husker
I guess I am trying to determine what I "should" be doing.

Yes, that will work. As to what you "should" do just know there are basically two ways to use synths in SONAR
1. MIDI+Audio tracks
2. Instrument tracks
 
Ultimately they are the same thing with a different presentation in the DAW. Instrument track are fine when all that is needed is a synth driven by a single MIDI stream and a stereo audio output. When using a synth with multiple inputs or outputs the MIDI+Audio track approach is the norm. MIDI+Audio method predates instrument tracks in SONAR but both produce the same result.
 
Any time a synth has a single MIDI track and a single Audio track, it may be converted to an instrument track using the synth rack and track context menu. Instrument track may be broken out into its MIDI and Audio tracks by using the same menu using the "Split Instrument Track" option.
 

The problem I see is you got some of us saying " don't use a simple instrument track" and others say " yes use one."
 
Sorry that's bound to happen on a user forum. As always there is many way's to do the same task with Sonar and you will eventually find the way that works best for you.
Bit just described a way to insert a new soft synth that I was totally unaware of as example.
I always used the synth rack, but as you see both will open that same dialog and Sonar is a bit complicated in that manner.. 
And in the end the synth will show as an Audio track and can be treated as such.
 
It's seems overly complicated, but boy,, it took me 2 days to figure this same action out in Cubase. They don't even have the option for pure midi tracks, it's always in a synth track. 
I think your very close to getting it. 
 
 

Whether one chooses to use instrument tracks or not, I maintain it helps to understand what they are and how they work. 
 
This

bitflipper
What Steve means by "some" is: pretty much everyone who's serious about MIDI composition.

is a peculiar statement and not what I wrote or meant. To suggest one method is more "serious" than another is silly.
 
 

Think of it this way, using your external hardware synth as an analogy.  You have a Roland FA08. 
 
If you wanted a MIDI track to record the MIDI data on, you would create a MIDI track in Sonar and route it to/from your Roland.
 
If you wanted to monitor or record the Roland audio output in Sonar, you would need to route the audio out of the Roland to an audio track in Sonar.
 
Using a virtual synth in the Sonar Synth Rack has the same requirements, except that it is virtual.
 
The MIDI track stores the MIDI data and routing info related to MIDI, and the audio track is where the virtual synth sends its audio output.

All this reminds me that one day I'll have to dive deeper into soft synths and midi.
😃

Joe_A
All this reminds me that one day I'll have to dive deeper into soft synths and midi.
😃

When I first dove in to the midi pool it was very confusing. Although I had used midi, drum machines with a synchronizer for years back in the analog days, it still took time to understand basic fundamentals. However now when I look back on it, it seems like I made it more complicated than it needed to be. A midi track triggers a soft synth with its midi data. A Simple instrument track (SIT) is a combined midi/soft synth track all in one track. the PRV might be the greatest challenge of all but it is pretty easy to pick up basic moves using the smart tool.
Here's a fairly easy way for a few ways to use midi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juIu9Rlt6v8

Thank you all for the replies and education.  After playing around with this and reading through the documentation, I have a better understanding of all of this.
 
I think the basis for splitting out the tracks is that it gives more routing flexibility.
 
One final question - I know I have have multiple midi tracks route to the same synth, but is it possible to have the same midi track route to multiple synths?  It looks as if one can only choose one  destination per midi track.

husker
...is it possible to have the same midi track route to multiple synths?  It looks as if one can only choose one  destination per midi track.

Some DAWs let you do that, SONAR does not. However, the method SONAR employs for achieving this is actually superior than, say, having an "Add MIDI output" option like you can do with aux sends for audio.
 
Linked MIDI tracks are a better solution because, well, rather than just getting a virtual internal connection, you actually get a separate track that you can do more with. For example, you can insert MIDI plugins into the slaved track. It also makes it easier to swap out alternative synths for experimentation. Each linked track can be separately muted and soloed. Each linked track can have its own MIDI channel. There is no limit to how many linked tracks you can create.

Thank you.  I can see how that would be better.  I'll look into how to link midi tracks.
 
Again, thank you to all for your help.

The Clone Track(s) dialog has an option to "Link to Original Clip(s)." In addition to being the the Track View Tracks menu, this function is available in the context menu for each track. Use the clone function on audio and MIDI tracks as needed. DO NOT clone instrument tracks. Link clips is in Paste Special too.