SONAR Home Studio help with MIDI + MP3 Projects, please

Hello forum,
 
I'm ramping up on getting Sonar Home Studio Version 22.11.0 set up to get some MIDI + mp3 projects going. There are a couple of things I can't determine how to make happen. I hope someone can help!

1. The files I'm running come from diverse sources and their final L/R outputs vary widely among the files. I need to implement a master volume that I can set for each project so I can get a consistent level through a playlist. Is this possible and how is it accomplished?
2. I would like to access a MIDI event list for MIDI tracks. I can find nothing in the program that even refers to a MIDI event view, but I have seen SONAR documentation that refers to it. How can I open an event view for a MIDI track?

Thanks very much!

Oops! I completely missed that "Note: This feature is not available in SONAR Home Studio." on the Events List doc (unless it was recently added). 
 
As far as a master level control, my projects are a mix of MIDI and mp3 files that I perform some minimal tweaking on. I really would like just one master fader to control the final output level of the mix. A fader that I can set and forget. I'd rather avoid having to tweak individual tracks-- there are hundreds of them. Can I maybe create a bus and route the output of all the MIDI and mp3 tracks to a master fader? As it is, I have to adjust the actual volume on the PA system to normalize my project levels, which of course is silly.
 
These projects are sourced from various vendors, and their final output levels vary. I'm just trying to take advantage of technology to avoid spending hours modifying mixes that are for the most part complete but whose final output levels are not consistent from vendor to vendor.
 
There's got to be a master level control hiding somewhere and I just don't know how to enable it! 
 
Thanks for the info, Telecharge.

Well that got me halfway there! In Console View I was able to access a strip for "Hardware Outputs", which controls the level to my audio interface (AVID Fast Track Duo). That takes care of the mp3 tracks.
 
However, it has no effect on the midi tracks output to my USB-MIDI converter.
 
There are individual strips/faders for the MIDI tracks that work, but I can't seem to produce a master fader that would apply to those.
 
Any other thoughts? Thanks!
 
 

• The USB-MIDI converter is used to send MIDI commands from a MIDI track in a SONAR mix to an external MIDI sound module to produce instrument audio, e.g., strings or horns.

• The audio output of the MIDI sound module is input to the audio interface, where it is mixed with the mp3 audio from the audio tracks, sent via USB from SONAR. 

• The output of the audio interface is then sent to a PA system for performance.

But you have a good point. Instead of the MIDI sound module audio being sent straight out of the audio interface via Direct Monitor, could it be routed into SONAR and be assigned a level fader that way and sent back to the interface via USB? Other than taking the audio interface out of Direct Monitor, I'm not sure I'd know where to begin to make that happen. (Obviously I'm pretty new to this.)
 
Thanks!

Hey Cactus,
 
Yes that possibility did come to mind, and I installed Rapture Session and the Studio Instrument suite to explore it further. The thing is, I'm under a time crunch. I followed some instructions from Cakewalk Support and ran into some weirdness right away. For one thing, the second instrument track I created in the project wouldn't play back, so I gave up and went back to my external module. I'm also used to relying on the General MIDI (GM) spec so I can just purchase a GM sequence and feed it to my GM module and have it just work with minimal tweaking. 
 
I'm sure my problems with VST can be overcome, but I feel like I don't have the time to fix them right now. I WANT to go that route, I really do. It's just getting past that initial "hump" that's a problem with my current time crunch.
 
Thanks for your input. Maybe you can help me get Rapture and/or the SI Suite working later? (or even sooner?)

Thanks for that, Telecharge.
 
That certainly would speed up the process, but if those are the default instruments that are used when playing back a MIDI file in say, Windows Media Player, they aren't really of sufficient quality or realism. I see references to Roland and Yamaha in there, and those are known to be decent MIDI sound modules. I wonder if those wavetables can reproduce those modules? Guess I would have to explore it. I've been avoiding anything built into Windows because in my experience the instruments have been pretty basic and cheesy-sounding. Just enough to check a MIDI file to see if it's working before getting on with using with a sound module.
 
I had high hopes for the Rapture instruments, but as I mentioned, as soon as I ran into a wall with getting that running I had to give up. I wonder if my laptop just doesn't have enough resources to make it work, or if the problem is "between the headphones", as they say.

In order to use the instruments in the Instrument list, you have to have one of those instruments connected. 

