For some reason sonar is not able to choose sound banks on my Korg X5. The x5 has General Midi, Bank A(pre-programmed sounds), and multiple drum kits.

The only thing that plays when I choose Korg are the general midi files. Although all the correct banks and patches for Korg's A bank are listed in sonar, the patches do not change. I also can acces any drum banks on the Korg.

I created a new instrument definition file and a new instrument to try to trouble shoot.  When I try to associate the new instrument with the new *.ins file, my new instrument does not show up as an intrument that's available for me to associate with the new *.ins file.

My other hardware syth (Mophatt) works fine.

When I play the Korg as a stand alone, all the banks are fine, so I know this is an issue of setting up Sonar to recognize the banks. Can someone suggest how I can get missing banks recognized by Sonar.

Did you use the Korg.ins file that comes with Sonar? It looks like it has the X5 voices in it. 

Where can I find the Korg.ins file that comes with Sonar?

The instrument definitions should be in Cakewalk Content in the instrument directory under your SONAR version. They can also be found here http://www.cakewalk.com/S...reader.aspx/2007013272

I'm not familiar with the X5; however, if it's like most other Korg keyboards there's a setting you'll need to change. Look in the global menus for a setting (usually labeled "bank map") as to whether it uses the Korg banks or the GM banks. Change the setting to "Korg" and Sonar should now send the correct patch changes.

I agree with dlbachtell, assuming you are controlling via midi connections you need to set a Global MIDI channel in the X5, and send patch change info on that channel from SONAR.
 
If you are like me, you are also going to want to create a couple of sysex files in SONAR which you can send to the Korg to change play modes.  For instance, I have one that sets MULTI Mode when I want to use 16 channels and play "patches" and another that sets PROG Mode when I want to play Korg Programs.  Then in each project I auto-send the correct sysex file so the correct mode is automatically selected per project.

Where can I find the Korg.ins file that comes with Sonar?

Use Windows search. Should be in C:\Cakewalk Content\SONAR X2 Producer\instruments. 


Better yet: In Sonar, go to Preferences-MIDI-Instruments
Click on Define
If Korg is not listed in the list on the left, click Import
Navigate to the folder I listed above and select Korg.ins
A list of Korg instruments will popup
Select X5DR? or one similar to your instrument.
That will put it on the instrument list
Select Close
In the Preferences Dialog, point the MIDI channels on the left to the Korg X5DR on the right.  Hold down shift and you can select all of the channels and then click on Korg X5DR. 

Now on a MIDI track select the MIDI port and then select Channel. It should show the X5 as an option. 
Select Bank-You should see all of the patch banks
Select Patch-You should see all of the patches in that bank
Select a Patch and you should be able to play it. 

Bank Select method is often the culprit.  I run into that with Roland v Yamaha.  Sorry, I don't have that Korg unit so I don't know which method it uses.

For Yamaha, if you don't have the right instrument file, you have to take the Bank number and the Most Significant and Least Significant bits from the manual's instrument listing and then do some calculator math.

If the OP .sig is correct, it is very unlikely that the instrument definitions will be in "C:\Cakewalk Content\SONAR X2 Producer\instruments"

If the OP .sig is correct, it is very unlikely that the instrument definitions will be in "C:\Cakewalk Content\SONAR X2 Producer\instruments"

The X5DR is in the Korg.ins file that comes with Sonar. If that is the same or similar to the X5, it should work. I believe its the rack mount version of the X5D which is newer than the X5.