DJ Darkside
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"a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
Hello -
Is anyone else having this issue when opening Sonar Platinum? I have check and have everything up to date in the Command Center. Sonar has been working fine for months, now suddenly when I click the icon to open Sonar I get the following error message and Sonar closes.
a controller/surface DLL is not installed
Any ideas on what to do? I have tried loading in Safe Mode and get the same error.
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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scook
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/30 17:08:12
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/30 17:09:45
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The link you provided says 404 Page Cannot be found?
I also cannot get into Sonar it crashes?
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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scook
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/30 17:11:26
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I am sorry. The URL resolves for me in FireFox. I just tested the post in another browser (Edge) too.
Search the knowledge base for "Control Surface Installers"
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/30 17:16:55
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Scook -
Strange it seems to work now, the URL, that is.
I downloaded the file and installed it and still getting the same results. Not sure what else to try other than uninstalling Sonar and reinstalling it? Very strange issue.
Thanks for link though.
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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scook
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/30 17:17:09
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May need to re-personalize SONAR. In Win10, hold the CTRL+SHIFT and right-click the SONAR icon and open. This will reset the files in the user directory and some registry settings to their defaults. If you have customized your user directory consider making a copy or backup first. The user directory is %appdata%\Cakewalk\SONAR Platinum
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scook
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/30 17:18:35
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Reinstall is always an option. Are you using the Command Center? If so, try a rollback and reinstall.
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/30 17:25:22
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Tried what you suggested:
May need to re-personalize SONAR. In Win10, hold the CTRL+SHIFT and right-click the SONAR icon and open. This will reset the files in the user directory and some registry settings to their defaults. If you have customized your user directory consider making a copy or backup first. The user directory is %appdata%\Cakewalk\SONAR Platinum
Still no luck :(
Probably going to try a roll back and reinstall tomorrow. This sucks!!! Client waiting for a file and breathing down my back at, ugh!
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/31 12:54:10
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So, still no luck. I tried a system restore today to a date where I know Sonar was working. Tried to load Sonar and still have the same issue.
I then uninstalled Sonar and reinstalled it and still getting the same error.
I have emailed support and have not heard anything back yet. I am stuck as so what else to try?
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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scook
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/31 13:18:01
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azslow3
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/07/31 14:37:52
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☄ Helpfulby FlashR 2017/05/27 12:21:37
As I can see, the problem is mentioned in many thread on this Forum since 2004... I have found 2 threads with proposals, one with reply from CW. But no ultimate confirmed solution.
Following the tip, I was able to reproduce the error. So, it is still coming from mentioned in your current configuration surface, which for some reason is unregistered (was you using some Control Surfaces before? which?) or configuration file is corrupted (mentioning not existing surface).
But in my case (latest platinum version), Sonar is not closing after that error, it just cleanup the configuration. In your case it can not, so I guess your configuration file is corrupted.
In the Windows explorer, open this catalog: %APPDATA%\Cakewalk\SONAR Platinum
And DELETE file ctrlsurface.dat
Deleting this file only, you loose your Control Surface configuration (in case you have not saved it in preset before).
If that does not help / does not work, delete the whole SONAR Platinum folder there (but you will loose all your Sonar settings doing this...)
PS. %APPDATA% is resolved into "C:\Users\<You name>\AppData\Roaming" on Windows 10, but it "%..%" form that should work for any Windows version.
Sonar 8LE -> Platinum infinity, REAPER, Windows 10 pro GA-EP35-DS3L, E7500, 4GB, GTX 1050 Ti, 2x500GB RME Babyface Pro (M-Audio Audiophile Firewire/410, VS-20), Kawai CN43, TD-11, Roland A500S, Akai MPK Mini, Keystation Pro, etc. www.azslow.com - Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR, ReaCWP, AOSC and other accessibility tools
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/01 04:36:48
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azslow3I tried deleting those files and still no luck.
I am using a Native Instruments Kontrol 1 Audio interface. No control surface. I have unplugged everything and tried loading, boot in safe mode and tried, tried running Sonar in Safe Mode, uninstalled and reinstalled Sonar, system restore, etc...
No explanation of this one?
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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azslow3
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/01 05:11:00
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So, have you removed SONAR Platinum directory there? Was it regenerated on startup?
If ctrlsurface.dat was regenerated and it is bigger then 4 bytes, can you upload it somewhere?
Also are you sure you start Sonar under yourself, I mean not "as administrator"?
Finally, can you create new user account and start Sonar there? That is going to be a test either the problem is inside Sonar installation/registration or somewhere inside your user folder.
From everything I could find, the problem is the result of some corruption, most probably some file corruption but can be in registry.
If you have TeamViewer and Skype, I can try to assist remotely (PM me if interested).
Sonar 8LE -> Platinum infinity, REAPER, Windows 10 pro GA-EP35-DS3L, E7500, 4GB, GTX 1050 Ti, 2x500GB RME Babyface Pro (M-Audio Audiophile Firewire/410, VS-20), Kawai CN43, TD-11, Roland A500S, Akai MPK Mini, Keystation Pro, etc. www.azslow.com - Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR, ReaCWP, AOSC and other accessibility tools
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/01 07:15:22
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Azslow3,
I have deleted the directory and it regenerated at start up. I can try can get you the ctrlsurface.dat file when I get home from work.
