Hi Chuckebaby, I really apprecitate your help believe me. I just am so caught up in working that I won't be able to get back to sonar for a few days...It is really much appreciated...thank you. I will keep you updated on my progress and will be back for more help I'm sure....dotonemanband

my bad on not responding sooner...lessons learned as a newbie....won't happen again....

tomixornot


I have the DR880 too.

It's easiest to use X1 as master, and the DR by default is in auto sync mode (if you start DR first, it's master, otherwise it will listen to midi sync).

You just have to configure X1 midi preference exactly as highlighted by chuckebaby.

DR also respond to Song Position Pointer (SPP) at the midi preference. Getting this option checked will be handy if you start X1 in the middle of the song and DR will chase to that location to begin playback.

I found the DR work best if you insert an empty bar at the beginning of the song mode if you like to sync X1/DR (DR playback, record into X1), so DR may catch up when X1 starts. If not, the very first hit may sometimes sound off.

good stuff tomi,i do the same thing with adding a one or two bar gap at the begining of my pieces.
it gives it that second or two to let the signals flow for everything to be right on time.

  Do you add the 1 or 2 bar gap within X1 or within the DR880? I know you can put a count in on the DR880 before recording begins, but I am not sure this is what you guys are referring to. I appreciate the info here I have learned something I have been trying to figure out...I too am not to slick with MIDI, as I have done mostly audio...Thanks guys! David

Just to be clear about what I am wanting to do...and do it the best way, so I am very open to ideas here from experienced users...I want to do the construction and writing of the parts within the DR880...then I would like to be able to record those parts into X1, but use SD3 kits as apposed to the DR880...what I cannot figure out is how to get the DR and x1 synced up so I can just hit record and it records all the drum data into X1...if I am not making sense here please let me know and I will be more detailed...thanks again!

Nevermind...I got it all by myself...

Thanks to Chuckebaby for the help. I'm now able to setup sonar to be the master to the dr and that's great. Can anyone explain how to adjust the volume for the midi drum track on sonar. I can adjust my guitar, etc. but the midi drum track slider is at a constant level. Not sure what to do... 

So do you have a lot more control over the quality and kit choices converting to midi and using the Sonar synths?
I have always just recorded various samples as audio from the DR880 and patched them together (it's pretty quick) but only get a stereo track out of that, and only the samples that the DR880 has.

@ M_Glenn_M ---I have always recorded audio samples as you, but I am kinda stepping out and trying something foreign to me(MIDI), so I can't give an intelligent answer to your question...I do like the sound of some of the kits in SD3 as opposed to the DR, but that is just preference. It also could be the fact, that I am kinda burned on the DR's tones and am just looking for something fresh and new...I guess time will tell! Do you insert a 1 or 2 bar measure like I have read a little about here? Is this in reference to X1 or within the DR...I'm a little confused...lol David

I hope we can stay in touch on this as I am also just considering the baffling world of MIDI.
I do include a bar or two (I just include the intro clicks) but I just highlight the whole thing and move it to position if necessary.  
If I need to time it with existing tracks, I start the Sonar Recording and hit Start on the DR at the right time (listening to the 4 beat intro metronome on Sonar as cue) as the DR has no latency.
I've also used it real-time with the pads for the odd bongo, crash or hand clap.