Sonar Recording Acoustic Guitar Tutorial

How do you record acoustic guitar in Sonar Recording Software?

In this acoustic guitar tutorial I will explain step by step how to set up sonar 8 to record acoustic guitar using sonar recording software.

Although this page is about recording acoustic guitars it can also be applied to any acoustic instrument, including vocals, so it is really about sonar audio recording.

With Sonar 8 you can record any instrument and, the steps to follow are the same regardless of the instrument you are recording.

1. Start Sonar 8

After starting Sonar 8 you need to create a new project and the template you will use.

1. Select File then select new, New Project File opens
2. Name the Project
3. Select the template you want to use, if you use blank then a blank template will be loaded and the you can add the tracks as needed.
4. Select OK

2.Set Metronome

It is important to use the metronome to record, as the recorded audio data will then be stored at the right measure and beat within the project.

Alternativley you could create a basic drum track first and use the drum track to help you play in time.

Here's how to set the metronome:

1. Select Options
2. Select Projects
3. Select Metronome Tab

Within the metronome dialog box you have various parameters you can set.

3. Set Meter/Key

The meter is the time signature of the music such as 4/4, 3/4, 6/8.

The key is the key signature of the music Sonar 8 defaults to the key of c.

You can set the time and key signature within sonar 8.

Here's How

1. Select Views
2. Select Meter/Key
3. Double click the top line in the view, this opens the dialog box
4. Set the beats per measure and beat value you want
5. Set the key signature you want

4. Set Tempo

You need to set the tempo that you will use to record.

Here's how to set the tempo

1. Select Views
2. Click Tempo display to highlight the tempo
3. Type the value you want into the tempo box
4. Or use the mouse wheel to set the value
5. Press the return key to set tempo to your chosen value
6. Click OK

5. Set Sample Rate and Bit Depth

See Sonar Audio Setup Tutorial for instruction on how to set the sample rate and bit depth.

6. Add new audio track

In this sonar recording tutorial we will be recording audio so we need to add an audio track to the project.

Here's How

1. Right click in the track pane
2. Choose Insert Audio track from the popup menu
3. A new Audio Track will be inserted into the project

7. Arm Track

When you are ready to record you need to arm the audio track to let the sonar recording software know you want to record on the track.

In the track view of the new audio track click the R button to arm the track. This gets the track ready to record but does not start the recording.

When the track is armed the tracks meter become an active record meter so you can set the input record levels.

8. Setting the input levels

With the microphone plugged into the audio interface/soundcard play as you will when you are going to record and watch the record meter in the audio track.

1. Use your audio interface mixer controls to adjust the input
2. If the meter shows the input is to low, increase the signal input with the audio interface mixer
3. If the meter shows the input is to high, decrease the signal input with the audio interface mixer

With the signal to low unwanted noise will be recorded. If the signal is to high the signal will clip and be distorted.

When you play the loudest part of your performance and the meter turns red the signal will be clipped and the recording will be distorted.

The loudest part should not go above -6dB for a good signal input.

9. Start Recording

Press R on the computer keyboard or the transport record button to start the recording.

The sonar recording will start after count-in.

10. Stop Recording

Press the spacebar on the computer keyboard or the transport stop button to stop the recording.

The Sonar software creates an audio clip of the recording.

11. Disarm Track

Disarm the track so you don't record over the recording by mistake.

12. Listen to the Recording

In the tracks Output field select the output from the drop down menu.

Rewind the track and press play.

13. Delete Performance and Try Again

If you don't like the performance you can delete it and record another performance.

1. Select Edit
2. Select Undo Recording
3. Or press Ctrl+Z on the Keyboard
4. Click Rewind
5. Arm the Track
6. Press Record to start the Recording
7. Press Stop to Stop the Recording

Two Notes

1. If you want to hear effects when you are recording but not record the effects.

1. In the audio track click on Input Echo Button to activate Input monitoring
2. Right click on the Fx bin in the track pane
3. Choose Audio Fx
4. Choose Cakewalk
5. Select the effect you want to use

2. You can check your tuning with Sonars built-in tuner.

1. In the audio track you are going to record on
2. Right click on the Fx bin in the track pane
3. Choose Audio Fx
4. Choose Cakewalk
5. Choose Tuner
6. Click the track's Input Echo to turn input monitoring on and to activate the tuner

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