 
That makes sense. I wouldn't think a PC would be shipping with anything other than the simple synth sounds of Windows.
 

I've always thought a MIDI Master would be useful, until I realized I already have one; the volume knob on my MIDI keyboard.

 
But I'd like something that doesn't require human intervention, i.e., that is stored in the project. The audio track master in SONAR works great for this, but there doesn't appear to be a MIDI equivalent. This seems like a easy thing to implement, since the individual faders for MIDI tracks work fine. Why can't those all be routed to a master bus?
 
If there's nothing in Home Studio to allow this, maybe the answer IS to route the audio out of the MIDI module back into SONAR. I sense possible latency issues arising with that setup though.
 
Getting the RAPTURE library to work sounds time-consuming but I may go that way eventually.

Well that made me look into "groups", and I discovered the concept of "quick groups", a temporary grouping by holding down the control key while adjusting one track's fader. That way they're only grouped momentarily.
 
This is probably good enough for now. Thanks!

There's no TTS-1 in Home Studio AFAIK.

Cactus Music
There is in mine? 

Then the Cakewalk compare versions page must be incorrect.
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Versions

I've installed Rapture Session and SI Suite. I wasn't aware of TTS1 until now, so I'll look for that.
 
I guess my question would be: which provides the most realistic-sounding instruments?
 
Also, is TTS-1 GM-compatible? If it's got decent instruments, that sounds like a good compromise between quality and convenience.
 
Operating without an external MIDI module would be a fine thing!
 
Thanks, everyone.

Well this had me going until scook confirmed I'm not crazy because I too looked at the versions list saw you were correct. Got me thinking "well maybe you get TTS-1 from CCC" or ?  
I have installed HS on a re built laptop that has not had any other version installed and it has TTS-1. 
 
So this is the route the OP should try first as it's so simple to just OPEN any midi file and it will play exactly the way the composer wishes. To make the "OPEN" dialog automatically insert TTS_1 you need to un check all midi outputs in Preferences midi devices. You can leave the Inputs as is. 
 
I work with downloaded midi files from time to time and this always works for me. 
I then improve the sound by inserting better VST one by one
SI Bass will improve things as example, you will have to transpose +12. 
With Home Studio you can then insert SI Drums etc. 
 
It's as simple as OPEN the midi file
Now insert a few other vst's and simply re assign the output of the midi track to the new sounds. 
Home studio is different than the regular versions and does not offer options when you insert a synth. 
There is also no synth rack. 

I've downloaded some midi files that seem to optimize GM parameters and sound amazing using just TTS-1. 
But I guess you need to know how to tweak system exclusive etc. to get that quality from GM.
 
TTS-1 is something I  will use in one form or another on almost all my backing tracks and recordings.
If you explore TTS-1 menus you will find a lot of way's to edit sounds, add effects and even split it into 4 parts. Not only that it's been rock solid for me and uses very little CPU. I cannot say the same for many other VST's. 
 
I one is going to use Sonar live you want stability and avoid complicated set ups. I would never return to using outboard sound modules. I do not miss the crazy things that used to happen.  I left that behind in 1993. 
 
Backing tracks are not studio recordings and one should not treat them as such. They will be played though a PA system and for the most part are to be in the background and not a featured performance. I want people to listen to my singing and guitar so I don't add anything fancy to mine. And if I use a download a song I strip away the fluff. 
So even though say, Tru Pianos is a way better sounding VST the TTs-1 piano sounds more than fine in a backing track mix. I find no fault when used that way.  I also use the organs, strings and various instruments when needed, Like horn stabs. 
 
TTS_1 drums can also shine though with the exception of the snare which is pretty old school. But the rest of the kit including the Kick really cut through well. I've had more problems trying to use Addictive drums Kick and ride and I've returned to using TTS-1 for those 2 parts. There is also very good percussion and the Brush snare is the best one I've found to date. 
If it was the only synth I had I would not be heart broken.
 
Rapture has some good stuff but I find 80% of it content useless to me.  
 
One of the great things about HS is you can certainly scrounge around for many excellent free and almost free VST instruments. I added Strike2 drummer to my HS for only $43 when they had a sale. It has replaced Addictive drums for me. I still use Session drummer because I can use my own samples. 
KVR site has many freebies. 
 

Good one John, I was going to mention it but didn't know if it was still on sale. It is huge!!
I haven't had time to try much of it yet but so far it seems on par with Dim Pro.