Hi, I want to use Sonar Live and to be able to trigger play whilst controlling a vst synth running in Sonar. Everything I've tried seems to need focus. So if it's on the softsynth it won't control playback and if it's on the main screen I can't control the synth. Any solutions to this problem?

A midi device setup in X1 will work with or without focus.
 
Not sure which ones have a pedal. I was thinking my faderport has a pedal input but now sure.
 
 

The Mackie Control has pedal inputs. I have one for record the other for play/stop. It works without focus. 

Mackie control is a bit too big for live, trying to keep the weight/size down. I have a KMI softstep which is USB midi but it still seems to need focus.

I use an FCB1010. Not currently setup but when it was, Sonar didn't require focus to accept control input for starting or stopping or changing programs or switching devices or programs on and off.

As long as Sonar is setup correctly to receive MIDI on the appropriate channel all should be OK.

Got it working with VST fx but no go on the transport the key binding doesn't seem to work.
 
I only need to get play/stop out of the pedal for transport. I've checked in midi yoke and it's transmitting notes or CC as I set it but no notes will bind to play in the binding section.

I use a midi device binding for start and stop all the time, and Sonar often does not have focus. The thing is--and this is an important "the thing is"--for me it doesn't work the first time after Sonar loads. Whenever I start Sonar Xn, have to first use space bar to start and stop transport once, then the midi bindings work after that, whether sonar has focus or no. (This glitch popped up for me with the X series, wasn't happening in 8.x.) It's like sonar has to first feel a "real" start/stop pc keyboard command before it will wantonly allow itself to be controlled by some cavalier midi control.