Hello,
 
Day three and going on day four installing Sonar X3 Producer. Well not full time but nevertheless hours trying to figure out what to do and what not to do. It has not been fun!
 
I realize that the cakewalk people want to make thing easy for us but for me this was not the case. I am sure everyone else had no issues at all installing X3 Producer. Perhaps I missed something in the instructions.
 
Yes I slowly found many answers but had to do hours of research to get them. I have installed many programs and none gave me the grief that I endured installing Sonar X3 Producer. I may be alone here but still had to express my feelings.
 
Questions:
I updated to X3b today. I was hopping somehow Dimension Pro would magically appear. Well it was not to be. So please help me install or find the Dimension Pro.  I also have the Addictive Drums installed as a standalone but it is not on the plug-in list in X3. I assume both the Dimension Pro and Addictive Drums are VST instruments. Desperate. Please help.
 
I also have Cubase 7, S1 2 and Reaper 4.5 as shown on my Signature so it is obvious I am making some comparisons. I am looking forward to working with X3 so your help will be greatly appreciated.

When you run X3, be sure to run as administrator (right click, run as administrator, and can also be set permanently by right clicking then properties and at the bottom of the "Compatibility" tab)
 
Launch X3 and under "Edit->Preferences->File->VST Settings" In that center section check "Rescan Failed Plug-ins" and "Rescan Existing Plug-ins" and do a manual scan. Can Also "Reset" before the scan, if the scan does not find them if needed.
 
Did you have them in X3a?

mettelus
When you run X3, be sure to run as administrator (right click, run as administrator, and can also be set permanently by right clicking then properties and at the bottom of the "Compatibility" tab)
 
Launch X3 and under "Edit->Preferences->File->VST Settings" In that center section check "Rescan Failed Plug-ins" and "Rescan Existing Plug-ins" and do a manual scan. Can Also "Reset" before the scan, if the scan does not find them if needed.
 
Did you have them in X3a?

I am the Administrator so that is not the issue.
 
I took you advice and did everything you mentioned even the reset.  Still cannot find Dimension Pro and Addictive Drums.
 
Same issue in X3a

Okay, Dimension Pro is its own download files (check your Cakewalk account for the link in your X3 downloads). Addictive drums is installed via an online installer. You get your redemption code from your CW store account, and there is also a small text file giving you the link to create your XLN account.
 
Here is the content of that file:
 
XLN Audio Addictive Drums Installation Instructions:
A full license for XLN Audio Addictive Drums is included with your SONAR X3 Producer purchase. The installer, however, is not hosted by Cakewalk and is available as a separate download from XLN Audio. The computer you are installing Addictive Drums on must be connected to the internet in order to install.
To download XLN Audio Addictive Drums please go to: http://www.xlnaudio.com/install and enter your Product Key. You will find the product key you need to provide XLN Audio from your Cakewalk Store account listed under “My Registered Products”.
 
 

Hi Vas,
 
Although mettelus' suggestion regarding Administrative rights may not apply, if you are using Windows 8 I strongly assert that you do this as well.  (Your signature info is not showing in your post.)  It is not enough that your Windows User profile is set as an/the Administrator, but that the program's Privilege level is also set to "run as admin".
 
Also make sure that you have included the folders where your "missing" plug-ins have been installed to the folder list in the VST scan Folders section.  You may also want to uncheck the Hide and Replace VST 2 plug-ins options.  Then rescan your VST's.
 
Since you have already run through the install process several times, I won't suggest installing DPro by itself.  Run DPro in standalone mode and register it from there.  At this point both DPro and AD should be showing up in your plug-in list.  If not, go to the Plug-in Manager via Manage Layouts from the Browser|PlugIns drop down menu.  Look in the third column to the right to find DPro and AD in that list.  If so you are good to go.  If either is not showing click on "VST Instruments" under the Plug-in Categories column at the far left.  Now check to see if DPro and AD are listed in the second/center column, "Registered Plug-ins".  If they are present, add them to the third column where desired using the buttons just to the left of the third column.  Now save that layout.  You will have to choose that layout within the Plugin Browser and they will now be available to you there.  
 
