So I've watched several vids and no getting around the fact that using the mulit instrument capabilities of kontakt takes time to set up...another wrench in musical creativity/production...
 
However, just discovered X3 can save multi-tracks in "track templates"... which should make it quick, no?
 

trying it now... audio/midi tracks take awhile to set up... hope this is worth it!

The problem is that you are using simple instrument tracks and having to work from that instead of simply insert via the synth rack in the Browser. Doing so will create all the audio tracks needed and all you have to do is create MIDI tracks as needed to out to that one instance of Kontakt. You do that with MIDI channels. 

OK!  Working with KONTAKT multi outs just got EASY!!!!!  Saved my first Kontakt track template... and now, it takes 2 seconds to bring up another instance, fully configured!!!!
 
I LOVE YOU, BAKERS!!!!  YOU'VE JUST INHANCED MY KONTAKT ARTISTRY...BY A ZILLION!!!!
TRACK TEMPLATES ROCK!
 
It's SOOOOOOOO simple... set up an 8out Kontakt mult by, as John noted, draging the 8 out version from the browser (gotta rename um first!) 
add midi tracks for each audio out....
name everything so your brain can like it all....
bring up File>Export>Track Template 
make a kontakt folder, name it so your brain will relate, and shove it in there...
 
Next time you want that 8 track setup?  5 seconds... insert... track template!  want another?  5 more seconds...
do it for Omnisphere, whatever....
 
I'm So Stoked!!!!
We need a vid on this... I just checked all the daw vids and no one mentioned this... while trying to understand how others are doin' it!
 
just checked and guess track templates are old hat but why didn't anyone mention this for Kontakt???

Watching Cakewalk's Jimmy Landry bring up his track template for Addictive Drums will bring joy to your heart as well.
 
I have boring track templates - vocal with condenser mic, vocal with SM58, guitar, that kind of stuff. I really should do a Kontakt one.

Vastman
 
I'm So Stoked!!!!
We need a vid on this... I just checked all the daw vids and no one mentioned this... while trying to understand how others are doin' it!
 

You must be buying the wrong videos. 
 
Track templates are fully covered in my SWA Sonar X2 Complete video in the "Project, Track & Bus Templates (2:09:01)" chapter. ......

· Checking audio routing and setting the default buss
· Inserting tracks & busses
· Setting tempo & measures
· Setting up the Metronome
· Inserting FX
· Track Templates - Inserting & Creating
· Buss templates
 
Although I don't cover Kontakt I do explain that any number of tracks, synths, FX, busses etc and all routings can be included in a single track template.
 
I also cover how to set up and recall buss templates.

Actually, Karl... I've bought all of yours... and watched them all, though my studio was down for a long time and I'm old and my brain doesn't store as well as it should...
 
For the first time I'm really using Sonar and am beginning to go thru all the vids at times, dual monitor like and practice your techniques... sorry my brain is a bit fried. I am a loyal supporter of your work and actually using X3 rigorously will help your lessons sink in...

Anderton
Watching Cakewalk's Jimmy Landry bring up his track template for Addictive Drums will bring joy to your heart as well.
 
I have boring track templates - vocal with condenser mic, vocal with SM58, guitar, that kind of stuff. I really should do a Kontakt one.

Craig... I think it would be great for CAKE to include many more such templates in a package for us users...or as a part of the next update...  I just got a friend into sonar and he's lost... and while it's good exercise for me to help him, it's like the almost blind leading the blind... He uses Kontakt and I pointed him to the forum info and he said maybe later, as he'll just use mixcraft for now (bought Studio X3)...It is overwhelming, at first.
 
I spent all night struggling with Kontakt and while it was good mental exercise, including more templates for hugely popular multi-timberal/channel synths/samplers like Omnisphere, Kontakt and Addictive drums would be a big help to many less seasoned users and be a selling point... I just love effect chain presets... saves huge amounts of time...and now I realize track templates are there (I'm oblivious at times) I am really encouraged that once I do the homework I'll be able to create more climate music rather than fiddle with setups...
 
 

@Dana (Vastman)
 
There are a BUNCH of really good videos and books out there, that would REALLY benefit you to look at picking up.
 
Sonar also has a bunch of documentation, but the books and videos arrange the concepts and shortcuts to productivity, as well as explain all of the different functionality, and they are quite good.
 
I have yellow highlighter all over one of the Sonar Power books (from 8.5.3), and all the pages are all gnarled over and there is Chinese food stains in many of the chapters.  These resources will GREATLY reduce the time it takes to learn things, and just reading through the table of contents will likely open your eyes to some of the features you might otherwise not find for weeks or months into owning the product.
 
And, of course, there is the forum - I learn things EVERY day from various threads here, and that is one of the driving reasons I work so hard to help others.
 
Welcome to it, and I wish you the best in bringing out the best of your creativity, that's what all of this is all about.
 
Bob Bone
 

Bob... I thank you ever so much... as I was telling Karl, I've got um all...and watched them before but was never actively using Sonar more than during a few periods here and there when my life allowed... I actually have every vid, all the big books from whats his name (apologies, mighty writer of the stack on my shelf)...bought um all at full price and am beginning to go back over them now, interspersed with starting to create songs again...The SWA/groove vids have lots in them I need to incorporate and actually using X3 daily will help me reatain the info I forget otherwise.
 
It is really exciting, my rig is now able to handle whatever I throw at it with nary a hiccup and the new Forte is rendering my base/voice as I never imagined...tonight I used my Kontakt template, stored some bin groups I like, riffed on a song idea about the Arctic Emergency we have, using the comping tool which I just love...chopped up bass parts in minutes, migrating the best clips to the main whateveryoucallit, and gosh, it is soooooo coool... things are getting quicker as I realize how to navigate this amazingly awesome platform... and I can see it fast becoming my dream come true for capturing artistic creations...
 
This is the first real commitment I'm making to spend every evening songwriting and learning... even printed out all the shortcuts, as mudgel suggested, although the font is way too small for my eyes...and my brain doesn't remember stuff like that very well. I know I need to now do due diligence and go back over all the vids...memorizing things has never come easy to me, but I'm finding that every time I want to do something I need to be diligent in finding the smart way and Sonar, at this stage in it's development, has many such smart ways I've yet to cultivate and incorporate into my being...There's lots I don't need but sooo much that will facilitate my songwriting goals...
 
Single again, reduced garden workload...and I'm making the commitment that this year I'll get it down thanks to all the above and all of your wonderful help.  I do google for answers and am investing the time.  I always try to find an answer and sorry when I post excitement about discovering the obvious... My daughter routinely says, "dad, I told you that last week!"  So I'm trying repetitive muscle memory learning this time... This is the year I will become a power user, despite my ageing memory...as I now see how much more fluent I can be in my ultimate goal of writing climate music to wake people up.
 
All of you are so gracious with your time... I admire and respect you all greatly and will do our beloved platform of choice justice this year.  I promise!