I want to be able to modify sounds in my VST soft-synths and be able to Save them as a patch and keep the original. I have tried Save when I click the arrow in the VST area to the top right of the VST and it allows me to save and name the sound but I can't access it or know where it is. I am using Sonar X1. I've looked on line but cannot find anything.
Thanks

Hi. Which Vsti are you referring to? Some have different ways of saving presets.
All the best.

Hi,
It’s just a normal soft synth VST - all the ones I have are the same. In the top bar towards the centre there is a box which says “VST” and next to it a downward arrow – clicking the arrow shows a number of options (Load Preset, Save Preset, Load Bank, Save Bank, Randomize, and Plug-In Properties) if I click Save Preset it with the sound I want it allows me to give the sound a name and save it as a “.fxp” file but it subsequently does not change the name of the sound I have loaded and it does not add it to the list on the bank. One of my guesses is that it needs to be saved in the correct place, but where that is I do not know. I have checked my plug ins folder but that has not assisted me, so I am stuck really.

That function is to save the preset or all presets (bank) to a file outside the VST, so you can back it up, give it to someone else or use it in another project.  The VST spec is "odd" in that if you edit the settings you're looking at, they are written to the preset in the drop-down list you started from (no save required).  But that is local to that instance of the plug-in, not shared with other instances (new or already in this or another project).

I think you have to change the name first, then save it. Double-click the name in the preset box.

So basically if I want to modify the sound and keep the original I need to copy down all the settings go to a patch were I don't particularly want to keep the patch input the settings for the sound I want and then save it?
 
If that is the case, is it possible to save (and write all the sounds I want from a particulate VST save them the way I have been informed above when I was describing what I was looking at, save them as a bank and then import that bank into the VST? If so, any idea how I could create the bank? Sorry for asking so many questions.
 
Once again guys, thanks

Preset 1 will still be Preset 1 if you change the settings and save it as Preset 1x. You're just adding a new preset, not eliminating the old one.

Many plugins don't seem to have an obvious place for saving settings. And if they do it tends to be somewhere that is easily forgotten and likely to get overwritten or deleted during an update or re-installation.

Whenever I want to save a plugin setting, I create a sub-folder named "Settings" within the project folder and save it there. Since it gets saved with the project, it doesn't get lost. If I want to re-use the same setting later in another project I know where to find it. I always incorporate the name of the plugin in the saved name to avoid confusion, as there may be several plugin settings saved in the same folder.

Thanks guys I am making good progress of understanding what can be done and the process. Im able to modify a sound, give it a new name and keep the original sounds patch as well.
One thing that is still a mystery is if I save a sound as a “.fxp” file on my computer because I want to be able to use it again on a different project how do I import it into the VST on the new project / instance of using the VST , how do I do that?

Kenspruzen
Thanks guys I am making good progress of understanding what can be done and the process. Im able to modify a sound, give it a new name and keep the original sounds patch as well.
One thing that is still a mystery is if I save a sound as a “.fxp” file on my computer because I want to be able to use it again on a different project how do I import it into the VST on the new project / instance of using the VST , how do I do that?

I would take note of where you saved the preset (I use custom preset location for different plugins / Vsti's), and browse to that location. Use load preset. Hope it helps.
All the best.