LpMike75
In Pro Tools I can trim video, slip edit, adjust start and end times etc, all while using Microsoft Windows.  Just for anyone who cares.
 
Sonar has given me so many headaches working with video, I ended up going Jimbo's route with Vegas.  Unlike him, I have never gotten AVI to work with Sonar, so I always use WMV files with Sonar. 

which codec are you using with avi?  I think this throws people off a lot because there are so many common file types that can be housed in an avi container.

btw, i never use avi with Sonar either because the resource hit is not worth it to me. I have gotten avi to work . I just use wmv because I end up exporting the sound to video editor to assemble anyway.
 

dubdisciple

LpMike75
In Pro Tools I can trim video, slip edit, adjust start and end times etc, all while using Microsoft Windows.  Just for anyone who cares.
 
Sonar has given me so many headaches working with video, I ended up going Jimbo's route with Vegas.  Unlike him, I have never gotten AVI to work with Sonar, so I always use WMV files with Sonar. 

which codec are you using with avi?  I think this throws people off a lot because there are so many common file types that can be housed in an avi container.

I don't know which codec of AVI I have tried.  I gave up a while back and just moved on with WMV.  Like you, I only use it as a reference and re-import the music to Vegas and then bounce to Quicktime or whatever format the client needs as a reference.  
 
As of late, I have had more and more clients ask me to marry the music with the picture.  (Most of this type of work is bumpers or web commercials).  At first I didn't like it, but then I realized, if they are asking me to put the music in the final cut, that means they are done editing!  It totally makes up for those jobs that request 10 different music cuts because they don't stop editing lol

Here is the thing...yea you can do things in PTools and other programs with video and tempo that you can't do in sonar, but I would never want to work in PTools.  Because Sonar does so many other things better.  So what would you be giving up if Sonar had more video features?
 
  I'm kinda simple minded and have been able to figure out every curve thrown at me (trust me in the 30 years I've been in this industry I've dealt with every issue possible). One big reason is Sonar has been a pretty basic app.  At least it started out that way.  I kinda like Sonar doing one thing,  help me create music.  Personally I hope it stays that way.  I hope staff view improves and Video stays as it is.  Perhaps adding streamers like DP does would be cool, but I'm probably the only one on the planet who wants that.  But heck, I can add streamers in Vegas anyway.
 
Just my simple minded 2 cents.....  

Noel - many thanks, you answered my question as to why having changed the video engine from MF to DS that Sonar reverts back to MF if it can'd load the clip in DS. The major issue being for me that the in-point set box is therefore greyed out and can't be used.
 
However, I know that this can be blamed on Microsoft, but can't Sonar take a leaf out of some of the other DAWs mentioned above that can already do this really simple yet important task and come up with their own solution? It seems like there's a lot of other people who would like this to work properly but are going elsewhere to get the job done...
 
dlion16 - sorry I think you need to re-read my original Post, as I don't think I'm being "a bit off base". I wasn't "tinkering" or asking for any major video enhancements and new functionality, just the ability to move the in-point as I "have been able to" in previous releases, to start the video so it's in sync with my music. (Also I don't create the video, it's sent by the client so I'm not really in control of the format etc). Sonar was the right tool for the job!

LPmike, although you seem to have found a workflow you are comfortable with, if for any reason you run into this issue with sonar or another product, gspot is a free utility that will let you know exactly what codec your file is using. Short of installing huge megacodec packs (that sometimes have viruses) it is unlikely your computer covers every codec possibility. Hence the common problem of avis not working for some people.

I would just like to warn anyone who is thinking about shelling out for Vegas that you still won't be able to export 1:1 quality video with new audio. It has its own rendering options which may end up looking different from the original.

Sanderxpander
I would just like to warn anyone who is thinking about shelling out for Vegas that you still won't be able to export 1:1 quality video with new audio. It has its own rendering options which may end up looking different from the original.

Not really refuting what you are saying ( I rarely use Vegas now and have not upgraded in years) but you may want to spend a little more time getting to know the export system before being certain about that warning. Little things can make such a huge difference when exporting in all video programs. Also source material does matter, as well as your project settings. When I used Vegas, the renderer was slow but I never suffered from any noticeable dropoff in quality.

I understand completely, and should have mentioned I only just started using it. However, the OPs needs seem just as small/simple as my own and the simple fact is that Vegas does not allow you to simply replace audio and export the existing video stream. I have little knowledge about video software but it seems to me that as soon as you start rendering again, differences (for better or worse) between source and end product can arise and it has certainly been my experience.

At the very least it's not a simple "just get Vegas and you're good to go".

Very true. I cringe whenever I see the " just get vegas" solution to somve video issues with Sonar. Vegas is great..but the pro version is total overkill for most of the issues described. Although I think it has an easier learning curve than most major editors, it is still a complex and advanced application that takes time to get ideal results.

One of the reasons people get tripped up on exporting is because the file formats of most video cameras is rarely the ideal or desired deliverable end product.