Hello All,
I've been away from recording for about a year so of course I can no longer get my Sonar to work!
 
Windows 7   Sonar Platinum  Motu Microbook
 
The audio of a piano track I imported plays back back fine and I can hear the reverb effect on my voice from the sends but I can not hear my actually voice.  Flat line when recording.  If I flick the mic it registers and records the blip but otherwise does not record.
I've check the inputs and outputs and audio devices and interfaces etc. and everything seems correct.  I've opened up old song files and I can't record on them either.  I don't think it can be the mic as I do hear the faint reverb echo.  I'm at a loss and frustrated as it does not seem that anything has changed since the last time I used the program for vocals.
 
Thanks,  
Michael B

It sounds like your input gain may be too low. On your audio interface, can you increase your input gain?

Do you mean within Sonar or in the computer control panel?

Not with SONAR, but on your hardware audio device. In my case, there are Input Volume knobs that I can physically turn up or down that affect the level of audio going IN to SONAR, before it gets to SONAR. Which audio interface are you using?

I'm using MOTU micro book.  I did try uping the input there and it works but I then get a lot of hiss which I never had before.  Also, there settings are factory defaults that I've never changed so they should be the same since I last used it.  It does seem to be a levels thing.  Any idea in Sonar that can be adjusted?  This is more likely something that I may have accidently done.
 
M

I cued in on words you used like "I can not hear my actually voice.  Flat line when recording.  If I flick the mic it registers and records the blip but otherwise does not record."
 
This clue is what leads me to believe you are getting a very low signal. When you "flick" the mic, that is producing a very loud sound for the Mic, and SONAR is showing you that it is being recorded. For sounds that are not that loud, you are not seeing anything but a "flat line" because there is not enough level coming in.
 
When you turn up your levels you say you are getting "hiss." This is also related to your hardware before coming into SONAR. You may need to update your drivers perhaps, or maybe your preamp or converter is going bad. 
 
I just have a gut feeling this is hardware related, before sound getting into SONAR. You stated that the piano track you imported plays back fine. Your reverb send is working when you actually have a sound loud enough to be heard. All these clues are leading me to believe it is audio interface related, not software related. 
 
Do you have another interface you could try for troubleshooting purposes?

I think it's problem with the mic.  or the cable.  I just switched Mics and now have sound.  Thanks for your time.
 
Michael

FYI, SONAR has no control over audio levels while recording from external sources. It records whatever is sent to it at the level provided by the source.

Michael Bennett
I think it's problem with the mic.  or the cable.  I just switched Mics and now have sound.  Thanks for your time.
 
Michael

 
I was going to suggest that, because you said this:

Michael Bennett
 I did try uping the input there and it works but I then get a lot of hiss

This would be a source problem AKA your mic.