Patch points

A patch point is an internal routing path used to route audio from a track output, bus output, or send to an audio track input. The virtual inputs can then be input monitored or recorded. You can think of patch points as virtual patch cables.

You can freely create, assign, and rename patch points. This powerful internal routing tool opens up a new dimension of control within Sonar. Use patch points for track-to-track, bus-to-track, and send-to-track routing, and to record audio signals that can normally not be recorded to an audio track, such as bus outputs, send effects, the metronome, etc.

Sonar automatically prevents assigning patch points that will cause a feedback loop.

The following are a few ideas for how you can use patch points:

Work exclusively in the Track view and have folders of tracks with their Aux tracks adjacent to them. This workflow can be used as an alternative to routing tracks to buses.

Record a vocal track with effects to another track. For details, see To record an audio track that contains effects.

Record two or more background vocal tracks to a single track. Aux tracks can be used instead of buses for busing or effects sends. For details, see To record multiple tracks to a single track.

Record only the effect bus of a vocal track. For details, see To record only the send effects on an audio track.

Record the metronome to an audio track. For details, see To record the metronome to an audio track.

Control multiple audio track volumes with one fader. For details, see Control multiple audio track volumes with one fader.

Capture the performance of guitar effects in real-time. For details, see Capture the performance of guitar effects in real-time.

Control surfaces that don’t support buses can instead control Aux tracks.

Record time-based effects in real-time.

Record plug-in parameter changes that are not automatable.

Record a bus to an audio track.

Record complex reverbs and delays in real-time.

 

See:

Aux tracks

To create an Aux track

Patch point signal flow chart

To create a new patch point

To rename a patch point

To assign an existing patch point

To clear a patch point assignment

To delete patch points

To record an audio track that contains effects

To record multiple tracks to a single track

To record only the send effects on an audio track

To record the metronome to an audio track

Control multiple audio track volumes with one fader

Capture the performance of guitar effects in real-time

To bounce/export audio that uses patch points

Patch point and Aux track Smart Solo

Backwards compatibility

Aux tracks

To streamline the workflow for patch points, Sonar supports Aux tracks. Aux tracks are used to receive audio from other tracks, buses, or sends.

Stereo buses are traditionally used for sub-grouping and effect sends, but it is possible to use Aux tracks for the same purpose. Aux tracks have the added advantage of being able to record the incoming audio (mono or stereo), and you can arrange Aux tracks adjacent to other tracks in the Track pane or Console view.

An Aux track is a regular audio track that has been automatically assigned to a patch point input. If you rename an Aux track, Sonar will also rename the assigned patch point.

To create an Aux track

Click the Output control for the audio track, bus, or send you want to route to a new Aux track, then select New Aux Track on the pop-up menu.

The New Aux Track command functions as a time-saving macro. When you create a new Aux track, Sonar does the following automatically:

Creates a new patch point named Aux n (where “n” is a sequential number).

Assigns the source track/bus/send output to the new patch point.

Creates a new audio track named Aux n (same name as the patch point). If you rename the Aux track, Sonar will automatically rename the corresponding patch point.

Assigns the new audio track’s Input to the new patch point

Enables Input Echo on the new audio track.

Assigns a default Aux track icon.

You can now freely assign other tracks, buses, and sends to the Aux n patch point.

Figure 403. Aux track

A. Audio track B. Aux track C. Input Echo enabled D. Aux track icon E. Assigned patch point 

 

Note: Any audio track that has its Input control assigned to a patch point is considered an Aux track. Unless you have manually assigned a custom track icon, any track that has its Input control connected to a patch point with display the default Aux track icon.

Patch point signal flow chart

Multiple tracks, buses, and sends can be connected to the same patch point.

Track/bus outputs and sends can connect to a patch point input, and a patch point output can connect to audio/Aux track inputs.

Figure 404. Patch point signal flow.

 

See also:

Signal flow

Sidechaining signal flow

External Insert signal flow.

To create a new patch point

Do one of the following:

Click an audio track or bus Output control and select New Patch Point on the pop-up menu.

Click an audio track Input control and select New Patch Point on the pop-up menu.

Right-click track or bus and select Insert Send > New Patch Point.

Click the Insert Send button at the top of the Sends module in the Console view or Inspector, then select New Patch Point on the pop-up menu.

