I've got a volume envelope on a synth track. I created it by selecting "Volume" as the Edit Filter. I can add nodes, but when I play the song, the actual track value is unaffected. Also, the "Volume" control does not obey the envelope either.

If I manually change the "Volume" control, I can hear the differences. So it's just the automation that is broken.

I tried splitting the synth track into separate audio and midi tracks. That didn't help. I deleted the original volume envelope and created another one. That got ignored too. I restarted Sonar. Still no luck.

How can I get X2 to listen to automation envelopes?

MIDI automation is obeyed. So, if I delete the envelope on the audio track, I can at least automate via the MIDI track.

However, when I then to turn them back into a synth track via "Make Instrument Track", a new, nodeless volume envelope appears instead of the MIDI envelope.

Is anyone else getting problems like these?

this is a sonar thing. when you have midi volume envelope engaged on a split midi/audio synth track where the volume is midi volume and not track volume then the way you force it is:
select the midi track
open the track inspector
on the left you will see three drop-downs C)hannel B)ank and P)atch 
select C and pick channel 1

most times this will force the envelope.  some soft synths are programmed to not respond to default cc 7 for volume (for example, NI's Massive). with massive you need to right click the master volume control and learn cc7. 

it would be good to mention what soft synth you are using because people like me, who will actually play in sonar to find a solution or at least replicate the problem, can have some common ground to work from.  more info the better imho. 

hth

also, click "O" hotkey to make sure you're not in envelope offset mode.

My problem is slightly different.

On my midi track, midi volume envelopes are read, but pan automation has no effect.

......Am using the Studio Instruments El Piano synth.

the standard cc for midi panning isn't mapped in electric piano synth.  right-click the pan envelope you assigned, select assign envelope/midi. in the drop box on the left for Type: pick nrpn then in the Value: dropdown select master pan.  

The synth I'm using is Rapture.

I've got the MIDI and Audio tracks both open. Each has a "volume" envelope.

The MIDI track automation works fine. When the MIDI volume envelope goes up, the MIDI Volume control increases. So, no problems there.

The audio track automation is being ignored. Changes to the MIDI volume envelope have no effect on either the Volume control or what I hear. Pan is also ignored.

Update:

When looking for the "C", "B", and "P" I noticed the little "R", "W", "*", and "A" in the track header. I moused over each one and saw that "R" toggled Automation Read on and off. I clicked that, and now suddenly the envelope is working.

I've been using Sonar for over a decade and never had to worry about the "R" button. Either it was always enabled by default, or got automatically enabled when I created an envelope. For some reason, it looks like either:

a) Sonar X2 does not automatically enable automation read
-or-
b) I accidentally turned it off (by hitting the wrong key at the wrong time)

Is there any reason not to have automation read enabled by default?