using alesis dm6

Hello folks! I am desperately attempting to use my dm6 as triggers in Sonar 8, but i just can not make it work. I can see the drums show up under midi options, and i selected them but still can not figure this out. Can someone please help me? I am pretty new to this and kinda frustrated. It seems like it shouldnt be this difficult, but alas i can not figure it out. Any help at all would be much appreciated.

i dont think that my drums are registering in sonar for some reason. It says in the manual that the task bar icon will flash a red light, and mine is not flashing at all. How can I make sure that its picking up my signal?

well i dont think so, it works just fine with garage band and fruity loops studio. But for whatever reason i cant make it work on sonar!?!?

heres a screenshot. up at the top it says ACT midi controller, Does that have anything to do with it? http://imgur.com/wo59h

The really important thing we can't see is your inputs.
You should see something like this:




The DM-6 shows up by default as USB Audio Device.
Make sure it is checked in the Inputs box.
Don't worry about the outputs.
There are no special drivers, and you don't need to mess with ACT.
If you can show another screenshot with the inputs, that would be very helpful.

OK.
In Options>MIDI Devices, what options do you have?
Do you have any other MIDI controllers connected?
Do you have any other USB devices connected, such as an interface?
It looks like the friendly name associated with a USB Input has been changed to "e-drum".
However, this a blind association, and does not necessarily reflect the attached device.

Please show us a screen shot of your MIDI Devices screen.

The only way I have been able to duplicate what you are experiencing is to not have the DM6 selected properly in this screen.
Also, tell us more about your setup, and which version of Sonar 8(LE,SE,PE).
As you noted, it should be pretty much plug and play.
I'm asking for this information so we can find where the disconnect is in your system.
Help us help you.

http://imgur.com/vJ1Ef Here is another shot of prop.

i got the same thing. Just the e-drum. I selected it in both in and outputs.

Still doesnt flash. Went into the devices and pulled this up, should it be on edrum or usb? My drums are the only thing plugged into usb atm. http://imgur.com/kBsxe

just changed my driver mode to asio, and am now registering on the track! But I dont hear anything!

underakskies


just changed my driver mode to asio, and am now registering on the track! But I dont hear anything!

Your built-in Realtek sound card does not support ASIO.
Do you have an interface?

no interface. just straight from the brain to the laptop.

On a side note, get yourself a proper interface.
You have invested in Sonar, and a dedicated laptop. The built-in chip(Realtek) is crap. It is a major weak link in an otherwise good system. A proper sound card/interface is especially important if you are working with soft synths.

Now I can hear playback, but i cant change the sounds, just hear what the brain is using, not anything from sonar. And only when i play it back, its like theres no monitoring or what ever you want to call it.

underakskies


Now I can hear playback, but i cant change the sounds, just hear what the brain is using, not anything from sonar. And only when i play it back, its like theres no monitoring or what ever you want to call it.

To hear sounds directly from the DM6 brain, you would have to have your headphones plugged into the headphone out of the DM6, or have the Line Out from the DM6 connected to the Line In of your laptop. If neither of these is true, you are, in fact, hearing sound from Sonar.
I'm going to sidetrack for a minute.
You have jumped into the deep end of the pool. Sonar is a very complex program, which I am sure you have realized at this point. Don't worry. it is comprised of many small components that are easier to understand if you try to absorb it in smaller bites.
Greg, myself, and others can attest to the fierce learning curve, especially in the first few weeks.
It will have you pulling your hair out, and hurling colorful language at your computer. Just ride it out. Stuff will start to click. Things that are blowing you out of the water now will become easy tasks. Trust me on this. Been there, done that.
It's an incredibly powerful tool, once you get the hang of it.
Back to our regularly scheduled program.
I believe Sonar8PE included Session Drummer 3, or possibly Session Drummer 2. Either of these would offer better drum sounds than TTS-1.
That said, you have chosen to work with TTS-1, so let's run with that.
When you insert a soft synth, any soft synth, select the following:
MIDI Source Track ( I see you have that)
First Synth Audio Output (This is critical. It is how the sound from the synth is returned to Sonar)
Synth Properties Page(This is the synth GUI, and in most cases, you will need to see this).
Synth Track Folder( Not absolutely essential, but very handy for keeping things tidy)
Here is a screen shot showing a TTS-1 setup for drums.
Once you have the bank selected, you can select any of the named patches for variations in the sound.

I'm sure you will have more questions.
Please ask.
We are here to help you get the most from Sonar. 
ps. Greg, I saw the reference in this thread, then I got your PM.  
Hopefully we can get young Obi-wan sorted out.