When you create a new Aux track, both sides of the connection are automatically made. However, when you create a new patch point, only one side of the connection is automatically made. The new patch point is assigned to the Input, Output, or Send you used to create the patch point. You must manually assign the other end of the patch point to complete the connection.

 

Tip: You can use Quick Grouping to assign multiple tracks/buses/sends simultaneously to a patch point. To do so, select multiple tracks or buses, then hold down the CTRL key while you assign or create the patch point. For more information about Quick Groups, see Quick Groups. If you create a new patch point while holding down the CTRL key, all sends/outputs or inputs will be assigned to the newly created patch point.

The following table shows valid patch point connections.

Table 73. Valid patch point connections  

Track/bus control	Can connect to
Audio/Aux track Input	Audio track output, bus output, or send
Audio/Aux track output	Audio/Aux track input
Bus output	Audio/Aux track input
Send	Audio/Aux track input

To rename a patch point

Click the Input control in an audio track to open the Input menu, point to the patch point you want to rename, then select Rename Patch Point on the pop-up menu.

If you rename an Aux track, the corresponding patch point will inherit the same name. If you rename a patch point independently from the Aux track, the patch point will no longer subsequently follow the Aux track name.

To assign an existing patch point

Do one of the following:

Click an audio track or bus Output control and select an unassigned patch point on the pop-up menu.

Click an audio track Input control, point to an unassigned patch point, then select the patch point’s left, right, or stereo channel on the pop-up menu.

Click a Send control and select an unassigned patch point on the pop-up menu.

 

Note: Sonar automatically prevents assigning patch points that will cause a feedback loop. Input and Output menus will not show any patch point choices that would result in feedback.

Tip: You can use Quick Grouping to assign multiple tracks/buses/sends simultaneously to a patch point. To do so, select multiple tracks or buses, then hold down the CTRL key while you assign or create the patch point. For more information about Quick Groups, see Quick Groups. If you create a new patch point while holding down the CTRL key, all sends/outputs or inputs will be assigned to the newly created patch point.

To clear a patch point assignment

Click the Input, Output, or Send control you want to clear, then select None on the pop-up menu. You can also select a hardware input/output or bus to clear the current patch point assignment.

 

Tip: You can use Quick Grouping to clear multiple tracks/buses/sends simultaneously. To do so, select multiple tracks or buses, then hold down the CTRL key while you clear the patch point assignment from any of the selected tracks/buses. For more information about Quick Groups, see Quick Groups.

To delete patch points

When you open a project, Sonar automatically deletes any unused patch points in the project. A patch point is considered unused when no Inputs, Outputs, or Sends are connected to it. For details, see To clear a patch point assignment.

To record an audio track that contains effects

1.	Insert the desired time-based plug-in effect(s) in the effect bin on the audio track.

2.	Click the audio track’s Output control and select New Aux Track on the pop-up menu.

3.	Arm the Aux track for recording. For details, see Arming tracks for recording.

4.	Begin recording. For details, see To Record Audio.

To record multiple tracks to a single track

1.	Select the audio tracks you want to record to a new track.

2.	Hold down the CTRL key while you click the Output control on any of the selected tracks, then select New Aux Track on the pop-up menu. All selected tracks are assigned to the new Aux track. For more information about Quick Groups, see Quick Groups.

3.	Arm the Aux track for recording.

4.	Begin recording.

To record only the send effects on an audio track

1.	Right-click the audio track and select Insert Send > New Stereo Bus on the pop-up menu.

2.	Insert the desired plug-in effect(s) in the effect bin on the new bus, and set the effect(s) to 100% wet.

3.	Click the bus’ Output control and select New Aux Track on the pop-up menu.

4.	Arm the Aux track for recording.

5.	Begin recording.

To record the metronome to an audio track

1.	Go to Insert > Stereo Bus to create a new bus for the audio metronome.

2.	Rename the new bus to Metronome.

3.	Go to Edit > Preferences > Project - Metronome.

4.	Select the Recording check box and clear the Playback check box (you will hear the recorded metronome instead during playback).

5.	Select Use Audio Metronome.

6.	Click the Output drop-down menu and select the bus named Metronome, then click OK to close the Preferences dialog box.

