Reference Guide

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Step recording
Recording
To use punch while looping
1. Choose the input for the track(s) you want to record, and arm the track(s) for recording.
2. Set the loop start and end times.
3. Set the punch start and end times, as described previously.
4. Right-click the Record button to access recording settings.
5. Choose to stack all takes in a single track or to store them in separate tracks.
6. Set the Now time to the beginning of the loop.
7. Click or press R to start recording. If your metronome count-in is turned on, it will play the
count-in measures.
8. Play or perform the material you want to record. At the end of the loop, SONAR will return to the
start of the loop and you can record the next take.
9. Click or press the SPACEBAR when you want to stop recording.
The takes are stored in the manner you requested.
Step recording
Step recording is a method of recording MIDI notes one note or chord at a time. It’s a very easy and
precise way to record, but can sound mechanical if used in the wrong situation. You use step
recording in its typical form by choosing a step size, such as a quarter note, and then playing a note
on your MIDI keyboard. When you play the note, SONAR records the note, and moves the insertion
point forward by the distance of the step size (moving the insertion point every time you press a note
is the default behavior). You can then record more notes of the same duration by playing notes on
your keyboard, or you can change the step size while you’re recording and record different size
notes. You can also choose how long the notes you play will sound, as a percentage of the step size.
For example, even though you record some notes that have a step size of a quarter note, if you set
the Duration field to 50%, the notes will be recorded and displayed as a series of eighth notes, each
followed by an eighth rest. The insertion point for each recorded note in this example moves by a
quarter note (the step size) each time you record a note. If the duration is longer than the step size,
the notes will overlap with the notes recorded at the next step.
SONAR displays your step-recorded notes in the Staff view, Piano Roll view, Event List, and Clips
pane in real time as you step record them. SONAR also lets you:
• Use other commands while step recording
• Change tracks while recording
Note: SONAR doesn't respond to sync signals while the Step Record dialog is open and
enabled.