So, I have a huge project I want to master out to a new project in order to keep the process “clean;” plus, I’d like the option in the future in order to be able to master down multiple mixdowns in one project in order to create albums, EPs, etc.
 
I was able to get the mixdown version and the new project versions open at the same time, although I wish there were an easier way to toggle between the two rather than having to right click on the Sonar X2 icon to locate and open the desired file.
 
In the “new project” file two tracks are inserted for L/R stereo. The outputs set to “master,” but I cannot figure out what to do about the inputs. No matter which input I choose from my interface (Roland Quad Capture) I get no signal when arming the tracks. What am I doing wrong, and what do I need to do to fix this?
 
Thanks again in advance for your assistance.
 
Chris

I'm not clear as to what you are trying to do. Are you trying to record from one project to another?

If I understand the problem correctly, you should simply export the mixdown to wav and import it to the other project. It seems to me you're trying to things in a very complicated way. You can not mix down from one project to another in the box, AFAIK, and I'm not sure if it's possible even going through the soundcards ins and outs.

Not sure what you mean by huge project (high number of tracks?) and also not sure what is meant by keeping the process "clean"?  The number of tracks won't affect the mixdown process. 
 
Personally, I simply export a mixed project as a wave file and import that wave file into another project for mastering using Ozone and other VSTs.  I do that to separate the mix process form the mastering process and also to free up my CPU for mastering since Ozone can be a bit CPU intensive depending on the limiter model I'm using.
 
I guess you could import the wave file back into the same project if that's what you mean?
 
Hope this helps?

Thank you for the input thus far. Firstly, when I say it’s a “huge project” I’m referring to the 40 plus tracks and 10 plus busses. It’s a huge file.
 
So, I figured since I was able to capture music clips off youtube and the like in Sonar I could easily do the same thing with a Sonar to Sonar transfer. To clarify, all I was trying to do is take the original project and then record it into another new project.
 
What I mean by “clean” is simply this: On Sunday I managed to encode and upload the original 40 plus track project to soundcloud. It’s an approximately 3 minute tune, but the soundcloud clip had an additional 5 minutes of silence due to dead air attached to the end. I just figured it would be easier to avoid those sorts of issues if I just mastered down to a different project.
 
Anyway, what I glean from the above is that in order to do what I want to do I need to export from the original project and import into the new project….Is this correct?
 
Chris

Why do you want to make a copy of all the tracks to a new project ?

If you think about the 5 minutes of silence, how to get rid of that ?

I use to take 1 of the track's and drag it about 2 bars longer than the other ones
just so the sound , can sort of fade out by itself.
Then go to the menu above the tracks,  and select: options and : stop at project end
you should then NOT get 5 minutes of silence.

Then double click 1 track at it's number to select all track's ( lit blue )
and export the audio to a single stereo wave file.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fsWWKs9wN8

If you still have problem with some silence in the beginning and end of a
mixed down audio track, just get an audio editor and import the audio file, and cut that silence away.
and save the file again. 

For mastering ( in Sonar ), you make a new project, and Import the selected wave file
into the project as a stereo file.

From there you can put some EQ, compression and limiter etc, what's needed for additional
audio enhancement if you need, When done with the song...
Then export that file again, for CD , 16 bit 44 khz.

If you want to upload the song to Soundcloud .... 
Then use a MP3 converter and convert the wave file, to 256 kbps or 320 kbps MP3 file, and upload it to souncloud.

Soundblend, thanks for the assistance.  Eventually I plan to import a lot of tunes into one project in order to master them all the same for upcoming album projects.

When you say import a lot of tunes , u mean songs that you download, and want to enhance those and make your own CD ?

I am not experienced on that area, but at least you need all the track's that you gonna use as wavefiles
then you need a Audio editor that can import all those wave files into it, and make a CD.

I think many ppl use : http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/cdarchitect

You can also use Steinberg Wavelab 8 elements for that too, its a bit cheaper.
http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/wavelab/new_features/new_in_wavelab_elements_8.html

Files that you import into an audio editor for making a CD need to be in ( wave ) 16 bit / 44 khz format.

There may be an option to use Sonar to master a CD, but then again someone has to make an video on how to do that ;-)

Shut off all the compression and FX in the HUGE project's master bin..... export it to a location where you know where it is.
 
Import the resultant wave to a new project and set it up as you wish.  It will come in as one track and in stereo. Now add the FX you wish to use on mastering to the FX bin of the master..... have at it. When finished, export it again with a new name so you don't get the 2 confused.
 
You should be done at this point..... burn it to CD.