Probably not. The computer and DSP isn't likely fast enough.

My bro runs Cubase along side his live rig. They do metal but still. Something you can do is automate effects changes in your hardware that supports midi control. For example a Line 6 POD. Of course this does require that your live performance be consistent and likely will be controlled by your drummer who may need to use a click track to ensure that everything is in perfect sync. For some people this works.

Things that will affect your particular setup will be whether or not you have the cpu power to do it and also that your interface and drivers are up to snuff. What are you using for an interface?

I'm using a Presonus Firebox. I would probably be playing ambient/drone guitar and piano stuff, maybe with drums loops or something. I would want to be able to loop stuff and use different effects for different instruments, so this would probably be too much to ask from Sonar on a laptop.

If you can multitrack with the laptop, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to use it live.

I have Sonar 5 and a Delta 1010lt on a barebones box but what I could not get it to do today was to apply the effects in real time. Granted my gear has been down for a few months...8 months :), so it can still be setup error or a loose nut on the keyboard.

And, my effects arsenal is more like a small box with a few valued possessions in it, if ya know what I'm sayin'.

The only way I got the guitar effects to apply was to actually record the part and then play back the part.

Is that what you are dealing with?

I don't like this type of music but here is an example of real time loops and effects.

I'm able to record in loops, but it won't play each subsequent loop as i record them. For instance, I can set a 4 bar loop and record how ever many, but I can't hear the recordings until I stop recording and playback. Is there a way I can hear audio as I record? I've looked under sonar help, but can't seem to find an answer.

In the video, I think Imogene is using Abelton's Live! on the laptop and that gadget she keeps touching is a controller of some sort, though I don't know exactly what it is. Something like this.