can't see MIDI channel in track pane

[Robert Glaser]

I used to be able to see, when I widen one or more tracks the Midi Channel [dropdown] in the track pane along with the patch. Now they have disappeared. I can only see input and output. I can see it on one track on the vertical strip on the side, but not on the track itself. I can't find a setting to fix this or is it eliminated in the current (2024.12) version of Sonar.

These show up in Bandlab Cakewalk along with Volume, Pan, and Velocity indicators.

I spent 2 hours going through the help system, also time in the pdf documentation (which is for Bandlab Cakewalk as there isn't any new Sonar docs yet) and time in this discussion site looking for this to no avail.

Attached files show the difference.

Is there a way to "turn these back on?"

[User 905133]

Not sure if we have a way to have the channel setting show up in the track control widget box itself; if not maybe that could be a feature request (if the size of the button can handle it). Until then, does hovering over the button show the MIDI channel setting?    

UPDATE: I looked in the Cakewalk Sonar Reference Guide to see if there might be a TVWidget flag that might be available to show/hide the Channel Number, but didn't see one.

Edited December 27, 2024 by User 905133
added a link and reference to the 2024 Reference Guide

[Andres Medina]

Not sure if this is what you need: to show all options available inside the midi track?

If so, you can configure it as the picture shows:

 

[Sock Monkey]

It’s yet another stupid default! I just had to do a clean install of Sonar and it’s taking forever to fix all the dumb default settings.. that was one of them. 
First thing is open the advanced workspace 
Set that box to all and immediately save as  the advanced workspace or create new one. and check always load workspace with project.
You should not have to do all this but some bozo decided Sonar was too cluttered and new users would be intimidated. Instead new users can’t see half of the important features. Yet another reason why Sonar failed the intuitive test. 

Edited December 27, 2024 by Sock Monkey

[User 905133]

With all due respect (because I, too, originally inadequately understood the issue as presented here and thought it was a matter of manual or automatic [e.g., Workspace] changing of the Track Control [Widget] preset, but on closer examination I believe the OP's issue is different.

For example, try changing the Input to a specific channel on a specific input device.  Do you see the channel being shown on the button itself?

I could be wrong, but it wasn't until I hovered over the Input Button [Track Control Widget] that I saw the "forced" channel allowed / recordable input channel, or the Output Button that I saw the "forced" output channel.** 

Another less-than-immediately-visible option is to use the Event Inspector to show the channel of a selection of notes in a clip, etc. but I'm thinking the OP was more interested in the forced channel setting for the entire track.

**CORRECTION: See discussion below based on David Baay's point about forced being used for Output Channels and filtered (or restricted)  being more descriptive of Input Channels.

Edited December 27, 2024 by User 905133
Correction added

[User 905133]

11 minutes ago, Sock Monkey said:

It’s yet another stupid default! I just had to do a clean install of Sonar and it’s taking forever to fix all the dumb default settings.. At that was one of them. 
First thing is open the advanced workspace 
Set it to all and immediately save as that as you the advanced workspace and check always load workspace with project 

Personal preference, if I need to tweak a factory Workspace, I rename it to my own custom name to prevent updates/installations from overwriting it.  Also, I periodically make backups of all my customized Workspaces.

Not saying your method is wrong since we all have our own personal workflow preferences.  Moreover, I was concerned that you seemed to be implicitly recommending changing the default Workspaces.  Well, on re-reading your post maybe it was explicit--you refer to fixing "all the dumb default settings."  

For a clean installation, it makes sense to me that the factory defaults would be the same for everyone regardless of personal preferences.

Again, for me it's a matter of personal preferences; not being critical of your choices / preferences, just trying to suggest some options that I use in case they help.

Above and beyond that, does setting the Advanced Workspace to the All Track Control preset, setting the project to always load the Workspace, and then re-saving the Advanced Workspace get the MIDI Widgets to show the track numbers on the "widget" buttons? On my PC "All" doesn't, but maybe there's a setting I have overlooked.

