Hello.
 
I was just wondering if some of you know if it is possible to use the Boss DR-880 drum machine with Sonar X1 Studio and soundcard Focusrite Scarlett 18i6?
 
My goal here was to let Sonar X1 Studio start the drum machine when I hit the record button and record the drums arrangements.
 
I have tried to follow the information I found in the help file inside of Sonar X1 Studio but it didn't work for me. This is the way I hooked up the connections: I used a usb cable from my laptop with Sonar X1 Studio to Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 soundcard and then a MIDI cable from the MIDI Out from Focusrite Scarlett to MIDI In on Boss DR-880 (I set the drum machine to receive MIDI).
Maybe I have connected the items the wrong way, so perhaps some of you could give me son ideas?
Hope some of you would help me a little here. Thank you for all inputs.
 
 

Let's break down the problem of what is not working. The way you hooked up seems correct.

1. With Sonar track armed, when you hit on the DR pad, did you see Sonar picking up the audio (via the record led meter) ?

2. When you start Sonar, did DR start along ?

  hmm... I'm pretty new to MIDI myself but I think you have to have two cables hooked up to the drum machine. One MIDI out from the interface to the drum machine (sends MIDI data from Sonar to the drum machine) then one MIDI out from the drum machine into the interface (sends sounds from the machine back into Sonar). I don't see in your post that you have that second cable hooked up. I could be mistaken. If so apologies. Welcome to the forum. 

Hello again.
 
To tomixornot: 1) When I hit the pads I do get signals into Sonar.
                        2) When I try to record with the track armed and hit the big record-button it
                             does not start the drum machine, so...

Hello Beepster.
 
I am new to all of this as well. I have just started out using Sonar on my new laptop so I thought I wanted to learn a little bit about recording using DAW. I have recently used Boss BR-1200CD which worked fine as standalone recorder, but I am curious to use DAW since you have so many options (maybe a little too much.)
As you mentioned that I should use two MIDI cables I have just tried that as well, but Sonar didn't start the drum machine at all, but thanks for the input.

I just checked out the Boss online and it seems to have a USB connector. You'll probably have better luck using that instead of the MIDI cables. Be sure to download the latest drivers for your O/S. Cheers.

I have a DR880.. DR can be configured to respond to receive / transmit midi via USB or the two midi port.. For the DR USB, you need to install the driver. Using midi port, you don't have to install any driver.

The choice depends
- if you have limited midi out port , you may want to use DR USB. Provided you have enough USB port.
- if you have enough midi out port , use DR MIDI port, and you don't have to install any driver.
- Check DR manual where to setup this, it can only be set to function either USB midi or via regular midi port.

If you are recording DR output as midi data, then MIDI out cable is required (from DR midi out).. 

If you are recording DR audio, then only one midi MIDI cable (from Focusrite midi out to DR midi in) is required.

Once you have setup all the above.. Press "p" in Sonar (preference) and check MID Devices, make sure the port you use is being checked.

Overlooked one important setting.

Sonar - "p" (preference)
- Project - MIDI
check Transmit MIDI Start/Cont/Stop/Clock.

You can only see this once you opened or create a project. I was checking on X1 preference without loading a project.. and missed this setting earlier.

Hi again.
 
Thank you so much for the inputs and everything. Now I am happy. I went into Sonar in the preference menu and clicked Scarlett 18i6 USB in Midi Divices (Inputs) and furter below Scarlett 18i6 USB (Outputs) as well (maybe I only need one of them , I will check this later tonight as well.
Once again to both all of you, than you.

Glad to help. You do need the last setting above..else DR probably won't start despite all the setup.