Step Record Vs Step Sequencer

In Sonar Step Record and Step Sequencer are two separate things.  I use Step Sequencer almost entirely for drum patterns.  If you set Beats to 4 and Steps to 4, each square is a 16th note.  You have to play around with it a while.  I'd suggest just creating a pattern and observe how it works.  For more advanced topics, there have been forum posts you could search.  Craig Anderton had some really great tips on how to humanize drums with the Step Sequencer.
There is also a Step Record function built into Sonar.  You choose it from the dropdown from the record button.  It basically records your midi input one note at a time and automatically steps ahead as you enter notes.  Step record I've only occasionally used for creating arpeggio patterns for synths.  I generally don't use it any more because I find arpeggiators that are built into synths to be much easier and more flexible to work with.  The Sonar reference guide manual has more info on how to work with both. 
 

I will definitely be looking to keep sonar around for the rest of my life. It will probably outlast me. But I'm hoping to get another chance to finally upgrade to the full enchilada. My fling with Reaper was interesting, but not truly satisfying. Coming back to 8.5 Studio was like coming home (especially since it works better than my Producer 8.5 ever did - don't know why). And now using this amazing Home Studio version has really rejuvenated me. I sure hope I get the chance to upgrade. There have been encouraging signs lately. I should never have been so stubborn, hanging on to 8.5 when such a fantastic new Sonar was there for the taking. Sometimes, I just don't understand myself...

I work in Staff View mostly, doing orchestral stuff, and for that Step Record is helpful. The only drums I do are Timpani and snares, and the VST instruments have rolls built in.

scook

michael diemer
 I tried consulting the manual, but after the first day or two it wouldn't open

Not sure which format of the manual was a problem. If the local documentation installer was run there should be a User Reference pdf and a SONAR.chm installed in the folder with the program. By default SONAR will try to access the web-based help if the internet is available. The Always Use Local Help setting in Preferences > File > Advanced forces SONAR to always use the chm file instead of trying the internet. The User Reference may be added to the tools menu but lacks the context help feature of the web and local help files.

On my copy of Home Studio, the 'Always use local help' option was grayed out by default, even though Command Center was showing it as installed.
 
I had to go into Command Center and request 'Reinstall' for Sonar Local Documentation. 

Aha, that must be it. I tried opening the local or offline docs, and it indeed was greyed out. And the online wouldn't open (except that it did the first time or two). I'll go looking for the local docs and see what's up.
 
Thanks scook!
 
Edit: I located the doc folder in Michael/Favorites. I moved it to the Cakewalk folder. It now opens, but only online. The local option is still greyed out. Only a problem if I can't get online, which is pretty rare.

Thanks Cactus, that helps a lot!