Difficulties finding Arx Editor

Hi Guys,
 
I've just bought the Arx-01 drum board and attempted to start using it last night, primarily by updating all my firmware VS-700R/C, CPU and Drivers etc etc to the latest I can find on the undates pages. All updates seem to have gone fine and the stand-alone VS700R editor is now telling me that I have 1.30/1.31 versions for all 3 critical stages/hardware. I then powered down and physically installed the Arx card. Powering up as normal my x86 version of Sonar 8.5PE still works beautifully as before; Fantom VS, all midi channels, all ADATs, all outboards etc, all perfect. But for the life of me I can't manage to even find an 'Arx' plugin editor when I go to 'insert soft synth', neither with or without ports enabled. Global re-scanning of vsts/plugs etc reveals nothing new or rejected for any reason. If I check the Cakewalk folder in my x64 bit folder there is a folder called 'ARX' in the vst plugins folder but this contains nothing but 4 pictures hidden deep within 4 layers of other folders all called 'Arx'. On the x86 side this 'Arx' folder doesn't even seem to be there (copy and paste around doesn't do anything). What am I missing? Where is the dll for this boards plugin? A 'my computer' search doesn't find any mislocated dll files and all my other plugs are available and registered and all work as usual. Is there additional content software I need to load from the Sonar 8.5PE drivers disks, because I didn't see it there and the box that accompanied the Arx card gives absolutely no help for VS-700 owners only those with Fantom G's.
 
Other than that, I'm loving the VS-700 SET system and getting on great with just sticking to 8.5PE.
 
P.s. the Arx-01 was bought brand new and when swapped out into my Fantom G6 (soon to be sold due to my love of the Fantom VS) it works fine. Hence, the card is good and I'm probably just being a bit dumb....  
 
Any help would be most gratefullly received, even the most obvious which I may have overlooked....
 
Cheers,
 
Jeff

Thanks eBlue,
 
as it happens, I've just managed to get the ARX-01 working from within the VS-700 and it sounds awesome. Not that Sonar 8.5PE didn't already have some good drum sets in SD3, but those of the ARX-01 are complimentary and far more 'tweakable'. Each sample seems to have some extra clarity and depth over the SD3 set too, maybe just my ears and a placebo effect; the card isn't exactly cheap. What I realy like are the Reverbs and Choruses which run from the card, sparing CPU, they work well with the samples and there's plenty of choice on offer. Now that the card is fully functional from within the DAW I'm happy to let my outboard Fantom G go.
 
For others like me who also find difficulties getting the ARX up and running, here's the comprehensive long version:
 
1) Get your entire VS-700/Sonar system bang up to date with Software patches AND Firmware updates from here:
 
http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/kb/pages/vs700_installation.aspx
 
2) After updating power everything down! Unplug the 700R from the mains power supply (just to be cautious). Carefully open the 'Arx Series Expansion Board' metal flap on the top of the 700R interface using the screwdriver supplied with the card. Holding the card by it's corners only (possible static sensitivity) orient it so that the black interface connector is downwards and the top surface reads ARX-0X upside down from your view. Gently 'wiggle' the card at such an angle that the PCB squeezes through the diagonal gap in the white nylon lugs closest to you (assuming the front panel of the interface is facing you). The fareside of the card should be free to raise/lower into position and can be gently seated so that the two interface connectors mesh without any force necessary. To avoid the possibility of bending and damaging the board I pressed down on both edges and the centre of the card (over the interface connector) simultaneously so that it 'clicked' into place at the corners whilst docking into the port. All this is described in the accompanying booklet for the Fantom G but translates very well for the 700R.
You can replace the expansion board cover now, or plug-in/switch on the interface and check that the red LED on the top of the card flashes a few times on power-up, confirming it's spring into life.
 
3) Via 'My Computer' locate your 'VSTi Plug-Ins' folder. Mine was located as follows: Computer/System(C:)/Program Files (x86)/Cakewalk/Vstplugins. If you don't see a folder named 'ARX' you need to custom install from your original softarwe disk. As it happens, I was able to see the 'ARX' folder, however, there was no 'dll' file inside since I had not selected ARX during my original install. If you see the 'ARX' folder but don't find a 'dll' you need to custom install it by de-selecting everything in the components list except the ARX option close to the bottom of the list. I installed the ARX component for both the 32 and 64 bit versions (Sonar 8.5.3PE). Restart the computer and check that you see the ARX 'dll' in the VSTi Plugins folder (through My Computer drive C Search).
 
4) The next step is the one which threw me. Possibly it'll be different for different setups, but even pointing Sonar to the ARX folder in the global settings list didn't enable the ARX editor. I actually had to click 'reset VSTi plug-ins' before 'ARX' registered from within the 'Global/Options/VSTi Plug-ins' folder. I then restarted Sonar and could see it pause a second on the new ARX.dll path it subsequently found.
 
5) When Sonar restarted it reported that midi settings had changed and were no longer applicable to my setup; I cancelled all messages and within Options/Midi Devices made sure that ARX (VS-700) was NOT selected in either the Input or Output boxes.
 
6) Again within Options/Audio, select selecting the 'Drivers' tab, click on VS700 ARX in the 'Input Drivers' panel i.e. select the option here! I didn't need to select the same in the Outputs panel since I'm currently only working inside the DAW and not sending the ARX output outside the interface.
 
7) Now from the Synth Rack I was able to select 'ARX', the editor for which promtly jumped up on my screen. In the Instrument track I set my Input to 'A-Pro 1 Omni' and Output to Master. I then opened an Audio track and set Input to (VS-700 12-in, 12-out) > Stereo VS-700 ARX. Voila, all active from my controller and editable from the Plugin, sounding great.  
 
Sorry for the very wordy description, it's just that this is what I would have needed to read to get me here from the start, I am however more of a hardware consumer than DAW user so find some of the technical PC setup stuff a bit daunting occassionally.
 
Loving the ARX-01,
 
best, Jeff 
 
 

eBlue


Wow...thanks for the detailed instructions dude!...

It seems that some dealers are either clearing these ARX modules out or Roland has dropped the price to something more reasonable. Anyway I just ordered one from American Musical Supply for $99 with free shipping.

Thanks again!
-e.B

Damn I want to cry.... paid my ARX-01 $499 less than 1 year ago...  Looks like ARX are dead already.  I wonder what I'll put in my second interface now.  Will probably wait, hope they will come out with a racked Jupiter-80 engine with 8 A/D inputs, features for direct monitoring and compatible with VS streaming! That would be a miracle!

Hey eBlue,

99 Bucks with free shipping! Wow, that's insanely good value for what you get.... In the UK I paid the equivalent of 500 Bucks a week or so ago, but I'm happy with the board and it means I have access to top tweakable samples for life, so it's worth it to me. The one piece of outboard I don't see myself getting rid of (aside from effects processors) is my V-Synth. If Roland/Cakewalk could produce an ARX with anything close to the sample mangling power of the the V-Synth they'd be on to a winner for sure. Suppose some hybrid of Rapture and Fantom would be their answer. I'm not all that interested in the Piano or Brass ARX versions myself, I just don't feel they'll help me significantly.

Dyonight, how much do you feel the 2nd 700R interface really helps you? I've considered getting a 2nd unit myself but stalled thinking that I might not get the best from it. I'd really like another 8 ADAT inputs/outputs though. Not sure if I could use a further ARX expansion slot or another Fantom..

Best to you both,

Jeff