I’m sure this is probably a setting issue in the “preferences/record” section, and I have played around with different setting to no avail thus far. I spent a good part of this past week laying down multiple backing vocal parts (think Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys), and what I like doing is punching in and looping a single clip on a single lane at a time—sort of like step recording. This really helps me pinpoint my vocal arrangements and even expand on my original ideas for those arrangements as I experiment.
 
Anyway, I set my loop points and my punch in points, and I’ll record a few takes in a single lane until I’m satisfied. However, when I go to play it back I notice there’s often a little red stop sign looking symbol and the clip itself is sort of whited out. Why is this, and what is the solution to it?
 
Chris

You've got it set to "Mute Previous Take". Unless you want all those takes to play back while you are recording you should leave it on. You unmute it by Right Clicking the clip and selecting Mute/Unmute.

At least I think that's what you seem to be describing. Cheers.

Beepster, thanks for the reply. I’ve tried unmuting it, but that didn’t seem to do anything. As a matter of fact, the last time I attempted to unmute the darn thing Sonar actually crashed on me. The cursor went to that circle thing and never would come back, until the entire screen went white and eventually crashed…..not sure what’s up with that….anyway, “mute” and “unmute” didn’t seem to do anything but cause worse problems…….my workaround for it is simply using punch in without the loop….a bit of an inconvenience, but it works.  

Really? That's one of the most basic functions in Sonar. I think you'd better give us some system details or call tech support because that should most definitely not be happening.

Cheers.

I will need to follow-up with tech support ASAP. Thanks again for the feedback.

Try pasting everything into a new project assuming this is with just one project. Cheers

Ya, please do contact support. That's not normal behavior in any way shape or form.

To add another option to try before doing what Alex said you might want to try opening the project in Sonar Safe Mode and see if it stops screwing around. Are you using third party plugs? Are you using any plugs at all?