Insert > Soft Synth > (type of plugin) > (plugin)
 
Why must I know, or care, if the plugin is a directx, vst2, or vst3?
 
It seems to me to be another "Showroom display" "feature."
 
Anybody have a rational explanation?
 

For those who maintain vst2 and vst3 versions of the same plugin(may have other programs that don't see vst3)it helps to make sure you pick the right one. I suppose you could pick the option to not have sonar display the vst 2 versions.

I agree the type of plugin is not useful information. If you go into the plugin manager you can create your own lists of plugins that show in the insert menu (and browser) in place of the Sonar defaults. I created a list for soft synths that has all of my plugins alphabetized by name of the plug, and a list for Effects that has all such plugins grouped in folders based in their function (eq, reverb, compression, etc.). Works well for me. It's even possible to add a plugin to the list multiple times. This would be handy, say, for a multiFX plugin like the Percussion Strip that has eq, compression and more all rolled into one.

Bottom line: organize your plugins in the manner that is most accessible and efficient for you.

The reason is to distinguish between VST2 and VST3 versions. It's not uncommon for the VST3 version of a plugin to exhibit problem behavior that the VST2 version does not. Given that they are typically functionally identical, there's no reason to insert the VST3 version if you also have the VST2 version. Except to make sure you're keeping up with the latest fashion, of course. Or you're a Cubase user.
 
It's also possible to have both DX and VST versions of the same plugin if you're a long-time SONAR user. In that case you may avoid some complications by explicitly choosing the VST version.

I'm not a coder, but I get the impression from this document that it's important for Sonar to differentiate internally between VST2 and VST3 plug-ins, so the menu separation is probably a natural result of this. I suppose it would be possible to add another layer and combine them into one big pile before it becomes public-facing, but as Bit points out, you might not always want that. Besides, you can create your own plug-in layouts to show whatever you want.

Bottomline is that not everyone is going to like default menu settings so set them up the way you prefer.

One mildly curious thing is:if I tick the"Scan VST3 Plugins by category",ONLY my waves plugins show.
This is not that helpful so I leave it unchecked,I just thought Cakewalk plugins would receive priority,but I guess not,or it could prove Iv'e blown way too much money with waves,even with the "only buying when there is a sale"
 
Some of their sales[often through Audio Deluxe et al] have had me thinking Iv'e saved thousands,when really I spent Hundreds on stuff I really didn't need,they have very good sales campaigning strategies.

jm24
 Insert > Soft Synth > (type of plugin) > (plugin)
 
Why must I know, or care, if the plugin is a directx, vst2, or vst3?
 
It seems to me to be another "Showroom display" "feature."
 
Anybody have a rational explanation?
 

 
Because there are people who want to avoid using DXi synths, and the menu allows them to easily identify which ones are DXi.

DXi plug-ins have always been segregated from VST plug-ins in the Cakewalk plug-in menus. One of the reasons given for an extra level in the Cakewalk plug-in menus was to handle very large plug-in counts.

bitflipper
 there's no reason to insert the VST3 version if you also have the VST2 version. Except to make sure you're keeping up with the latest fashion, of course. Or you're a Cubase user.

Or a SONAR user wanting to use Melodyne as a Region FX
Or a Waves user and would like to use the side chain feature