Soft Synth issues/newbie here.

I'm using X1 Essential on a 64 bit computer with Windows 7.  My audio interface is a Line 6 guitar port.  Here are the issues I'm having:
 
1.  I can't get soft synth sounds to record.  I'm not using any MIDI devices.  I only want to record drum patterns onto a track.  I've tried inserting a soft synth track and then choosing the drum synth.  This is supposed to configure the audio input on the synth track and the audio output on the MIDI track.  What I end up with is that the record button is on the MIDI track.  I have tried checking and unchecking boxes in the soft synth options menu, but I never can get the proper configuration for it to record on the synth track and playback on the MIDI track.  The "HELP" menu has been no help at all.
 
Another thing I tried was to use the drum synth as an effect in an audio track.  It showed a wave forum as if it had recorded, but the sound didn't play back. 
 
2.  I tried to use the step sequencer to create a drum beat, but there was no sound coming from it.  Now I can't even get back to the step sequencer because everytime I right click on a track the menu wont allow me to click on step sequencer. 
 
3.  I have tried auditioning loops from the loop library, but there isn't any sound coming from them.
 
Any help would be great.  Thanks.

Apache


I'm using X1 Essential on a 64 bit computer with Windows 7.  My audio interface is a Line 6 guitar port.  Here are the issues I'm having:
 
1.  I can't get soft synth sounds to record.  I'm not using any MIDI devices.  I only want to record drum patterns onto a track.  I've tried inserting a soft synth track and then choosing the drum synth.  This is supposed to configure the audio input on the synth track and the audio output on the MIDI track.  What I end up with is that the record button is on the MIDI track.  I have tried checking and unchecking boxes in the soft synth options menu, but I never can get the proper configuration for it to record on the synth track and playback on the MIDI track.  The "HELP" menu has been no help at all.
 
Another thing I tried was to use the drum synth as an effect in an audio track.  It showed a wave forum as if it had recorded, but the sound didn't play back. 
 
2.  I tried to use the step sequencer to create a drum beat, but there was no sound coming from it.  Now I can't even get back to the step sequencer because everytime I right click on a track the menu wont allow me to click on step sequencer. 
 
3.  I have tried auditioning loops from the loop library, but there isn't any sound coming from them.
 
Any help would be great.  Thanks.

Wow, this post is a mess, lol, sorry. You can headline your issue as "Nothing I try works" 
If you don't like to read manuals or do keyword searches in help documentation, search youtube for videos on how to get started. 
-D

Apache


...I've tried inserting a soft synth track and then choosing the drum synth.  This is supposed to configure the audio input on the synth track and the audio output on the MIDI track.  What I end up with is that the record button is on the MIDI track.  I have tried checking and unchecking boxes in the soft synth options menu, but I never can get the proper configuration for it to record on the synth track and playback on the MIDI track...

Well, Apache, you've gotten several replies which in various ways are telling you what you really need to do - and that's to read the manual, or at least go through the tutorials you can find through Sonar's Help button.  I think it's tute #4 which explains in details how to use a soft synth/sampler/software drum machine.

To give you a tiny head start - you end up with a record button on the MIDI track because that's where it should be.  You don't record directly on the synth's audio track.  You need to record MIDI data on the MIDI track which then drives the drum module, and then the drum module's sound is piped out through that audio track.

And so forth.  Time to crack the books.

Randy B.

the manual gets easier to read when you have learned a few of it's terms of reference. until then it is frustrating and opaque. i have had bad results with tweaking options and settings i do not understand. courage!

wow..you picked a tought software for your first daw man..i give you credit there..but home studio may have been the way to go..but thats over now..just experiment and read that manual..you say its been no help but you need to give it a chance..seriosly..the manual is tough to get used to but read it

I've actually found this DAW to be pretty easy to use, it was just the synth stuff that was throwing me, which I now understand better thanks to the tutorial.  I know it will take some time to master, but at least for now I'm happy that I can throw down some instrument tracks and get a beat behind them.

Thanks.