documentation. And here is the point: this Yamaha can only send signals suitable for ProTools and other DAWs which support such commands (so called HUI protocol). Sonar does NOT have native support for HUI protocol and so you will be unable to use that... Till you use my plug-in: http://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,223.0.html (look later in this thread for currently implemented functionality, but as you can read the work is still in slow progress).

Thanks for the information and I am super disappointed because it is not worth buying this for the purpose of Sonar.  You are exactly correct I saw a Yamaha used with ProTools HD work hand in hand and I was like cool I want the same.  What Digital Mixer have the protocols Sonar can use?

BMOG

azslow3
Disclaimer: I have never seen any digital mixer other then on pictures...
The first part of my reply can be too general or simplistic for you, but you will understand why I decide to reply
 
Digital Mixer == Audio Interface which is (a) able to work standalone (b) can mix signals in standalone mode (many interfaces can work in standalone, but only as pre-amps, so One input -> One output). So you have already one Digital Mixer, your Motu MK3! Less inputs/outputs, less effects, but the principle is absolutely the same.
 
They call these devices "Digital Mixers" and your MK3 just an audio interface because DM also have some direct control possibility, just like analog mixers. Either "virtual" on iPad (new trend, f.e. Bahringer X32 Rack) or real hardware (like this Yamaha). And so it is easy to control live mixing without computer (something not manageable with your Motu).
 
As an audio interfaces, DP are working live only, unlike "compact studios" (f.e. Tascam DP) they are not able to record audio (so no "mix within").
 
But there is a "second mode" for hardware controls (pots, faders, buttons, etc.) of DPs which have them (this Yamaha) in which these controls no longer operate with DP parameters, but transfer signals to change parameters in the DAW. For Yamaha it is called "Remote control (layer)" in the reference documentation. And here is the point: this Yamaha can only send signals suitable for ProTools and other DAWs which support such commands (so called HUI protocol). Sonar does NOT have native support for HUI protocol and so you will be unable to use that... Till you use my plug-in: http://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,223.0.html (look later in this thread for currently implemented functionality, but as you can read the work is still in slow progress).

Thanks for the information and I am super disappointed because it is not worth buying this for the purpose of Sonar.  You are exactly correct I saw a Yamaha used with ProTools HD work hand in hand and I was like cool I want the same.  What Digital Mixer have the protocols Sonar can use?

Since I do not have any, I can only say that HUI  and special protocols (A&H Qu) do not have native support, only throw my plug-in.
 
May be someone with X32 can comment: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Behringer-X32-control-surface-for-Sonar-works-fine-m2948912.aspx
But there are several posts in this forum about problems with that setup.

I am trying to understand better what I can and can not do with Sonar if you are using a Digital Mixer to mix with Sonar what are you using and how do you like it?  My reason for asking is when I go to my Mastering Engineer to see him use Yamaha console with ProTools HD mixing seems so much better and turning knobs instead of mixing in the box I would prefer, thanks in advance

If you mean what you can do with a Control Surface in Sonar and you have some tablet, you can test that "cheap". There are several apps, for example TouchDAW and Lemur. In general any app speaking Mackie Logic Control Protocol should work. The only complex controlling support, apart from obsolete Roland VS-700, is implemented throw MackieControl.dll in Sonar. So either you use such app on tablet, original MCU Pro, Bahringer X-Touch, SSL Nucleus, etc., the functionality on Sonar side is the same.

azslow3
Disclaimer: I have never seen any digital mixer other then on pictures...
The first part of my reply can be too general or simplistic for you, but you will understand why I decide to reply
 
Digital Mixer == Audio Interface which is (a) able to work standalone (b) can mix signals in standalone mode (many interfaces can work in standalone, but only as pre-amps, so One input -> One output). So you have already one Digital Mixer, your Motu MK3! Less inputs/outputs, less effects, but the principle is absolutely the same.
 
They call these devices "Digital Mixers" and your MK3 just an audio interface because DM also have some direct control possibility, just like analog mixers. Either "virtual" on iPad (new trend, f.e. Bahringer X32 Rack) or real hardware (like this Yamaha). And so it is easy to control live mixing without computer (something not manageable with your Motu).
 
As an audio interfaces, DP are working live only, unlike "compact studios" (f.e. Tascam DP) they are not able to record audio (so no "mix within").
 
But there is a "second mode" for hardware controls (pots, faders, buttons, etc.) of DPs which have them (this Yamaha) in which these controls no longer operate with DP parameters, but transfer signals to change parameters in the DAW. For Yamaha it is called "Remote control (layer)" in the reference documentation. And here is the point: this Yamaha can only send signals suitable for ProTools and other DAWs which support such commands (so called HUI protocol). Sonar does NOT have native support for HUI protocol and so you will be unable to use that... Till you use my plug-in: http://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,223.0.html (look later in this thread for currently implemented functionality, but as you can read the work is still in slow progress).

azslow3 I finally got my Yamaha mixer 01V96i will this protocol work for me still?

It should. But only you can confirm either it really does.
 
But since we are progressing with Y01 in "Local off" (remote control) mode, I guess something can be transposed to 01V96i, in case you find that "DAW mode" limiting.

After mapping the fist midi device it would not allow me to map any further, when i clicked on the bext slider to map it highlight the new slider briefly then go back to the first slider and flicker between the two

The mixer has several "modes".  For ProTools (HUI) mode:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2922268
Or my preset(s)
ProTools (HUI) mode: http://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,223.0.html
(at the moment 8 channels only)
 
But you can try http://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,322.msg1727.html#msg1727 in "Local OFF" mode.
 
Simple MIDI mapping is not going to work (till it has MIDI DAW mode... Y01 had, I have not checked either your has). But it will be rather limited even if it works.
 
From your explanation, you have tried to map "normal" Yamaha mode. That is not going to work as expected (even if you manage that, changing settings will affect both Sonar and the mixer audio and that is usually not desired.