Trust me on this...it takes a lot less time to learn SONAR than it did to learn how to run a session at the Record Plant! Just figuring out how to get signals in and out of the patch bay was hard enough. And SONAR does a lot more...the virtual world has as many ins, outs, and learning curve as a physical studio...more, actually.

The good news is that learning the first 20% takes 80% of the time. once you get past the basics, things move faster...kind of like learning guitar, or skiing for that matter.

Garageband is a toy compared to SONAR or any competitive DAW.  If you want demo quality at best for your music, then maybe GB is good enough.  If you want to make even half serious recordings, GB is still in elementry school while SONAR (et al) is getting a masters and the learning curve is potentially formidable if you lack patience

To the OP.
 
It's generally considered good form to go back to you first post (assuming your using a real browser version and not the mobile version) and click on Edit. And add [SOLVED] in front of or at the end of the existing title. And the save the edited post.
 
That is of course if most if not all your concerns have been addressed/solved etc.

Here's a little tip that might get you going.
 
If you go to preferances/ midi / devices. uncheck all output options. 
Now when you open a GM midi file it will automaticly open with the TTS-1 and all the tracks assigned to the proper instruments and patches. 
 
OK hopefully you have found the browser to the right. It's just minimized in some views. don't forget, Sonar is a Windows based program so a lot of views are minimized , resized, floated etc. spend some time exploring the edges where you'll find all sorts of hidden views for workspaces. All software works this way.
Print off thekeyboard  shortcut page,
https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR%20X3&language=3&help=Menus1.181.html
 
 
 
 

MerlinSuderman
Thanks, mettel, for the video links.  From my experience it takes many times longer than the videos to work through them and understand the points.  That's a lot of hours.  
 
I may have to make decisions between working on music and working on learning Sonar.  I've already gotten other recording software that doesn't have nearly the capabilities of Sonar, but I can start using it almost immediately.

If you can set up a Skype call or something, I'll try to help get you going. I think, from what I gather, what you want to do is pretty easy. 
 
I must warn you, I'm no techie. But, I think I may be able to help. Send me your contact info.

Merlin I highly recommend a separate recording interface. You can get them for 200.00. I can give recommendations. Usb as the main connect into computer. If you record one or two tracks at a time you only need one or two inputs. 
 This makes it all much easier since the onboard computer audio isn't the best for recording with regard to latency.
 
I also use a hardware synth. I send midi to Sonar through either the usb out on my keyboard or through my midi equipped interface. I can also send audio from my hardware synth into my computer recording interface. In this way you have two sets of tracks both midi to play the soft synths and audio from the keyboard.
 
So a hookup with you using an outboard interface would look like this:
midi from keyboard>midi into interface or directly into computer.midi can be either a 5 pin connection or a usb from keyboard.
Audio outs from keyboard or line outs> into interface line in>then goes internally to sonar>select interface inputs as seen on track inputs for the track you intend to record in Sonar .Set a separate midi track to track midi if you want the audio and the midi versions. Once you capture the midi you can tie it to any soft synth you have. Simply drag it onto a soft synth track or send the output to that synth input.
 
The way some get around latency issues with midi and slow built in sound drivers is they use audio out from synth for tracking, maybe use headphone jack directly on keyboard while at the same time tracking midi. You don't need to hear the soft synth for tracking. It should play in time after you have tracked the midi makes sense? :)
 
In some cases the audio from the keyboard might sound better than the TTS-1. The only real reason you need midi is for editing purposes. If you're a good keyboard player, maybe you don't need correction :)
 
Having an interface will eliminate the need for a mixer, although I keep mine around and have it tied to two of the inputs on my interface. This way I can feed anything into the mixer on a whim, guitars, shakers, etc, 
 
Hope this helps some. 
 
Cancer survivor too. Congrats!