I recently started work on a new track with a friend.
 
The track is piano driven with a lot of ritards in transitions mid song. 
 
We have recorded the piano part only so far, but given the nature of the song we didn't use a click track.
It was recorded as midi (not audio) but when we come to add more parts (e.g. BFD) it would be useful if the timing was in sync.
 
So... what's the best way of sync'ing the project timing to the midi?
I've had a dabble with audiosnap but it failed with several warnings about the transients.
 
~ Tony

The best way would probably be to play the track via headphones to the musicians who are trying to create the illusion of performing ensemble as they record the new tracks. That gives them, not just the groove, but the nuances of expression etc. No machine or studio trick is as powerful as good musicianship.

You need to use - Process>Fit Improvisation which requires you to record a midi tap tempo count with say a midi hi-hat (or other instrument) on a new track. Record a four count per bar track, playing along with your piano track for the entire song. Once finished, you have to then make sure that you have your first count as the start of the project (bar one, first beat) to keep it all in sync. With that track highlighted, go to Fit improvisation and it will sync your piano track with your count by adjusting the tempo. Remember to delete or mute the count track when you are done.
Pete

I want the project to follow the midi piano i.e. keep the natural timing.
 
The biggest problem we have is laying down a drum pattern because in lieu of a drummer it's programmed by hand. 
If Sonar understands where the beat in then this becomes much easier.

That's exactly what 'Fit Improvisation' does. All you are doing is giving Sonar a reference as to where to place the bars. You can also change the time signatures, if needed, once the bars have been set down. It will not change the timing of the piano track, it adjusts the tempo which will be always changing to keep up with the piano track.
Pete.

Strange, Fit Improvisation just says that "Required tempo exceeds available range".
 
I've tried selecting the whole midi track and just the first couple of bars.
 
You can see that the timing is well off, the tempo was 120bpm... but it looks more like a very loose 72bpm.
 
If I try to lock the midi to absolute musical position and manually set the tempo, it just slows the midi's performance down. I want it to change the project tempo and keep the midi where it is.
 
 

If it's all about getting a MIDI drum track down then bounce the MIDI tracks to audio to lock in the performance and then follow the Fit to improvisation procedure.

Bingo.
 
1. Freeze the track to Audio
2. Follow this tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VR7WkHywTo
 

Ta daaa!