Chaps

If you RIGHT click in the Control Bar you can access the options as to showing/hiding, and resizing the Modules. You may have to find a comfortable balance between which Modules show in the Control Bar and what size they are. As to floating individual modules I don't know, but you can Float (Undock) the Control Bar in that menu.

Yes. In the Track View> Display>Module Options UNCHECK Allow Module Resizing. There is a similar setting in the Console View Options. I don't know the maximum number of FX it will show but it will show more than the default setting will allow.

I just checked my latest project in Sonar free and it works as it should. Very curious. Might the problem be some Now Time setting? If it were me, I would reinstall the program to see if that had any effect. But that's one of my first go-to problem solvers, like rebooting.

Have you checked the On Stop, Rewind to Now Marker in the Track View Options?

Might that be related to Workspaces or Screensets? I've never used either so I'm not familiar with their behaviors. Have you tried locking the Modules' order? I am using the free tier, no workspace or screenset, and my Control Bar never changes. There is an update for the Cakewalk Product Center, and Sonar, today. Is that the Sonar build you are using? 31.07.0.084 ?

I've been listening to her a lot today and am still amazed by her note choices. I don't think I've ever heard anyone else play like her. She burned bright for awhile and then her focus changed away from electric prog-rock, but I still love her old stuff.

Yeah, that link is wonky and its HTML seems to have elements missing. Here is the link to the current Cakewalk Sonar Reference Guide in PDF format. The page you posted seems to be referencing page 918 of the current (as of July-08-2025) Cakewalk Sonar Reference Guide. I suggest you download it and keep it handy. Much easier than looking online for info. Cakewalk Sonar Reference Guide

In the Track Inspector Display menu at the bottom, click Module Options and UNCHECK Allow Module Resizing. If it is checked, and that seems to be its persistent default, plugins may not show until you resize the plugin window with the drag bar at the top of the FX bin. The Console View has a similar setting in its OPTIONS menu.

Is Sonar freezing when you use Clear in both VST and VST3 formats?

Here is the download link at the legacy Cakewalk site. Cakewalk Command Center

Try this. Open the Options menu at the top of the Console and make sure Allow Module Resizing is NOT checked.

The icon shaped like a gear will open the insert soft synth options window, the icon shaped like two horizontal lines labeled properties will open the synth you've selected in the synth rack and its controls, if I understand your question correctly.

The synth rack only shows the synths I have added to my project, but its tools icon opens the synth properties window.

Maybe it's opening undocked and is hidden? The Keyboard shortcut for the synth rack view is alt+9 and that works for me, too. Does your browser open when you press b?