User's Guide

149
How Do I Use SONAR to Access All the Sounds on
My MIDI Instrument?
SONAR is normally set up to access the 128 sounds that are part of the General MIDI standard.
SONAR also includes custom instrument definitions that match the sounds on many popular
instruments. To use a custom instrument definition:
1. Choose Options > Instruments to display the Assign Instruments dialog box.
2. Click the Define button to display the Define Instruments and Names dialog box.
3. Click Import, and then choose the file for the manufacturer of your instrument.
4. Choose your instrument from the list and click OK.
5. Click Close to return to the Assign Instruments dialog box.
6. Select from the Output/Channel list all the outputs and channels that are being sent to that
instrument.
7. Click on the instrument in the Uses Instrument list.
8. Click OK when you are done.
If your manufacturer or instrument doesn’t appear, check our web site to see if an updated
instrument definition is available. You can also create your own instrument definition. For more
information about instrument definitions, see the online help topic: Instrument Definitions.
I Hear an Echo When I Record
If you have input monitoring enabled, when you play an instrument that is plugged into your sound
card, you hear the direct signal that goes straight through your sound card, and an instant later you
hear the sound that is processed by SONAR, including any plug-in effects you may be using. Only
the processed sound is recorded.
You can eliminate the echo in either of two ways:
• Mute the direct signal so you only hear the sound that is processed by SONAR. If you choose this
method, you may hear too much of a lag between the time you play your instrument and the time
you hear it, depending on the latency of your system (using WDM audio drivers is a great way to
achieve lower latency).
• Disable input monitoring so you only hear the raw signal that’s coming through your sound card. If
you choose this method, you won’t hear any plug-in effects you may be using.
To disable input monitoring:
• On the track where you want to disable input monitoring, click the track’s Input Echo button so
that it is in the off position: