Tips Techniques and Tutorials for Sonar

From Sonar

Bussing Tutorial

This is an introduction to why and how to create and use busses in Sonar. I hope somebody finds it useful. --Geoff Francis

(The tutorial is also available as a ZIP file containing a Word document and an Excel spreadsheet here)

Sonar Bussing Example

This example aims to illustrate a simple example of how bussing works in Sonar. When you finish it, you will have created a project which includes:

1. Three audio tracks – Vocal, Guitar and any Other
2. One Main Output Bus
3. Two auxiliary send busses for Reverb and Chorus FX

See the diagram (link to Sonar_Bussing_Flowchart.gif) for more details.

You will also need three existing wave files from any earlier project – one vox, one guitar and one other, for importing into this project.

OK here we go:

1. Create a new Sonar Project file using Normal template. Display Track View.
2. Delete all tracks and busses from this file. We’re going to start from scratch.
3. To start, let’s create the Main Out Bus. This will be used to direct our output to the sound card. Right click in the bus pane area, choose Insert Stereo Bus. Change its name to Main Bus out. Direct the Output of this bus to your sound card.

   (Link to Sonar_Bussing_01.jpg)

4. Now go to the Track Pane, right click and choose Insert Audio Track. (Link to Sonar_Bussing_02.jpg)

   Repeat this twice.

   Rename each track so Track 1 is Vocal, Track 2 is Guitar and Track 3 is whatever Other you are using.

   Do Control A to select all tracks, then from Menu do Tracks, Property, Outputs and from the list choose Main Bus Out then OK.

   Now select Track 1, Do File, Import Audio and select the Vocal Track and import it. Repeat this for Track 2 (Guitar) and Track 3 (Other).

   You should be able to now play the three tracks back and will see activity in all meters and can hear them. Of course you can adjust panning, volume etc to suit.

5. Now to create the Reverb Bus.

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