VST configuration

SONAR automatically scans your VST folders for new plug-ins on startup, registering any unscanned VST plug-ins so that they become available in SONAR’s plug-in menus. You can turn off automatic scanning in Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings by clearing the Scan For VST Plug-ins On Startup check box.

There are two places you can configure your VST plug-ins manually: go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings or use the Cakewalk Plug-in Manager (Utilities > Cakewalk Plug-in Manager). You can use Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings to set general VST options, such as choosing which folders to scan, but not specific options on individual plug-ins. Use the Cakewalk Plug-in Manager to set options on individual plug-ins (use the Utilities > Cakewalk Plug-in Manager command to open the Plug-in Manager). The following procedures explain how to use the settings in Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings. The Cakewalk Plug-in Manager has its own help.

To configure global VST settings

Go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings.

To add a folder to scan

1.

Go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings.

2.

Under VST Scan Folder(s), click the Add button to open the Browser for Folder dialog box.

3.

Choose the folder you want to add, and click OK.

4.

Repeat steps 1 and 2 to add any additional folders you might want to scan.

The new folders appear in the VST Scan Folder(s) list, along with any folders that were already in the list.

To remove a folder from the VST Scan Folder(s) list

1.

Go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings.

2.

Under VST Scan Folder(s), select the folder you want to remove, then click the Remove button.

To set options for all plug-ins in a folder

1.

Go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings.

2.

Under VST Scan Folder(s), select the folder you want to set options for, then click the Folder Defaults button.

3.

In the dialog box that appears, choose from the following options (options that control properties for individual plug-ins are grayed-out: use the Cakewalk Plug-in Manager to set those options):

Enable as plug-in. Enable this option if you want to use the plug-ins in this folder as audio effects.

Configure as tempo-based effect. If the effects in this folder are supposed to respond to tempo information (for example, a tempo-synced delay), and they are not responding, make sure this box is checked.

Force stereo operation. If you need to use mono plug-ins in situations that requires stereo, you can enable this option to run the plug-ins in stereo mode. This option simply creates two identical output streams from the plug-ins where only one existed.

Do not intercept NRPNs. SONAR uses NRPNs to run automation of your VST plug-ins. However, some instruments have their own implementation of this process, so checking this box passes the NRPNs directly to the instrument, allowing it to manage its own automation.

Max used inputs. This option controls the number of sidechain inputs that are exposed by SONAR for the plug-in. The default value is the maximum number of input channels that are exposed by the plug-in. If the value is set to 2, SONAR will not display any sidechainable inputs; if set to 4, SONAR will display 1 sidechainable input, etc.

Load using jBridge wrapper. This check box is only enabled on systems where jBridge is installed. jBridge allows you to use 32-bit VST effects and instruments when using the x64 version of SONAR, as well as use 64-bit plug-ins when using the x86 version of SONAR. jBridge can also bridge 32-bit plug-ins in the x86 version of SONAR, allowing your computer to overcome the memory limitations of a single 32bit process.

Enable delay compensation. Usually, you will leave this check box the way you found it. SONAR contains a delay compensator, which turns on and off automatically for each individual plug-in (only a few plug-ins need it). If your plug-in needs extra time to process the audio data, the plug-in sends a message to SONAR, so it can synchronize playback time to the delayed output from the plug-in.

-ize Host Access. When -ize Host Access is selected, communications with the plug-in are -ized as far as possible. The default behavior is OFF, which allows asynchronous calls to the plug-in.

When -ize Host Access is disabled, SONAR’s audio engine runs more efficiently and allows the UI thread to interact independently with the plug-in GUI without impacting the audio engine.

The only reason to enable -ize Host Access would be for a plug-in that has thread safety problems leading to crashes or glitches when changing plug-in presets.

Enable mono processing. When enabled, this option replicates the audio signal from the first channel to the left and right channel, effectively forcing the output of VST to be mono.

Translate Bank/Program Changes. When enabled, this option translates MIDI program change messages into VST preset changes. This is only used for plug-ins that do not support MIDI program change messages.

Always suspend on stop. When enabled the VST plug-in state will be set to suspended when the transport is stopped in SONAR. The default behavior is to keep VSTs always in a resumed state. Enabling this option will prevent effects tails from being heard when the transport is stopped.

Always suspend on play. When Always suspend on Play is selected, the plug-in will reset when playback starts. Select this option for any VST instruments that have problems with stuck notes when stopping the transport. The Always suspend on Play property is also useful for effects that generate a tail, such as delays and reverbs. The effect is that you will hear the tails when the transport stops, but not when the transport rolls again. Always Suspend on Play is disabled by default.

4.

Click OK to close the dialog box.

To turn Automatic Scanning on or off

1.

Go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings.

2.

Under VST Scan Options, select the Scan For VST Plug-ins On Startup check box. The next time you launch SONAR, your VST folders will either be scanned or not, depending on the option you chose.

To re-scan failed plug-ins

1.

Go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings.

2.

Under VST Scan Options, select the Re-scan Failed Plug-ins check box. The next time you scan, any plug-ins that did not scan correctly during previous scans will be re-scanned.

To re-scan existing plug-ins

1.

Go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings.

2.

Under VST Scan Options, select the Re-scan Existing Plug-ins check box. The next time you scan, any plug-ins that have already been scanned will be re-scanned, and any new folder default options you have chosen will be implemented.

To run a scan

1.

Go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings.

2.

Under VST Scan, click the Scan VST Folders button.

To set all VST plug-ins to folder defaults

1.

Go to Edit > Preferences > File - VST Settings.

2.

Under VST Scan, click the Reset All VST Plug-ins button. The next time you scan, SONAR will set all plug-ins in your VST Scan folders to your folder default settings.

To set options for individual VST plug-ins

1.

On the Utilities menu, click Cakewalk Plug-in Manager to open the Cakewalk Plug-in Manager.

2.

In the Plug-in Categories list, select VST Audio Effects or VST Instruments.

3.

In the Registered Plug-ins list, select the desired plug-in.

4.

Under VST Configuration, click Plug-in Properties to open the VST Plug-In Properties dialog box.

5.

Select the desired options, then click OK to close the VST Plug-In Properties dialog box.

Note: For any of the VST properties to take effect, the plug-in must be re-instantiated. The simplest way to do that is to delete the plug-in from the effects bin or Synth Rack, then press CTRL+Z to undo.

To enable VST MIDI input and output ports

Some VST audio effects and instruments can generate MIDI events. These plug-ins expose MIDI input and output ports. When inserting such a VST plug-in, no MIDI ports are exposed by default, and no Synth Rack entry appears in the Browser.

If you wish to utilize MIDI input or output for a supported VST plug-in, you must explicitly enable the ports in SONAR. SONAR lets you enable MIDI input and output ports for any MIDI capable VST plug-in.

1.

Double-click the VST plug-in in an effects bin to open the plug-in’s property page.

2.

Click the VST Preset Options dropdown menu and select one of the following options:

Enable MIDI Input. When enabled, the VST plug-in shows up as an available MIDI output destination in the project.

Enable MIDI Output. When enabled, the VST plug-in shows up in the Browser’s Synth Rack, and the corresponding ports are exposed to SONAR..

Note: If you enable a MIDI output port, a corresponding MIDI input port is also enabled. However, you can enable a MIDI input independent of the output.

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The Enable MIDI Input and Enable MIDI Output menu commands are unavailable if the VST plug-in doesn't support MIDI input or output.

For more information about adjusting VST plug-in settings, see the Cakewalk Plug-in Manager online Help.