I purchased Sonar 3 or 4 years ago and have never been able to use it. For some reason, when I import an audio file from Finale, I don't hear any sound. I'm using Line 6 Monkey as my input and output midi device. If I use a build in demo provided by Cakewalk, I can hear it. If I import a midi file or try to create a new one, I hear nothing. Somehow, the tracks aren't being assigned to the application so I can play them back.
 
It is possible that when I originally set up the program from the disc that I didn't have everything set up properly in the set up preferences.'
 
I will like to be able to learn to use the program after all these years because the only sequencer I've using is Audacity which really doesn't do for much for my scores.
 
What are the steps for importing a file so I can play it back through Sonar? I know that the midi works because I can hear pre-existing files provided by Cakewalk as demos.
 
thanks
 
Michael

similar thread http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.ashx?m=2810039

Sorry, I looked at that thread but Im still confused by the directions. Do I have copy the Aria Player Plug-in's from Finale into the Sonar File. this is my first time using Sonar so I'm totally lost as to where things are or which does what. Sorry.

MIDI tracks will make no sound unless you assign them to a synth. You can use the Soft synths which are built in ( VST )  or an external synth via your MIDI output. You could also use the MSWavetable synth built into your sound card but that is a very poor choice. 

You don't mention which version of Sonar but most have the TTS-1 which is a GM MIDI synth. 

You have to OPEN the MIDI file if you want to retain all data like tempo. Importing will default to the currant project tempo. 

Then you INSERT the TTS-1 
Then you assign all the MIDI tracks output to the TTS-1 

If you don't have a proper audio interface then your on board sound card will be your output device. Sonar works best with a proper audio sound card , most are USB these days. 

You might want to look over tutorial number four in the SONAR help. Tutorial four covers how to play and record MIDI in SONAR. Yes, if you want to use the Aria player then it would have to be loaded into SONAR. Otherwise you will have to use other softsynths to play the MIDI track(s).

But you don't just "load" it, You have to put it in your plug in folder by having Sonar browse for  it using the plug in manager, For now just use Sonar's synth's, one thing at a time, there's lots to learn if your just starting. 

Can't you just add the dll path to the Plug-in manager instead of moving the plug-in? It is one thing to learn how to use Finale but there is still a bit to learn in SONAR. That is why I would start with tutorial four. Once the basic of MIDI in SONAR are coverted, adding a VST is trivial and may be way more satisfying that using TTS-1.

Thanks Guys! After all these years I finally got tutorial 1 to play. I wasn't assigning a patch or a bank to the tracks so I wasn't getting playback. I can see that if I don't have the instruments in Sonar that I'm using in Finale they will not play back. I'm going to have to go through all the tutorials to figure this out but thank you for getting me started.

Great, that is progress. There is a certain amount of sweat equity in doing this stuff. If the softsynths are not locked to Finale, what you need to do is determine where the dlls for the synths are. When you find that path, add it to the Cakewalk Plug-in manager scan paths. The scan paths are located in the options button under the heading "VST Configuation" in the Cakewalk Plug-in Manager GUI. After adding the paths, hit the "Scan VST Plug-ins" button. Good luck.

hey Steve what I was getting at is the op is really starting from scratch and messing with adding new plug ins is a little bit advanced, even though your right, it's pretty easy to do. If it's a VST yes you just copy paste the dll from the finale vst folder to Sonar's.  You don't have to move it.  For me that always worked. 

Most of my music software seems to easily share plug ins without me even doing anything at all. 

Op- I'm a little confused when you say a few things. 

I wasn't assigning a patch or a bank to the tracks so I wasn't getting playback.


You don't have to assign a patch or bank , you'll just get piano if you don't. So do you mean you didn't hear anything or you had the wrong instrument? 


 I can see that if I don't have the instruments in Sonar that I'm using in Finale they will not play 


TTs-1 is a GM playback synth just like the Aria player, there are probably identical. That's why I recomend you start with it first, There are lots of better synths but the TTS-1 is great for learning how things work.