Lynn
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Need help with XPand!2 - Solved!
Yesterday I downloaded and installed XPand!2, authorized it, scanned it in Sonar (where it was recognized) and inserted it into a project. The interface comes up and all the presets are listed, but it makes no sound at all. My routing is correct, and I've tried everything I can think of to get it to work. I'm hoping that someone here who has this can steer me in the right direction. Thanks in advance.
post edited by Lynn - 2017/01/11 19:29:21
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cclarry
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 14:15:20
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Just checked and inserted it into an instrument track.
No issues...works as expected.
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 14:24:35
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cclarry
Just checked and inserted it into an instrument track.
No issues...works as expected.
Well, thanks for checking. That wasn't my question, however. I think I'm looking for the samples for this program, and I have clicked on the factory content file that came in the download, but nothing happens. Any ideas?
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cclarry
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 14:30:20
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I went through several patches and they all work fine.
Did you put it on an Audio Track and not an Instrument Track?
You would get no sound if that was the case, as an Audio Track
will not accept MIDI input. Just a thought...
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 14:35:16
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No, I did what normally do which was insert it as a simple instrument track. I do this with all my VST's.
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 15:21:57
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The default program has no sound.
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 16:04:31
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RSMCGUITAR
The default program has no sound.
Yes, I know that. I went through many of the presets first but none make a sound.
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TheMaartian
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 16:24:00
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Here's my test setup. The Input field on the MIDI track shows All Inputs MIDI as a source (my Nektar P6 included) after I did an edit (following the screen capture). Either way, playing on my P6 produces the desired sound. Clicking on the patch name field at the bottom of the GUI brings up the patch list. 
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 16:26:29
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I figured. I just wanted to leave no stone unturned.
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abacab
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 17:27:28
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☄ Helpfulby Lynn 2017/01/11 19:30:29
What are you triggering the VST with? A MIDI file, a keyboard controller, or the Sonar virtual keyboard? Let's test the audio output from the VST. Unfortunately, this instrument has no virtual keyboard on it's interface. So let's use Sonar's! 1. set the MIDI/Instrument track input to Virtual Controller MIDI ch1. 2. set MIDI/Instrument track output to Xpand!2 ch 1. 3. go to Sonar Views > Virtual Controller/Keyboard. http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Views.51.html
Make sure the track is selected and has MIDI echo enabled. Make sure no other track has "Solo" enabled. Try playing Xpand!2 with the virtual keyboard.
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 17:38:20
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TheMaartian
Here's my test setup. The Input field on the MIDI track shows All Inputs MIDI as a source (my Nektar P6 included) after I did an edit (following the screen capture). Either way, playing on my P6 produces the desired sound. Clicking on the patch name field at the bottom of the GUI brings up the patch list.
My setup looks just like yours except my audio output is going to my master bus. I have an organ selected, too. My question: three files came with my download, 1. AIR Music Technology 2. XPand!2_2.2.7_setup 3. XPand!2 FactoryContent. All files reside in my VST folder with my other synths. The first and third files seem to contain nothing. When I click on FactoryContent, it asks me to install, which I do, but nothing happens. Am I missing something here?
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 17:40:57
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Did you just move the files you downloaded into your VST folder or did you install them there?
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abacab
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 17:53:28
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Open the iLok License Manager and verify that is authorized on that computer. Then try uninstalling and re-installing Xpand!2.
There should be a product uninstaller located at: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features > Xpand!2.
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 17:54:15
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I moved them there after I did the install and activation. Should I d/l them into my VST file and install from there? I've never had to do that before, but I'm game.
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abacab
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:05:58
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The installer dropped the sample folder here: C:\ProgramData\Xpand!2\Xpand2.big
My .dll's are in my VST folder where as best as I can recall, I told the installer where to put them.
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:11:08
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I have no such folder. At least, nothing under ProgramData.
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:18:18
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abacab
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:19:26
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Lynn
TheMaartian
Here's my test setup. The Input field on the MIDI track shows All Inputs MIDI as a source (my Nektar P6 included) after I did an edit (following the screen capture). Either way, playing on my P6 produces the desired sound. Clicking on the patch name field at the bottom of the GUI brings up the patch list.
My setup looks just like yours except my audio output is going to my master bus. I have an organ selected, too. My question: three files came with my download, 1. AIR Music Technology 2. XPand!2_2.2.7_setup 3. XPand!2 FactoryContent. All files reside in my VST folder with my other synths. The first and third files seem to contain nothing. When I click on FactoryContent, it asks me to install, which I do, but nothing happens. Am I missing something here?
Those 3 files you described are downloaded in a zip file archive Xpand!2_2.2.7_Setup.zip. You should have extracted them to a new folder Xpand!2_2.2.7_Setup, then run the Xpand!2_2.2.7_Setup.exe file from there. I'm thinking if you don't extract first, then the installer cannot access the content. I would expect some error message, though.
