Are Soundfonts for Sonar dead?

Greetings.
 
I have an older version of Cakewalk Sonar (Producer Edition 6) and I got setup on my new PC.  Everything works great - even done some test recordings and I'm liking the results!
 
The only thing I didn't get migrated over from my old PC/setup is a plugin/vst/application to use Soundfonts.  
 
SFZ appears to be no longer existing.  
 
I have Livesynth Pro on my old setup still.  I remember getting it from this URL as a free download.
http://www.kvraudio.com/product/livesynth_pro_by_liveupdate
...but the download is no longer available and I no longer have the setup file to migrate to my new system.
 
A previous forum post, someone recommended to me TX16WX as a free soundfont player.
http://www.tx16wx.com/
...which it is in fact free and a soundfont player, however - its a stand alone application only.  ....meaning, I can't use it to record soundfonts in Cakewalk.
________________________________
 
The point of this thread, my request for help is,
1) is there a an application available to where I can use soundfonts in my version of CAKEWALK?
or
2) is there something better than soundfonts I can use?  (I'm not a Luddite, I'm just terrible at keeping up with the times)
 
I don't have a problem paying for plugins if it fulfills what I need.
Please help.  Any and all leads would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thank you very much,
 

There is another thread about SFZ.  It is still out there.  Search in the instruments forum.
 
@

JonD

EverSoul
.... someone recommended to me TX16WX as a free soundfont player.
http://www.tx16wx.com/
...which it is in fact free and a soundfont player, however - its a stand alone application only.  ....meaning, I can't use it to record soundfonts in Cakewalk.
....

Not sure why you think it's standalone only.  I just downloaded and tested in Sonar.  Installs and loads fine as VST instrument.

Do you have Sonar Producer 6?  
Because I don't get any SoftSynth/VST options using it.
 

AT
There is another thread about SFZ.  It is still out there.  Search in the instruments forum.
 
@

Thanks.  I will.
 
I did find another site that had a Livesynth Pro download, so finding what I need to use Soundfonts might be solved.
_______________________________
 
Going back to the 2) from my original post - are soundfonts the pinnacle of instrument sounds?  ....or is there something better out there?
 

I directed the install directly into my Cakewalk folders.  (VST into VST and so forth)
The (dll) files are there, but I still don't think its compatible with 6 Producer.
There's just no communication between the two.
 
That being said, I'm looking for practical software options here.
Having awesome features really diminishes if it takes hours of scratching my head, talking to people and digging around the internet for solutions - just to figure out how to turn the @#$%ing thing on.
 
I appreciate the effort though, but I'm cutting my losses with TX16WX.
Livesynth Pro works for sure, because I've already used it for years on my other setup.
 

EverSoul
...LiveSynth Pro is 32 bit only - and I'm on a 64bit install.  I've got a few other things I want to keep that are 64 bit...

 
Do you realise that you can have both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Sonar installed together side by side? If some plugins don't work in 64 they may work in 32.

karhide
Do any third party VST effects or instruments you have installed show up and work correctly?

Actually, no.  
Options → Global → VST Plugins tab → Add (ie: C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VSTplugins) → Scan VST folders... 
 
...
 
Nothing happens.  
 
Ever.  :(
 
Some With-Sonar installed DXIs work.  
Cakewalk TTS. Grooveplayer. Cyclone. PSYNII.
 
Izotope Ozone works great.  That's the ONLY non-sonar thing I've gotten to work.
...but that's not a VST or instrument.
 

Kev999
Do you realise that you can have both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Sonar installed together side by side? If some plugins don't work in 64 they may work in 32.

 
I had both 64bit and 32bit on my previous system.  I felt like I was juggling and recording took longer.
The only reason I need 32bit at all is for Soundfonts.  I'd rather not go back to my old setup if I can get (or better yet, if anyone ever has gotten) soundfonts to work in a 64bit environment.
 
The alternative is me making due with the dumpier Microsoft Wavetable.
 

Yes.  I can see the files.  I'm using Windows 8.1 - touchscreen laptop.
 
By the way, I never got VSTs to work on my other (Windows 7) setup either so its a possibility it might be user error / a disconnect somewhere.
 
So frustrating.  I even have a soundfont device in my instruments list...  but it still only has the same pool of GS instruments.
Why even have a "Soundfont Device" if its exactly the same as "General MIDI"?
 

 

Hey, thanks for all the help.  :)
Thought of the administrator bit since the beginning.  That's all I've ran it as since I've had this PC.
 

 
This stupid thing keeps popping up every time I start Sonar 6.  It does nothing when I press ok and shows up every time.
 

 
Nothing happens when I press scan.  Is it supposed to?
The VST folders are empty again every time I start up Sonar 6.
 

 
Nothing is ever there.  Plug in Properties is greyed out unless I press Scan VST Plugins.  
Import, Add Plugin, Plugin Properties and Scan VST Plugins do NOTHING when pressed.
Options pulls up another box to do a scan, which does NOTHING.
 

 
Same here.
 

 
I've got two different VSTi's for Soundfonts in the folder.  Running as administrator and I know I have the path right.
 
Again, I've never gotten a VST to work on 3 different PCs through multiple installs and I've been using Sonar 6 since 2009.  I've followed what's in the tutorial and gotten nothing.
 
...am I missing a step to get these to work?
 

But I notice the plugin Manager is x64. Confusing. You could try select rescan failed plugins.

With those 2 windows that show both 32 bit and 64 bit dialogs I'm wondering if you aren't running Sonar 32 bit and using the VST Scanner from Sonar x64

It sure is a weird one. I'm thinking on it still.

Are you in a position to contact Cakewlak tech support.

mudgel
Oh BTW, having an account with administrator privileges is not the same as running a program or installer as Admin.

To do that you right click the icon for the program or file and select Run as Administrator in the dialog box that opens.

You might try just installing over the top of Sonar maybe the last update and run as admin and do the same for the fx themselves if they have an installation program

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!
 
Mudgel, you're a GENIUS!  I went to my SONARPDR.exe, Properties → Run this Program as an administrator.
...and the floodgates opened!
 
Right away, it started loading all VST plugings.
The WAVE profiler ACTUALLY scanned.  (and the prompt is gone!)
Global recognized the Steinberg folder - we're cooking with GAS!!!!!
SFZ even works!  (well, it loads and accepts soundfonts, but I'm not sure how to use it)
 
We've got something here!  I'm not out of the woods yet.  (still can't find TX16WX even though I did see Cakewalk scan it)
Huge help my friend.  Thank you,
 

Yay. Glad it worked as I'd run out of ideas.

A very basic setting is Input Echo