What is the name of the technology used for hardware to Sonar?

What is the name of the software interface that is used to allow external hardware control surfaces devices to talk to Sonar?  

Yep. Active Controller Technology.

Hi Bill, I was actually looking for the actual software protocol that is used.   I see that Cakewalk has a ACT API, but does not look like there is much support around it.

Is there some other protocol that Sonar supports that is widely used in the DAW/Hardware Surface world?

Hey RB, you may be thinking of Mackie Emulation Mode? It's for control surfaces (thinking faders, knobs & buttons). It became the "standard" because Mackie was early in the whole control surface game, and their boxes became popular very quickly, and so many DAWs developed support for the protocol. The advantage in SONAR is that this mode is bi-directional, meaning that the control positions are fed back to the controller, which is the only way to do things like motorized faders and visual feedback with LED indicators.

ACT is indeed Cakewalk only. I have yet to see a non-Roland/Cakewalk device that touts direct support for it. Same with Novation and their Automap. (If someone does know of one, I'm curious to know.) Folks have used ACT on non-Cakewalk/Roland control surfaces, though as I understand the setup is known to be a bit "fussy".
 
"Universal" is a little strong a word for me to apply to Mackie Mode - it's not as universal as, say, MIDI or USB, where it would have been ratified by a committee of the MMA or IEEE, for example. But gosh-darn if almost every control surface out there doesn't support a Mackie Emulation mode, and of course, SONAR has a control surface plugin setting to support it too. Just the same, it's best to check the specs and manuals and tutorials of whatever device you intend to use, to make sure that it supports it.

hey rabeach, I was referring to the actual software development kit.   Cake has an API, but they don't have much supporting documentation around it. 

redbarchetta
Well, because I'm a glutton for punishment, I'd like to see if I'm able to create a software control surface using one or the other methods, either ACT or Mackie.

Well red, my hat tips in your direction. Are you thinking in terms of Apple or Android touch surface?

The actual coding interface is good old COM.

Oh it's like ridin' a bike.

Get after it.

Maybe it's like riding one of these...
 

Ha indeed - looks like it would be a fun car to have - looking at it, I get the song lyrics! (Speaking of riding a bike, I wan in a band that played that song when it was NEW. Let's say that I was very young at that time, and we'll leave it at that...)
 
Sounds like a challenging project. BTW, I was told by a Baker (i.e. a Cake Developer) that the ACT API allows for Bi-Directional communication. If your 3rd-party app supports that, then it will be a real first (and very cool to boot).

Sounds cool. If your VC++ is too old, rather than buy a new one, you can try using the (free) Win7 SDK here:
 
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8279
 

Nice. Dust away. You've probably forgotten more than I ever picked up in that area (not too versant in Win32/COM etc. here).

It's cuter, but I bet just as fun to drive! I am now better educated in the old world of red Ferraris!