It is about Sonar 7.0.2. I got a short audio clip, how do I change the playback speed (and therefore the pitch)? I messed around with clip-properties and I managed to change the pitch (by semi-tones) but that keeps the length the same. I don't want that. I just want to easiest form of changing the pitch: by changing the playback speed. The tempo should be unaffected because all the other clips in the project should be unaffected.

If you are talking about loops, then pitch and speed are separately specified. If you have a clip that is an exact number of beats long, convert it to a groove clip (loop) by selecting it and typing ctrl-L; then it will follow the project tempo. If you see in groove clip properties that it has been assigned the wrong number of beats, change it. Then add a pitch marker, or use the groove clip properties to specify the pitch you want. If not a loop, you still need to edit pitch and length separately. Note: changing either speed or pitch or both requires resampling to meet the sample rate of your audio output.

FunkLoop

I got a short audio clip, how do I change the playback speed (and therefore the pitch)?...I just want to easiest form of changing the pitch: by changing the playback speed.

Try using the Cakewalk Time-Pitch audio effect, accessed as follows:

Select clip, Process menu > AudioFx > Cakewalk > Time/Pitch Stretch 2

You can change either length or pitch independently with this.

@ bvideo

for me it does not matter what it is: vocal, loop, individual drum hit: just want to achieve the exact same effect as when I change the playback speed in my wave editor GoldWave.

@ Kev

So I set time to 50% and pitch to 12.00. This way it plays back the wave twice as fast. But what about the accuracy. For what I want accuracy (i can choose between normal and high) should not be an option at all: just playback twice (or 0.78 of the original speed) as fast. I feel a bit insecure about this method. Which guarantee do I have the target-icon is exactly on the gray sloped line?

The help file of that specific plug-in does not work for me as I have Vista. Vista does not support older windows help files.

Did a search and I am not the only one having this silly problem. Found the thread Speed Track Up Like On Tape and I would like to quote some guy: Yeah, i find it absurd that i actually have to open my wave editor just to pitch a sample up a semitone, because Sonar can't do it without applying a pitchshift algorithim. It seems I need the plugin Pitchworx from Delaydots.

This technique is called vari-speed (varispeed) and lots of people are surprised it is not there.

because Sonar can't do it without applying a pitchshift algorithim

one of the most ridiculous statements I've heard!

wave editors apply pitchshift algorithms to change the pitch as well.  there's no way else to do it in the digital world. 
to change pitch use the pitch shifter VST like Kev999 says.  as far as "accuracy" and the gray sloped line - if you can't hear the difference what does it matter?

>> wave editors apply pitchshift algorithms to change the pitch as well. there's no way else to do it in the digital world.

What I mean is just a change of playback speed, not any pitch-change algorithm is involved here.

>> if you can't hear the difference what does it matter

In that case can you please elaborate on this:
original mono wave file of length 11.162 seconds
pitched down by 2 semitones gives me in Goldwave a length of 12.528 seconds
pitched down by 2 semitones gives me in Sonar (while holding down the shift key + choosing high accuracy) a length of 12.951 seconds