Reference Guide

820 Software instruments

Soft synth MIDI output support

Some soft synths produce MIDI output as well as audio output. You can now record the MIDI output

of both VST and DirectX instruments that have this feature.

Recording a soft synth’s MIDI output

SONAR allows you to record the MIDI output of a synth onto another MIDI track in your project. This

can be convenient if your synth creates arpeggios, drum patterns, or other MIDI data that you want

to edit as a MIDI clip.

To enable MIDI outputs on a synth

• When inserting a synth from the Insert menu or the Synth Rack, check the Enable MIDI Output

check box in the Insert Soft Synth Options dialog box.

The soft synth will now appear as an Input option on all MIDI tracks just like any hardware inputs.

To hear a soft synth’s MIDI output through another track

1. Verify that Enable MIDI Output is enabled for the synth whose MIDI output you want to hear

through another track.

2. On a new MIDI track in your project, set the Input to the synth whose MIDI output you want to

hear.

3. Set the Output of that track to another synth or MIDI output used in your project and enable

Input Echo.

4. Play some MIDI data through the synth whose MIDI Output has been enabled.

The MIDI data sent from that synth will be echoed through the Output of the new MIDI track.

To record a soft synth’s MIDI output to a track

1. Verify that Enable MIDI Output is enabled for the synth whose MIDI output you want to record.

2. On a new MIDI track in your project, set the Input to the synth whose MIDI output you want to

record and arm the track.

3. Click the Record button to start recording.

4. If you’re recording live MIDI input through the synth, place track focus on the synth’s MIDI track

and begin playing your MIDI controller. If you’re recording pre-existing MIDI data through the

synth, record through the duration of the pre-existing clips.

The MIDI Output of the synth will be recorded to the new MIDI track. You can then edit the MIDI data

and route it to a different MIDI output as you see fit.

Note: Be careful to avoid creating a MIDI feedback loop. To prevent this, make sure the Input of

a soft synth’s MIDI track is not set to the same synth’s Output.