The underlying goal for myself in threads like this is figuring how to ease the OP's experience with Sonar. Whether any program is "better" is somewhat irrelevant unless the question pertains to features Sonar simply does not have. Yes, the workflow in FL, Reason and Sonar are different, but far from insurmountable as far as achieving the same goals. For what I do FL and Reason are not practical. If one wants to work 100% of the time using a workflow like FL studio, it would be only logical to simply use those programs. If one wants to emulate that workflow now and then, set up a track template to do just that and you will not only come close but you will have a setup that includes options fl could only dream of.

i have an old alesis SR-16 i use as my main controler for pounding out beats.
its run from midi into sonar and i have it set up so when i hit play it activates the drum machine so im able to write in real time.
its a breeze and real fast to get those parts down before you lose the idea.

the sr-16 has lasted the change of time,there almost 20 years old and still sought after for this reason.
there dyno easy to use.
the only thing i wish it had was an undo button on it.

keep in mind i use the machine as a memory bank untill ive got a chunk of change down to set out in sonar,then i micro manage the midi notes to taylor my needs once the song is in its working state.

when i used to analog record i was limited to changes.
if i wanted to change a drum part i would either have to re-record the whole song cause lets face it..ever try and re record a drum track? its the back bone of the whole song.or i would splice it up.i got very good at splicing tape at one point.
i had two reels and splicing them up and sending them into a board for a final mix,mostly like a dj would do it now.

by using the sr16 i am so free to change parts at the last minute. i love it.
controlers are nice.
but memory is better.
remember like i said.i write my drum parts to the sr-16's memory.
then in song mode on the sr,i arrange the parts.
click/play record in sonar and it automates play/rec to start rolling.

i can only sit there tediously writing in notes in the prv for so long.
though i admit ive become a super good prv editor.

Conar

If the op is talking about doing it all with a mouse, entering events note by notes, from leads to chords, wich is how kids do it this days, then yeah the process is not very smooth in Sonar

Really?  I do at least 95% of my work by entering and editing midi notes using a mouse (and only do a minimal amount of recording).  In what way is other software better than Sonar for this?

Kev999

Conar

If the op is talking about doing it all with a mouse, entering events note by notes, from leads to chords, wich is how kids do it this days, then yeah the process is not very smooth in Sonar

Really?  I do at least 95% of my work by entering and editing midi notes using a mouse (and only do a minimal amount of recording).  In what way is other software better than Sonar for this?

i agree kev. 
conar is a little confused thats all.
lourdo is also confused,matter of fact he is confusing me.
im sorry lourdo,no offence please.its just your statements dont add up man.

You can still get that Alesis SR-16 brand new. $149 bucks.

I remember it's predecessor, forget the model number. It was this big gray thing with white pads IIRC.

We replaced our live drummer with my SR-16. Now the pads are shot from smokey bars. You can get parts for them on the net.

I don't have a problem in Sonar or any other program using the PRV for midi ... I always end up going in and fixing my screw ups when I use my keyboard anyway. I imagine if you used it all day to make a living, it would be rough though.

The model Bub is referring to is the HR-16. I still have one. It was the first drum machine to use 16-bit, 44khz samples. It sounded far more realistic than Roland models at the time, but lacked the fatness since the samples were mostly dry. They later released and HR16B in black that had more processed samples more suitable for electronic music. Both were amazing values for their time. In recent years, radically modding them has become popular among underground circuits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byhsLVMVYDg

I have the SR18 and like it a lot. I'm going to be setting it up shortly so I can hammer beats into Sonar with it. Just wish the velocity was more sensitive.

although i still have my hr16, i use a simple AKAI LPD8 to tap out beats

The more I read questions like this one, the more I realize there is definitely a need for videos that provide a clear process for those switching software. I have been dabbling with fl studio some in order to assist my son. If I increase my knowledge of the product enough, I may be able to create a tutorial for this sort of situation. For some reason, when I look at videos from people like Karl and Craig, i figure i should leave the tuts to the expert guys, but maybe i should throw my 2 cents in if it will help. I just hold back because I am far from a great musician. I do video production mostly but place a high enough value on the audio in my projects to have a quality DAW. If anyone wants to assist on creating something that would help with this sort of thing, I'm all ears.

chuckebaby

i agree kev. 
conar is a little confused thats all.
lourdo is also confused,matter of fact he is confusing me.
im sorry lourdo,no offence please.its just your statements dont add up man.

Nice to know that it's not just me who's confused.