Hi guys. I don't know if any of you have encountered this problem but in the past, when I was using earlier versions of Sonar Producer this particular problem has never existed. I have one song that I use 4 MIDI controllers with. The project features 17 tracks all together out of which 4 tracks are being played LIVE using those 4 MIDI controllers. All the MIDI Devices are listed and checked within the Preferences section of the Sonar X3. Each MIDI controller transmits on MIDI Channel 1. So, the setup looks like this:
 
Track 10 - Kurzweil PC3x - MIDI Channel 1
Track 11 - Novation Supernova II - MIDI Channel 1
Track 12 - Roland GAIA - MIDI CHannel 1
Track 13 - Akai MPK 49 - MIDI CHannel 1
 
When all is set and done I do test overall performance and all is well. No problems. I save the song "Save As" (typical Sonar project file format). I close the Sonar X3.
 
Next day I turn on my PC, connect all the MIDI controllers, and start the Sonar X3. I open the saved project, and ........ all the MIDI channels assignments to my MIDI controllers are totally messed up. Upon the examination I get something like this (or variation of it):
 
Track 10 - Kurzweil PC3x - MIDI Channel 2
Track 11 - Kurzweil PC3x - MIDI Channel 4
Track 12 - Roland GAIA - MIDI Channel 2
Track 13 - Akai MPK 49 - MIDI Channel 1
 
Do you guys have any idea why is this happening? It seems like Sonar X3 does not properly save the MIDI Channel assignments. It's weird. I have NEVER experienced anything like this. If I won't be able to fix this then I cannot go on the stage with a LIVE performance because I cannot rely on proper MIDI Channels (and controllers) assignments. Thanks in advance for all of your help. 

I could see ports getting spontaneously reassigned when USB devices get enumerated differently by Windows, but I've never seen input channel assignments change to a different specific channel (maybe from channel 1 on a specific port to All Inputs - Omni, but not to 2 or 4). In any case, I strongly recommend that you have all USB-connected controllers already connected and powered up before you boot your PC to help prevent issues like this. If you're in the habit of connecting them after the fact, I'm surprised you haven't encountered issues before now.

http://forum.cakewalk.com/MIDI-pain-in-ass-Still-an-issue-in-X3E-m2764210.aspx
 

Whenever I plug midi devices into the back of my computer, using USB connectors, after I finish I create a text file that lists what devices are connected to which port on the back panel of the computer.
 
That way, when I move my gear for a gig or for whatever, I always know what has to get plugged into which port.
 
Some of my older stuff used to want me to install drivers again, after plugging into a wrong port, so that's why I started doing the text file.
 
Other than moving gear, I always have everything connected.
 
Bob Bone
 

Windows assigns numbers to ports as the devices get connected.
If you boot computer with the devices connected, the devices can get assigned port numbers in any random order, and you have no control over the port number assignments and Sonar can only guess what device goes to what track input. Some programs (like Brainspawn Forte) have an option to let you just fix the port mapping manually, (regardless of how Windows assigned port numbers), but Sonar lacks this feature.
 
I solved the problem in Sonar by this method:
 
I always boot computer with no midi devices connected (including sound card because it often has a midi driver). Then I plug in the midi devices in SAME order, to same ports. (Pausing to make sure a device is recognized before plugging in next device). I use 4 USB midi controllers connected to a USB hub, and I plug in the hub first (making sure nothing is connected to hub), then connect midi devices to the hub (same port, same order). This method works every time.
 
One you determined the order and then fixed up the track midi inputs (for the last time ) in Sonar, then from then on, if you forgot to disconnect everything before boot up (and the Sonar Midi inputs are messed up), DO NOT TRY TO FIX THE MIDI INPUTS IN SONAR (you are just chasing your tail). Just make sure you disconnect everything reboot and do correct orderly boot up and connections.
 
By trial and error I found the "connection order" that nicely puts the topmost keyboard at beginning of the picklist in Sonar. (Because I found it annoying if the list was not in "top to bottom" order).
 
 
 

Hi guys,
 
Many thanks for all of your input. A truly valuable info indeed, but I have decided to ditch the separate USB connections, and hook up all of my synths to my MIDISport 8x8 Midi patchbay interface. When I did that, all the Midi port assignment problems have disapeared. There is only 8 Midi channels available and four of my synths use 4 Midi Ins and Outs from that Midi patchbay. It doesn't matter when I turn on any particular synth. It's always connected to one of the Midi Ins of the MidiSport 8x8. The key to have a success is to turn on the MidiSport 8x8 Midi patchbay BEFORE turning on the PC. After starting Sonar, the DAW automatically detects the MIDI Sport 8x8 and corresponding assigned channels, and it doesn't re-assign the different channels to different synths. Everything is locked.
 
So, I think I'm gonna use this particular setup (8 channels IN and 8 channels  OUT of MIDISport 8x8 midi interface) since it works for me, but it is definitely worth saving all of the above info from you guys, just in case the future might require to use several USB Midi INs and OUTs.
 
Thanks again for trying to help.