This is getting annoying.

I started a project and imported a midi file with multiple midi clips and it seems like it changed the format/set-up on how the views were laid out.

At the start-I could easily see the master out and I inserted Boost-11 into that area. 


Then things got changed up through my tinkering with the soft synth or importing midi and now I can't hardly see or access the master out/meter. So I can't adjust Boost-11 settings, IF I can't see and access the stupid thing.

I tried looking at shortcuts and playing with views and when it brought up the console view I think-the master area was not showing ANY Boost-11. Looked unfamiliar to me with a lock in the middle of it and another 2 icons. Weird. Not sure what happened, but I don't want to start that whole project over-already recorded vocals on it and adjusted a lot of stuff, etc..

Is there a way for me to re-set the whole sha-bang to the original view/layout somehow? Not sure what to do there. Seems like using the softsynth changed the original lay-out/view somehow.

The buses you're seeing in the console view with the lock icons in them are hardware output buses; the locks are to lock left and right channel faders together.

You should also be able to see the Master bus there in the next group of console strips to the left. But back in the Track View, if you've minimized the Bus pane, there's small icon with a triangle in it at the bottom of the Track pane that you can click to re-open the Bus pane. If the pane is open, but very small, you just need to grab the horizontal divider between the track and bus pane, and drag it up.

Sounds like you need to spend some quality time with the SONAR Reference Guide PDF or at least watch some videos on Youtube or CakeTV to learn how the different views and screensets work.

Apparently so.

I don't have a good understanding on using the different views.

I generally like the track view, but occasionally want to glance at the console view.

Normally I can see the master bus and the effects bin, but I can't right now or at least messed something up. I usually find the master bus and busses to the right of all the tracks, in the console view. So you're saying the M-bus should be before all the other track views?

Need to do something, no doubt. Seems like the views and layout are very versatile-which is nice for a lot of people that want certain looks when working in there, but I suppose I need to get more familiar with the layout and finding things that are closed, minimized, etc..

Would it change up or appear-IF I didn't have my Roland/Cakewalk VS-100 hardware turned on? I wonder if it would appear then? Or If I could find and see it in the track box-inputs, etc..

The master buss is to the right of the tracks in console view. There should be a gray vertical separator that you can grab -- click and hold left mouse button then drag the separator over to the left by moving the mouse.
If the track view waves are obscuring your view of the console there is a horizontal separator that can be moved up or down in the same way.

and if you can't see them in track view shift+b will expose them.