how to use the piano roll/ sequencer in sonar

[peter millett]

I've been using FL studio for a while and am comfortable with it...
I recently downloaded a trial copy of sonar, but it doesn't have any tutorial files in it. I'm wondering how to select a soft synth and play notes through it via the piano roll. I know this should be simple, but I couldn't get the hang of it. It seems like most other music soft wares have sequencer/ track layouts that are fairly similar (at least they look similar) but FL seems to do things differently. I'm tyring to decide whether to buy FL 6, or spend a few more bucks and get sonar. I pretty much know FL inside out, but can't figure out other wares like cubase or sonar.

thanks, peter

[Uncle Krunkus]

Somewhere there will be an option for which port (or similar middle-man type device) to send the piano roll to. Once it's going to the right port, whatever instrument is hanging off that port should play the notes that are on the piano roll.
NB: I don't actually have Sonar, I use Cakewalk which is the one that came before Sonar. But the concept will be very similar. You should be able to set up a port for your soft-synths, another one for your soundcards midi voices, and another one for external midi devices like off board synths, drum machines, sound modules etc.
Fruity loops is good for manipulation of digital audio (.wavs) , but if you want to combine that with multiple channels of midi playback in a continously editable process then you're gonna have to go for Sonar (Cakewalk) or Cubase or something similar.
BTW you probably won't find one application which does everything you need in the ways you like. That's okay. Learn each one as you go and learn how to combine the results.
I use: -
Cakewalk Pro Audio - for the main structure, timing, mixing, effect plug-ins etc.
Tuareg (now called Tunafish) - for building drum loops and looped effects/samples etc.
Soundforge - for editing wavs.
Vienna - for building soundfonts.
T-racks - for mastering.

[Mohoyoho]

Assuming that you have your system setup proper for Sonar do the following: Make sure you have loaded your vst or dxi with the rack tool. Select a preset on your vst. You should then see two tracks on the left (the track list): a midi and an audio. On the track list click on the midi track of your vst. Now open the piano roll. Make sure no other piano roll is open. I use the paint brush tool as a selector. You should be able to play the keys or paint a track. I have Sonar 4. To get vsts in I had to scan my computer for vsts with the wrapper. I don't think you have to do that anymore, but I could be wrong. If your vsts are listed in the rack, then I guess you don't.