I have X3, and I want to record from my keyboard to sonar. When I connect directly to my computer via mic jack and record the playback loses quite a bit, like going from a fm radio to a am radio. Is there some type of midi interface I should use to do this, or what is the correct way for this.
Thanks for your help
Terry 

You will likely need an actual audio interface to pick up the audio output from your keyboard and record it in Sonar, where it has good audio quality.
 
The sound quality from using the on-board sound of your computer is not really going to cut it.
 
A basic but well-made audio interface will run somewhere around $150 and up, with more cost for more features.  The $150 interfaces will likely have a limited number of inputs, but will likely do the job for capturing your keyboard and probably 1 mic.  (the more expensive ones will have more inputs/outputs, and more mic pre-amps, and all that.
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks for the reply Bob, this is all fairly new to me. I have a Cakewalk V-Studio 100, will this work as a good audio interface.
Thanks
Terry

tcausey
I have a Cakewalk V-Studio 100, will this work as a good audio interface.
 

Yes.

Also, you need to know that your keyboard may produce MIDI and audio signal. With recording MIDI, you need to connect it via USB or 5-pin MIDI and you need a soft synth or hardware synth to convert the MIDI into actual sounds. MIDI doesn't make any sounds without synths. 
If you are recording audio from your synth, you need to use a line input or mic pre-amp. 
 
CJ
 

Thanks for the replys, this gets me started,
Thanks Again

tcausey
When I connect directly to my computer via mic jack and record the playback loses quite a bit...

My guess would be the big issue here is that you're going from stereo to mono using a Mic input. Your options are:
 
1. Use a stereo cable with TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) phone plugs on both ends from the headphone out on the keyboard (probably 1/4") to a stereo input on the interface (probably 1/8" if it has one).
 
2. Get a dual-mono-to-stereo TRS Y-cable to connect as above using mono instrument cables from the mono L/R outputs on your keyboard.
 
2. Get a "real" audio interface with at least one (stereo) pair of mono inputs to which you can connect the L/R mono outputs from the keyboard separately using mono instrument cables.
 
 
 
 

I have a Yamaha digital piano, and it has a single stereo output jack 1/4", and I use a $4 splitter I got from Radio Shack to split the stereo signal into two 1/4" mono jacks, and I use 2 instrument cables to connect to a left and right input on my audio interface.
 
And, if you want to take advantage of all the nice soft synths, like Dimension Pro, you will likely want to connect a USB cable from your keyboard to your computer - making sure you load your keyboard's Windows drivers as well.  This will allow the transmission and capture of midi data - keys pressed and such, from your keyboard, into Sonar.
 
I have some incredible piano samples on my computer, and routinely trigger those via that Yamaha keyboard, using the USB connection to the computer to transmit the note information to trigger those wonderful sounds.  (even the wrong notes sound good).
 
I highly recommend you read some of the Cakewalk documentation, watch some of the videos, and consider picking up on of the "How to Use Sonar to Take Over the World" books - I had a Sonar 8.1 Power book that had GREAT information in it.
 
Cakewalk is a lot easier to use for beginners these days, but it is still a professional, full-featured program, and you will get a lot out of investing some time into learning both the basics, as well as more advanced functionality.  It will enrich your use of the product tremendously.
 
Your audio interface should work well with Sonar, but you have to make sure you get the basic setup and settings right, or you will have some frustration.
 
This forum is also a great source of assistance - but it would be good if you also read the doc as well.
 
Welcome to it, I hope you find great enjoyment with Sonar - it is a great product.  :)
 
Bob Bone
 

Terry, consider recording MIDI rather than audio, then subsequently let the computer "play" the part on your synthesizer.
 
This has many advantages:
- you can correct your mistakes and adjust velocities
- you can transpose the part
- you can try different synth patches with the same part
- you can substitute a soft synth for the part, e.g. Dimension Pro
- don't have to worry about audio concerns while composing
 
If you decide to use the same synth for the actual audio, you might want to record it via S/PDIF rather than through an analog connection. It'll be guaranteed to be free of noise and won't be subject to the kinds of issues you're seeing now (probably caused by impedance and/or level mismatches). The VS-100 does S/PDIF, but you'll have to check if your synthesizer does.