I think lots depends on whether you intend to use a synth multitimbrally.  Then it makes sense to have separate midi/audio - session drummer 3 is a good example.  If it is just one synth per task, then I use instrument tracks. I like the instrument tracks as its midi with pro channel and plugins, routed to the master bus is the way I see it. like hardware synths pretty much.

You can always split them down later. I just use basic instrument tracks for composing process, then split out drums into separate audio tracks or midi if necessary in the mixing process.  (I cant do mixing and composing at the same time).

So I think they are designed just to get ideas down easily , with the options of outputs etc all possible when you need to.  A very welcome addition for me.

I don't often disagree with Bit, but here I do. Those who requested instrument tracks did not request them to be limited (let alone to have issues) nor were they all Fruity Loops fans.  That they don't cater for multitimbral or multiout instruments is part of the concept, being limited isn't. They can be ideal for monotimbral, single-out instruments and if they aren't (I don't have Sonar X so I can't tell) that's a matter of how they are implemented in Sonar, not a shortcoming of the concept.

I always use Simple Instrument Tracks for single-timbral synths too.  For example, if I have a piano track I just have no need for separate MIDI and audio tracks, and I like that one track covers both (screen real estate).   And it's very rare that even need to split the track in these cases, since I'm usually just using PRV or adding FX, and that's about it.    For multi-timbral, yeah, it's separate tracks in a folder all the way.
 

Any idea how to do midi input quantization when it is simple instrument track? I do not see any controls when in that mode.

jamesyoyo


Any idea how to do midi input quantization when it is simple instrument track? I do not see any controls when in that mode.

The inspector has two tabs at the bottom when it's an instrument track, Audio and MIDI. If you click the MIDI tab, you will see all of the controls you would normally get for a MIDI track, including input quantization. 

@James... I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for but I can see the Input Quantize on a SIT I just inserted. You have to click the MIDI tab at the bottom of the Inspector pane and it will change the right strip from the audio view to a regular MIDI view.

I use instrument tracks a lot and have only had one or two minor problems with them (that I can't even remember off hand so they can't have been that important). 

First of all they're quicker to set up. Secondly, the only thing missing from them that I've noticed (and I've still never been able to work out why) is that the Audio part of them does not have a stereo/mono interleave button. But when I have to use that, I simply right click on the track, select "split instrument track," flick the interleave button, then select "create instrument track" to consolidate it again. 

For me, the quick setup and the MUCH tidier appearance outweighs any disadvantages (which I've yet to encounter). 

I'm in the camp that always uses a simple instrument track if I only need a stereo out while tracking. For me it's simply a real estate and workflow thing. It's similar to a closed folder except I can actually get to the clip itself and basic data in a single track space. If you need to do advanced operations, you split it, then close it when you're finished. What they really should have done is put a plus sign on the instrument track just like folders that will do the split and combine operations without having to use the inspector menu, but other than that, very convenient. And obviously they should put more work into what operations can be done when the track is combined.

bitflipper

I often have ... one MIDI track feeding multiple instruments. That is the main benefit of using separate tracks.

This subject was up for discussion quite some time ago.  I thought the consensus was that the only way to do this was to use an external driver, something like MIDIYoke, to (re)direct the MIDI data appropriately.  Did I miss something?  Can you do this entirely within Sonar now?

About a year ago I would have been +1ing Bit's & Danny's posts. I have posted many times they aren't worth bothering with...but... I must confess that I have been using them more and more lately. I'm actually finding them quite convenient for single output synths.

Having said that there are definitely some quirks with them that don't materialize with split tracks.