Yeah but both tracks were unmuted as stated. Just not selected (at the same time). This isn't the first time I've been messed up because the manual has left out crucial info or been outright wrong. Usually I can sort it out but it just wasn't happening today. Too complex and I had already lost my temper which never helps. Cheers.

Lets try this scenario. We have a MIDI track with drum notes on it. We will use the synth rack to install a drum sample player. In my case it will most likely be BFD2. The Browser holds the synth rack. As you install this player a dialog will appear that allows one to set up how the player will work with Sonar. I most often want all synth outputs stereo. For a drum synth mono is a good option. When this is done click OK and Sonar will load the player and create a number of audio tracks that have as their input the audio out of the synth. 
 
Next I simply route the MIDI track's output to the input of the drum player I also load the kit I want to be used.
 
After adjusting the MIDI also known as editing, when satisfied I freeze it after I have set the internal routing the way I want it. That is each sound going to its own audio track. Going back to the synth rack I hit freeze of that synth. Sonar starts creating audio in each track. 
 
From there I can do anything I wish to the audio. But I can also unfreeze it and start over if I wish.  With a freeze the the synth is bypassed and the MIDI is muted.   

I'm with you, John, I have always used freeze synth if I want audio tracks..

Thanks JB. I stopped using bounce many years ago. Sonar's freeze is so powerful I see no reason to use anything else. I recall when it first appeared and that I couldn't believe how good it was especially compared to Cubase's version.  

No need to thank me, John.  I have learned a lot of my knowledge from you.
 
I have seen some criticism of freezing on here lately, but I think it is from misunderstanding it's power.
 
If I want to preserve the audio when I unfreeze, I can always ctrl+drag the wav to an audio track.
 
 
 

Perhaps the title of this thread (Re: X2 + BFD: Why is my MIDI bounce not working?) needs changing, as you know why your MIDI bouncing was not working - you weren't including any MIDI in the bounce..

In the X3 reference manual in the chapter on "software instruments' under the heading "convert soft synth tracks to audio". In this version it's on page 864/5.

Hope it helps to know these things are in the manual.

Thats not what I see Mike. Page 804 is Editing MIDI events and continuous controllers. Under the chapter MIDI effects (MIDI plug-ins)

Do you have any of bfd's outputs archived? This has bugged me sine X1... If such is the situation (I archive and hide outputs not being used), freeze/bounce gives through it's work and then leaves all the tracks empty... Maybe for you?

Keni
Do you have any of bfd's outputs archived? This has bugged me sine X1... If such is the situation (I archive and hide outputs not being used), freeze/bounce gives through it's work and then leaves all the tracks empty... Maybe for you?

I'm not sure I understand your question. I don't see a need to do any track archiving when using freeze. If and when I am completely done with a synth I will for cosmetic reasons delete empty tracks.