Transfer FX presets from one computer to another

Hi all,

I am a dinosaur here, still using Sonar 3.11 on XP. But I can't imagine that this would be much different now. I can't find the answer anywhere but I thought that I read about it here years ago. I need to take the presets from the FX plugins on one computer and copy them to another computer. In essence, I am recording on one computer and mixing on a different one. Actually, the final mixing will be done on the recording computer. In any case, I need both to have the same FX and presets. My plan is to save them as bundles and transfer them back and forth (as little as possible).

Thanks for any help.

I meant that I could pull down the plugin menu and have the same presets available. I don't want to have the fx written to the tracks permanently. It would just save so much time since I have presets for everything.

But that would not preserve the presets. I already have most of the same plugins on both. At least the ones that I would primarily use.

The state of VSTs and VSTI's (and I assume DXs and DXI's) are saved in the project file (CWP). No need to make a bundle, unless you really want to for some reason. Put everything in a single folder, and use "per-project audio folders" (which I'm pretty sure SONAR 3 supports), and ZIP or RAR up the folder if you want to transfer the project in one piece. As long as the same VSTs and DXs are available on each machine, the project should load and the saved FX state loaded into the appropriate plugs. Even though the state is preserved, if you originally gave your preset a name, the name may not populate (depends on the plug and type of plug, etc.).

Seperately you may want to actually manage your presets on both machines. Let's say you have a project and you made some FX presets in that project that you want to reuse down the road. For that you'll need to save a "FXP" preset file, and whatever the equivalent is for DX. The FXP file is a single file saved to disk that you can carry with you wherever you go. You should be able to export FXPs from VST plugs even though SONAR 3 uses the VST adapter thing. Can't remember, but DX presets may be written to the registry? Don't remember. There may be a non-FXP way to create presets in SONAR (again, written to the registry?), but for transferring presets I think you want to go the FXP route if you can.

Are you sure? Or maybe there is a misunderstanding. Let's say that I have a Sonitus eq preset that I use for my kick drum. I record some drum tracks and leave them dry. Convert the project to a bundle and take it to the other computer. When I pull up the project on the other computer, that preset will not be there, right?

Isn't there a specific folder where your own presets are stored with Plugin Manager or something like that? IIRC there is. You'd only need to copy that folder to transfer the presets. I may remember wrong, though.

Bladefish


Are you sure? Or maybe there is a misunderstanding. Let's say that I have a Sonitus eq preset that I use for my kick drum. I record some drum tracks and leave them dry. Convert the project to a bundle and take it to the other computer. When I pull up the project on the other computer, that preset will not be there, right?

You are right about that.

I mix on another computer too, here's how I do it:

I made a track tempate with most of the FX on it, but disabled. So if I copy the project the the other computer it's all there, just need to enable it.

In Sonar 8.5 (don't know about 3  have only been using since 6.0) when you open the Cakewalk plug-in Manager, click on the VST instruments, then on the plug in name in the registered plug-ins window.  If there are presets the Export and Manage buttons will be available.  Clicking on Manage will tell you what presets are there and export will send it to an .spp file.
Make note of where it is being saved and name appropriately for easy ID when importing. 
To import on the other computer select the VST and hit import and select location of new files and hit import and they should now be there.   The files should be small enough that you likely could just zip and email it to yourself.