Hi all,

Can anyone please help with me with how to route MIDI tracks to Kontakt in Sonar X2?

When I insert Kontakt I select 'simple instrument track' which works fine, but when I load a second instrument in Kontakt & assign it to different MIDI channel I get no sound.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks,
Chris

Create a new Midi track, assign the output to Kontakt and make it Midi channel 2 and make the new instrument in Kontakt assigned to Midi track 2.

That's what I've done but it's still not working & I don't understand why.

Hang on a sec - I have to dig out my earlier reply to this situation, and in a few minutes I will post a lengthy explanation of loading multiple instruments within a single instance of Kontakt, and setting it all up and all of that.
 
I just have to search for the link, 
 
Bob Bone
 

OK  - I have added some links below, which get into a great amount of detail as to the whole process of loading multiple instruments into Kontakt, and using Kontakt's Output Routing section to set you up for making instrument-specific output available to audio tracks for each instrument.
 
The real short answer to your original question is that Kontakt automatically INCREMENTS the midi channel number for every new instrument that gets loaded, so if you have strings loaded and then add electric piano, strings will by default be on midi channel 1, and electric piano will by default be on midi channel 2.
 
I never use simple instrument tracks, and in the links below, I have regular audio tracks used in the walkthrough.  I CAN tell you that several folks have followed my recipe and have had success, and although there are different ways of doing things, this particular way DOES work, and it is the method I choose all the time.
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2853353
 
And
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2816689
 
Please let me know if the above answers your questions.  I would also be happy to explain anything in those links that might be confusing or incomplete.
 
Bob Bone
 
 

Bob's gonna give you answer so I wont type a novel but I would avoid the simple instrument track method. For a complex multi timberal, multi out instrument like Kontakt it's too limiting.

Sonar allows free routing of MIDI input and audio output for soft-synths.
This can be confusing at first... but it's very flexible once you're up-to-speed.
 

• Open a new test project in Sonar.
• In the Browser, use the Synth Rack to load Kontakt (for this example, make sure all Insert Soft Synth Options are unchecked)

Kontakt should now be loaded in the Synth Rack.
Open Kontakt and load a sample library (I'll use The Giant for this example)
Now we need a MIDI track setup to trigger The Giant... and we need an audio (output) track so we can hear the results.

• In Sonar's Track View, add a MIDI Track and an Audio Track.
• Assign the MIDI Track's output to Kontakt and make sure the Input Echo button (blue) is enabled.
• Assign the Audio Track's input to the desired Kontakt output.  (This can be confusing if using multi-output sample library)

It may help to think of Kontakt like a hardware synth with 64 outputs.
You won't typically need to use all those outputs, be they're available (if necessary).
 
Now... let's add a second sample library

• Open Kontakt and load a second sample library.  For this example, I'll load the Scarbee Pre Bass.

Each added library will default to the next available MIDI channel (in this case, the Scarbee Pre Bass will default to channel 2)
 
As before, we need a MIDI Track to trigger the Pre Bass... and an Audio Track (output) to hear the results.

• In Sonar's Track View, add a MIDI Track and an Audio Track.
• Assign the MIDI Track's output to Kontakt and make sure it's output channel is set to 2 (be sure the Input Echo button is enabled).
• Assign the Audio Track's input to the desired Kontakt output.  (If you want the Piano and Bass isolated, set each to separate Kontakt outputs)

 
You should now be able to trigger/hear both sounds independently.
MIDI channel 1 triggers the Piano.  MIDI channel 2 triggers the Bass.
 
In this example, you're manually creating/configuring the routing of each individual track (can be time consuming).
It's a good idea to start there... so you understand the routing concepts.
Save the result as a Track Template.  That Track Template can then be loaded into any project.  This is a great time-saver!
 

Yup - My big long explanation is essentially the same kind of thing.  I always manually configure the audio and midi tracks when working with soft synths - but that is just a preference thing.  For ME, it helps me focus on exactly what I want to do, and I don't forget things when I set each instrument's routing assignments up one at a time.
 
And I ABSOLUTELY agree that saving the completed track assignments as a track templates is the way to go, for common Kontakt setups.  I would add that if you are going to end up with multiple Kontakt instances, due to how many instruments you are going to use Kontakt for, I would recommend that you rename each Kontakt instance to something more meaningful, such as Horns, Strings, or that sort of thing.  It's easier on the brain.
 
Bob Bone
 

Just going to jump in here with my bi-monthly "this forum's the best" comment.  Good, clear explanation guys.

Bob and Jim,
 
Thanks so much for your replies.
 
The part where I run into trouble is routing the 2nd pair of tracks for Kontakt's second MIDI channel.
 
Bob mentioned:
As before, we need a MIDI Track to trigger the Pre Bass... and an Audio Track (output) to hear the results.

• In Sonar's Track View, add a MIDI Track and an Audio Track.
• Assign the MIDI Track's output to Kontakt and make sure it's output channel is set to 2 (be sure the Input Echo button is enabled). HERE is where things go wrong. I set the MIDI track's input to MIDI Ch.2 and I get no sound, even though I've loaded the second instrument in Kontakt & it's assigned itself to MIDI Ch.2

Any ideas?
 
Thanks,
Chris