Turn on your computer and wait for it to boot to the main screen. Attach the USB midi converter to the computer placing USB cable in port on computer. Attach your musical instrument to the midi converter by using the cables supplied.
Detect if midi converter software is installed and if not, insert the software disk into the CD-drive. Follow directions on the screen and make sure all of the lights on the midi coverter box are on. Install the Sonar CD and proceed to follow the directions on the screen. Open the Sonar program and create a new midi track by going to File>New Midi Track.
Add up to 10 midi tracks and set the volume of each track. Go to Track>Volume on the menu at the top. Set the number of counts on the metronome by going to Options>Project>Metronome and select the number 2 next to "count-in" annd press ok.
Click on track one and expand the window. Select the record function under this tab and play notes on your musical instrument to see if it's responsive on the track meter.
Press the record function, located in red at the top of the screen, and play all of the notes you wish to be recorded. Play the recording back to see if the instrument recorded. Deselect the record on track one before selecting a different track and follow the same guideline as you did to set up track one. Play the song and as you listen to it play the next notes you wish to record in the song.
Record all of the tracks you want before bringing up the on-board mixer. Mix the tracks down to your desired volume and add effects such as reverb, echo and compression to get the sound you're looking for.