I`ve recently upgraded to X2 and I`m working on my first project with it. I`ve recorded volume automation on two instrument tracks, one with Dimension pro, the other with TAL uno LX plugin. Read automation doesn`t work unless write automation is enabled. After recording automation and disabling the write button, the volume on the meters also shows zero, while it shouldn`t be. Also, sometimes the write button can not be activated, unless a different type of automation is selected. (overwrite, latch or touch).
 
I have no other problems with X2.
 
What is going on? Is this a massive bug..?
 

Split them into MIDI and audio tracks and it should work.

When I opened the project again this morning, the problems were gone. Sonar is reading automation on instrument tracks without the write button enabled.
I hope it will stay like this...

It`s back.....
I recorded volume automation again, this time on an audio track. Automation seems to work with the write button off, but the meter shows nothing. Only with write button on the meter works.
And in "overwrite" mode, the write button cannot always be enabled, just sometimes it works. I closed and reopened Sonar, but it didn`t help.
 

 I'm guessing you're in offset mode. This often happens to people by accident (mostly since the X1 X2 versions)
Read about it here...
 
 
 http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation/default.aspx?Doc=SONAR X2&Lang=EN&Req=Automation.13.html
 
Edit > I would make it a good link, but it goes away when I do. :-(
 
http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation/default.aspx?Doc=SONAR X2&Lang=EN&Req=Automation.13.html
 
See??
 
Ironic I can't link into the Sonar Help Files. Giggle.

Thank you! With offset mode off, it works :-)
By the way, I wrote that the meters didn`t show volume automation, but they do, i meant the volume control didn`t show automation.
 
Still, this is mysterious to me, because:
- The track that I recorded earlier already showed automation on the volume control, so the problem was solved by itself somehow, just the newly recorded track didn`t.
- The recorded automation was audible, just the control didn`t show it. As I understand it, offset should be audible too, and not follow automation.
 
 
 
 

Correct, offset mode should not visually display automation changes.   That's it purpose though, to override the automation's values by offsetting them by whatever value is chosen while in that mode. 
 

stevec
Correct, offset mode should not visually display automation changes.   That's it purpose though, to override the automation's values by offsetting them by whatever value is chosen while in that mode. 
 

I understand, but automation changes were still audible in my project in offset mode, even while the volume control didn`t show them. And should`t changes also be ignored with the write button enabled, which also wasn`t the case.

oh wow... that's a funny concept... writing offsets...
 
wouldn't that be impossible to fix!! giggle...
 
Usually you don't write offset data. Offset data is to globally change a modifyer to the particular control. If you are auditioning audio with a track write enabled and you enter offset mode, as far as the writing of parameters is concerned, none will happen. This is because the program doesn't think you are moving the faders that apply to the track level. You are moving the faders that apply to offset -- does this make sense? Theoretically, you could make offset changes during an audition of the audio where you have write enable on and then turn offset off and continue writing envelope automation.
 
All offsets are 0 when you start a new project. If you change a pan pot offset to L45% then turn off offset mode, that track will still play L45%. The pan pot in the track will reflect 0 but it will play to the left.
 
To fix the offsets, return to offset mode and 0 all controls. So far as I know, there is no way to detect the controls that have an offset applied other than viewing the control in offset mode. You can see the envelope marker on tracks with envelopes, but I don't think there is an offset marker to alert you.
 
It would be nice if there were a "Reset all offsets" method for those of us who get there accidentally. This is a relatively common goof to be honest.
 
Offset mode makes me personally crazy, so I re-map the O key to like save project or something so that if I accidentally bump it I'm not ruined. For me, it takes me a long time to undo everything that went wrong while I was in offset mode. I have never purposely used offset mode to date.

Daan, you suggest that Sonar should block you or warn you when you are in offset mode while Write Automation is enabled and you are auditioning the audio.
 
I pretty much agree that this would be an improvement. It would help reduce the number of confused people attempting to write automation after accidentally bumping the O key. IMHO, they could make a dramatic GUI Color Change any time anyone enters offset mode to be sure it's intended -- an actual RED FLAG if you will.
 
I should say that all you describe suggests that Sonar is working for you exactly as it was designed to work. You can enter offset mode while auditioning if you want to. Even stay there while auditioning to tweak the offset values regardless of whether Automation Write is enabled or not.
 
When you intentionally use offset mode, it is helpful to hear your recording as you set the offsets.