Hi, so I just obtained a copy of Sonar 3 Studio Edition (32 bit) and was hoping I could use 64 bit VST Plugins via the Cakewalk VST Adapter.  If that's even possible I'm guessing I would need the 64 bit VST Adapter but I cannot find how to obtain or install it.  I was able to find files to update Sonar to 3.1.1, but the only VST Adapter update file still available on Cakewalk's site is the patch to 4.5.3.157 and when I run that and choose to install the 64 bit version, it says "Cakewalk VSAT Adapter (x64) was not found on this system".  So it seems I need to somehow obtain an earlier version of the 64 bit VST Adapter but all the previous update patch versions are no longer available.  Any suggestions?  And if I would need to be running a 64 bit version of Sonar 3, how can I obtain that?  My CD had no choice of 32 or 64 bit versions, and there are no downloads or updates listed for this product on My Products page.  Thank you.

Hi, and welcome to this forum. I believe you have to use 64 bit SONAR to use 64 bit plugins. Which version of Windows do you have (incl 32 or 64 bit)?
(If on 64 bit Windows, you should be able to install 64 bit using the advanced install option, and choose 64 bit. Others will know better)
All the best.
 

Can you confirm that you have just obtained "SONAR 3?" or do you mean X3? The VST adapter is designed so that you can use a 32 bit plugin in a 64 bit installation of SONAR, the purpose being so that users with a library of the older standard 32 bit plugins would still be able to use them after 64 bit versions of SONAR became available. If you install the 64 bit version of SONAR, it should include that functionality. There is no way to go the other way i. e. to run a 64 bit plugin in a 32 bit version of SONAR. If you have a SONAR account, you should be able to get the 64 bit version there.

I think he has this (Studio version, scroll to bottom of page):
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Press/Release/1020/10-10-03-S3
 
dpapa, I doubt you will get 64-bit plugins to work with this, even with the adapter, but hey, it won't hurt to try.  You'll need to find and install the VST adapter, then the last patch on that.
 
To answer your last question, there was never a 64-bit version of Sonar 3.
 
I'm curious, what O.S. are you running (Win XP, Win 7, etc)?

IIRC Jbridge enabled 64 bit VSTs to be "sandboxed" in a 32 bit host. But given that Sonar 3 used a DXi ro VST wrapper |I am son sure how sucessful it would be. (Without even considering other potential issues with 13 year old software.)
https://jstuff.wordpress.com/jbridge/
 
There are still not that many 64 bit only VSTs. (Sampletank 3 and Drumcore 4 are two that come to mind.) so there are probably 32 bit versions of your plugs available.

Thank you everyone for your very prompt and informative answers.
 
It is indeed Sonar 3 Studio Edition, not X3... granted it is a very old program; it was given to me by a friend who never registered it and is no longer using it.
 
I'm on Windows 8.1 64-bit.  I did try uninstalling and reinstalling but there was no Advanced Install Option to choose 32- or 64-bit, only which additional features and what folder... which makes sense if, as JonD said, there is no 64-bit version.
 
(and if you think Sonar 3 is old -- I'm only installing it because I'm unable to install my favorite Win95-98-XP sequencer, Voyetra Digital Orchestrator Pro, in Win 8.1!)
 
So far I'm only using Toontrack Superior Drummer 3.0 & Solo and Korg M1 Le, both of which can be installed 32-bit, but I was trying to avoid having double installations of everything.  So, I will try jBridge and report back.
 
Thanks again. 

Hello SONAR 3 was a 32 bit application and did not support 64 bit plugins so its unlikely to work properly with current generation VST plugins and operating systems. It was released 13 years ago and is no longer supported by us.
 
However there is a very affordable upgrade path to the latest version of SONAR. You can either upgrade to Platinum or Artist/Professional depending on your needs. Simply log in to your account on our website and add one of the products to your cart to see your pricing. I believe it should be $299/$99/$49 for platinum/professional/artist respectively for you.
 

Thanks Noel Borthwick, I will consider upgrading.  For the meantime I will use 32-bit plugins or access the 64-bit plugs that can run standalone (like Superior Drummer thru Solo and M1 Le) using LoopBe1 (virtual midi port).