how do i install zeta 3 into sonar platnum

Z3ta has a separate installer (IIRC) and there is a base version that I think comes free with Sonar Platinum then Z3ta+ 2 that is a separate purchase (I got it with Sonar X1 Production Suite). There was recently an update to Z3ta (not sure if it affects both versions or just Z3ta+).
 
First off you'll have to excuse me for not knowing EXACTLY the versions included/not included or what the recen updates apply to (there were actually two updates... one that was the update then the second which was a hotfix for some issues the update was causing in older porjects that had Z3ta already in use). Others will have to make those clarifications (and correct my faulty knowledge).
 
BUT... what I'm trying to get to is if you are trying to actually install Z3ta (either version) you need to download it from your store account or if you have the Cakewalk Command Center installer program find it and install it there.
 
I do not use CCC so I would go to my store account, navigate to my "Registered Products" page and find the download link. That will provide me with a file I can download to my computer, it will appear in the "Downloads" section of the Windows file structure (you can access this through Windows Explorer or in your browser usually you can right click the download and select "Open Containing Folder" which opens you downloads folder). At this point I will actually Cut/Copy an installer and put it in a special folder with the rest of my installers as a back so I don't have to redownload such things again.
 
Whatever... right click on the file, select "Run As Administrator" (this avoids Windows Privileges problems but may not be necessary) then follow the onscreen installation wizard.
 
You do not "install" Z3ta or other such intruments into Sonar. You install it on your computer and then use it in Sonar.
 
You may need to do a "VST Scan" to detect the new installation but we can get to that if it does not appear automatically in your Synth Browser list.
 
If you meant how do you "insert" Z3ta into your project so you can use it then that's a different procedure. There are a few ways to do this but I prefer using the Synth Browser these days. To do that...
 
Press B on your computer keyboard (this opens the Sonar Browser), click the "Synths" tab at the top of the Browser window that pops up, Click the big + button at the top of the Browser window. A dropdown menu will appear that says "Synths". Hover over that and go to either VST2 (for the old version of Z3ta) or VST3 (I think for the new version of Z3ta which I think has been updated to VSt3... not sure abotu that though).
 
If you have Z3ta and Z3ta+ 2 installed both options will appear in these menus.
 
Once you select it (or either) the "Insert Synth Dialog" will pop up. Choose the settings you want (like Simple Instrument Track or MIDI Source All Outputs Stereo or Mono or whatever... just look in the Sonar manual to find out what all that crap means... Simple Instrument Track is the easiest at first but has limitations). Once you have your settings chosen click "OK".
 
Based on your settings in the Insert Synth Dialog" Z3ta will now be setup and routed to that track or series of tracks.
 
If you are using a controller you will need to click the "MIDI Input Echo" button on the track for the track to receive MIDI signals from your controller. You may also need to set the MIDI track's "Input" dropdown to the correct channel that your device is sending signals on (otherwise just choose Omni and it wall accept all incoming MIDI to trigger the synth).
 
Now... if you DON'T see Z3ta in the synth Browser options then you may need to do a VST Scan so Sonar recognizes it. AFAIK it shows up automatically when using the default install paths but if not you need to figure out where you installed Z3ta to on your computer and then go to Edit > Preferences > File-VST Settings. On that page you will see a bunch of options for folder locations (where the VST files are located on your hard drive(s), scan options for new plugs and various other wackiness.
 
So if you didn't see Z3ta in your list you would have to find out where it is on your hardrive, in the VST Scan Paths section click "Add" then navigate to that folder and add it to the list of scan paths (Sonar scans all folder locations listed in that bubble).
 
After you have added it then go down the page a little further (to Scan Options) and click the Scan button. That should scan any new locations you added to the scan paths.
 
Now Z3ta should appear in the Synth Browser/Rack options.
 
You may also have to click F5 with the browser open but I don't think so.
 
Anyway... I doubt you will have to do half of that crap but might as well be thorough, aye?
 
Also it made me find the VST3 management options. Apparently the setting by default in Sonar if Sonar detects a new VST3 version of a plug it auto replaces it in a project. There is a setting to disable this.
 
Well.... mayhaps a lot of the problems folks had with the Z3ta update could have been avoided if that was not the defualt setting. Yeesh.
 
That is another story altogether though. lol
 
Good luck.