Installed Windows 8 64-bit clean install. Installed Sonar X2 with Admin privileges and various items wouldn't install again, including Pentagon or PsynII, as it did when I didn't do the Admin Privileges thing. So those plugs/synths are missing, and I keep getting a message, without even hitting play or record, that the audio engine has dropped out.

I'm thinking of starting all over and going back to 32-bit, but honestly, I don't know what I'll be losing. Can someone explain that to me. Is it faster speed, more pristine clarity to the audio, or what?

And if anybody has any ideas on how to make 64-bit work, I'm open to ideas. See the message I get when installing Sonar below.

Thank you. 

Errors during installation:
C:Program Files/Cakewalk/Shared Plugins/Multivoicechorusflanger.dll
Unable to register the DLL/OCX: RegSvr32 failed with exit code Ox3.

Same message for some Shared Surfaces/APRO.dll, as well as Pentagon and PSYNII, which I really need for a song I've produced.

 

try running the installer in compatsbility mode for windows 7. 32 bit windows addresses less memory for one thing.multithreading is faster. google it - the online docs are pretty thorough.

It's quite simple, really. Windows 32 bit only allows 4GB of RAM. That's up to about 3.5GB for SONAR if your tweak things (the rest goes to windows). If you move to Windows 64 bit you have access to more than you'll ever need - at least for the next 10 years anyway. It's something crazy like well over 100GB or something.

If you don't use samples and softsynths much, 32bit is most likely perfectly adequate. If you use drums samplers, piano samplers, lots of synths (especially sample synths like DimPro) then you might benefit from having access to over 4GB of RAM. If you play modern games or do anything with video, you'll probably want more than 4GB RAM too.

In my experience, it just works, so can't comment on what your fix may be I'm afraid!

There have always been issues with the Pentagon-Plugin and 64bit.
I think the workaround was to start Sonar with administrator privileges. I have no idea how and if you can manage that with Win8.

I'm thinking of starting all over and going back to 32-bit

that's what I kind of think too, and somewhat more...
 

, but honestly, I don't know what I'll be losing. Can someone explain that to me. Is it faster speed, more pristine clarity to the audio, or what?

 
Given that you can solve the installation-issues, you need to make sure that all your plugins/softsynth/... are available in 64-bit. Otherwise Sonar will need to process them(BitBridge) which will soak up a lot of performance,.. speaking: it won't run as smoothly as it would in a 32-bit enviroment, where there's no need for conversion!
Unfortunately not all plugins are available in 64bit. Pentagon will never be.. and the UAD-plugins are still not available in 64bit,. with the latest UAD-update they wont even work with Sonar!

In my experience, it just works

In my experience, it just doesn't work! At least not out of the box.
 
I am one of the guys where the glass is always half empty,.. so I am afraid that you need to figure out for yourself if you're up to 64-bit. Looking at your signature I'd guess that you are better off with WinXP-32bit(and actually Sonar 8.5.3(that has always been a real good combination for me)).
 
 
 

FWIW, I would NEVER go back to 32 bit.

Yes there's a few plugs that don't work well - or at all - in 64 bit <shrug> I can live without them.

The benefits of absolutely zero RAM constraints are too great to contemplate what would be a huge step backwards

Frank Haas


Unfortunately not all plugins are available in 64bit. Pentagon will never be..).
 
 
 

Explain then, why I have a working version of 64 bit version of Pentagon on my system? 
I have been running 64 bit Sonar since the release of 8.5 in the fall of 2009, three years ago, so its hardly the bleeding edge anymore.
 
The few plugins I had that did not work have been replaced with something better. Between Bitbridge and JBridge most issues are solvable. The main issue is 32 bit DXi and if you really need to there are some possible solutions to bridging them too.
 
I am with Jonesey - I would never go back to 32 bit. I do not have his 32GB RAM but I do have 12GB RAM and can run many Kontakt instruments, Superior Drummer and a bunch of othe VSTi and VST  in a project without a hicup or ever having to freeze a track.
 
But i will let the Windows 8 dust settle a little before I tread that path.

If your sig is correct, run 32bit for now. When you buy a new machine or upgrade the RAM in this machine, 64bit will be an issue. You will not see the benefit of running either a 64bit OS or application on the machine described in your sig.

Hopefully you will not receive "unable to register the DLL/OCX: RegSvr32 fail with exit code Ox3" during the 32bit install. The error message is not unique to 64bit installations.

Make sure to perform a clean SONAR install. Remove all the registry entries. Disable antivirus. Run the installer as administrator. Good Luck.

Like Jonesey and Glyn running 64bit here (Win7). The Dx stuff that installs with SONAR X2 64bit runs fine. 64bit means no more freezing, no more bouncing because I have to, only because I want to.

I knew that this would happen, lol..

I can live without them

I have a couple of thousand dollar worth 32bit plugins(UAD).. I can't live without them!
besides that you guys should just admit that there are problems with some plugins.
What is the use of RAM and INSTANCES when you can't use all your plugins or if it soaks performance.. not worth to mention ?
I wanted to mention "J-Bridge",.. I just said "out of the box",.. yes, there are WORKAROUNDS ! they cost money..
 
I wasn't aware that Pentagon is available as 64-bit,.. wondering that there have been issues with the preset-management and pentagon(yes,.. there is a workaround),.. and still someone cared to optimise it for 64-bit ? wow.. congrats if thats true.
(There is a difference in "making it work in 64bit" and "64-bit" btw)
 
I am just a bit frustrated and angry at the whole 64-bit situation and the ongoing 64-bit hype.. it's still not all good!
 
Mark has a Q6600/4GB RAM, how much does he benefit from 64 bit ? besides having to replace plugins with something better ? he can as well leave his DAW how it is and go on with making music.

I was unaware that the OP had any UAD gear. It is not in the sig. This thread is about the issues the OP is having installing SONAR. There are other threads about UAD elsewhere on the forum, why highjack this thread to discuss problems with third-party gear?

[ - sorry.

Bob Bone