Audio Via Fantom

I am new at Sonar and especially, Sonar X2a.  Due to obligations and etc, I have not been able to get comfortable with any of the Sonar products.  I previously used the Roland 2480 and enjoyed that.  I upgraded to the Cakewalk V-Studio 700C and R with Sonar 8.  In theory, these things will enable me to do much better work.  Now that I am in a point in my life I have and will have much more time devoted to this hobby so I figured I might as well "start" with the latest version of Sonar.
 
I opened an project to experiment with Sonar.  In this project, I wanted to play with the Fantom soft synth.  I inserted a simple instrument track with Fantom.  I have a MIDI clip I made inserted into the track and when I hit "play", the VU meter responds but I am not getting any audio.  
 
I thought I would try another soft synth so I made a simple instrument track with Cakewalk TTS.  I copied the MIDI clip into the track and it plays correctly and I get the audio through the speakers.  
 
I don't know if I need some other driver to get it to work or not.  ????
 
My input setting:  Fantom VS700 MIDI Omni
Output setting:  Master
The Master output:  VS-700 Main (which works with other audio clips/tracks)
In the Inspector Pro Channel (MIDI tab), I've tried various MIDI channels to no avail.
Bank:  There are only two options, "Bank ----" and "0 Bank 0"
Patch: None (though, I've tried different patches and there isn't any audio)

You do not have to route an audio output from the Fantom: it comes across the USB connection from the IO unit to your PC (Sonar).  It works exactly like a soft synth EXCEPT you can only have one instance open.  If you try to open a project using Fantom while another Fantom project is open, Sonar gets confused and locks up.  (Well, X1 does.  I don't know about 8.)
 
I wish I could help but I will tell you that it was a nightmare getting Fantom set up.  The directions are horribly confusing and you need to be sure not to install the ARX driver if you don't have ARX (expansion cards).  Also, Fantom only had 32-bit support at the time I installed it so I had to use bit bridge.
 
One thing to check is your Preferences to make sure it is listed as one of your devices.  Also, be sure to check the ins and outs on the MIDI and audio tracks for the Fantom.  Fantom has a tendency to screw those up.
 
I really like Fantom but was quite disappointed at how poorly it was implemented, although it is working fine now.
 
I had to have a tech from Sweetwater resolve the Fantom issues, so I am not sure I will be able to fix your problems, but I will be glad to offer what I know and also to look at my Preferences settings to see how they compare to yours.

BitBridge is software provided by Cakewalk. It runs automatically in the background loading 32bit VST plug-ins making them available for use in 64bit SONAR.

"Try using normal MIDI and audio tracks and not using a simple instrument track.  Have the MIDI track out to your Fantom and the audio track input be the V700 audio out. "
 
Tried that.  Still no audio.  The VU on the Fantom track is showing a signal but, for some reason, I can't seem to route the signal to an audio output.

I agree the sounds have to be routed through the VS-700 Console.  But, I can't figure out how to do that.  I've tried a zillion different routing options in both the Fantom track and the Audio Track to no avail.  
 
I inserted a Cakewalk TTS soft synth, which is (at least I thought it was) similar to the Fantom soft synth.  I was able to get the audio from the simple instrument track I created for it.
 
I sent Roland an email regarding this issue and am waiting a response.  I did an installer update yesterday which enabled me to get the Fantom as a soft synth (or at least it now shows in the soft synth drop down menu).  I also noticed in parentheses it says, "32-bit".  I don't know if this has anything to do with the problem or not.  When I updated the installer, which is supposed to be for the Fantom, I checked the 64 bit box as I was going through the process.  
 
Thank you

In the Inspector, the MIDI tab (for simple instrument) or MIDI track (for separate MIDI and audio) should have Input = Omni and Output = VS Fantom.
 
In the Audio tab (or audio track) the input should be VS Fantom and the output should be Master (or VS 700 Main--wherever your sound is going).
 
Some of this conversation is confusing but Fantom does work just like a VST in every way that I know of.  The sound is generated in hardware in the IO instead of software in the PC, but that does not affect what you do or how it works.  You do not get the Fantom sound by plugging an audio cable into the back of the VS700 IO as though it were a synth--that is not how it works.
 
I have not had good luck selecting patches from the Fantom any way except opening the VST and actually clicking on a patch.  I know you can put Bank and Patch commands in the MIDI track--and I do that with other synths--but with Fantom I always just click them in the interface.  Maybe you just don't have a patch selected or active.

Konrad, I did not see your post prior to the above post.  
 
I do believe there has to be something wrong with my system.  I just upgraded to X2 along with upgrading from XP to Windows 7.  There may be a driver or some firmware needed, though I have done a lot of that, too.
 
In the Inspector, the MIDI tab (for simple instrument) or MIDI track (for separate MIDI and audio) should have Input = Omni and Output = VS Fantom.
 
In the Inspector's MIDI tab, Input: I've got the MIDI set on Fantom VS (VS-700) MIDI Omni.  Output: I've got two choices with "Fantom in them" (and I've tried them both), Fantom VS (VS-700) and Fantom VS1.

In the Audio tab (or audio track) the input should be VS Fantom and the output should be Master (or VS 700 Main--wherever your sound is going).
 
