MIDI or not MIDI? That is the question.

This is kind of a lengthy subject, but what you want to do is add the drum VST, then create a midi track and set its output to the drum VST. Or you can add the VST as a simple instrument which should do all of this for you automatically. I prefer using the synth rack and adding my own midi tracks, but use whatever works for you.
 
The Sonar documentation has lots of the details around this.
 
Regards,
Dan
 
 

even if you do not usually DO midi,
it's a good idea to have the capability,
especially if you end up working with other people,
or on other people's projects.
 

Thanks for the replies. I'm currently sending MIDI to the audio track where I have the SI drum kit synth enabled. I couldn't record so I dragged and pasted multiple copies of a clip straight off the list in the synth. I can play that but I still can't record it as audio. The audio track shows a monitored signal if I don't arm it to record. The MIDI and audio tracks have linked but when do I arm the audio track, echoed or not echoed, that signal vanishes so I get a flat line.
 
Here is a picture of the line: ____________________________________
 
I wonder if my use of an external USB soundcard, good though it is, might be causing this? I don't have my board's Realteks enabled. I might try them next. 

I'm still struggling. I found I couldn't see 'bounce to track' - just 'bounce to clips' and I didn't see anything happen when I tried it. I'm thinking my M-Track is causing me difficulties. All this just used to work internally with Creative's Fatal1ty X-Fi card which had an onboard XG-MIDI synth and external connector. 
 
I dug out my ancient Yamaha MU10 today and rushed off to buy a USB MIDI lead for it. I got it to play from Sonar but its audio output, though clear on headphones, wouldn't record no matter what I tried to configure. I could see a signal entering the M-Track but nothing came right. I tried to find suitable ins and outs but got nowhere. I think I saw a recorded audio track at one giddy moment but that wouldn't actually play back on the M-Track. It's as if the PC chose between the MU10 or the M-Track but didn't like both. If I put headphones on the synth I'm golden but what use is that?
 
I'm tempted to go back to the store and change the M-Track for a good PCI soundcard. Having looked at them online, I can't see one with a built in MIDI synth like my Fatal1ty had. It's as if modern gear and Microsoft are conspiring to phase MIDI out altogether. Just as Sonar has such nice features as drum synths, too! Even so, it may be that a card in a PCI socket is worth two in a USB... 
 
The M-Track makes GS wavetable output sound excellent. Not like the rinky-tink Realtek rendition. If only I could record MIDI as audio internally to Sonar that would be perfect. What would have been even better is if Creative had supported the Fatal1ty and not called it 'end of life' when I tried to find drivers that Windows 10 liked. If I rolled back to Windows 7 on my old card I wouldn't be looking so frowny. I'm trying to embrace the budget techno-future but my brand-spanking new Sonar Artist, brand new computer guts, and brand new USB external soundcard seem to find MIDI too much. Nobody knows what MIDI even is at my local tech store. It's like explaining how life was in ancient times to cheerful children.
 
Which is why I'm thankful for your suggestions. For now I'm going to drag my MIDI drum kit into my music room and see if I can at least lay down an audio track on that. If you have any more thoughts I'm very interested to hear them. I wonder what audio-based solutions Cakewalk may have to offer? Acid Music loops work fine if I drag them in. I could try a demo of the next Sonar up, too. Maybe it has some magic beans.

If your Keyboard controller and Drum set do not have USB for midi transmition you should have bought an Audio interface with midi ports. 
If you just bought that interface consider returning it and buying one with MIDI ports. 

I was fast arriving at the same conclusion when everything came together acceptably after all. I've got my Roland piano next to the computer desk with my old Yamaha MU10 daisy-chained through that via USB and everything works! I think this suffice for now as I can use it. It seemed harder to source sound components than when I built my last system and the Fatali1ty with a front panel I could plug a guitar straight into was easy to get. Sound cards I've been reading about lately seem to be more about whether you can hear someone behind you in BF3 (whatever that is. :) ) 

The AT200 isn't a MIDI guitar.  It just uses MIDI for software updates and as a control option.  They are cool though.
 
I only mentioned it because of the limited number of MIDI interfaces available with drivers that work properly.

DuckRumble
I just watched a demo of the AT200. I've never seen anything like it. Amazing. My guitars were in tune when I bought them.

  It does much more than just tune.  It's a cool concept that works pretty well.