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:23:46
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I'll give that a shot and let you know. Stay tuned.
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:26:10
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abacab
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:27:24
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☄ Helpfulby Fog 2017/01/11 19:16:36
Lynn
I have no such folder. At least, nothing under ProgramData.
All I could recommend then is to search your system for "Xpand2.big" (without the "!"). If it's not found, your install failed. Your system may have placed it in another location than mine. Many of the AIR products supply their factory sample content in .big files. No content, no sounds ...
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:31:47
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I think the xpand2.big file is part of the installer. I don't have it on my computer and Xpand2 works as expected.
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:36:59
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Nuts! It didn't work. This is the exact method that I performed in the first place. I just don't get it, it opens in Sonar, the UI comes up, I pick a preset, make sure the routing is correct (same as all my other VST's), but no sound. What next?
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abacab
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:46:51
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☄ Helpfulby Fog 2017/01/11 19:16:55
RSMCGUITAR
I think the xpand2.big file is part of the installer. I don't have it on my computer and Xpand2 works as expected.
The folder has the full name with "!", but the .big file does not. Try searching for the name Xpand2.big without the "!" symbol. If I rename the file, and open a project with Xpand!2, I get this error: 
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RSMCGUITAR
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 18:55:37
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I stand corrected... I had it on another drive. Sorry, my mistake.
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 19:11:22
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abacab
What are you triggering the VST with? A MIDI file, a keyboard controller, or the Sonar virtual keyboard?
Let's test the audio output from the VST.
Unfortunately, this instrument has no virtual keyboard on it's interface. So let's use Sonar's!
1. set the MIDI/Instrument track input to Virtual Controller MIDI ch1.
2. set MIDI/Instrument track output to Xpand!2 ch 1.
3. go to Sonar Views > Virtual Controller/Keyboard. http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Views.51.html
Make sure the track is selected and has MIDI echo enabled. Make sure no other track has "Solo" enabled.
Try playing Xpand!2 with the virtual keyboard.
OK, this works. I want to use a Korg Triton for the controller. Shouldn't I be able to select omni (or none) in the input and be able to control it with the Korg? This is how I use all my other VST's with no problem. At least, I'm glad to know that I can get sound.
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abacab
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 19:17:17
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☄ Helpfulby Lynn 2017/01/11 19:30:08
Lynn
abacab
What are you triggering the VST with? A MIDI file, a keyboard controller, or the Sonar virtual keyboard?
Let's test the audio output from the VST.
Unfortunately, this instrument has no virtual keyboard on it's interface. So let's use Sonar's!
1. set the MIDI/Instrument track input to Virtual Controller MIDI ch1.
2. set MIDI/Instrument track output to Xpand!2 ch 1.
3. go to Sonar Views > Virtual Controller/Keyboard. http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Views.51.html
Make sure the track is selected and has MIDI echo enabled. Make sure no other track has "Solo" enabled.
Try playing Xpand!2 with the virtual keyboard.
OK, this works. I want to use a Korg Triton for the controller. Shouldn't I be able to select omni (or none) in the input and be able to control it with the Korg? This is how I use all my other VST's with no problem. At least, I'm glad to know that I can get sound.
+1 Glad to hear you have sound! Crank it up to 11+  The Xpand!2 is 4 part multi-timbral, as you can see each part has it's MIDI channel number 1-4 (default is 1, layering all 4 parts). Just match up the channel your controller is transmitting and the respective parts in Xpand!2 should respond. Just like any rack synth with a multi part setup.
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Lynn
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 19:28:48
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John, thanks so much for your help. I got it figured out, but I must say, of the 15 or so VST's in my arsenal, this is the only one that gave me trouble. I only paid a buck for it, and it has a ton of sounds, so I'll be happy. I'm calling this one solved.
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abacab
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 19:35:51
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Lynn
John, thanks so much for your help. I got it figured out, but I must say, of the 15 or so VST's in my arsenal, this is the only one that gave me trouble. I only paid a buck for it, and it has a ton of sounds, so I'll be happy. I'm calling this one solved.
Awesome! I'm surprised that this one was the troublemaker, but you never know, it's the computer thing, right? I've just gotta add, this thing has become my new go to sound source. The 2500+ sounds are very good, and it's obvious that the sound designers took care to make most of the presets usable. My Roland JV1080 and XP-30 sit in the closet these days. The Xpand!2 synth is the ultimate rack rompler synth, replacing $1000 hardware, LOL! For a buck, ha!
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TheMaartian
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Re: Need help with XPand!2
2017/01/11 19:37:10
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 When I extract the zip file, I get the following directory structure. The "Xpand!2" folder contains "Xpand2.big". This is the file that gets copied to the "C:\ProgramData\Xpand!2" folder. The only file I had to run was the setup EXE. The MSI file is very small. Maybe that's only the patch names. Try manually creating folder in ProgramData and manually copy the .BIG file to it.
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