Audio and MIDI recording not working in Sonar - Solved

Hi Paul. I can not get anything to record in Sonar. Cannot get anything to record…… have done a restart, closed whole system down and restarted but still wont record…have not altered any settings. Can we get together to see if u have any ideas please? Tearing my hair out!! – Brian

I received the above message from Brian and we arranged a time to connect for a remote support session.

Once we were speaking on the phone and had set up AnyDesk so I could view Brian’s screen, he showed me the problem.

He was clicking record on Sonar’s transport panel, the play head moved, but no MIDI data was being recorded into his instrument track.

Initially I thought this could be a problem with MIDI being sent into Sonar, so I ran some tests to make sure everything was working with Brian’s MIDI controller and that his instrument track was receiving MIDI and playing it back through Kontakt.

I then checked Sonar’s recording preferences and couldn’t find anything wrong.

I then noticed that as Brian pressed record on the transport panel, the button would flash red very briefly and then Sonar would continue in playback mode but not record. I checked the Punch recording and found that it was activated, but both the start and end points were set to the first beat of the song.

Disabling Punch mode allowed Brian to record as normal.

Brian was delighted that his music system was now working again and we used the rest of the hour’s support session to do a health-check on Brian’s studio PC and update some of his plug-ins.

If you are stuck with any aspect of music technology and would like to book some time with a friendly professional to help figure it out, then get in touch.

Categories: Remote Support

Recent Reviews

Let’s Get Your System Running Smoothly.

No automated tickets, no waiting queues — just one-to-one help from an experienced music technology specialist. I’ll connect to your system remotely, identify the issue, and guide you through the fix.

Make an Enquiry

Book a Session

I usually reply to enquiries within a few hours during UK weekday daytime.

Once you make an enquiry, I’ll read it personally and reply with initial advice or a link to book a remote session if needed.

For booked sessions, you’ll receive a secure AnyDesk link and we’ll talk via WhatsApp or voice chat. Sessions last up to an hour — long enough to diagnose the cause and apply a practical fix.

How soon can you help me?

Usually within 1–2 days. Use the booking system below to find the next available slot.

How do remote sessions work?

We connect via AnyDesk for secure screen sharing and talk via WhatsApp or Google Meet. I guide you live.

What does it cost?

£90 per hour for remote troubleshooting (approx. $110 / €120). Paid securely via SimplyBook.

What if the problem isn’t fixed in one session?

You’ll get a clear plan: next steps, parts to order (if any), and an estimate for follow-up.

Make an Enquiry

I’ll reply personally as soon as I can — usually within a few hours during UK daytime.

Book Your Session Securely Online

You can book your Audio Support session instantly using the secure form below.
Choose a time that suits you — I’ll confirm by email and send remote-access details before your appointment.

Outside the UK? Use the Timezone icon to book in your local time.

💳 Session fee: £90 per hour (UK Pound Sterling)
⏱️ Availability: Usually within 1–2 days.
🗓️ Duration: Each session lasts one hour.
🔁 Rescheduling: Sessions can be moved up to 24 hours in advance.
🔒 Security: Remote access is one-time only and closes automatically when the session ends.
🌍 Timezone: Default times shown are UK (GMT/BST). Use the timezone Icon to set to your local time