Reference Guide

274
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.
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” on page 275), 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 drop-down arrow on an individual track’s Input field to display the Input drop-down
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.
3. Click the MIDI Inputs button that’s at the bottom of the dialog to open the MIDI inputs drop-down
menu.
4. Choose track inputs from these choices:
• None. This option actually sets the Input field to Omni. With this setting the track will record
any MIDI input coming in on any enabled port (MIDI interface input driver) on any channel.
• All Inputs > (MIDI Omni or MIDI ch 1-16). With this setting the track will record any MIDI
input coming in on any enabled port (MIDI interface input driver) on any channel, unless you
choose a particular MIDI channel instead of MIDI Omni. Then the track will only record input
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.