Drum maps are created by the Drum map manager and stored in the project and as presets on the hard drive. The location of the Drum map presets is defined in Preferences > File > Folder Locations. The default location is your user directory\AppData\Roaming\Cakewalk\your version of SONAR\Drum Maps. A master copy of the Drum maps is also stored in C:\ProgramData\Cakewalk\your version of SONAR\Drum Maps.
 
Drum maps are assigned to the MIDI output of a track and are visible in the Drum pane of the PRV and used in the step sequencer. Notes may be entered or edited in the Drum Pane just like the note pane.
 
For a synth to use a drum map it must be specified in the MIDI track. Some create track templates with synth MIDI, audio routing and drum maps already defined.
 
SONAR does not include a drum map for Addictive Drums. One was created by a forum member and posted here.

All of that is just gobbeldygook to me :(

Didn't one of the Bakers post some templates for AD a while back? Maybe they set up the drum maps too or because it's an included synth maybe X3 comes with some already made.
 
Again I'll have to look but I heard the super banging on doors about a leak and thought I was next so I haven't booted up yet. He's gone now.

Vab
All of that is just gobbeldygook to me :(

Think of it this way.
 
Your MIDI track gets pointed to a map.
 
The map points to your synth.
 
You enter data into the Drum Grid, it goes to the map then to the synth.
 
That other stuff just means the map gets stored in a folder on your computer like a project template does.
 
This may however be a case of the blind leading the blind here because I haven't used one yet... but that is how I am interpreting what has been said here and the manual entries I skimmed yesterday (which are a little confusing).
 
 

Vab
All of that is just gobbeldygook to me :(

It may be all new to you now. If you work with them a bit and have the help file open to the drum map section while working them, you may find it is not that difficult. If they were I would not use them.

Beepster
 I am interpreting what has been said here and the manual entries I skimmed yesterday (which are a little confusing).

This may be a case where it might be easier to actually try it than read about it. They are pretty straight forward. The tedious bit is creating large maps from scratch. Fortunately there are a lot of presets included with SONAR and others made by users out on the net.

scook

Beepster
 I am interpreting what has been said here and the manual entries I skimmed yesterday (which are a little confusing).

This may be a case where it may be easier to actually try it than read about it. They are pretty straight forward. The tedious bit is creating maps from scratch.

I'm all booted up now so I'm going to make an attempt. I'll try to post a step by step for Vab and anyone else having troubles.
 
And yeah... the manual, as usual, was making it sound a lot more complex than I'm assuming it is based on what has been said here. I think the one thing that was really messing me up was the concept of outputting the track to the map. Seems like an unnecessary step. I'd figure you should be able to just name and assign the grid lines in the pane and that would be that.

scook
 
...work with them a bit and have the help file open to the drum map section while working them, you may find it is not that difficult...

I find that this is so true of many aspects in any DAW. I try very hard to open the manual (or Scott's book) and have it there as a reference and then walk through the steps when I try to learn something new. I try very hard to do this before I go around the bend in frustration.
 
Regards,

Beepster
I think the one thing that was really messing me up was the concept of outputting the track to the map. Seems like an unnecessary step. I'd figure you should be able to just name and assign the grid lines in the pane and that would be that.

There is more to it than assigning names to notes, although this may be all one ends up doing. Normally MIDI output goes directly to a synth. For the map to work MIDI output must be directed to the map where the notes may be translated from one value to another, given a readable name (like "kick drum" instead of C3 or 36), velocity adjustments and output assignment.

One important trick to remember: To change the Out Port of multiple notes at once in the Drum Map Manager, first select the notes whose output port you want to change and then hold down Ctrl+Shift and choose the desired output port from the drop-down of one of the selected notes. 
 
 
 
(edit: this also applies to the Chn column)