My GK3 pickup for my old Roland GR20 guitar synth just died.
I used it a lot for horns, string ensembles and keys, but I input as audio from the GR20.
 
I did get a midi patch to get midi from the GR20 to sonar but haven't tried it out.
I'm old fashioned and still like more "real" sounds rather than "synthy" stuff and the GR20 audio output sounds pretty good to me.
I still find midi confusing.
I bought an Alesis keyboard for input to soft synths but after some trials, have to admit, tho I played guitar for 50 years, I am not much on keys and so I can't get into the feel, made worse with the occasional signal delay and a crappy keyboard response, and my midi needs a lot of PRV work after.
My conundrum:
Do I replace the GK3 because of it's familiarity and ease and feel of input or abandon it and the GR20 as old outdated samples anyway and learn to work with the Keyboard, midi, soft synths and the PRV?
If the sounds are better, it's motivation.
Thanks.

You might try out JamOrigin's MIDI Guitar software with a guitar as a MIDI controller. As far as realistic sounds, DimPro, TruePianos Amber and Studio Instruments would be the best choice of the synths bundled with SONAR.

Thanks of those, I've only tried SI drums and bass. They seemed fine.
I'll certainly try Dim pro and Amber piano. Thanks
I've downloaded the Beta of the JamOrigin's MIDI Guitar software and will report back.
That would be the perfect compromise.
Thanks for that.

scook
You might try out JamOrigin's MIDI Guitar software with a guitar as a MIDI controller. As far as realistic sounds, DimPro, TruePianos Amber and Studio Instruments would be the best choice of the synths bundled with SONAR.

Agree with Scook here.  Check our JamOrigin's Midi Guitar; you just use any electric guitar (bridge pickup). I have a Roland GI20 and two Axon AX100mk2's, but for soft synths I now use Jam Origin Midi Guitar.   You can download a free demo of v7.5 at the Jam Origin page.  It tracks soft synths very well.

Instructions for MIDI Guitar setup as VST http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2749799 If you use 64bit SONAR you only need the 64bit dll but you may also want to play around with the standalone. Some use the standalone and a virtual MIDI cable to get into SONAR instead of VST setup.

Ouch and help!.
I got started on the MIDI guitar installation and lost all playback during the process.
I downloaded the program, unzipped and put the folder in the VST folder.
Booted Sonar and forced a VST scan, no problem, it showed up.
I opened a new audio track and put it into the fx bin.
Here are the instructions I'm following
********************
1. Copy VST plugin to your VST folder.(done) 
2. Launch Sonar. It should automatically recognize the new plug-in and create needed registry entries (ie you should see the plug-in as an effect in Audio FX menu). If not, use Plug-in Manager to scan new plug-ins.(done- the midi interface came up suggesting I lower the buffer..lowered to 250)  
3. Use Cakewalk Plug-in Manager, find MIDI Guitar in Effects section and open "Plug-in Properties". Enable "Configure as synth" option.(done but crashed)
 
4. Close Sonar and use Regedit to change generate Events key from "0" to "1" in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST X64\Inventory\ -> MIDI Guitar (tried this but it could not find it even when changed to X32-I'm 32 bit)
 *******************This is as far as I have gotten.
Launching sonar at first it would not recognize my soundcard/controller (BR800)
I took out the MIDI guitar folder from the VST folder and it loaded and the BR800 is back in the preferences/audio Devices but now I have no sound.
***************
5. Launch Sonar. Add new audio track. Insert MIDI Guitar (now found in Soft Synths menu) to FX bin.
 
6. Go to Synth rack view. Right click grey area of the MIDI Guitar synth block and click "Enable MIDI Output".
 
That's it. Add your favourite synth to a new track and route MIDI input from MIDI Guitar, which should be visible in MIDI input menu.
 
 

Which buffer did you lower?
 
Some SONAR users are not able to use MIDI Guitar as a VST, not sure if anyone has determined why? Should you continue with the VST method, the name of the plugin is now MIDIGuitar no space. Search for MIDIGuitar in your registry VST inventory.
 
Does the standalone work with your interface? If so, using it with a virtual MIDI cable such as LoopBe1 may be the way you have to use MIDI Guitar with SONAR.

Update. My sound is back.
I rebooted the computer.
Rerunning the program or the BR800 was apparently not enough.
************
Skook, Thanks for the reply.
It was the Midi playback and recording buffer.
Should it have been the Driver settings instead?
****************
Now, to avoid a repeat, I'm hoping to try it as a stand alone.
I may need a little help as I'm now a little gunshy about new installs on this one.
I downloaded LoopB1
Can you or someone walk me thru installation reeeeally slowly?
I tend to click on things I shouldn't and of course it just gets worse and worse.
Step 1. go to downloads and run setuploopbe1.exe?
2.?

Before going any further you might want to see if the standalone version of MIDI Guitar works for you. It does not need SONAR, LoopBe1 or anything else, it even has built-in synths. If your interface works at a low enough latency, then getting LoopBe1 or MIDILoop (another virtual MIDI cable solution) would be the next step. It has been a long time since I played around with virtual MIDI cables. IIRC, the setup process it pretty simple.
 

• Run the virtual cable install
• Reboot (probably necessary for XP)
• Launch SONAR and check the virtual cables show up and select them
• Launch MIDI guitar, on the advanced tab select the appropriate option in the MIDI output drop down for the virtual cable
• Add a new synth in SONAR and select a virtual cable input for the track.

Ok, so far
Ran the midiguitar32.exe  program
Settings:
Device type =  direct sound (alert says this will cause latency but only gives me asio as alternate option)
input & output device =Br800 (alert symbol says this device is not suited to realtime due to latency )
Sample 44.1
buffer= 256 is best I can get without an alert symbol.
instrument= test piano
amp effect= direct
midi outp=no ext. output
Guitar settings sensitivity 25 (I see a green bar when playing)
The note circles at the bottom light up
I hear both a guitar and some poor (Piano?)sound with a bit of latency
What now? does this mean my computer is not good enough for this?