I just got Cinematic Strings2 up and running. Sounds great, but I have some problems, the biggest being that when I try to save a project, Sonar crashes, every time. It never did this before. I have emailed CS2, but have not heard back yet (They're in Australia). Anyone else using CS2 with Sonar Producer 8.5? Is this a problem for you? Note: CS2 runs on the free Kontakt 5 Player.

I now have a suitable workaround: save the K5 player as a multi, and then unload it. Figuring out how to do this was a vexation, however, because of a quirk in K5 (sounds like a mountain in the Himalayas). I always move the player away from its default position over on the left, to a right of center position. However, doing this obscures the little message box that comes up when you do the save/unload thing. So I couldn't figure out why K5 was not responding - it was waiting for a response from me. I finally realized there had to be a box lurking behind K5, and indeed that was the case. However, I couldn't drag the K5 Player away to get at the box, it would not move! I had to start over, and not move the Player away from its default position. (I guess that's why they put it there). So finally then I was able to save my work, after 20 or so attempts. I'll have to let them know at NI about this, I would think it would be easy to fix. However, the overall problem remains, I can't save my work in Sonar with CS2 on the K5 player, without doing the workaround. Can't figure out if this is a Sonar or NI problem, but I would think a fair number of folks must encounter it.
BTW, the idea for the workaround came from another Sonar thread, by stlum, from 4/20/09 - thanks, you helped me a lot!

Michael your using Sonar 8.5. This is the X series forum.  

I've been testing the K5 Player (free version) with X3d(demo version) and haven't had any problems.
I'm always moving the player around. I've had it docked in the multi dock, closed on the browser,
open and floating and it never crashes.

I do remember a few times discovering the popup box being hidden behind the player waiting for a response,
and I suspect that is a Sonar issue, but I was able to move or minimize the player to see to box and respond to it.

John
Michael your using Sonar 8.5. This is the X series forum.  

Sorry, but someone suggested I post here as I would get more replies.

8.5?????
 
Blimey, upgrade and you wont have these problems 

X3e and K5 work very well here. Never had a single problem.

A lot of people think 8'5 is just fine. At this point, with a brand new computer, interface and string library, I feel I have enouugh on my plate, without the learning curve of the X Series, which I hear is substantial.

michael diemer
A lot of people think 8'5 is just fine. At this point, with a brand new computer, interface and string library, I feel I have enouugh on my plate, without the learning curve of the X Series, which I hear is substantial.

It is different but we learned it and it was worth the trouble. 8.5 was a fine version in its day but its very much out of date now. 
 
There is a real benefit to going with X3. It is a better DAW.  
 
One reason you haven't gotten a lot of answers to fix your issue is most of us don't have 8.5 on our system anymore. I don't recall Kontakt 5 being current with 8.5. I think it was Kontakt 4 back then.

I'll downgrade to XP and 8.5....
 
Oh no...wait......
 
No Console, No Breverb, No Melodyne, 32 bit nonsense, No Smart tool, No Dimension Pro, No Rapture etc etc.
 
I'll stay where I am in the X Series on 64 bit and Windows 8.