So I want to record the guitar part to a song. The song has a guitar-only intro and the the band (backing track) kicks in. I am recording the guitar part through an external guitar processor (Axe-Fx II) connected through USB and is the input source for Track1. The issue I'm having trouble figuring out is how to start and record the backing track. I want to be able to start recording the guitar intro in Sonar and when it's time for the band (backing track) to kick in, press a foot switch and have the backing track start playing and recording into Track 2. Obviously, the backing tracking will need to reside in another audio application that feeds into Track 2

So my question is two fold:

1) How might I go about having another audio application act as an input to Track 2 since I assume that any other audio application will use the computer's internal sound card as it's output (I am not currently using an external audio interface)

2) Any ideas on what other application would allow for the kind of foot switch control I need to start it at just the right time and that would all work?

Thanks in advance!

You will get better answers than mine but what I would try to do first is to import the band tracks. Then match the tempo to the bands tempo. Then play the guitar intro and then move tracks around so that the guitar track plays first. As long as the tempo is correct and your guitar part is on tempo, I should work.
 
Since I have not done exactly what you are trying to do, there maybe issues with my method but that is what I would try first. Seems easier.

Yep, determine the tempo of the backing track.
 
Assuming the backing track has no silence in place for the intro, just move the start of the backing track clip to start at the measure you need it to.
 
 

mitch23
So I want to record the guitar part to a song. The song has a guitar-only intro and the the band (backing track) kicks in. I am recording the guitar part through an external guitar processor (Axe-Fx II) connected through USB and is the input source for Track1. The issue I'm having trouble figuring out is how to start and record the backing track. I want to be able to start recording the guitar intro in Sonar and when it's time for the band (backing track) to kick in, press a foot switch and have the backing track start playing and recording into Track 2. Obviously, the backing tracking will need to reside in another audio application that feeds into Track 2

So my question is two fold:

1) How might I go about having another audio application act as an input to Track 2 since I assume that any other audio application will use the computer's internal sound card as it's output (I am not currently using an external audio interface)

2) Any ideas on what other application would allow for the kind of foot switch control I need to start it at just the right time and that would all work?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Mitch,
 
1.  Try a rewire application (e.g. Reaper, Ableton Live, etc.).  There is a lot of info on the net regarding "rewire".
 
2.  Most sequencers/DAWs have MIDI control capabilities and is as easy as click and move to attached a controller (like a foot switch connect to the MIDI controller) to most functions and parameters in DAWs or plug-in.  This is referred to as MIDI learn in most apps.
 
I strongly suggest the use of an audio interface for use with SONAR.  In most cases, consumer grade sound cards (and internal cards for laptops) are insufficient for handling low latency digital to audio conversion, particularly when recording and playing multiple tracks, for instance.  You will easily experience pops and crackles with low end sound cards as well as drop outs.
 
Check the Cakewalk Knowledge base for info on all the above.
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker
 

maximumpower
You will get better answers than mine but what I would try to do first is to import the band tracks. Then match the tempo to the bands tempo. Then play the guitar intro and then move tracks around so that the guitar track plays first. As long as the tempo is correct and your guitar part is on tempo, I should work.
 
Since I have not done exactly what you are trying to do, there maybe issues with my method but that is what I would try first. Seems easier.

Unless I'm missing something, that's what I would recommend as well. But there are some aspects of what you want to do that aren't clear. For example, does the intro follow a beat? If so, after importing the backing track you can copy a couple of measures (or however long the intro is) from it and paste that before the main track, then play along with it. After recording the guitar part, remove the "faux" intro.

Thanks for the answers. What I didn't make clear in my post was that the intro is kinda free form and doesn't follow a beat hence the need to be able to start the backing track at will. So putting the backing track in Sonar won't work.

So record your introduction. Then place the backing track after it, where ever you want it to start.

Yes to your question (Living Room Locker's detail); however, I also agree with the consensus of playing your intro in one track, and putting the backing track in another track (import audio, etc.). This way you can eliminate possible noise from routing, and easily adjust the clip timing start (which you will most likely want anyway even with an external trigger). You can even record "piece meal" that way and "bounce to clips" when done to make "one clip" of your guitar track (i.e., record the intro to the backing start point and stop, adjust the backing clip to the desired point, and continue the guitar track to play with the backing track for the remainder).
 
In doing this (only), tempo would be irrelevant since the clips will be timed in relation to each other.

mudgel
So record your introduction. Then place the backing track after it, where ever you want it to start.

+1- It don't get any easier than that!