Instruction Manual

276 Recording
Recording Specific Ports and Channels
Recording Specific Ports and Channels
Most MIDI instruments are capable of sending information on several
different channels at once. By default, SONAR merges all incoming MIDI
data and records it on whatever MIDI tracks are armed. However, SONAR
also allows you to control which MIDI input ports and channels each track
will record. Here are some examples of when this feature might be useful:
• There are several performers, each playing a different MIDI instrument.
By setting each instrument to transmit MIDI on a different channel and/
or port, you can record each player’s performance into a separate
track, even though they are all playing at the same time.
• You are using a MIDI guitar controller and want to record the notes
played on each string on a separate track.
• Your electronic keyboard has a built-in auto accompaniment feature
that plays a drum part and an accompaniment while you play lead. You
want to record each of these three parts into a different track in a
SONAR project.
• You have a MIDI sequence stored on your synthesizer’s built-in
sequencer, and you want to record each channel onto a different track.
Note: You can use external MIDI synchronization to automate the
process of loading multichannel sequences from other MIDI devices.
For more information, see Synchronizing Your Gear.
You can choose MIDI inputs for a track by using either the Inputs field on
each individual track, or by using the Tracks-Property-Inputs command to
display the Track Inputs dialog box.
SONAR allows you to filter MIDI input so that you can record only certain
kinds of MIDI data (see Input Filtering), and also allows you to automatically
turn off the Local On setting of your master keyboard.
To Assign Input Ports and Channels to MIDI Tracks
1. Click the dropdown arrow on an individual track’s Input field to display
the Input dropdown menu (jump to step 4, below).
Or
1. Use the Tracks-Property-Inputs command to display the Track Inputs
dialog box.
2. In the Track column, select a MIDI track or tracks that you want to
choose inputs for.