I just got a DMXIS DMX lighting controller.  I was sold on the device because of the testimonials I researched about using it as a VST plugin and driving lights via midi tracks.  A great idea.  However, when I install the drivers and it drops the vst dll where I specify, Sonar scans the directory but ignores the dll. It never shows up in the plugin manager.  I have tried placing the dll in both the 64 bit vstplugins folder as well as the 32 bit path.  And I made sure the plugin manager had those folder in its scan list (you can actually see it reading the directory when you force a re-scan).

ENNTEC videos show a user going into the plugin manager and finding the audio vst dll and configuring it to run as a synth.  It never shows up there for me - it doesn't show up in any group in the plugin manager.

I't just not happening.  Anybody have this working out there?

Thanks,
Steve

All I can say is "me, too!".
 
Sonar X2 64 bit, see it being scanned but not showing up anywhere in the plug-in manager. did you ever find a resolution to this?
 
TIA,
Ken

I don't have it but here is my guess. The thing is probably a 32bit VST that has to be configured as a synth (since it has to receive MIDI data). BitBridge the default 32bit bridge software does not like the vst. It may work with JBridge or you might have to the 32bit SONAR to use the plug-in. Not all 32bit plug-ins work in 64bit DAWs. Fortunately, you can run the 32bit version of SONAR along with 64bit version on the same machine.

Thanks for the reply, scook! You nailed at least part of it. I do believe it's a 32 bit VST and yes, it has to be configured as a synth. I don't know about bitbridge, but from what you said, is it a good assumption that Sonar X2 64 uses bitbridge to run 32 bit VST's? I see other 32 bit VST's and VSTi's in the plugin manager. I guess the search for info on bitbridge and jbridge is in order. Thanks for a direction. If these things worked right out of the box as advertised I guess it'd be too easy...
 
Ken

First double check that the plug-in is in the Plug-in managers scan path. The scan path is in Edit > Preferences > File > VST Settings "VST Scan Folder(s)". Of course, when the "Configure as synth" box checked, the plugin moved from the Audio plug-ins category to the Synth plug-ins category. This has caused some to lose where the plug-in is found in the media browser and plug-in menus.
 
Bitbridge is the 32bit to 64bit wrapper which is part of the SONAR package. All 32bit VSTs run in a BitBridge server when running 64bit SONAR. Aside from memory management and setting the server a plug-in runs in, there is not much user control over Bitbridge. The only tweaks that I know of would not seem to be appropriate here. But here they are anyway, in the Bitbridge.exe compatibility tab, set the compatibility mode to "Windows XP (Service Pack 3)" and check  "Run the program as administrator". The Bitbridge.exe is located in "C:\Program Files\Cakewalk\Shared Utilities".
 
JBridge is a thrid party 32bit to 64bit wrapper. I do not own it and have no experience with it. Some have reported good results with it where BitBridge failed to work properly.
 
As I indicated in my first post. The least cost solution would be to see if 32bit SONAR works with the plug-in.

Thanks again, scook! I found what you just told me about bitbridge, but not the tweaks, will try that next, but I didn't mention I'm running Windows 8 (the "I hate it" version). Would you still suggest XP sp3 compatibility? I've also downloaded the trial version of jbridge and will try that if the bitbridge tweaks don't work. I don't really want to go down the 32 bit Sonar install road just yet. I still have a little hair left. I'm not adverse to spending a little money on jbridge if it fixes the problem.
 
BUT... I have a 32 bit install of Sonar 8.5 on a Windows 7 box, I'll check it there to make sure the plugin works at all before spending any money. I forgot about that machine, it's on my to-do list to retire that machine, but it's not dead yet!
 
Ken

I don't think the compatibility options are going to make a difference either way. The reason for the settings is the BitBridge executable has not changed in years. The recommended tweaks address some stability issues but thought I would mention them anyway, worth a try and easy to undo. BTW, I also added a comment about the relocation of VSTs when the "Configure as synth" box is checked, in my previous post. I assume you have worked with that attribute and know it relocates VSTs but I just want to make sure that you are looking in the right place for the plug-in.

Yeah, tried all sorts of tweaking on the bitbridge, no joy, so it's back to where it started. Next batter? Going to try it on a 32 bit Sonar...
 
I'll be doing a happy dance if I ever get to the "configure as a synth" checkbox. It's kind of odd (in my mind at least) that the plugin isn't showing up in the excluded list. I guess bitbridge really doesn't like it.
 
Thanks for the dialog, you got me thinking in a few different directions.

If the 32bit version of SONAR does not work, I am out of ideas. It would be a vendor support issue for me. Good luck

One more thing I would add is that we have had this conversation in the wrong forum. The X1/X2 forum is the one above this one. There might be someone up there with some ideas. I just don't have any experience with the plug-in.