After reading this I finally took the time to figure out how to use EIs. Works pretty good with a MOTU Audio Express, tho it only has 4 I/Os so I may have to use an output splitter, but no biggie. 
 
Recording "wet" has it's disadvantages but I find it easier and better using outboard gear this way.
 
Also, if you have more than one outboard effect, what's the best way to route their outputs to Sonar? More mixers, more splitters? Ugh!
 
When using the Online Help:
http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR X2&language=4&help=ix.html
there is no way to locate the External Insert info without using the Search Box at the top. It does appear in a link at the bottom of the Mixing page if you know to go there.

I am SUPER into them. And count me among the folks who think mono inserts would be really nice. Sure would make my I/O routing simpler.
 
Beepster: regarding going out of your interface to guitar gear, a Little Labs Redeye works really well for it. In fact, here's a (fairly long) post I did about using guitar gear with Sonar (though I didn't use E.I. to do it):
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Hybrid-virtualreal-guitar-setup-m3043153.aspx
 
In that post I'm going to a guitar amp instead of guitar pedals, but the same principle applies.
 
Dean

I like external hardware effects; but it is too much trouble to route them from the VS-700.  I usually have to send a digital out/in and that only works with some things.  On my ancient Tascam 388, it was easy to insert an effect on a channel, or to have an external send/return.  (Of course, on a large analog board, that is taken for granted.)

Razorwit
I am SUPER into them. And count me among the folks who think mono inserts would be really nice. Sure would make my I/O routing simpler.
 
Beepster: regarding going out of your interface to guitar gear, a Little Labs Redeye works really well for it. In fact, here's a (fairly long) post I did about using guitar gear with Sonar (though I didn't use E.I. to do it):
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Hybrid-virtualreal-guitar-setup-m3043153.aspx
 
In that post I'm going to a guitar amp instead of guitar pedals, but the same principle applies.
 
Dean

Hiya, Dean. That's cool stuff. I really do need to get some kind of real splitter solution going at some point. I have some workarounds right now that should be cool but they are a little convoluted. You did however make me have an idea for yet another routing option. My line6 head has stereo effects sends/returns (as well as a plethora of other connectors) that mind prove useful in conjunction with the external insert option. I'd have to read up on both those connections and the EI option in Sonar though because it may not quite work the way I'm thinking.
 
Cheers.

OK, so I have an EI all set up in the master bus and it sounds great.
 
Now I want to export the mix. Only the finished mix is flatlined silence. Fast bounce is off.
Even using another wave recorder results in -0- input. So what do you do to get the mix mastered?
 

I have it routed out to my refrigerator....and then on the return path, is a beer.  After a couple of playbacks, you don't even notice the latency.

Is it USB or FW?

I have used it in the past to route the signal to a reverb, comp, or eq, but it seemed like my ITB stuff worked good enough not to need it.

With VSTi's external inserts are becoming superfluous. I personally am on a hardware reduction binge to keep my signal chain as noise-free as possible.

I sometimes use external inserts to output a midi track to my old but trusty rack unit Roland XV5050 module and audio through my old and trusty units Digitech DSP 256XL effects unit, my Digitech GSP 21 Pro guitar module  as well as some stomp effects like my Empress ParaEq, Rothwell Love Squeeze compressor, TC electronics Nova Modulator and Nova Repeater. So far all have Worked very well through the external insert. It's a very useful feature.