Sonar 2025.09 Bounce Tracks

[Dibubba]

Hi All - 

I'm encountering a "problem" with "Bounce to Tracks", which I've never used before. Here's what's happening - a simple scenario:

1.  I have two tracks in Sonar (with Track EFX and clip Gain Automation)

2.  I want to merge them in Sonar, to a new Track.

3. I create the New Track.

3.  I select the Source Tracks

4.  I select the "Bounce to Track", and verify / validate all the Options in the pop-up window, (pre-flight Checklist!), then select "OK"

5.  The system gronks for a few seconds, and then spits out the resulting Track. 

But that Track only has ONE of the source Tracks, not both!

I've run through this about a dozen times (the definition of Insanity!), trying different options (Real Time, Audible Bounce, etc.), and get the same result.

Is This a System Flaw, or am I doing something wrong? 

 

Thanks for any Opinions or Assistance!    

Teejay

[David Baay]

Bouncing with Source = Tracks generates a separate bounce for each selected track. In that scenario you will get the first track bounced to the track you created (and presumably selected as the Destination), and the second track bounced either to the next existing audio track below that one or to a new track created by Sonar.

In order to merge two or more tracks you need to bounce with Source = Buses and select a bus that they're both/all outputting through.

[Dibubba]

David - thanks very much, man, for this tidbit!

I **NEVER** would have sussed this one out on my own. It's so counter intuitive, it'll demand at least a fifth of Goose to justify... just like the odd way Sonar maps Soft Synths: "make everything at least Five Times more difficult than Brand X!" 

I've been with Sonar since 2001, so I don't squeak too much... but I sure wish they'd do some Competitive Intel.
 

Thanks again! I appreciate this! 👍

 

[David Baay]

On 10/19/2025 at 8:13 PM, Dibubba said:

It's so counter intuitive

Yes, maybe, but like most design choices it has benefits in terms of the flexibility of the result - e.g being able to bounce/export all your tracks (or buses as stems) in one go for mixing by a 3rd party

On 10/19/2025 at 8:13 PM, Dibubba said:

I sure wish they'd do some Competitive Intel.

I'm would guess the Bakers are aware that some other DAWs do it differently, and simply felt the logic and flexibility of their approach is ultimately superior even if it requires a little extra understanding /forethought on the part of users. Also, once a certain design logic has been in place for years or decades, they risk upsetting the long-time user base by changing it.