Yes this is a huge thing to get used to as you could imagine. I do have a board (Tascam 24 channel all direct out to the deltas). I'd get them in the ball park there, then raise of lower the levels in the Sonar console to shore them up. I guess you guys are already used to this and that's why I asked. I thought there was something wrong. Thanks to all for their expertise!

Sonar has never ever done this any differently. Nor did Pro Audio.

What you thought was being controlled was simply your good luck that the input was not clipping. 

First of all there is no way Sonar or any other DAW can adjust the level before it hits the AD converter of a digital device. If you overload the inputs of the device it will remain overloaded no matter what you do after the fact.

You must set your levels before they get into the computer. That is what a sound check is for when using any digital device. Its mandatory. 

In every manual from Pro Audio CW has stated you have to adjust your levels at the source. Its too late to do so inside Pro Audio or latter DAW.

First of all there is no way Sonar or any other DAW can adjust the level before it hits the AD converter of a digital device....

Not completely true John. VStudio  VS700R owners have control over the input Pad and level before the signal hits the A to D converter via the software control. But overall you are correct as in this case it is rather specialised. (I have checked the block diagram and unless I am wrong that seems to be the case)

You might have your meters set to prefader.

My DAW is in the shop so cant give a detailed description but I think in console view in the upper option, scroll through them and you will see the option on the meters for pre or post.  Set it to post and the fader will adjust the meter

Id use the prefader to make sure your input into Sonar isnt clipping before it goes in. 
Check the entire chain for the level you want before it hits X1

@ digi2ns - as stated above in several posts - "You cannot control input level from within Sonar. You have to do that from your interface. "  Or prior to your interface.. 

agreed. and that was the point John. I would adjust the faders down on Sonar to keep the tracks from clipping. I was able adjust the fader in any fashion. For example: I could drop the fader to zero and I would get no input at all. I thought this was very useful. I had the best of both worlds. This is apparently no longer the case. Heck, the way everyone is talking, maybe this shouldn't have worked and I was getting lucky. I do know that my setup works as described in Sonar 2. I just verified it again. The Sonar 2 setup is updated to the highest patch level. I have 2 M-Audio Delta 1010 ad/da converters the converters are attached via 25 pin snakes (2 in 2 out) to the Tascam M-1600 analog board. Yes I do use the faders on the board in order to get them close to zero, but I'm able to tweak the input with the faders in Sonar 2 as well for fine adjustment.

My bad-My first post was if you already recorded and were working and the faders dont do anything but the meters keep chugging away.

Refer to my 2nd post

What and how are you recording.

Guitar to pedals to interface to X1?  or something with a similar chain.

levels need to be checked all the way before it hits the interface to eliminate clipping. ( This is what I was getting at, sorry for brain farting on the first post)

In other words I can make-

My Les Paul clip on the Line6 X3live,  Back it off so its NOT clipping

If my MAudio inputs are jacked up, I can make the same signal going into my MAudio clip-Turn down the levels at the MAudio

And I when NOTHING is clipping in the previous steps, I watch Track View or Console View and get the levels coming in set to where I want them