Audio tab, for Input, gives me has Fantom VS (VS-700) with the option of choosing MIDI Omni, MIDI Ch 1, MIDI Ch 2, and etc.  For the output, I've got Master (which is the Console or VS700 Main).
 

John, I wish I could help more.  Fantom was very frustrating.  It was a selling point for me when picking the V-Studio, but not sure it would be now.
 
Still, if you work with Cakewalk, you should be able to get it running.  It is just an extremely unfriendly and confusing driver set-up.
 
I would caution again about being sure ARX is unchecked in Preferences if you don't have the expansion.  Also, there are two places in Preferences to check for enabling Fantom: Drivers and Devices.  Probably you have done all this stuff and just need a reinstall of Drivers, but you might look just to be sure.
 
Hang in there, buddy.  You will get there.  And when you do, Fantom is a good thing.  It gives you ots of good instruments and doesn't take CPU or memory away from your PC.  Even though I have other virtual drums, I use Fantom for variety because the drums sounds are very solid.

Ryan, I am not the original poster but I greatly appreciate your doing this.  Should I have to resintall or change machines, this will be extremely valuable.  I will share this link with the Sweetwater tech who worked through this with me (with Cakewalk's assistance).
 
Looks like the last choice on your drop-down is what John (the OP) needs.
 
One note: In the install, since you can have two ARX and two VS-700 IOs, you have to watch out for repeated prompts (unless the installer has changed).  This messed me up one time.

Could there be a compatibility issue.  On the drop down menu for Soft Synth, it shows Fantom VS (32-bit).  I am using the 64-bit Windows and Sonar (so I thought).
 

I'd hate to sound overly confident, but if you're receiving this error:
 
Unable to read/write data
Choose Help - Fantom VS Editor Manual, and refer to 7. If the
display indicates 'Unable to read/write data'.
 
Then I'd double, triple, quadruple check everything suggested in the article. I've helped hundreds of customers directly as well as tons of other vendors with troubleshooting that error, and I've yet to see a single case where that error was triggered other then the suggested reasons. You would be the first :)
 
The suggestions get pretty specific so I'm not sure what to suggest other then checking again. If you want to provide some screenshots of your settings that might help us all collectively.
 
(BTW, the Fantom VS is a 32-bit plug-in only. There is no 64-bit version of the plug-in. This really has no effect on the performance of the hardware since all of the processing is done on the hardware anyway. All it means is that it is pulled in via the BitBridge wrapper, but this is normal.)
 
 

Regarding the ARX, I am sure I did not do that.  When doing the Editor Install, I unchecked the bottom two boxes because they had to do with the ARX and a second Fantom.

I was alerted that John ended up calling in and our guys were able to help get to the bottom of things. From what I heard the error message was MIDI ports being routed to the DX-7 port, but there were in fact missing registry keys which is probably what caused a ton of confusion in the first place.
 
I'm not sure how comfortable everyone is with the registry, so if you ever run into this problem please feel free to call us and we'll walk you through the process. For everyone's records though, since I know this comes up more often then it should, these are the keys that need to be installed:
 
For 32-bit SONAR:
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST\HardwareSupport]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST\HardwareSupport\ARX]
"Port 1"="ARX (VS-700)"
"Port 2"="VS-700 ARX"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST\HardwareSupport\ARX (2)]
"Port 1"="ARX (2-VS-700)"
"Port 2"="VS-700 (2) ARX"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST\HardwareSupport\Fantom VS]
"Port 1"="FANTOM VS (VS-700)"
"Port 2"="VS-700 FANTOM VS"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST\HardwareSupport\Fantom VS (2)]
"Port 1"="FANTOM VS (2-VS-700)"
"Port 2"="VS-700 (2) FANTOM VS"
 
For 64-bit SONAR:
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST X64\HardwareSupport]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST X64\HardwareSupport\ARX]
"Port 1"="ARX (VS-700)"
"Port 2"="VS-700 ARX"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST X64\HardwareSupport\ARX (2)]
"Port 1"="ARX (2-VS-700)"
"Port 2"="VS-700 (2) ARX"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST X64\HardwareSupport\Fantom VS]
"Port 1"="FANTOM VS (VS-700)"
"Port 2"="VS-700 FANTOM VS"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST X64\HardwareSupport\Fantom VS (2)]
"Port 1"="FANTOM VS (2-VS-700)"
"Port 2"="VS-700 (2) FANTOM VS"
 
 
Basically easiest way to install these is to open up Notepad and at the top type the following:
 
"Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00"
 
Followed by the keys listed above. Afterwards, save the file as a .reg file. If you click it afterwards Windows should prompt you if you want to import the keys into the registry editor, and warn you that this is probably not a good idea. For this reason, if you want help we definitely don't mind giving a hand. It's a sensitive area to mess around with things. Unfortunately I've been at the other end of a call before where someone deleted a huge chunk of keys and couldn't boot into their OS. It's not fun to deal with.
 
Hope that helps for you guys if you run into it.

Oh yes, I decided to call because the registry (to me) was intimidating.
 

Yep, had the same exact issue with my setup about a year ago.  There was actually a registry file tech support had me download and run.  Bam, fixed.  It probably still exists out there somewhere.  Nobody knew what caused the issue, but it was--and is, apparently--an uncommon (and uncommonly frustrating) glitch.  Glad you got it all sorted out!  :)