Hi all, 
 
There are a small handful of 32 bit plugs I still like a lot , most of them from Bootsy's Variety of Sound. I've not attempted using them via j-bridge or bitbridge, as I've often heard that this is often the culprit behind bugginess, crashes etc. But I'm longing to use them again, without having to install 32 bit Sonar. Any advice from those who've tried this? Or is it very much one of those "conditions vary widely, proceed strictly at your own risk" things?
 
Grateful as ever for any help.

Yes thats what bitbridge is for. However I recommend using 64 bit VSTs in 64 bit Sonar.  

John
Yes thats what bitbridge is for. However I recommend using 64 bit VSTs in 64 bit Sonar.  

Thanks John.
 
Yes, that is what it's for, but I'd like to know well it has worked in practice. Your second sentence reinforces my curiousity ;-)
 
In this case (Bootsy's Thrillseeker XTC and BootEQ) there are no unfortunately no 64 bit versions. 

You can try them and see. Another tactic is install Sonar 32 bit and 64 bit. Use the one that you need to for the various plugins. 
 
Most 32 bit VSTs will work under bitbridge. 

Just try them - there realy is no great danger or risk. Some 32bit plugins are fine with bit bridge, others are very unstable. The same goes for jbridge. As John said, best practice is to use all 64bit plugins. It seems to be where most of us end up.
 

I have never had a problem with any Cake supplied or fully commercial 32 bit plugs.  Some of the freeware stuff does not work but all commercial plugs I have are either 64 bit or work fine as 32.  Thank goodness the 32 bit freeware Supertron VSTi works.  Love that thing.

I had a few 32 bit plugins that worked OK in Sonar x64. Eventually found replacements though.

I think (anecdotally) that the further we get from the start of the x64 era the less stable a system will be running 32 bit plugins. Cakewalk introduced 64 bit Sonar in 2005 with Sonar 5, 10 years ago. Windows 10 seems to be most frequently loaded on new PCs as 64bit.

As an example. Pro Tools was the last major DAW to come to 64 bit and is only available as 64 bit program now.

I think the trend is for software to be written to use more and more resources making 64 bit software more and more necessary.

Just create a project, save it.  Then try adding them and see what happens.
 
Most 32bits I've tried seems to work fine.  
 
Drum Core 3 is the only 32bit plugin that I've used in Sonar 64bit that will not work properly and really frustrates me.  

For an easier ride avoid IMHO. There are generally good 64 bit substitutes out there. I think a better Q might be ... I have 32 bit plugin X, can anybody recommend a 64 bit plugin Y replacement? Of course though use the tools you are happy with.

I have a few 32 bit that where never upgraded like Mr TRamp,,, they all work for me...