Choosing an input

To record into a track, you must choose an input for the music or sound to be recorded. Usually, you choose All Inputs - Omni to record material from a MIDI instrument, or the left or right channel of a digital audio device (such as a sound card) to record audio material, or stereo if you want to record stereo audio in a single track. The input for each track is displayed in the track’s Input field and at the top of each module in the Console view.

When you choose All Inputs > Omni as the input for a track, SONAR merges material from all MIDI inputs and instruments. This means you don’t have to worry about input, channel, or other MIDI settings. Sometimes, you may want to record different MIDI channels into different tracks. To learn how to do this, see Recording specific ports and channels.

While each track can have a different input, it is also possible for several tracks to have the same input.

To choose a MIDI input in the Track view

1.	Click the drop-down arrow of an Input field of a MIDI track.

A drop-down menu of MIDI inputs appears.

2.	Choose an input from the following:

None. This option actually sets the Input field to Omni with this setting the track will record any MIDI input coming in on any enabled port (MIDI interface input driver) on any channel.

All Inputs > (MIDI Omni or MIDI ch 1-16). With this setting the track will record any MIDI input coming in on any enabled port (MIDI interface input driver) on any channel, unless you choose a particular MIDI channel instead of MIDI Omni. Then the track will only record input that’s on the MIDI channel you chose.

(name of MIDI input driver) > (MIDI Omni or MIDI ch 1-16). Choosing this option causes the track to record any MIDI channel coming from the named MIDI interface input driver, unless you choose a particular MIDI channel instead of MIDI Omni. Then the track will only record input that’s on the MIDI channel you chose, from the named input driver.

Preset. If you want to record multiple data from multiple ports and/or channels, you need to select a preset collection of those ports and channels. You can select one here (to create presets, see next line).

Manage Presets. If you want to create or edit any preset collections of input ports and channels, you can select this option (see To create or edit a preset input configuration).

To choose an audio input in the Track view

1.	Click the drop-down arrow of the Input field of an audio track.

A drop-down menu of audio drivers appears.

2.	Select the audio driver for the sound card you want to record with from these options:

None. This choice ensures that you do not record to the track in question.

Left (name of your sound card). Choose this if you want to record a mono signal on the left channel of your sound card.

Right (name of your sound card). Choose this if you want to record a mono signal on the right channel of your sound card.

Stereo (name of your sound card). Choose this if you want to record a stereo signal.

If your sound card has more than one pair of inputs, a pair of numbers appears after the name of each audio driver to indicate which pair of inputs the driver is attached to.

Note: Inputs that are used by the External Insert plug-in (see External Insert plug-in) cannot be assigned to track inputs.

To choose an audio input in the Console view or Track Inspector

1.	At the bottom of an audio channel strip, click the Input control. A pop-up menu of audio drivers appears.

2.	Select the audio driver for the sound card you want to record with from these options:

None. This choice ensures that you do not record to the track in question. It also turns off input monitoring for this track.

Left (name of your sound card). Choose this if you want to record a mono signal on the left channel of your sound card.

Right (name of your sound card). Choose this if you want to record a mono signal on the right channel of your sound card.

Stereo (name of your sound card). Choose this if you want to record a stereo signal.

If your sound card has more than one pair of inputs, a pair of numbers appears after the name of each audio driver to indicate which pair of inputs the driver is attached to.

To choose a MIDI input in the Console view or Track Inspector

1.	At the bottom of a MIDI channel strip, click the Input control. A pop-up menu of MIDI channels appears.

2.	Choose an input from the following:

None. This option actually sets the Input field to Omni. With this setting the track will record any MIDI input coming in on any enabled port (MIDI interface input driver) on any channel.

All Inputs > (MIDI Omni or MIDI ch 1-16). With this setting the track will record any MIDI input coming in on any enabled port (MIDI interface input driver) on any channel, unless you choose a particular MIDI channel instead of MIDI Omni. Then the track will only record input that’s on the MIDI channel you chose.

(name of MIDI input driver) > (MIDI Omni or MIDI ch 1-16). Choosing this option causes the track to record any MIDI channel coming from the named MIDI interface input driver, unless you choose a particular MIDI channel instead of MIDI Omni. Then the track will only record input that’s on the MIDI channel you chose, from the named input driver.

Preset. If you want to record multiple data from multiple ports and/or channels, you need to select a preset collection of those ports and channels. You can select one here (to create presets, see next line).

Manage Presets. If you want to create or edit any preset collections of input ports and channels, you can select this option (see To create or edit a preset input configuration).