can someone help? meters redlining no matter what i do--new, trying to record drum loop from Casio to play guitar to. Settings seem fine in Preferences but the sound input meter on audio 1 and on master is topping out even when i adjust the gain nothing changes.using audio front mic input-casio is at medium audio output

Welcome!
What software are you using, and what are your PC and soundcard specs?

You can not control the input level in SONAR. The input level is determined by your soundcard.

You can also control the input level at the source device - in this case the Casio. Turn the Casio audio output even lower. I imagine the Casio outputs are line level which will overload the microphone input. Need to connect the Casio audio out to line level inputs. Maybe you could record the MIDI output of the Casio? Then play the midi track with a drum synth to get sound to play along with. --Larry

Thank you gentlemen so much! I will try these suggestions and see if that works! HOW do you control the MIDI and record out of it? I am completely unfamiliar with midi. I have a Fender Strat and Mustang 1 and I have Spark drum software I'm trying to use for loops. And I'm trying to record on Cakewalk Sonar X1

I jumped to the conclusion that the "Casio" you mentioned as a source of drum loops was a Casio keyboard. Maybe not. If you are totally unfamiliar with Midi then maybe you should stick to recording audio. In any case, a description of your hardware and software would be useful, along with how you are connecting the various pieces. PC; operating system; sound card; external devices; software synths; etc. --Larry

just incase it hasn't been mentioned, if your seeing your meter for midi spiking in the red, that is totally normal.
that is only a gauge to show midi info is being received.
its common procedure to have it redlining in the midi track, on the sound track/audiotrack I should say, its a no, no.
use your ears as well, is it distorted sounding ?

welcome to the forum. 

this video might clear a few things up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k83UVo1OiKA

this is a video I made called :basic midi.
its notgoing to teach you rocket science but it will give you an inside look at how midi is toyed with.

thanks thanks THANKS!!!

Maybe someday we will find out whether the OP was trying to record audio or midi! His first post sure sounded like audio recording. Still waiting to hear about his setup and what's connected to what and what he's really trying to do....