Reference Guide

811
Playing a soft synth
Software instruments
• Some soft synths that use the DXi 2 format can send MIDI data, sometimes including MIDI notes,
from their interfaces to SONAR. For example, some soft synths have MIDI keyboards built into
their interfaces that you can click to send note on/off messages.
See “Recording a soft synth’s MIDI output” on page 820 for more information.
To play a soft synth with recorded MIDI data
1. Insert a soft synth into the project.
2. In the MIDI track that sends its output to the soft synth, choose a MIDI channel.
3. Open the soft synth’s interface (see “Opening a soft synth’s property page” on page 809).
4. Set the soft synth’s parameters (choose sounds, effects, etc.), and drag its interface out of the
way (the soft synth’s interface does not have to be open for the soft synth to sound).
5. If you want to save your soft synth settings, type a name in the Presets field, and click the Disk
icon that’s next to the Presets field.
6. Record some MIDI data into the MIDI track.
When you play back the recorded MIDI data, you should hear the soft synth through your sound
card’s outputs. If you don’t, make sure your data is in the right range; a bank, patch, and channel are
selected; your monitor speakers or headphones are turned up; and that none of the relevant tracks
are muted.
You can add effects to each of the synth tracks. You can also add MIDI effects to your soft synth
MIDI tracks.
To play a soft synth from a MIDI controller
1. Make sure your controller is set to local off.
2. Make sure that the Audio Engine button in the Control Bar’s Transport module is enabled.
3. Insert a soft synth into your project (see “Inserting soft synths” on page 802, if necessary).
4. In the MIDI track that sends its output to the soft synth, choose a MIDI channel.
5. Open the soft synth’s interface (see “Opening a soft synth’s property page” on page 809).
6. Set the soft synth’s parameters (choose sounds, effects, etc.), and drag its interface out of the
way.
7. If you want to save your soft synth settings, type a name in the Presets field, and click the Disk
icon that’s next to the Presets field.
8. Make sure that the MIDI track has the focus (its titlebar is lighter), and play your MIDI controller.
Note: If you patch a soft synth into a bus that has no audio track assigned to it, the soft synth
does not sound. Always use a bus that has at least one audio track sending data to it.
Note: You can also open a soft synth’s interface by double-clicking its name where it appears in
a MIDI track’s Output menu or a synth track’s Input menu.