Integrating Waldorf Blofeld desktop synth with Sonar X1b 64 bit

The Waldorf Blofeld ships with a VST version 0.8.3b from Softknobs that will run under 64 bit Sonar X1b. I put the VST in the VST directory and Sonar sees it fine and, for better or worse, sees it as a soft synth even though it really is just a midi VST for a particular hardware device.

In my setup, I have an M-Audio Axiom 61 set on midi channel one through USB to play the Blofeld and both devices are hooked to a USB 2.0 hub which, in turn, is hooked up to my computer, a PCAL mobile i7 running 64 bit Windows 7 Professional. In my preferences I have enabled the Blofeld and the M-Audio Axiom  as input devices and the Blofeld as an output device. If I just create a midi channel and assign the input to the Axiom and the output to the Blofeld on channel one then there is no issue. I can happily play away. I have the Blofeld instrument file so I can access all the presets. Unfortunately, without the VST I cannot control filters, envelopes, and all the other things that make playing with the synth worthwhile. The VST is required for that.

If, instead of using a midi channel I add the Blofeld VST as a soft synth then I cannot select the Blofeld as input or output from the VST. It says that the device is in use by another application. Unfortunately, that application happens to be Sonar. When I get into Sonar device preferences and disable Blofeld as an input or output device  then I can select it as a valid input or output from the VST but, unfortunately, while I can do program changes on it and tweak filters, etc, I cannot play midi through it from either Sonar or my Axiom which is obviously useless.

This is driving me  nuts. Somebody out there must have a Blofeld they are using with Sonar successfully. Unfortunately, the desktop unit only has a midi in port. To get midi out you need the USB port so I really would like to be able to use that for integrating into Sonar.


My less than ideal workaround is to use an iPad 2 running midiTouch with a Blofeld set of templates through the midi interface while leaving the USB hooked up into the hub attached to the PC. It works but is not the way I want to run if possible.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your patience reading this lengthy explanation.

I have contacted softknobs, the creator of the VST with an explanation of the problem and have yet to receive a reply. That was why I posted here in the hope that someone might have an idea. I have downloaded loopmidi and may attempt to use that with Sonar to create virtual midi ports that can share the same hardware. If it works then that would be great but I am not sure how much effort I want to put into chasing that possible solution.

I may try your suggestion about the micro Q. I am assuming that there is a functional VST for it for Sonar X1 64 bit. Have you used that and found success?

The Blofeld has such great sounds and possibilities but the customer support and supporting software is just atrocious. So sad.

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I have contacted softknobs, the creator of the VST with an explanation of the problem and have yet to receive a reply. That was why I posted here in the hope that someone might have an idea. I have downloaded loopmidi and may attempt to use that with Sonar to create virtual midi ports that can share the same hardware. If it works then that would be great but I am not sure how much effort I want to put into chasing that possible solution.

I may try your suggestion about the micro Q. I am assuming that there is a functional VST for it for Sonar X1 64 bit. Have you used that and found success?

The Blofeld has such great sounds and possibilities but the customer support and supporting software is just atrocious. So sad.

I use two methods to control the microQ. A BCR2000 that is mapped for the microQ, and a program called mqEdit, available here (near bottom of page):

http://synth.stromeko.net/Downloads.html

mqEdit runs side by side with Sonar, and is not a VST. It has no problem sharing the MIDI port with Sonar - I can play the uQ from sonar (by minimizing Sonar from the taskbar you keep drivers active), and edit it in mqEdit simultaneously. I have no idea if it will work with blofeld, but its worth a shot.