Reference Guide

1236 External devices
OPT panels
To import ACT data
1. Go to Edit > Preferences > MIDI - Control Surfaces.
2. Click the Import ACT Data button to open the Import dialog box.
3. Navigate to an XML file that contains ACT Learn data, select the file, and click Open.
If duplicate plug-in entries are encountered during import, SONAR will ask if you want to overwrite
the existing plug-in settings. The options are: Yes, Yes All, No, No All. Select one of the answers.
SONAR imports the ACT data you requested.
OPT panels
OPT stands for Open Plug-in Technology. If you have a Yamaha sound module that uses OPT
panels, you can open the panels directly from SONAR, edit your sounds, and save them as presets.
To open an OPT panel
1. Make sure your Yamaha module is connected to your computer and turned on.
2. Use the Views > OPT Panel command to display the submenu of installed OPT panels, and
click the name of the OPT panel you want to display.
The OPT panel appears.
3. If you want to edit a preset you’ve previously created, choose the preset from the Presets
window; otherwise type a name for your new preset in the Presets window.
4. Edit your sound (each OPT panel has its own help file).
5. Click the floppy disk icon that’s next to the Presets box to save your edited sound.
Working with StudioWare
StudioWare panels are software interfaces to external MIDI devices such as samplers, keyboards,
automatable mixers, and effects units. These interfaces allow you to manipulate the controls on any
external MIDI device from graphical controls on your screen. The changes you make to these
controls can even be recorded and then played back as part of your project.
SONAR includes a wide variety of StudioWare panels for popular MIDI devices, with new panels
constantly under development here at Cakewalk, by equipment manufacturers, and by SONAR
users. Check the Cakewalk web site (www.cakewalk.com) from time to time for new and updated
StudioWare panels.