Hello All -- First a disclaimer - I am a newbie to digital recording. Now to the problem. I am using a Boss DR3 drum machine and am recording an audio based drum track directly from the machine into Sonar. Now I want to allign the drum track with Sonar's metronome and time grid. I have read many posts on snap to grid, but I can't make it work. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks, Peter

While awaiting answer that directly touches on snap to grid, etc.. 2 options that may help :

If the project is still new (no other audio track except the drums) and you still have the drum machine, it's much easier to start again. You need to turn midi sync on, so when Sonar starts, the DR3 would start at the same time. Re-record the drums for perfect timing lock in.

If you can't have access to the DR3 to record again (and you don't have other track recorded yet), you can trim the beginning of the drums audio to begin exactly at first beat, and drag it to the very beginning of the track, then set the tempo to match the original DR3 tempo (provided there is no tempo changes).

Sometimes after I've imported an mp3 file to the audio, that is what I do (using option 2) - align the start beat at bar 1, and manually set the tempo until it matches perfectly - especially if the mp3 timing is solid (not live band playing).

The drum machine has a tempo setting, so you need to have the same tempo setting as the sonar project and then you just line it up, using the snap to grid. But snap to grid will only work if your audio is adhering to the projects tempo/grid lines.

NOTE: changing the projects tempo doesn't change the way the audio sounds. It just moves the timeline/measures/beats.

But you need to make sure the drum machine is playing at the projects tempo.

CJ

You will need to have the tempo set correct and if you do you should be able to slide the audio to line up with the tempo grid. If that doesn't work, what you need to do is get your tempo map to match the drum machine audio track. Try this: Select the drum audio track -> Select transients in the edit filter (the little drop down menu that allows you to select clip. automation or transients) -> open the Audiosnap pallette  and adjust the threshold so that you have the transients you want included. Then check the box "set project from clip." Hopefully this will align your tempo map with the drum machine audio track, if not there are other ways to do it. Try it and let us know if it works out.

Rocky

No Folks, the drum machine will sync perfectly with Sonar, I use an old Boss 505 this way. It will even follow Sonars tempo map. 

Just set the drum machine in MIDI SYNC mode and away you go.  Sonars clock takes over from the drum machines clock. Now you can record the analog output of any pattern. 

Also might have to set Sonars MIDI sync output found in the project dialog box in version 8.5 ) 

Cactus, he said he is recording audio, not MIDI, in his 1st post. so MIDI sync will do nothing. Audio is not MIDI. MIDI is just information/data.

Cj

Good point about syncing for future use and/or retracking the part.

Rocky

im not sure the sounds of the boss are going to be as good as session drummer or another vst-i
this is very possible and it involves (midi machine control).
you need to set this up in sonar. under preferences./midi I believe.
I used to do this a lot until  I started using my drum machine to trigger session drummer instead.
this way they're midi notes, you can edit them easy.

heres the video I made about using your drum machine to trigger session drummer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjZS61Wg-XY

by the way, ive explained this so many times here, I just don't feel like writing it out again, so just do a search and if you find one of my posts it will walk you through step by step using mmc if you really want, cactus was the closest one here.
you cant line up the audio, it drifts, you then need to adjust the timeline every bar which is a pain.
you need to use midi synch + mmc

if you really want to progress in writing drum parts use the piano roll.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruAnAPR6-hQ

I made 3 video on using drums with sonar/writing drums with sonar.
just find my you tube page, youll see them.

good luck.

( edit for Chuck ) CJ READ MY POST slowly--- and think for a minute ... If the drum machine is set to MIDI  sync then Sonar will control it and the OP can use the patterns. 
I read that is what he wants to do, use the audio sound of the drum machine , record it into Sonar and then play in sync. 

I'm not talking about recording MIDI. 

What he did was played a pattern using the drum machines clock and recorded the audio. Now it will drift out of sync no matter what you do. 

If you use Sonars clock then the sound of the pattern will match Sonars project tempo..perfectly ,,, forever...  I know it works cause I've done it.