• SONAR
  • Can't insert more then 5 virtual synth ("Insert VST" grey boxes)
2017/03/06 16:33:27
-francesco-
Hi all.
I was composing with Sonar 8.5 and everything went more and less fine, until at a certain point, without any manual changes, I couldn't insert virtual synths anymore. More specifically, the boxes that appear after "Virtual Synths" under "Insert" menu (Cakewalk Sound Center, Rapture, Vst Plugins ecc.), became grey and I couldn't do anything with them while until the previous track i could use them to insert VSTs without any problems. At first I thought it was related to an hypotetical maximum number of midi tracks, but deleting tracks doesn't fix it. The only thing I could do was to undo my last action ("insert midi track" or "insert virtual synth") only to fall back into the same problem when I did it again. Since I need various tracks on a single project to work on my compositions I am getting quite mad at this, because it means that from a certain point on, I can't do anything and it just seem that I have limited actions regardless the number of tracks. It doesn't even always happen after 5 tracks because previously it happened when I only had 3. Please, someone help me!
2017/03/11 17:26:32
-francesco-
Somebody, please?
2017/03/11 18:21:25
JonD
Just to be clear, are you saying this happens with a brand new project?  When did this behavior start? 
 
There are many ways to insert a VSTi.  What happens say, when you try from the Synth Rack or right-click on a track?
2017/03/11 18:39:09
-francesco-
It started from my very first project. When I insert my first midi track with insert ---> virtual synths ---> Cakewalk Sound Center (for example) everything works fine. I can repeat this, creating other midi tracks up to a certain numerb of times (5 or even 3). After that I can't repeat this process and create a new midi track with vsts anymore. Anyway I tried to figure out what is the cause and it is the effect (regardless it is Cakewalk Sound Center or Kontakt or whatever) because before inserting a new vst track everything is fine, while after doing that I can't insert one anymore and that is the only thing I did in between (if I undo inserting my last midi track everything is fine again while if I redo there it comes again).
2017/03/11 18:53:10
JonD
Seems odd that after 3 or 5 tracks, the boxes become greyed out.  Sounds like the behavior of a demo version.
 
Did you install from a disc or a download?  If the latter, was it from somewhere other than the Cakewalk site? 
2017/03/11 20:10:06
-francesco-
I installed it from the disc and registered it regularly on Cakewalk.
2017/03/12 02:13:09
Sanderxpander
I've also never heard of this. Could it be memory problems? How much RAM does your system have?
2017/03/12 03:49:16
JonD
Yes, it would be helpful if you gave a brief rundown of your system specs. And are you running 32 or 64 bit Sonar?
 
Also, a long shot -- I remember right around the time of Sonar 8/8.5 that "Run as administrator" became a thing to watch out for.  Try starting Sonar that way (Right-click on shortcut, choose Run as administrator) and see if there's any change.
2017/03/12 04:17:23
abacab
I also think that the version of Windows used could be relevant.  There are bundled C++ program libraries and API's that older programs such as Sonar 8.5 were developed around, that may not be compatible with the current Windows versions.  I also have Sonar 8.5, but have not attempted to use it since Windows XP.
 
I would download a demo version of the latest Sonar and compare it with what you have on your system.
2017/03/12 11:32:37
-francesco-
I tried running as administrator but it doesn't chage anything.
 
I was beginning to think about a RAM problem too. Is there any way to give more RAM to Sonar? Anyway I' m using Windows 10 and 64 bit version and here are more info about my pc:
 
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU N2840 2,16GHz
Installed Ram: 4.00 GB (3,89 usable GB)
 
(Or at least that's what I found on my control panel)
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