I am starting Sonar under my user account, not administrator. I will create a new user account when I get home and see if Sonar loads there?
The only other option left, is to completely uninstall Sonar from the Command Center and remove all folders and directories as well as registry entries and then reinstall everything from scratch. I haven't gone that far yet.
I will follow up as soon as I know anything new. Thank you.
As for remote assistance, if I don't get any further, that may be an option. Much appreciated.
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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azslow3
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/01 11:34:44
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I see you have resurrected an old thread... what bitman is writing there is right in general. But there is a small problem: his recommendation would work if you are able to use Sonar after you get the error, as in my tests. But you are NOT able to do this (if I understand it right), so something is stuck either in registry or in the file system. Also since you write you was not using Control Surfaces and the configuration had to be reset when you deleted the file, registering some (which?) particular Control Surface DLL is probably not going to help.
Sonar 8LE -> Platinum infinity, REAPER, Windows 10 pro GA-EP35-DS3L, E7500, 4GB, GTX 1050 Ti, 2x500GB RME Babyface Pro (M-Audio Audiophile Firewire/410, VS-20), Kawai CN43, TD-11, Roland A500S, Akai MPK Mini, Keystation Pro, etc. www.azslow.com - Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR, ReaCWP, AOSC and other accessibility tools
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scook
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/01 11:45:21
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DJ Darkside
The only other option left, is to completely uninstall Sonar from the Command Center and remove all folders and directories as well as registry entries and then reinstall everything from scratch. I haven't gone that far yet.
The clean install process I linked above is not that difficult or time consuming. Effectively, you have already done it all with rollback and repersonalization except completely clearing SONAR from the registry. It does not affect all the installed plug-ins and samples.
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/02 14:47:17
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Reporting back at where I am with this issue...
I have just completed completely uninstalling and deleting all Sonar files as per the provided link above. I made sure all files were uninstalled and deleted and restarted my system. I then downloaded Command Center and reinstalled. Logged into my account and installed all of the components for Sonar from the Command Center.
I restarted my system and waiting for it to load. Took a deep breath and loaded Sonar with the same results. Sonar crashes and closes right away.
The last thing I am going to try before I run out of ideas is to create a New user profile on my computer and see if Sonar works there?
Other than that, I am out of ideas and I still have not had a response from Support in regards to my issue.
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/02 15:01:21
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Ok -
It seems to be something within my original user profile causing the issue.
I created a new account and Sonar loaded first time without issue. Very strange?
Any other ideas?
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/02 15:23:18
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Back again,
I noticed in the new account Sonar loaded as Demo. It loaded fine.
Then, I decided to activate Sonar under the new account and load again. Same issue arises... Sonar crashes and closes right away? Very strange stuff happening here. What's most upsetting is that I have been a paying customer to Cakewalk for years and now it seems impossible to get technical support.
I have sent multiple emails only to get an automated response. They do not have the option to call and talk via the telephone? What's up Cakewalk?
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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azslow3
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/02 18:56:31
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3 options left:
1) suggested by scook "clean" install. Unfortunately it is not completely clean... especially in part of Control Surfaces, and the error is somehow related to them
2) if (1) does not work, only remote support can try to help. I can try as well (with a promise not make it worse then it is now, but without warrantee on success ).
3) clean Windows install...
Sonar 8LE -> Platinum infinity, REAPER, Windows 10 pro GA-EP35-DS3L, E7500, 4GB, GTX 1050 Ti, 2x500GB RME Babyface Pro (M-Audio Audiophile Firewire/410, VS-20), Kawai CN43, TD-11, Roland A500S, Akai MPK Mini, Keystation Pro, etc. www.azslow.com - Control Surface Integration Platform for SONAR, ReaCWP, AOSC and other accessibility tools
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/03 04:24:50
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Azslow3,
To be honest at this stage I don't think there is any other option than a clean install of Windows. I am going to take this route and see how it goes. Still a bit upset as to how Cakewalk Tech Support is non existent. What's that about?
Anyway, thank you for all of your advice and tips on the matter, unfortunately we couldn't resolve it and I know I do not have time to sit around waiting for a response from support. As usual, paying for services we don't get to go along with our mobile phones and all the rest. The consumer always ends up out of pocket.
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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DJ Darkside
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2016/08/15 01:26:34
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So... 3 weeks on and Cakewalk has still not contacted me regarding my technical support issues. What a way to support your product and honor your clients. Thank you Cakewalk.
Mark Liebrand DJ Darkside 2001-20xx www.djdarkside.com ------------------------------------------------------- Running: Windows 10 64 bit, Sonar Platinum, Ableton Live, Novation Impulse, Native Instruments Maschine, a few mics, 1963 Fender Strat, a Fender Jazz Bass and some secret weapons... EQ and Compression.
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Adam Miner
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2018/05/15 22:10:21
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Currently experiencing the same problem. Had to restart because my UAD-2 card bailed on me. UAD works now, but Sonar has this new error. I'll try a few things and post any successful results.
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Adam Miner
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Re: "a controller / surface dll is not installed" error help please
2018/05/15 22:12:52
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ctrlsurface.dat deletion worked for me!
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