Using SD-50 to Convert MIDI File to Sound File

So... any info yet...?

Well, I have read the manual, and there is a setting "TG to Computer" which sends the audio signal of the SD50 to the computer. Unfortunately there's no info on what it all means in practical terms and whether it does what I would like.
FYI the SD50 has both MIDI and USB and I am using the USB at the moment. I don't think audio comes through the MIDI.
 

The output from the SD will only be as good as the audio you get from your audio device, because you have to route it through the audio device.
 
If the SD 50 is similar in architecture to the SD 20, which I have, its a midi generator and can, within its own editor (or via audio out sockets) generate audio sound. For SONAR you'd need a soft synth.
 
Within Sonar, once you've installed the drivers, you can choose the SD20/50 as the midi sound generator - in other words route a soft synth through it, and then on outpût it to your sound device. You'll need an input device (i use a PCR 800 USB) either a keyboard or PRV in Sonar, not by note. Its complicated to set up but once done it works ok.
 
BUT, at the end of the day, I find I really don't need the SD20 bit, as the Sonar soft synths can replace it if you use a midi keyboard .....
 
BTW, on the SD20 there is a Midi through (to use with a keyboard controller for example) and a stereo audio output (two cinch sockets) which are capable of taking audio to an audio device.
 
All this without actually doing any research on the SD 50 ......
 
Përsonally I think to invest in a midi keyboard/controller makes more sense than using my SD 20 in todays DAW world. I rarely light it up.
 
Cheers,
Jerry

Let's get back to basics...
I have a MIDI file which has a variety of General MIDI instruments. I'm hoping that the SD50 converts MIDI to digital audio with higher quality than my laptop does.
So, I used SONAR LE to play the MIDI file through the SD50 and some speakers. 
Easy!
 
BUT, I want to record the digital audio output from the SD50 into an MP3 or WAV file.
I could take the analogue output from the SD50 and feed it to my Laptop's input and re-digitise it into an MP3 (or WAV etc.) file. However, that means the digital audio from the SD50 has been converted to analogue (by the SD50), then back to digital (by my laptop with probably not high quality digital to analogue convertor). Not great!
 
Can I just take the digital audio from the SD50 and write it to disk as an MP3/WAV somehow?
[Your suggestion of TG = Tone Generator is probably right.]
I attempted to do all this by using SONAR LE to play the MIDI file through the SD50 and simultaneously recording the SD50 input. Not working though, so I need another plan.
 
 
Thanks
All.

Ok - I tried that, but SONAR does not seem to be able to play the MIDI to the SD50 and record from the SD50 at the same time. Any suggestions?

OK, just downloaded the manual so it seems you got some choices :
 
The good news :
 
1) you can run a line out stereo via the cinch plugs on your SD50 into your sound card/audio device. BUT you'll need some form of input device (keyboard, drum machine, whatever.... because here you are dealing with pure audio, not midi. So, If thats how you do it, go direct to the bad news :
or
2) you can run : a midi keyboard into the "Midi In" socket on the SD 50,  then from the SD 50 "Midi Out" into your PC audio device's "Midi in" socket (if your audio device has one). However, you'll need some form of input (keyboard, PV in Sonar etc) or if you already have the midi data, just import it into the midi track Sonar created.
or
3) Use a USB midi keyboard (into your PC) and the SD50 USB connection (into your PC). In Sonar you'll need to insert a soft synth (one midi track will suffice). Set the midi keyboard as the input on the midi Track (or if you already have the midi data, just copy it into said midi track of the soft synth). In theory the output of the Midi track should output into the audio part and then into the SD 50. Yes, its tricky to set up but it used to work for me with my SD20.
 
The bad news (because you mentionned laptop) :
 
Whatever you decide, the eventual sound will only be as good as the audio device (and speakers) used for the playback. In other words and sorry to say this, but if you have a crap sound card, and crap speakers, then your sound is gonna be .... well crap. The SD 50 cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear as good as it is !!!
 
Salvation : Sonar can of course cope take all this in its stride, via a Midi keyboard input to its soft synths where you can get whatever sound you need, BUT, if your audio device/speakers aren't great then the sound ......
 
I gave up using my PCR 800 through the SD 20 (basically a minor Edirol version of what you have), because Sonar's soft synths can do wonders and are much more flexible.
 
Your choice !
 
But maybe I'm wrong about what you are trying to do. Sorry if thats the case.
 
Cheers,
Jerry
 
 Edit : attrocious, nay shameful, spelling and grammer

I setup Windows Media Player to use the SD50 for output & when I use WMP to play a MIDI file, the sound comes out of the speakers connected to the SD50 OK. The "TG to Computer" setting is ON.
However, I cannot get Sonar to record the audio from the SD50 - it's just silent.
 
Finally I used some Java code (yes, my day job is programming Java) to play a MIDI file to the SD50 & now Sonar can record an audio track from the SD-50. With "TG to Computer" set to OFF, the recording is silent, but with it set to ON, Sonar can record. 
Therefore I think that is a solution to the issue, but perhaps only one for nerds like me. The rest of you will have to come up with another solution.

All in all, really what you should do is upgrade to a better version on Sonar and use soft synths. Your doing it the hard way.  
Then your task is very straight forward, I make my own Wave and MP3  backing tracks with Sonar and use either my own midi files or edited downloaded files. I've been at it for a long time now.  
The sound from the Roland SD series is not going to be near as good as sound you can get using the better quailty soft synths.  Trust me.
 
But speaking of better quality: 
To bad LE comes with sub standard soft synths as it does little to sell new users on Sonar. I just installed it on an XP laptop because you can't install X3 or Platinum on XP.  
I was supprised it doesn't even have a GM multi channel synth like the TTS-1. The drums are GM alright. I forgot how nasty those can be once you get used to Session Drummer and now AD drums. 
It's actually a terrible version of Sonar, I've used many but had never bothered to use this one. I got it free with a Roland Keyboard. I already had Sonar 8.5. But I used it to upgrade to Sonar X3 studio.  It's missing lots of features we get with the full versions. Lots of short cuts are missing. 
You could go for Artist which I'm sure comes with TTS-1. 
Then it's a 2 minute operation to open the file, point the tracks at TTS-1 and export the song. 
 
Professional comes with a lot of great drums and synths, more than your going to need. And there are many free 3rd party plug ins from sites like KVR. 

You CAN NOT record SD-50 digital audio.  You will have to record SD-50 ANALOG audio.  Cakewalk will not recognize digital audio and midi from the same interface.