Hi anxiousmofo,
 
The MMC control surface in Sonar is an older module created by a 3rd party developer that was never ported over to x64. Sonar, without and completely separate from the MMC control surface, does support transmitting MMC start/stop and location messages that work in conjunction with MIDI Timecode sync generators (i.e. MIDI Timepiece AV, Universal Slave Driver, etc...). An overwhelming majority of synchronization scenarios use MMC as the transport master to send start/stop messages to a synchronizor sending MIDI time code to Sonar. MMC pre-dated control surface protocols like Mackie Control or ACT and is limited to start/stop and location messages and in olden times could be used to transport Sonar from a device like an LRC or DA-88 with SY-88 card. The Akai MPK series keyboards include the option for MMC transport messages, however this particular feature is not needed to use as a transport master in Sonar. It may, however, be necessary to work with other DAWs.
 
Sonar's control surface protocol ACT allows more control over strips, plugin parameters, as well as transport messages. I recommend using either the ACT MIDI control surface or the Cakewalk Generic control surface with the MPK-61. In Sonar Preferences - Control Surfaces add either ACT or Cakewalk Generic Control surface. Open the Control Surface property page in Utilities. I don't know for sure but I suspect the "Akai MPK49" preset will work across the MPK series control surfaces. If not, you can "learn" the various buttons and knobs and save your own preset. Using ACT as a control surface allows you to transport Sonar, arm tracks, automate tracks trips and plugins and pretty much anything that has a menu item in Sonar. If you are synchronizing the playback of the MPK's arpeggiator, set Sonar to transmit beat clock in Preferences - Project - MIDI by enabling Transmit MIDI start/continue/stop/clock. 
 
Hope this helps.

First, you don't have to use MMC with the MPK61, the transport buttons can transmit MIDI stop/start commands as well as controller data. There are lots of ways to control Sonar's start/stop and start/pause functions:
 

• Keyboard shortcut
• Generic control surface setting
• Set your MPK61 transport to transmit MIDI start/stop commands, which is far more common than MMC anyway. Then, follow these directions (from Sonar's documentation):

 
1. Configure the external MIDI device you want to use as the master device to transmit MIDI Sync [i.e., set the MPK61 to transmit MIDI start/stop instead of MMC].
2. Go to Edit > Preferences > MIDI Devices.
3. Make sure that your MIDI interface is highlighted in the Inputs list, and click OK.
4. Click the Transmit MIDI Sync button  in the Sync module to use the MIDI Sync clock source.
From now on, SONAR starts playback and recording only after the appropriate message is received from the master device.
 
 

Anderton

anxiousmofo
Thanks, but I already own X3 standard.  I haven't been able to get it to work, but I am a neophyte and admittedly could be missing something. 

MMC is a specification that involves several elements. Not all gear supports all aspects. Sonar's MMC does what it's . One person came in here saying that MMC didn't work because he couldn't sync to Sonar using MMC. He didn't understand that the gear he wanted to control from Sonar didn't support synching through MMC; it needed MIDI clock and song position pointer messages, which of course Sonar can send. 
 
So if you can describe exactly what it is you want to do, that would help.

Thanks all for the responses, including to Bob for his ongoing assistance.  As for what I would like to do, I would like for my transport controls, track arming buttons and the knobs/faders to work in X3, as well as the arpeggiator and similar buttons, with a minimum of exertion. 
 
As for the gent who seemed to indicate that I was lazy in not wanting to program things and should be duly ignored, I offer that I work 13-16 hours a day. I also parent a toddler.  As such, I have precious little free time.  I get great enjoyment out of making music, and prefer to do that in my downtime as opposed to programming a DAW. I hope that is somewhat understandable.
 
I will try the above offered suggestions over the weekend and get back to you. Many thanks to all!
 
 

anxiousmofo
As for what I would like to do, I would like for my transport controls, track arming buttons and the knobs/faders to work in X3, as well as the arpeggiator and similar buttons, with a minimum of exertion.

 
Then I think Dan's solution in post #11 is likely to be the ticket. 
 

As for the gent who seemed to indicate that I was lazy in not wanting to program things and should be duly ignored, I offer that I work 13-16 hours a day. I also parent a toddler.  As such, I have precious little free time.  I get great enjoyment out of making music, and prefer to do that in my downtime as opposed to programming a DAW. I hope that is somewhat understandable.

For some reason, we've had several people come in here lately (or maybe it's all the same person posting under an alt) claiming to be "professionals" who are soooo busy they can't be bothered to actually take the time to learn things or type a few words into a search engine. I think you were mistaken for one of those. 

I greatly appreciate the help from all and will report back as soon as I have had time to work through this. 
 
For what it is worth, I googled at length trying to figure this out before I came here, and I consider learning to be a lifelong pursuit and pleasure. :)

anxiousmofo 
For what it is worth, I googled at length trying to figure this out before I came here, and I consider learning to be a lifelong pursuit and pleasure. :)

Well, then you're definitely not one of the usual suspects.

Yup - you seem to be human, SO far.  :)
 
Post back when you get a chance to try out some of the suggestions.
 
Bob Bone
 

So, I made some headway over the weekend using ACT, but not a complete solution.
 
I first tried the suggestion in post 11, but the Akai MPK49 preset did not work at all with my MPK61.  I then downloaded and imported the MPK88 X2 preset file that Robert posted in post 9.  That got my basic transport working, but I am still unable to use the faders, rotary knobs or track arming buttons. I tried to work with the preset in order to get the rest of the stuff working, but screwed it up and had to delete the preset, reimport and start over.  I then ran out of time, but it is a start.
 
I've appreciated the help thus far.  If anyone has any quick n' dirty tips on how to get the rest working, I would appreciate it, but will otherwise see if I can find what I need in the manual or online when time allows (read: someday?).
 
I was pleased enough by the working transport that I did upgrade to Studio, for what it is worth. Hope I can get the rest in order. 

My first reply was "unfriendly", but Anderton has explained the reason.
Well, you are "real human", so I should apologize for my (mis)behaviour. Please understand that I had a small problem with your original post: I see that I can try to help, but all my proposal are going to consume your time and you explicitly mark that you do not have it. From what I know there is no simple solutions (AKAI provides no special support for SONAR).
 
There are several resources about ACT, but I can recommend my own site (see my signature), especially
http://www.azslow.com/index.php/topic,107.0.html
 
You can skip my jokes and my plug-in descriptions to save time, but from my knowledge that is the only complete description for ACT MIDI plug-in, with all limitations explained.

Thanks, azslow3.  I will definitely check out your site as time allows.  I hate to sound so busy, but I am.  My work schedule has been driving me up the wall, and I apologize for having that spill over here.
 
I recognize how frustrating it can be when people come on forums expecting that there is a pushbutton magic trick to everything and that things should just fall in one's lap with no learning involved. There is craft and acquired skill in almost everything worthwhile, so that approach is largely BS.  That said, Sonar is the only DAW I have encountered where my Akai didn't work right out the gate; maybe I had just come to expect that sort of thing.
 
Either way, making progress, and I appreciate the continued help!