Hi,
I've just installed a Roland Quad Capture sound interface bundled with Sonar X1 LE. I have a master keyboard connected, and I only work in MIDI (in do not record audio, nor use loops, etc.).
I used to be an (amateur) "expert" with Cakewalk, 10 years ago. I would use it to create my own MIDI files with General MIDI sounds. I'm a bit lost today, due to the changes in sequencer technologies.
Well, there are still several things that I don't understand.
As far as I know, Sonar LE allows up to 8 soft synths. If 8 soft synths mean 8 different sound playing at the same time, it sure might be too few to build a complete song arrangement in MIDI. But I was wondering if it might be possible to play different sounds from a unique instance of the same soft synth. Say I have a soft synth with a piano (patch A), bass (B), drums (C), or whatever. I'd like to add an instance of this soft synth. Track 1 would have this soft synth as an output, set to patch A. Track 2 would have the same soft synth as an output, but set to patch B, and patch C for track 3, etc. Reading the documentation, it seemed feasible, but I cannot get it work. For the time being, when I set patch B on track 2, track 1 also plays patch B, although it is set to patch A. Can anybody help?
Another puzzle: I've read a lot about printing the staff view that requires some tricky undocking the staff window or something, but I really cannot get it work, although I've tried everything I could. Any idea? This used to work so fine with the good old Cakewalk! :(
Thank you in advance! :)

If the soft synth is multi timbral you should be able to do it by installing the synth as a First Audio Output track (if your Sonar is same as mine - I'm not sure exactly what my version is as it came with a controller keyboard) allocating different patches to different midi channels and then routing each midi track to the relevant midi channel using the track properties menu

I am still learning about Midi so I am unable to advise about routing of the Midi outs etc. but here's my thoughts.

The TTS-1 Soft Synth may be what you need.  It is a General Midi2 Multi-timbral synth and can play up to 16 different sounds at the same time.  It has all the patches you may need and the sounds are pretty good.  It also has several drum kits etc.


Further info is here and a video is here


Hope that helps


G.

Welcome to the forum.
As LordElpus wrote, some synths can accept input from up to 16 MIDI channels, such as Cakewalk's TTS-1. Others, like Cakewalk's Sound Center can only handle 1 MIDI track at a time.
And if you do find yourself running out of synth space, you can always Bounce the synth to audio, freeing up that synth to be used for another track.

Deesnay

As far as I know, Sonar LE allows up to 8 soft synths. If 8 soft synths mean 8 different sound playing at the same time, it sure might be too few to build a complete song arrangement in MIDI. But I was wondering if it might be possible to play different sounds from a unique instance of the same soft synth. Say I have a soft synth with a piano (patch A), bass (B), drums (C), or whatever. I'd like to add an instance of this soft synth. Track 1 would have this soft synth as an output, set to patch A. Track 2 would have the same soft synth as an output, but set to patch B, and patch C for track 3, etc. Reading the documentation, it seemed feasible, but I cannot get it work. For the time being, when I set patch B on track 2, track 1 also plays patch B, although it is set to patch A. 

What you are describing will usually work, but you have to be very careful with your routing.
Also, some synths do not work well with multiple instances of the same synth.
Each instance will be numbered so it can be recognized as a unique entity, ie: [synth name]1, [synth name]2,etc.
This will work with Inserted VST soft synths. It will not work with the MS Wavetable Synth selected as an output.
Can you tell us exactly which synth(s) you are trying to work with?
If you can provide a screen shot, that would be an immense help, as it allows us to see what you see.
I know LE doesn't come with much in the way of synths. You might want to consider downloading MC6. MC6 itself is virtually identical to X1LE, but the included soft synths would be worth it, in particular, TTS-1.
As you have noted, LE has 8 slots in the synth rack.
Each slot will accomodate one synth.
Each unique instance of a synth takes one slot. One slot, one instrument for the most part.
However, as mentioned above, one instance ot TTS-1 will allow 16 different instruments, and can be fed by 16 unique MIDI tracks( each on its own channel).
Multiply that by 8. See where I am going with this?


For now, give us a bit more detail on what you've got going.

Thank you all for the great help and precious advice you provide! :)

@JoeGBradford: "If the soft synth is multi timbral you should be able to do it by installing the synth as a First Audio Output track"

OK, I have this setting indeed, and I've tried this, but it's still the same: all tracks play the same patch, although I seem to have the ability to choose a different channel for each. I wonder how I will know for sure whether a soft synth is multitimbral or not...? I mean, will I see something specific in the settings, panels or whatever?

