In my humble way I've had a lot of fun with Sonar, and its testament to the program that I've got as far with it as I have without major problems.
 
Last night though, I was trying record some audio from a website with Sonar (X3 Studio) and it took me ages to even get the sound showing up on the meter. 10 minutes later I still hadn't worked out how to record it, so I gave up.
 
When I do my little guitar things, the program just basically works, so I've never really needed to understand too much about the nuts and bolts. But I wondered if somebody could direct me to any videos or whatever where I can a get a better understanding of, for example, setting the inputs up to record from a website or just basically recording my guitar etc, and its embarassing to ask, but should my various tracks all be output to the master track, I've always assumed so, but I thought somebody was saying not.
 
As you can see I'm a bit confused, and I think its time to try and address my ignorance - thanks for any help.

There are tutorials, videos, and books available, to teach you all kinds of things about using Sonar.  Many are free, with some videos and the books costing some money (but not too much).
 
As far as the output question - by default, an audio track is set to go to the Master Bus.  Whether or not you use additional sub-buses is entirely up to you.
 
Having multiple sub-buses is optional and really for grouping levels and effects for common instruments and vocals.  
 
Watch some of the basic mixing videos available for Sonar, and you will get a good understanding of how to use sub-buses, and why.
 
Bob Bone
 

When I record stuff off the internet, I use Sound Forge, but there are free audio editors that will do the job.  Audacity is free; http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Well, just understanding signal flow will tell ya that trying to record when the source is inside the box is always a little tricky.
 
The web site is outputting audio on, I guess the 2496's main outputs. You want to record that signal, which has already been converted to audio, back into the box, via the 2496's inputs. So, in effect, looping it back in. If you don't have an external mixer what you need to do is physically cable the outputs to the inputs. I used to have that audio card and I don't think it can internally patch it for you. 
 
In my system I have a mixer whose alt-outputs are wired to the input of my sound device. So, when I "mute" the channels they are routed back into the computer. So, recording the output of the device is possible since outputs are patched to inputs. 
 
Aside from that weirdo signal loop, most other things work as advertised. Channel to buses to outputs. It's actually easy to whip it up as you need over time. I used to output everything to the soundcard, then I needed some easy way to meter and mute so I created a master bus. Then eventually I wanted finer control over just one type of track, say the drums. So I created a drum bus and routed THAT to the master. Eventually I created what most people use now, which is a Tracks/Sends->Sub Groups/Fx Retruns->Master->Output setup. All buses do is allow you another point in the signal process to isolate and control signals...so just make them as you need them.
 

Another option for recording internal sounds that I use is to use the on-board sound for general windows stuff and keep the expensive audio interface for Sonar. I plug the s/pdif output of the on-board sound to the s/pdif input on my interface for recording/monitoring. Everything is kept digital so no signal degradation.

You could do the same with the standard line outs to a spare pair of inputs but you'd need to keep an eye on the levels..

There are programs that allow downloading of things from sites like YouTube, which download the video files themselves, and then you can convert those to WAV format or whatever you want.
 
I use a program called the YTD Downloader, which is free - you just have to be VERY careful to not end up with extra crap installed when you install the program, because a LOT of the free stuff out there is set up as a 'bundled' install, where they make money by including all sorts of adware and other crap.  So, read each screen prior to clicking Next, and watch for pre-checked boxes for other software and it will then install just fine.
 
It's a great program - and there are tons of those kind of things out there - if that helps you at all.  I just then import the converted WAV file if I want to do something with it.  (I usually import an MP3 version of downloaded songs, just for reference purposes while I build a midi version of a given song - that sort of thing).
 
Anyways - hope any of the above helps - and I also hope you get it all figured out - this is a GREAT forum, with lots of helpful and knowledgeable folks.
 
Bob Bone
 

I use an extension for Firefox, and Chrome, called Video DownloaderHelper.  
 
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/
 
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/video-download-helper/dbkchnicaiglcjpgbmpfmoafckkomdcm?hl=en
 
This will help you avoid, "crapware," from downloaded software.
 
 

Yeah - looks nice - and it lets you delete its included 'feature' of adding price comparison stuff.
 
It didn't look like it does conversion though - maybe I missed it.  With the YTD Downloader, it also has a nice Convert tab, which allows conversion of the video clip to WAV or MP3 or whatever.  I find that easy and useful.
 
But, as I said - there are a zillion of those things out there that are free - just have to be careful on the install.  I just thought something like that might help the original poster get some additional options for doing things with videos from the web for inclusion into Sonar or whatever.  :)
 
Thanks for pointing out that Chrome helper - I'll look around and see what else they have. 
 
Bob Bone
 

I think the paid version has the conversion feature, but I just download the mpeg4 file, import it into Sonar, and export the audio.

robert_e_bone
 
I use a program called the YTD Downloader, which is free 

+1, I use this too. It'll even convert the video to an mp3 in a second pass if you want.