I think you got it. There are two ways to add synths, one is the Simple Instrument Track, the other is an audio track+MIDI track.

But am I wrong in thinking both of the methods there result in the same type of track? Specifically a Simple Instrument Track? 

I know if I want to have multiple outputs I gotta mess with the Multiple Outputs stuff (I've done it with BFD) but that's kind of the type of thing I'm trying to sort out in my head. That Synth Properties dialogue really confuses me enough as it is. Oh well... I guess I should just move on. It worries me though what other weird stuff is gonna come up if this is what's happening at the most basic levels. :-/

Cheers.

Yeah, there are only two ways to do MIDI in SONAR, a simple instrument track or audio track(s)+MIDI. I always open the Synth Property Page every time when adding a synth to load a patch. I usually define a track template for synths that use multi-oputputs so all that crud is done one time.

Okay... seriously, these typos in the tuts are unacceptable. They are supposed to be the first thing new users do when they install Sonar.

Here is a jim dandy of a typo and it cannot be attributed to an old version or copy pasta or whatever. It is just sheer bollocks.

Here they are talking about inserting the TTS to play one of the tut projects. A full MIDI production:

On some computers, the tracks may play back through the TTS-1 at this point. However, on
computers that have hardware MIDI outputs available, you may need to specify the TTS-1 as each
track's output. Here's a fast way to do that:
1. Hold down the CTRL key and click each track to select them.
The tracks are highlighted to indicate they are selected.
2. Hold down the CTRL key and click any selected track’s Input control and select Cakewalk TTS-
1.
All selected tracks are assigned to the same input.


They keep saying INPUT when it should be OUTPUT. There isn't even an option for the TTS on the input. You have to click the OUTPUT control on the track to make the project work.


Are they actively trying to confuse newcomers? I actually remember not being able to do this tut because of this when I first started and thought I was just stupid or something. Now I know enough to have figured it out.

What the heck?!

Maybe I SHOULD type up a revised version. I feel sorry for anyone just starting out trying to slog through this mess.

Okay... rant over.

Are you looking at a simple instrument track or and audio+midi track. In the latter there is an input that has to be specified as the incoming synth on the audio track and an output that has to be specified as the outgoing synth in the midi track. It may be that the docs got scrambled when CW introduced simple instrument tracks. I have not looked at that section in some time.

It's on page 131 of the X2 PDF. Follow the instructions to the letter and you'll see what I mean. I can understand not wanting to revise an almost 2000 page doc in its entirety but these are the tuts. They're not exactly long or overly in depth.

However I have not cross referenced with the current online version yet but still... I figure that would be the first thing they fix up after a new release.

...and yeah I know I'm being pissy. Just bugs me because I truly did feel like a numbskull for not being able to figure this stuff out my first go around. Now I know why. 

I really do not want to do the tutorials. I will take you word for it and agree it is a mess. It looks like your comments are confirming http://forum.cakewalk.com/fb.ashx?m=2746068 . It goes back a long time and I imagine is one reason for the success of the SONAR Power series (and maybe a reason why CW stopped printing the manual).

Users have reported submitting corrections that find their way into the documentation. If you want to post lengthy rewrites here, go for it. They will just get buried in a couple of days and given the state of the search engine, lost for most users. If you submit corrections to the proper place, they might get into the docs. Of course, if past is prologue, the docs will ultimately revert to the same state of accuracy in the future. It is only recently that CW has put the documents on line with updates. Maybe that will help with keeping the documentation current and correct.