7.	Click the Metronome bus’ Output control and select New Aux Track on the pop-up menu.

8.	Arm the Aux track for recording.

9.	Begin recording.

 

Note: If you do not see the Input control, click the Track Control button at the top of the Track pane and choose All. For more information, see Configuring Track view controls. Also, make sure you have expanded the track fully by dragging it down.

Control multiple audio track volumes with one fader

1.	Select all the audio tracks you want to control with a single volume fader.

2.	Hold down the CTRL key while you click the Output control on any of the selected tracks, then select New Aux Track on the pop-up menu. All selected tracks are assigned to the new Aux track. For more information about Quick Groups, see Quick Groups.

3.	Make sure the Input Echo button is enabled on the Aux track.

4.	Enable the Automation Write button on the Aux track.

5.	Begin playback, and adjust the Volume fader on the Aux track. The recorded automation will affect all tracks that are connected to the Aux track.

Capture the performance of guitar effects in real-time

1.	Go to Edit > Preferences > Project - Record and select Group All Clips under Multi-Track Grouping.

2.	Right-click the Guitar track and select Insert Send > New Aux Track on the pop-up menu.

3.	Insert the desired plug-in effect(s) in the effect bin on the Aux track, and set the effect(s) to 100% wet.

4.	Select both the Guitar track and the Aux track.

5.	Hold down the CTRL key while you click the Output control on either of the selected tracks, then select New Aux Track on the pop-up menu. Both the Guitar track and Aux tracks are assigned to the new Aux track. For more information about Quick Groups, see Quick Groups.

There are now 3 tracks total: one audio track and two Aux tracks.

6.	Arm all 3 tracks for recording.

7.	Begin recording, and Sonar will simultaneously capture the performance of the dry guitar, wet guitar, and a blend of both dry and wet.

When you are finished recording, you can edit all 3 tracks simultaneously because the clips are grouped.

A. Dry guitar B. Wet guitar (effects only) C. Blend of dry and wet guitar 

To bounce/export audio that uses patch points

To bounce/export a project containing patch points, select all tracks that contribute to the mix. For example, if the project contains three audio tracks that send to an Aux track, you must include the Aux track as well as all contributing tracks prior to performing the bounce/export.

Patch point and Aux track Smart Solo

When you solo an Aux track or bus that outputs to a patch point, Sonar will automatically manage the solo state for all upstream and downstream tracks/buses. This eliminates the need to manually solo or mute other tracks when using patch points.

How this works is best explained with a few examples:

Soloing a track that routes to one or more patch points via an Output or Send control (directly or indirectly) will make all downstream patch points in the circuit audible. For example:

Soloing Track 1 will make Aux 1 audible.

Soloing a track that has its Input control assigned to a patch point will automatically make all upstream tracks or buses audible. For example:

Soloing Aux 1 will make both Track 1 and Track 2 audible. You can still solo and mute Track 1 and Track 2 independently in this scenario.

Soloing a bus that routes to one or more patch points via an Output or Send control (directly or indirectly) will make all downstream patch points in the circuit audible. For example:

Soloing Bus A will make Aux 1 as well as Track 1 audible.

Soloing a bus that an Aux track outputs to will automatically make all upstream tracks or buses audible. For example:

Soloing Master will make Track 1, Track 2 and Aux 1 audible. You can still solo and mute Track 1 and Track 2 independently in this scenario.

Soloing tracks chained to multiple patch points / aux tracks. For example:

Solo Aux 2 and also Track 2 will sound only Track 2.

 

Note: All upstream or downstream tracks that are muted as a result of soloing an Aux track are dimmed in the Clips pane to indicate that these tracks will not be heard. This makes it very easy to visually see the result of muting an Aux track. Tracks are not dimmed as a result of soloing buses.

Backwards compatibility

Projects that contain patch points and Aux tracks cannot be opened in Sonar versions prior to Sonar Jamaica Plain (Update 9). If you need to open a project in an earlier version, first make a backup of the project, then unassign any patch points and resave the project.

To unassign a patch point input, set audio track inputs referencing patch points to None.

To unassign a patch point output, set any track/bus outputs referencing patch points to a different bus or None.

For more information, see To clear a patch point assignment.

 

See:

Soft synth audio recording

Routing and mixing digital audio

Buses