VST Adapter doesn't work

My friend is using HS-2 and I'm tring to help get her set up on her new pc. It's an Emachines 3000+/512/etc, with Echo Mia and Edirol USB midi. The VST Adapter runs and seems to scan VST's, but doesn't park on the Configuration window. It just scans then disappears - and no VSTs show in the program. We've tried uninstalling and re-installing HS (the VST Adapter is not a separate install), along with the HS-2 and VST Adapter 4.4.2 patches. Not sure what to do here. She's willing to purchase a plug-in like Ozone, to help her get a polished-sounding 2-trk, but I'd really like to see her be able to use some of the free VST plugs too. The VST Adapter scan works on her old pc. Any help is welcome.

Thanks.
Rigel

Thanks JDW.

Yes, I reinstalled the whole program twice, and watched what it asked. The VST Adapter IS THERE, but it doesn't work 100%. I can see it in the start menu, and run it, and it cues me for the VST directory (where you can add/remove/etc), then it scans that directory, and I can see it scroll through the VST plugs that it's looking through, and I even get the pop-up message from a couple of them like LFX 1310 (A multi-effect plug) that asks you to check for updates. But, after it's done scanning, it disappears - it doesn't proceed to the Configuration screen, where you're normally able to disable individual plugs, etc.

I guess I'm repeating myself now, so is there something specific that I can look for during the reinstall?

What I suspect is that the installer is ignoring some file that's needed to make things tick (kind of like the current S4 installer issue). Perhaps there's a manual file and/or registry cleanup I can do prior to reinstall?

Regards,
Rigel

ORIGINAL: Rigel Russell

Thanks JDW.

Yes, I reinstalled the whole program twice, and watched what it asked. The VST Adapter IS THERE, but it doesn't work 100%. I can see it in the start menu, and run it, and it cues me for the VST directory (where you can add/remove/etc), then it scans that directory, and I can see it scroll through the VST plugs that it's looking through, and I even get the pop-up message from a couple of them like LFX 1310 (A multi-effect plug) that asks you to check for updates. But, after it's done scanning, it disappears - it doesn't proceed to the Configuration screen, where you're normally able to disable individual plugs, etc.

I guess I'm repeating myself now, so is there something specific that I can look for during the reinstall?

What I suspect is that the installer is ignoring some file that's needed to make things tick (kind of like the current S4 installer issue). Perhaps there's a manual file and/or registry cleanup I can do prior to reinstall?

Regards,
Rigel

To me, it sounds like the adapter is hitting one or two flaky plugins and is crashing. I have seen a re-boot on my own DAW under Win2K running SONAR 3.1.1 under such circumstances. Especially with a lot of freeware type stuff. What works for me is to go into the VSTi/VST directory, and rename all of my .dll files with the file suffix ".old", beginning immediately after any that you know were successfully scanned by the adapter -
After a successful scan, bring in your plugs in manageable numbers by renaming them to the former ".dll" file suffix until you locate the problem plugin(s).

Thanks for the suggestions. I've already tried Reset All, but not the renaming idea. So, I'll try that next time we're at her studio.

Rigel

Not to stray away from Cakewalk's VST Adapter, but has anyone used DirectXier instead?

http://www.tonewise.com/DirectiXer/

I'm considering it, as I have had the same exact troubles when using the VST Adapter. Any thoughts pro or con? Here's some reviews from KVR (scroll down a bit on the page):

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/274.html

Seems like it could be a good alternate way to handle the VST thing...
I'm gonna load the demo tonite and try it out. If it works, I'll pay $49 to have my VST plugs load without problems in Sonar.

Thanks!
LM

Rigel/all- Just demo'd (and then bought) DirectiXer-- it does indeed work great, and I wholeheartedly agree that it is WELL worth the $49! Thanks!

LM