I have an electric/digital piano with midi in/out ports at the back. If I get a midi-USB cable should I be able to use this to record in the midi parts in X2 using a vst such as true pianos etc?

It has weighted keys etc. so is much nicer to play than my m audio midi keyboard. Your help is much appreciated.

Yes! You're absolutely right! :)
 
All you have to do is activate the MIDI-ports in Sonar and you're good to go.
You also have to select the right MIDI-in channel (the piano) on the software instruments track for it to work.

Thanks Loptec.
That is music to my ears!
Your superior knowledge is most welcome:-)

I use a Yamaha YPG-235 keyboard, and it works great for synth parts in Sonar.  All I ever did is install the midi drivers for the keyboard, connect to the computer via USB, and tell Sonar to use it for a midi input device.  (I don't use it for its on-board sounds, so I don't have it selected as a midi output device in Sonar).
 
To @loptec - you were quite correct, it is SUPER simple - except you don't actually have to match midi channels.  Sonar uses a default setting of 'None' which corresponds to midi 'Omni', meaning that by default the midi track will respond to any incoming midi messages.
 
If one chooses to change the midi OUTPUT channel, to perhaps create drum track events for midi channel 10, then simply go to the console channel strip for the midi track and just under the FX Bin you will see a place to change the midi Output Channel.  That's all you have to do, assuming your drum synth either is also set to Omni or is also set to midi channel 10.
 
Bob Bone
 
 

robert_e_bone
I use a Yamaha YPG-235 keyboard, and it works great for synth parts in Sonar.  All I ever did is install the midi drivers for the keyboard, connect to the computer via USB, and tell Sonar to use it for a midi input device.  (I don't use it for its on-board sounds, so I don't have it selected as a midi output device in Sonar).
 
To @loptec - you were quite correct, it is SUPER simple - except you don't actually have to match midi channels.  Sonar uses a default setting of 'None' which corresponds to midi 'Omni', meaning that by default the midi track will respond to any incoming midi messages.
 
If one chooses to change the midi OUTPUT channel, to perhaps create drum track events for midi channel 10, then simply go to the console channel strip for the midi track and just under the FX Bin you will see a place to change the midi Output Channel.  That's all you have to do, assuming your drum synth either is also set to Omni or is also set to midi channel 10.
 
Bob Bone
 
 

well.. if it's set to omni that alright.
sometimes it can be set to respond to another (single) MIDI port/channel though (it's happened to me several times) and then I though it would be a good thing for the OP to know where to start looking. That's why I included that in my post

If your M Audio MIDI keyboard has a MIDI input then you can connect your digital piano to it. I've been using my Yamaha digital piano connected to my Roland A-800Pro MIDI keyboard controller.

Im using casio px 310 semi weighted, my connection midi out from piano to midi in of quad capture, midi out from interface quad to midi in of piano. Thats it.

@Loptec - yup,  understood it - just clarified a bit.  Good post.
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks guys. Some good tips here.
On a similar note while checking for a midi in on my m audio keyboard (which there is none) I noticed a midi out port on my unused Korg 888 digital recorder. For me thinking if I rigged this up using a midi-USB cable would it act as a controller for me within Sonar? Hmmm must get me some cables and play around with my toys a bit.

Aaaah, the light bulbs going off.  :)
 
Sounds like you have some grand adventures ahead of you with all of this.
 
Post back with any additional questions - loads of helpful folks here in the forum if/when you get stuck with any of it.
 
Bob Bone