Really basic SONAR questions

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ichamploo
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2015/01/31 05:28:32 (permalink)

Really basic SONAR questions

Hi,
 
Just purchased and started using Sonar X3 producer. There are a few issues I encountered as below:
 
Please see image here 
 

 
1) I'm just fiddling with the basic functions of Sonar. When I created a series of 1/8 notes on a track as seen in the picture, and I changed to a certain patch, and then played back the track, some of the notes cannot be heard, until I reduce the note duration. Likely for the same reason I can only hear one note when I create two notes to be played simultaneously.
 
2) From the Track properties field at the left side of the screen, if I change the patch via the top left hand drop down menu titled "P", the voices will change accordingly. However if I change the patch via the bottom right "patch Browser", it only works for the first time. Subsequent changes do not seem to work even though the screen indicates that I've changed to a new sound. But the playback still uses the previous patch.
 
3) When I change the output to a soft synth (I've randomed tried Lounge Lizard and SI Electric Piano for testing), there is no sound in the playback. I feel like an idiot but there doesn't seem to have any option on the soft synth menu to direct it to the MIDI track; see image below.
 

 
Any help or advice to get me exploring in the right direction is greatly appreciated. Apologies if the questions are really basic - whilst I do have background in music theory, I am clueless when it comes to music production. On this note, if there are any places where I can learn about all the above, particularly sequencing and arranging MIDI orchestration using SONAR, please do recommend also.
 
Thanks
Loo
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    gswitz
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    Re: Really basic SONAR questions 2015/01/31 06:09:25 (permalink)
    These are great questions and I'm only going to be a little help (if I'm lucky). Firstly, I almost always change patches from within the synth window. To tell the truth I wasn't even aware you could change patches from the track inspector. Give changing patches in the synth window a go and see if it works more reliably. I'm sure folks (if not me too) will give a test to see if they can replicate your patch selection behavior.
     
    Regarding midi note playback, there is a setting
     
    http://forum.cakewalk.com/Most-notes-do-not-sound-m3143808.aspx
     
    57Gregy
    Under Preferences>Playback and Recording>Playback, increase the MIDI buffers to 500 or more from the default 250. See if that helps.
    And welcome to the forum.

     
    Midi stuff is awesome but confusing as well. Some patches don't sound for midi notes outside of a particular range, for example. I'm not sure why the notes might not sound if they overlap. Is this true for all patches?
     
    When doing initial testing you might favor Dimension Pro with a keys patch of some sort. Do you still have the issue using that?

    StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
    I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
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    Anderton
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    Re: Really basic SONAR questions 2015/01/31 11:55:04 (permalink)
    gswitz
    Midi stuff is awesome but confusing as well. Some patches don't sound for midi notes outside of a particular range, for example. I'm not sure why the notes might not sound if they overlap. Is this true for all patches?



    Maybe legato mode is enabled? Or a limited amount of polyphony, and some notes are decaying in the background?

    The first 3 books in "The Musician's Guide to Home Recording" series are available from Hal Leonard and http://www.reverb.com. Listen to my music on http://www.YouTube.com/thecraiganderton, and visit http://www.craiganderton.com. Thanks!
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    scook
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    Re: Really basic SONAR questions 2015/01/31 12:38:16 (permalink)
    2) I usually use the patch browser built into the plug-in, not the drop down in the header or the track bank/patch drop downs. Few synths populate the bank/patch drop downs in the track.
    3) Once a synth is added to the project track routing changes happen via track input and output drop downs. Synths require at least one MIDI track and one audio track or an instrument track. An instrument track is a slightly simplified combination of an audio track and a MIDI track.
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    ichamploo
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    Re: Really basic SONAR questions 2015/02/11 09:37:38 (permalink)
    Sorry I do not get to log in that often.
     
    The following worked for me:
     
    - Selected voice from "console" tab (bottom red highlighted square)

     
    - When inserting a synth, I now enable "MIDI Source", "First Synth Audio Output" and "Synth Property Page". Then I select the synth as the MIDI output.
     
    Thanks all for the advice.
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    Cactus Music
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    Re: Really basic SONAR questions 2015/02/11 09:58:51 (permalink)
    Well you just showed me something I've never noticed. Changing on the console view. 
    As every body else was saying, open the soft synth and change the patches there because that's where all of them will show . The Patch changes in the track view are only GM and don't always show all your choices. 
    And I think you figured out that each midi track you insert needs the output assigned to a soft synth. You can change this at any time. 
    You can insert 10 soft synths and then change that one tracks output just to see which one sound right as the song plays. 
     
    There is lots of educational material both written and Video if you look around this web site. 
    Google it. 
    post edited by Cactus Music - 2015/02/11 10:12:12

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