I'm new to Sonor X3 (previously worked with a much older version) and am simply trying to export a project to MP3. Unfortunately, the 'Audio' option under File->Export is not enabled. The only option enabled is 'Track Template'. I'm sure there's just something basic I'm missing. Can anyone help out a newbie?

Tracks must be selected to enable the export option.

I use Ctrl key + A key and it selects all tracks, then you should get all the export options. eg mp3 etc

scook
Tracks must be selected to enable the export option.

Hmm. I've tried that and still no go. Simple as Edit->Select->Select All, correct? Still does not enable the export dialog. Am I missing something stupid here?

It sounds like the project may contain only MIDI tracks being played through the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth. If this is the case, there is nothing to export because there is nothing in the project producing sound. In order to export audio from SONAR, something in SONAR must be producing audio. This might be a good time to run through the tutorials in the "Getting Started" section of the help files especially tutorial #4.
 
If the above assumptions are wrong, providing more details about the project and your hardware/software configuration may be necessary to provide a solution.

That's probably it. Thanks!

scook
It sounds like the project may contain only MIDI tracks being played through the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth. If this is the case, there is nothing to export because there is nothing in the project producing sound. In order to export audio from SONAR, something in SONAR must be producing audio. This might be a good time to run through the tutorials in the "Getting Started" section of the help files especially tutorial #4.
 
If the above assumptions are wrong, providing more details about the project and your hardware/software configuration may be necessary to provide a solution.

Looked at the tutorial and still a bit confused. I can't even get the midi tracks to bounce to an audio track - they don't show up as a source. Is there something about the GS Wavetable Synth that doesn't support this? Do I need an alternate Synth output? I don't recall this from the previous version of Sonor I used.

To save some typing here is a thread about using the Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2221378 I would suggest using soft synths instead. The TTS-1 is the GM synth supplied with SONAR.

+1
There's no reason to use GS wavetable synth when X3 offers so much better options in soft synths.
You don't mention which version of X3 you are using, though, so I don't know what synths you've got.
Do the tutorial about using soft synths and study the Help files & Youtube videos.
 
BTW, selecting nothing equals to selecting all.

Sonar comes with some really nice soft synths, which you will like much better than the cheesy MS sounds.
 
The TTS-1 is a nice GM synth, and is multi-timbral, meaning that it can play multiple sounds at the same time.  (you can have a different sound on each of 16 midi channels, or could assign multiple sounds to the same midi channel, or combine those approaches as desired).
 
It will require some investment of time into learning the ropes with Sonar, but if you go through the tutorials and videos, and consider picking up one of the REALLY well-written books on Sonar, you will get up to speed MUCH faster, and create much higher quality work in the process.
 
Just a heads up - IF you are not currently using a dedicated audio interface with Sonar, you may begin having dropouts and crackly noisy sound, once you start using the soft synths, or get into larger projects.  If this happens, it is because of all of the massive analog/digital conversion that has to take place all being handled by your CPU.
 
An audio interface has dedicated circuitry to take over that daunting conversion of conversion, and is really a needed component for using Sonar.  A basic interface will run from around $120 to around $160, and fancier ones with more inputs can run up to and over $500.
 
I know the above was not part of your questions - but I thought you might want to know ahead of time, so that you can prepare for adding one to your budget at some point.
 
Bob Bone