@LordElpus: "The TTS-1 Soft Synth may be what you need."

OK, this might be perfect, indeed. The sounds seem great (at least, enough for my all-purpose, generic use).
If I refer to: http://www.cakewalk.com/P...tor/feature.aspx/TTS-1
I understand that TTS-1 comes as a feature of "Music Creator 6"...?

@RobertB: "You might want to consider downloading MC6. MC6 itself is virtually identical to X1LE"

"MC6" = Music Creator 6 I presume? Music Creator is an enhanced version of Sonar X1 LE, right? So I could upgrade from Sonar to Music Creator 6? I'm sorry to ask, but I get a bit confused with all these software names...

@57Gregy: "And if you do find yourself running out of synth space, you can always Bounce the synth to audio, freeing up that synth to be used for another track."

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this. Does that mean that I'd completely convert the MIDI/synth track to an audio track, so that I somehow freeze the track and get rid of all MIDI events to replace them with audio data? If yes, this is something I'd rather not do, because MIDI tracks are so convenient (lightweight, staff view, etc.). But maybe "bouncing" is a completely different process – and you can see how much I still have to learn about modern DAWs...

@RobertB: "Can you tell us exactly which synth(s) you are trying to work with? If you can provide a screen shot, that would be an immense help, as it allows us to see what you see."

I've tried with various soft synths, including Cakewalk Sound Center featured in Sonar X1 LE. I've also tested Acoustica Instruments, since it seemed to be the best GM sound bank I could get my hands on, as a VST plugin. But I couldn't figure out how to use one instance as a multitimbral synth, so I used as many instances as I could, until I reached the limit. I know this soft synth is featured as the default sound bank in a sequencer called Mixcraft, and it allows playback of GM MIDI files.
Anyway, thank you again for your help. If all it takes to solve my issue is get TTS-1 by purchasing Music Creator 6 (€40) as I understand, then I think I will follow your advice.

It may be worth you trying  IK Sampletank Free  as that is definitely multi timbral and has a few useful sounds.  I  think Yellow Tools Independence is also multi timbral but not certain - it has some excellent patches anyway!  You should be able to use multi timbral synths without buying a new studio. Google the above 2 and give them a try

Use different channels for each MIDI track so they can use different patches.
In some synths, like TTS-1, you select the patch in the MIDI track; in others, like Sound Center, you choose the patch in the synth.
A multitimbral synth will have a mixer-type window with up to 16 channels in the mixer.
This is the TTS-1 GUI:
 

 
And when you Bounce a synth to audio, you don't have to get rid of the MIDI track; just change the output to... something other than it's current synth then Archive the MIDI track. That removes the MIDI track from processing but allows you to keep it in case you want to work on it again at a later date. Just unarchive it and make the needed changes, redo the output to the synth and bounce it again.

Hi Guys,
I'm glad I asked you about my MIDI troubles. Your answers and advice were of great help. I didn't know about TTS-1, and you really were right: this is exactly what I need. I've just bought, downloaded and installed Music Creator 6 with TTS-1. The sounds are globally quite fine, and there are many to choose from. The mixer view is very practical, with all controls at hand (even portamento, resonance...). After months of wandering astray, I think I'm going to have fun with my keyboard and PC again – thanks to you all! I'm a happy man. 
I was also glad to find this tutorial showing how I could use multitimbral soft synths, because this was something I couldn't figure out by myself.
I've also added to my Cakewalk store cart some bundle including an Electric Piano instrument and, well, I'm a bit disappointed about it. The sounds are rather basic.
Anyway – the free soft synths mentioned above (IK Sample Tank and Independance) feature some very interesting sounds.
Oh and by the way, Music Creator solved my staff printing issue!
Once again, thank you very much to all of you! I might need your help again some time, I'm afraid. 

Glad we could help.
Just a few side notes. With regard to TTS-1, we have found it's best to select your bank and patch settings from the MIDI track, not from the GUI. Expand your MIDI track just a bit more than he did in the video to reveal these fields.
And I like Sample Tank, but that red default screen is a bit much. At the right edge, you have controls to change the color. I changed mine to a light blue background, and it's much easier on my eyes.

You'll have plenty more questions, I'm sure. Most of us did, and still do from time to time. Ask away. Somebody will be around to help.