Is there a business or person who can help learning how to do various SONAR things on my computer? A remote connection would be required (such as GoToMyPC or ???). From time to time I am absolutely clueless about how to proceed and I would be happy to pay a professional rate to fix the problems. For example, right now I need to connect the Akai MPD26 so the transport buttons work and the individual pads/buttons are assignable to a drum sound.
 
[Yes, I've heard of Obedia, but it is not at all obvious that they really exist. I have sent email at least 6 times and never once received a reply. I have also tried to sign up and never received the so-called "login" code. So, I'm hoping there is someone else who can help.]
 
Thank you,
John 

John:   http://www.akaipro.com/product/mpd26#downloads
 
Quick Start Guide
 
 

Hi John,
 
I have the MPD 26.  What specific issues are you having.  The transport can be made to work via midi learn and setting up a generic control surface.  Let me know what you are trying to do.. I will help if I can. Thanks.

Yup - there is a WHOLE BUNCH of folks here in the forum here to help you with whatever ails you.
 
This forum is a little oasis of commonality  - and is essentially one giant dysfunctional, but meaning well, family. (give or take a troll)
 
Most of the things we face individually with our gear or with Sonar have been experienced and conquered by someone here in the forum, and posting issues and engaging in finding the solution is what this forum is largely all about, so don't be shy.
 
Go post, man, go post.  :)
 
Bob Bone
 

NOTE TO StarTekh: Yes, I have the "QuickStart Guide". While the guide contains interesting information about the MDP26 device, there is nothing there that explains installation or making SONAR work. I also have all the manuals provided by Vysex and a rather odd one-page printout from Akai talking about the MPK88 keyboard controller. (Yes, it has keys and pads and is similar, but...)
NOTE TO LunaTech: As a beginning answer to the question posed by LunaTech (lol), let's say I do the following: (1) Plug in MPD26 to USB port. (2) Select MDP26 preset named "SONAR" and "push to enter". (3) Launch Vyzex application on PC and notice the error message: "Can't open MIDI Out Port Game Controller 1. Driver may already be in use." (4) Then I get a Vyzex screen with: Receiving: Akai Professional MDP26 Edit Buffer MIDI IN Port: [Akai MPD26] MIDI OUT Port: [Akai MPD 26] Comm Channel: 0 Bytes Received: 0
...and the dialog never does anything else and never receives data.
So, I "Cancel All" and finally see the full Vyzex MPD26 editor dialog and then don't know... a) ...if anything is wrong - like Midi Port 1 or no data   --or-- b) ...what to do next.
Of course, you may wonder why I even launch Vyzex. I don't have a good reason, but the error seems important.
So, at this point, we haven't even discussed starting SONAR and creating some kind of generic device and actually talking to the MPD26.
Well, this is just the beginning. Tomorrow I'll start typing up an  error-by-error list of problems when I try to edit SONAR preferences and "connect" to the MPD26.
Meanwhile, I would like again suggest the possibility of PC-to-PC connect so that you can see immediately what the errors are. The direct experience on my PC would probably save a lot of time. And of course I'll pay for it.
 
 [P.S. I don't understand how to answer a post directly, so this is just a sort of general post hoping that you see it.

John: there is a ton of pro free help here .. I would use that !!

Ok John,
 
You are absolutely correct in assuming why you need the Vyzex.  If I may, I would propose that we table it for now as I do not think that it plays a role in seeing if the device works in Sonar...
 
With that said, this forum is users helping each other with the guys at Cakewalk actually chiming in to assist when they can.  While I usually do not casually turn down cash.. This is one of the occasions where I will keeping in mind that if getting assistance is chargeable then I owe a bunch of people here a fortune for all of the help that I have been given.
 
So, Let go with the physical connection of the device and confirming that the OS sees it (Device Manager) and then firing up Sonar and confirming that Sonar sees it in "Edit - Preferences - Midi Devices. Go ahead and use the Sonar preset on the MPD.
 
Once that is confirmed you can then do a simple check to see if it is communicating with Sonar.  You can load any instrument for now with a simple instrument track, (This can be done from the Browser Area). You can choose "Synth" from the choices at the top of the browser. Then select the "+" sign and this will show you a list of available instruments. Choose an instrument with as stated earlier a simple instrument track. The instruments interface will open and from there you can choose a "patch" so that the instrument can make a sound.  Highlight the track number of the instrument , go to  where the track and bus are showing on the left (where the pro channel resides) and choose the "track" view if not chosen. From there at the bottom of the track you can choose for the input "All Inputs - Midi Omni for this test.  Check to see at this point if pushing the pad generates any sound and let us know.  We can go from there.
 

johnchaf
(3) Launch Vyzex application on PC and notice the error message: "Can't open MIDI Out Port Game Controller 1. Driver may already be in use."

Hi John, I read down through this thread and this comment stuck out most to me. Could you help us help you by letting us know what you have for a computer (build, Operating System, audio interface)? When getting started (especially connecting a controller), *understanding* (not having someone do for you) driver modes (ASIO vs WDM), MIDI, etc., will save you a lot of headache later on. Your quote above sounds like Windows does have your interface "in use," but before sending you "down a path," could you provide us the above info?
 
To other's points here, this forum is loaded with a bunch of smart and helpful folks (your BEST resource); and there are also a bunch of nice resources both on Cakewalk's documentation and other pages.
 
Michael

NOTE TO LunaTech:
(1) Computer > Manage > Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers    ...correctly shows Akai MPD26
(2) SONAR X3 Producer > Edit > Preferences > MIDI > Devices    ...correctly shows Akai MPD26 in both the "Inputs" and "Outputs" panels.
At this time, the "Inputs" panel has 3 items checked: 3 V-Control, TheComputerWorks, and Akai MPD26.
At this time, the "Outputs" panel has 3 items checked: 3 V-Control, Akai MPD 26, and TheComputerWorks. NOTE: "TheComputerWorks" is the full computer name. NOTE: V-Control is part of an iPad control application that does not work. [However, I did get AC-7 Pro HD to work a while ago.]
(3) I then started a new SONAR project, inserted a single audio track, inserted a single MIDI track, dragged a synth over to the audio track. On the MIDI track I set IN = "All Inputs Omni" and I also set OUT = Addictive Drums vsti (64-bit).
After clicking the Play and Stop button, not only would the mouse play the various drum sounds but so did the pads on MPD26. OK, not every pad was playing something, but many pads were playing. So I saved the project and am now happily standing by for the next lesson.
 
It was a bit wierd about clicking the Play and Stop button. It's sorta like Addictive Drums needed a jump start.
 

Here is a brief equipment list: Computer = MSI GT70 laptop, Core i7-3940XM, 3.00GHz, Windows 7 64-bit, 16GB ram, SSD and HDD; DAW = Sonar X3 Producer; Monitors = Mackie HR824; Audio Interface = SPL Channel One, FocusRite Scarlett 8i6 (haven't tried either yet); Mics = Rode NTK, AKG C414B-XLII, Audio-Technica AT4040; Keyboard = Yamaha CP-33; MIDI = MOTU midi express (8 channels, don't use), Cakewalk UM-1G USB MIDI interface; Audio Drivers = ASIO4ALL