If the above does not cover it, get back to us.
 
Kind regards,
 
Living Room Rocker
 

I can confirm the following:
 
1.  Dim Pro is a separate install
2.  Installation of Sonar needs to EXPLICITLY be done using the 'Run As Administrator' option, NOT just launching the installer from a user account that has administrative privileges.  TO properly launch the Sonar installer, you can either right-click on the installer and click on Run As Administrator, or you can permanently alter the properties of the installer program to always be Run As Administrator - by going into the Advanced tab in the properties for the installer, and setting the option for it to always Run As Administrator.
3.  It is also VERY important to temporarily turn off or suspend all antivirus software while downloading the Sonar installation files, AND during installation.
4.  If trying to uninstall and install a given release of Sonar again, it is very important to not only run the uninstaller for Sonar, but to also delete that Sonar release's registry keys and delete any hidden folder data for that Sonar release.  If you need assistance with that, please post back and I will provide details on the steps to completely remove all traces of a particular release of Sonar.
5,  Once Dim Pro is installed, you must get it registered, and the interactive registration process REQUIRES Dim Pro to have been launched with Run As Administrator option.  (if launching Dim Pro in stand-alone mode to register, right-click on its icon and click Run As Administrator, or if launching Dim Pro to register it from within Sonar, you must launch Sonar with Run As Administrator, to get the correct privileges to complete the registration process).
 
I will keep an eye on this thread, and will try to assist you as best I can, with getting your Sonar installation stabilized.
 
Bob Bone
 
 

Hello,
 
Sorry I took a while to respond. Power outage today the fault of the Duke Power.
 
I clicked on and got a security warning no to open so I did not. Had difficulty with all the links. I downloaded I believe the 11 files and then installed.
 
I assume this took care of everything except for the Addictive Drums. Apparently this is not the case?
01_Read_This_First_SONAR_X3.exe:
02_SONAR_X3_Producer.part1.exe:
02_SONAR_X3_Producer.part2.exe:
02_SONAR_X3_Producer.part3.exe:
02_SONAR_X3_Producer.part4.exe:
03_Loops_And_One_Shots.part1.exe:
03_Loops_And_One_Shots.part2.exe:
03_Loops_And_One_Shots.part3.exe:
04_Dimension_Pro_1_5_Setup.exe:
04_Dimension_Pro_1.5_Expansion_Packs.zip:
05_XLN_Audio_Addictive_Drums_Download_Instructions.rtf:
SONAR_X3c_Producer_Update:
 
I am beginning to see things more clearly. I totally blew the installation. I should have done 10 installations. Correct? I did only the “02_SONAR_X3_Producer.part1.exe:” and the separate Addictive drums.
 
The Addictive drums it seems works as a standalone.  I entered both the product key and registration code. I just cannot find in the VSTi list. I also pointed the path to the Addictive drums but that did not help.
 
SONAR_X3c_Producer_Update: It says to do a X3c update but I did a X3b update. I also screwed that up.
 
My Sonar X3 Producer seems to be working just fine. Granted I have only just touched the surface so I do not know what lies underneath.
 
I will re respond to Mettelus, Living Room Rocker and Bob Bone tonight after my new attempt to resolve the issues using your suggestions.

There are a few things to note here.
 
1.  Here is the link to the download/install instructions for X3:  http://cakewalk.com/support/kb/pages/x3_download_installation_instructions.aspx
 
2.  When the above page loads, there is a link that will expand the page to include an explanation of what the downloaded files contain.  Click on the link for the version of X3 you have, and it will add that expanded text to the page for you to read.  This will help you understand what runs what in the installation process.
 
3.  During normal installation, once the Read This First installer finishes, it will have put some read me doc out there for you, and some other files.  I believe the installation documentation says that the install will automatically start after you run the Read This First, but I do not believe it actually does kick off the Part 1.  I seem to recall kicking off the Part 1 installer manually, and it automatically does its thing and then auto-runs the Part 2 and the Part 3 installers.
 
