I came up with a simpler solution.
 
I moved my mono plugs and a specific group that I rarely use into a special VSTPLUGIN folder. That made the X2 list just right.
 
Now all I have to do is add that path when I fire up X3 and delete the path in X2 and re-scan.
 
As I've said, this is only until I feel entirely comfortable with X3 (probably after this week when Noel has a fix for the Waves VST3 issue and the UAD issue).
 
However for production shops that may want to maintain X3 and previous versions I would hope Noel would come up with an elegant solution that only has to be set once.

stevec
Could you maintain two different versions of the shared folders and drop the right one in when needed? 

 

KPerry
You could rename registry keys at runtime using a script and reg.exe...

Can you both be more specific?
 
@stevec - where exactly is the scan list and exclude list maintained in the "shared folders"?
 
@KPerry - which registry keys maintain the scan list and exclude list, or which registry key points to them?
 
I've run text search programs and searched the registry for a very specific vst folder that is in my scan list and have not found them in the registry or
c:\Program Files\Cakewalk
or
....Users\{me}\AppData\Roaming\Cakewalk.
 

Actually, after thinking about this a little more I think Kevin is probably more on target - the registry stores a lot of information about the VST inventory, so it seems like a valid location for the exclude list.
 
Or...  you make a change to the exclude list and save it, then immediately use Windows Explorer to search for files with a current Date Modified time stamp.
 

Hi Ed,
 
I'm just curious...why do you need those mono plugs? The stereo plugs will act as mono when you put them on a mono track. I find no reason to use them so I've disabled them all on my system.
 
Also, do you use a custom plug list? It's a pain in the butt to create (mine is sick) but once you have it, you can save it and drop it in any version of Sonar and it will work. Of course if you don't have all the plugs installed that are on the list, those plugs just won't appear. But as soon as you install them, they appear on the custom list. I have several different custom plug lists. I hate how long they took me to make, but man they sure do keep things nice and tight....and...there are times when I sincerely don't need to see 800 plugs and 100 of my faves will do just fine, know what I mean?
 
-Danny

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST
 
(And I think HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST (x64) for 64 bit version, but I don't have that installed).
 
This includes the VST path.
 
So...
 
i) Set up X2 and run scanner
ii) Export registry key (say vst_x2.reg)
iii) Delete registry key
iv) Set up X3 and run scanner
v) Export registry key (say vst_x3.reg)
vi) Delete registry key
 
Batch script would be something like (X2.bat):
reg delete \\HKCU\Software\Cakewalk Music Software\SONAR Producer\Cakewalk VST /f
reg import vst_x2.reg
C:\program files (x86)\Cakewalk\SONAR X2 Producer\sonarpdr.exe
 
Not nice, and you'd need to go through (ii), (iii), (v), (vi) every time you wanted to add/delete plugins.