Hey there
 
I have too many plugins- effects and software instruments. I start feeling like a cat lady with 30 cats in one apartment. I need a way to place plugins in folders by developers.
 
When using "Insert Instrument" (right click on the vertical track view- empty area), it offers me all my software synths sorted by the developer (some are missed). But I normally use "Insert" from the top menu (where File, Edit, Insert located). When I use "Insert", then I select "Soft Synth" and it offers me 3 folders :VST2, VST3 and DirectX. That is all nice, but VST folder contains endless list of synths mixed with folders with more synths inside. I need to clean it up so I can find things easy.
 
For example:
 
I am about to install V Collection 5 upgrade from V4 and wondering what will happen. When I installed V4, it created multiple icons on my desktop and all the instrument titles are mixed with other instruments on the VST2 list in Sonar.  When I install V5, I understand- it will keep V4 on my computer, and will create twice more icons on the desktop and duplicated titles in my VST instrument list. I need to be able to have Arturia folder with subfolders V4 and V5 with all their instruments there.
 
When I experiment with Layouts, it is too confusing. Some time all my plugins show up grayed out, I would save that layout and it would have only few synths in it. It does not exactly offer to create folders and move plugins in it. Any suggestions? 
Thank you.

Creating a custom layout is the only way currently to manually segregate plugins.
 
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiKn-6d2MrNAhUBZz4KHRPHAZ4QtwIIMTAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXJfiWI0CHCE&usg=AFQjCNE44oT6bHrFEmLg2aorUD0CGGc5KA&sig2=EmP1Cd32f418Ew4HCSVOEg
 
Regards,
Dan

You can also click on the box that say's show desk top Icon and then it will not be displayed.  You should also note that the desktop Icons only links to the 32bit executable versions and not the plugin dll's.

As Dan says above create a custom plugin layout in the plugin manager make selections easier. 

For the plug-ins that are VST2, I have good luck creating my own subfolders in VST directory and moving each *.dll.
A scan updates the folder in Sonar. 
It's an old school method, I know.  But it has worked well for me.
 

Thank you for your posts.
Moving plugins to folders will not work as I have .dlls on many drives.
 I would take my time and arrange folders in Plugin manager, but it does not work properly or I don't understand it. For example, I had Arthurua plugin Solina V. It shows in the plugin manager but not on my plugin list. I have tried to "Add Plugin" to the layouts and it would show there but not in my default original Sonar-made layout. How do I get it to show up there? Thank you.   
 

vladasyn
Thank you for your posts.
Moving plugins to folders will not work as I have .dlls on many drives.
 I would take my time and arrange folders in Plugin manager, but it does not work properly or I don't understand it. For example, I had Arthurua plugin Solina V. It shows in the plugin manager but not on my plugin list. I have tried to "Add Plugin" to the layouts and it would show there but not in my default original Sonar-made layout. How do I get it to show up there? Thank you.   
 

Well, there are two different layouts you need to make. One for instrument plugins, and one for FX plugins.
 
Dan

I think if a VST 2 and a VST 3 version of a given plugin are installed, that Sonar will by default only display the VST 3 version - so perhaps you need to look at VST 3 plugins when trying to use the newer Arturia V Collection synths.  I believe it was version 3 of that collection where they started installing both VST 2 and VST 3 versions of the collection synths.
 
Bob Bone
 

Oh, ok, thanks, Bob. Salina V was in VST3 folder.
 
It just that I like it how everything is arranged when create Instrument. Why can't it be arranged the same way in Plugin Manager? I actually just discovered "create Instrument" function. Looks like it makes Audio and Midi in one track, which I don't like. I like them on 2 tracks.

Check out Week #78 in Friday's Tip of the Week, you might find it helpful.

Vlada - I concur on keeping midi track and audio track separate for my synths.  Others choose to work with simple instrument tracks and for the most part have no issues, but I prefer keeping them separate. 
 
Bob Bone