Sonar + VST = Crash. Help Please!

Hey guys. I was hoping the greater knowledge of everyone would help me out.

I have a VS-700 Set with Sonar X1 (upgraded from 8.5) and it's awesome. I love everything about it, except one MAJOR problem. VST plug-ins make my Sonar crash, whether I use Sonar x86 or x64. I cant mix my tracks, I have several thousands of dollars invested in VST plugs that constantly crash Sonar.

A bit about my set up:
W7 Ultimate x64, Q9550 (No OC), Gigabyte P45-UD3P, 8GB Mushkin DDR2 RAM, two Radeon 4550 cards (with audio drivers disabled), never a BSOD, all updated drivers. No latency, dpc, or Memtest86+ problems. I built this PC with my hands and it I baby it.



I have been in contact with my VS 700 and Sonar support, they are reviewing about 6 Dump files (from one track). Still need to hear back but I was hoping someone here might have the answer.


Type of crash:
- "Program not responding"
- Sonar crashes. SonarPDR.exe usually stays open in the background. Sometimes it won't close.
- I have to restarts the PC to release the VS700 driver so Sonar can use it again.
- I lose my work (unless it is autosaved), only to have  it crash later.


Here are some notes that might help you diagnose:
- I keep getting the crashes in Sonar x86 and x64, so it's not BitBridge. Even the built in Cakewalk VST's cause problems (pitch shift particularly, vx64, px64, etc).
- Sonitus plugs (which are DX) work great.
- UAD 4K Channel Strip is the biggest offender. The Cakewalk plugins (especiallt the more "retro ones" are equally as bad, maybe worse even"
- Doesnt always happen right away. The more VST's I have, the more likely it will happen.
- It can happen while initiating a plug, but most likely it is while fiddling with the settings (ie adjusting Ratio on a comp)
- I try my VST's in other DAW's (ie Reaper Demo). Flawless. Even the knobs move faster than in Sonar (they have always been a tad choppy.)
- ProChannel works fine
- Sonar is very stable without any plugins. As soon as I add even a single VST, things start to get unbalanced.
- Can't explain it, but after working with Reaper, Reaper seems much more fluid (GUI wise, not workflow wise) than Sonar.
- I disable my AV and Firewall whenever I use Sonar. That way, there is no outside interference.
- Audio interface is solid. PC is solid. drivers are all updated. System very stable. Sonar is not.
- I also have other random problems with Sonar, but this is the main one. X1B also fixed a lot vs 8.5.3.
- The newer the project, the less likely it is to crash. The more VST's, automation, whatever, the more likely Sonar is to crash.


Any thoughts guys? Any help?


Thanks in advance. Godspeed on all your projects and may you reach diamond status with your records :D


PJ

Not a big techie here but sounds like a registry prob. Did you install from downlaod or disks?

Yes you might try checking the box on. My system likes it off and I have tried it both ways. I am using Bitbridge and have gotten some stability. Also try setting up a dedicated Bitbridge server if you are using Automatic.

There is a problem I notice in using the Sonitus plug ins with UAD plugs in a project. I had one project that everytime I brought in an instance of the Sonitus Reverb, the project would white screen, hanging Sonar in memory. It would take a full 5 minutes for Windows 7 x64 to release it.
 
Try disconneting the VS-700 and see if you get the same behavior. Maybe there is a VST/controller communication problem.

I was having a very similar crash behavior with UAD-2 plugs when I tried to save my own presets.  Just for the heck of it, I tried checking the "Serialize Host Access" box for individual UAD plugs.  And that seems to have solved the problem!!
 
Unfortunately, I had to select each plug in plug-in manager in order to go to Plug-in Properties and check the box for each plug individually.  A bit time-consuming, but the results are worth it.