4.  The Loops And One Shots first installer will install part of that set of things, then it will auto-launch the other Loops And One Shots installers (2 and 3).
 
5.  Dim Pro is its own installer.  Please note that if you had Sonar 8.5.3 or later installed already, then you are most likely already running Dim Pro 1.5, which has not changed, so if Dim Pro 1.5 is already installed, then there is no need to run this installer, as nothing has changed.  NOTE that if you DO run the Dim Pro installer, then when it runs for the first time after installation, it will require registration to complete, and the registration process REQUIRES that Dim Pro be running either as a plugin in Sonar where Sonar was launched EXPLICITLY with the Run As Administrator option, or you can run Dim Pro in stand-alone fashion, but here also you MUST launch it with the Run As Administrator option set (right-click the icon for Dim Pro and either just click on Run As Administrator, or if you want to permanently set it to Run As Administrator you can right-click on the icon to open the properties window, then click on the Advanced tab, then check the box for Run As Administrator, then click Apply and all that then you can back out of properties and run Dim Pro to complete the registration process.
 
6.  IF you already had Dim Pro 1.5 installed, you also do not need to run the installer for the Dim Pro expansion packs.  If you did not have Dim Pro previously installed, and installed it as part of your X3 installation process, then you should run the Dim Pro expansion packs installer.  I always run all of these installers with the Run As Administrator option set.
 
7.  I believe the Melodyne installation kicked off during the X3 install, and required the creation of an online account with them - just follow the prompts for all of that.
 
8.  I have not yet installed the Addictive Drums.  It has its own installation process - I cannot guide you on this, until I do it for myself.
 
There are additional freebies available for you to download and install.  Here is the link for a free audio effect Audio FX 1: http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=35-CWF11.02-10E
 
Here is the link to download the free Audio FX 2:  http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=35-CWF21.01-10E
 
Here is the link to download the free Audio FX 3:  http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=35-CWF31.01-10E
 
Here is a link to a page that explains the free VKFX VST and Pro Channel effect you get through November 30, for picking up X3 Producer - this page also explains how to get the promo code and redeem it to download it: http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=30-ODVD1.00-20E
 
Here is the link to download the free Square 1 synth:  http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=35-CWSQ1.40-20E
 
Here is the link to download the free SFZ+ Professional Sound Font Player:  http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2ceuro/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=35-CWSZ1.40-20E
 
I think that's all the freebies, and pretty much all I know about the installs.
 
I hope some of the above is helpful, 
 
Bob Bone
 
 
 
 
 

+1
 
Since the SONAR installation files are so massive, another thing I recommend (especially to folks who have issues downloading those files to begin with) is verify the MD5 hash of those files prior to an install. Here is a thread on that. This will verify the files you have are the ones one the server.
 
Follow Bob's advice above. The instructions will walk you through things, and I think this thread has gotten everything else.
 
As far as going forward...
 
I do not believe the Reference Guide is in the install, but can be gotten here http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/product.aspx/SONAR-X3 It is a massive (2094 page) pdf, but is searchable, so can find things pretty quickly.
 
Also stick around the forum. When you post, a nice descriptive title and detailed content will often get you quick results.
 
Please keep us updated on your progress!
 
 

yes.. no need to install every single one,
just these, those will install the others.
(right click/run as administrator/install the software)
 
02_SONAR_X3_Producer.part1.exe: (this includes rapture and Melodyne)
03_Loops_And_One_Shots.part1.exe: (extra content, not necessary but good to have0
04_Dimension_Pro_1_5_Setup.exe: (to register this, right click/run as administrator: From desktop)
04_Dimension_Pro_1.5_Expansion_Packs.zip:
05_XLN_Audio_Addictive_Drums_Download_Instructions.rtf: (downloads from XLN audio's site)
SONAR_X3c_Producer_Update: (not necessary but should be installed)