[Sock Monkey]

Thanks I forgot about updating might trash the Default workspace. I absolutely make my own 2. One is for 1 monitor the other for 2. 
More or less as I find issues I fix them and immediately re save my workspace.
After a few days now all my projects open and function correctly.

 

Edited December 28, 2024 by Sock Monkey

[David Baay]

1 hour ago, User 905133 said:

For example, try changing the Input to a specific channel on a specific input device.  Do you see the channel being shown on the button itself?

I could be wrong, but it wasn't until I hovered over the Input Button [Track Control Widget] that I saw the "forced" channel. 

If your "friendly" Input name is short enough (like 2-3 characters), there will be room to show the Channel.

FWIW, I would call the input channel "restricted" or maybe "filtered".  "Forced" applies to the output channel assignment.

[User 905133]

1 minute ago, David Baay said:

If your "friendly" Input name is short enough (like 2-3 characters), there will be room to show the Channel.

  TY!!!  

1 minute ago, David Baay said:

FWIW, I would call the input channel "restricted" or maybe "filtered".  "Forced" applies to the output channel assignment.

Absolutely! I thought about changing that in the interest of clarity, but neglected to do that.  You are 100% correct!! 

[David Baay]

4 minutes ago, User 905133 said:

TY!!!  

Glad to help. When I need to keep track of a channel assignment (usually Output) I've historically just appended it to the track name. It's handy to see it in the widget, but I don't usually have that showing. 99% of the time, Input channel is 1.

[sjoens]

I normally use Omni, but honestly can't see why the Input button doesn't follow the same format as Output.  If a channel is selected it should be the first thing you see so a quick glance is all it takes to confirm.  Especially when using multiple controllers on multiple channels.

0️⃣ 1-Yamaha
ℹ️ 3-LX88

[David Baay]

2 minutes ago, sjoens said:

I normally use Omni, but honestly can't see why the Input button doesn't follow the same format as Output. 

The number you see in the Output widget is the port number, not the channel assignment. Inputs don't show a port number. Sometimes things just are the way they are because no one stopped to think about it. But there's a severe space limitation that would make adding channel number not useful for those with multiport MIDI interfaces that have a need to know what port is assigned first and foremost.

[sjoens]

Ooops, I was thinking Channel buttons, but they all use dropdown arrows that DO take up space .

Maybe the button format could be changed to mimic the FX Rack buttons where arrows are hidden until you hover over them... 

Still I think Input buttons could loose the " - Ch." or use something like 1:LX88 or LX88:1; LX88:Omni which uses less space.

[Robert Glaser]

Thanks to Andres Medina (lifesaver or time saver - much appreciated) who solve the problem. Somehow I would expect that this is in the help and/or the manual, but if you don't know the exact words to search for, your out of luck. 

 

[User 905133]

7 minutes ago, Robert Glaser said:

Thanks to Andres Medina (lifesaver or time saver - much appreciated) who solve the problem. Somehow I would expect that this is in the help and/or the manual, but if you don't know the exact words to search for, your out of luck. 

Glad to hear it's SOLVED!   

[User 905133]

Quote

28 minutes ago, Robert Glaser said:
I used to be able to see, when I widen one or more tracks the Midi Channel [dropdown] in the track pane along with the patch. Now they have disappeared. I can only see input and output.

My original reply (which I erroneously thought was going in the wrong direction and deleted it) included two links to related discussions which might be useful here:

Perhaps your Track Control [Widget] preset got changed, possibly manually or maybe by a Workspace.  If so, change it to "All."

Note: If this is indeed the issue, you can create your own Custom [Named] preset to selected which Widgets are shown by going into Track Control Manager mode.

 

 

[Robert Glaser]

Thanks to Andres Medina (lifesaver or time saver - much appreciated) who solved the problem. Somehow I would expect that this is in the help and/or the manual, but if you don't know the exact words to search for, your out of luck. 

Also, thanks to everyone else who have pointed out a number of issues and workarounds that will be very helpful.