ok, i'm going to answer my own question because it appears i fixed my issue and i now have full integration.
 
i did two things and i don't know if one or both fixed it?
 
1. i went into cakewalk plug-in manager and went to the vst3 plugins, high lighted "console 1"  and clicked on "add plug in". then i saved that as a plug in layout file. 
 
2. I went back into cake walk and tried to add console 1 to an existing track (one that opened up with the 16 audio tracks template). i still didn't have integration, so i deleted all audio tracks from the template and added a new one. then i added console 1 as an insert fx on this track. it added as a vst3 this time and now i have full integration.
 
not sure if both or either fixed it but i suspect it had to do with the fact that it was loading the vst2 version of console 1 before and now for some reason it is automatically loading the vst 3 version.
 
i hope this is helpful to someone. just so you know, it seems to fully integrate as advertised, and is awesome, but for me it wasn't plug and play. 
 

one more thing to add.
 
after i figured this out i received an email back from softube. that means they responded to my message in 10 minutes. i'm impressed. 
 
here's what they said. 
 
Hi Steven,

This is Mattias from Softube support. Sorry to hear about your issue!

I think you have pin pointed the root of the issue yourself. The integration needs VST3.

Can you check your VST3 folder to see if the VST3 Console 1 has installed correctly?

Best regards,
Mattias
 

stevenbaconsongs
one more thing to add.
 
after i figured this out i received an email back from softube. that means they responded to my message in 10 minutes. i'm impressed. 
 
here's what they said. 
 
Hi Steven,

This is Mattias from Softube support. Sorry to hear about your issue!

I think you have pin pointed the root of the issue yourself. The integration needs VST3.

Can you check your VST3 folder to see if the VST3 Console 1 has installed correctly?

Best regards,
Mattias
 

Hi, and welcome to this forum.
Congratulations on solving your own issue 
You will love the integration between SONAR and Console 1 
I have had it for almost a year, and use it and love it more day by day 
All the best.

heya ken!
 
i'm happy to be on this forum now! i've used logic, protools, tracktion, studio one, and reaper, and have been on reaper for the past few years. i pretty much treat a daw like a tape machine. after a few hours with sonar i can do most everything i need which is the fastest daw learning curve for me so far. i was also able to integrate and get my presonus faderport, audient id22 and softube console 1 all up and running and integrated in that two hours. i've never had that turn around time with the other daws, although i really do dig reaper.
 
i have used console 1 for an hour or so now and as far as i can tell i've figured out everything about the unit (i did read the manual), it's fully integrated, and it's awesome. after my initial confusion with it i find it's just as easy and fun to use as the video's make it look. 
 
although i'm versed in the daw world, i'm actually quite a computer recording hater...mostly because i use computers for my non-music gig and it's enough computers for one day :) so, = for the past 5 years or so i've gotten into recording to tape. i rebuild old tascam 388 machines that i've found around the usa and they are alot of fun to record with. i love not staring at a screen when i record. the main problem with the tascam is it's a huge beast and it's difficult for me to deal with using the machine while sitting in front of a couple of microphones with a guitar in my hand. also the lack of eq precision / and having to print compression to tape is also ok but doesn't allow me to shape the sound as much as i'd like after i'm no longer trapped behind mics and guitars as the performer. 
 
but this console 1 thing has me rethinking things... if i can find a simple transport that also shows the playback time then i can shut off the screen when i'm recording. yes!
 
if this works, i probably will still use the tascam 388 reel to reel, but now it will be acting as my mix down summing plug in :) 
 
i plan to record, eq, compress and mix in sonar with console 1 (which gives me the tactile feel of these sweet old channel strips) and then i'll dump everything out in 8 stems to tape, using the channel inserts of the 388's mixing board so i can sum analog.
 
i'm wondering if i'll find i no longer need the tape machine or analog summing at all? i'm guessing that won't be the case and i'll still enjoy using it a bit, especially with daw processed tracks that can push the tape inputs to it's limits with out overloading the machine. the 388 is finicky as it's a 1/4" tape machine that doesn't do the tape saturation thing like a larger format tape machine, but if you get the levels consistently in the sweet spot it sounds surprisingly soft and lovely on the ears. perfect for acoustic music with daniel lanios-ish soundscaperly electric guitar accompaniment. i'll create a separate thread if i have permission to post results of such daw / mid-fi tape machine collaborations. 

The VST3 console 1 plugin with SPLAT is amazing.  It imports track names, controls faders, pans,  solos, mutes... plus you get both the SSL 4000 channel strip and whatever UAD plugins you have that UA/ST have worked into Console 1.  It makes setting eqs and gates so much easier.  And it has an unlimited track count capability.  
 
From what I understand Cakewalk and Presonus both worked (separately of course) to get the unit to seamlessly integrate into the respective DAWs.  I got one right after Sweetwater began stocking the new model and I cannot imagine working without it.  
 
Cake and Softube did a righteous job!

BTW- the only dropout issues I ever have is if i swing around in my chair quickly and whack the Console 1 with a guitar headstock hard enough to disconnect it.  I am more worried about my guitars. The console 1 is built like a tank.