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I'm not a macho PC gamer. 🙄 But I do enjoy playing games on the PC with a Nvidia GPU in my living room, while sitting about 8 feet away from my flat screen TV that is connected via HDMI. A wireless keyboard/mouse is fine on the coffee table for setting things up and launching a game, but it's more relaxing to kick back on the sofa with a game controller, a la game console style. 😎 For keyboard/mouse gaming I selectively might allow a game or two to run on my DAW PC at my desktop workstation. But the controller works there as well, and sometimes I am just lazy... 🤣

This comment indicates that something is still not correct in your setup. There should not be any audio lag if you have configured your audio interface correctly in Cakewalk.

Well according to the Steam description it has "full controller support". Can't imagine the Epic version would be different? I haven't installed it yet, so don't know for sure... I've got my XBOX 360 USB (Games for Windows) controller at the ready just in case!

Kontakt is working fine here, no problems. Understood that it can be a challenge for a beginner to get it set up and working for the first time. RTFM.

Whenever things get weird, first step is to reboot!

That's a good approach to take with FX plugins. Future proof the path forward. But I have a couple of virtual instrument hosts that still prefer or require VST2 plugins. Unify prefers the VST2 format and will cull VST3 (on demand cleanup, though not required) if they are duplicates, and AKAI VIP will only scan/use VST2 plugins. I can always use external VST3 FX with those hosts as needed, but for the instruments I'm out of luck. Yep, agree here! My samples drive is swelling. And that adds to the expense of backup storage for all of this! I have already uninstalled a couple of sampled synth libraries, because sampling a synth seems a bit of a waste of space when there are now so many quality synth emulations available. But I have given an exception to IK Syntronik 2 MAX because even sampled (and with a huge 176 GB library) they sound so good, even though I have the Arturia V Collection 9, the KORG Collection 3, a pile of Cherry Audio synths, and some excellent one-offs including u-he Repro. But all those alternatives added together fit in under 25 GB of disk footprint. So I have drawn a line now, with sample libraries limited to useful multisampled acoustic, electromechanical instruments, and some environmental found sounds. And at some point I should probably cull those that I rarely or never touch.

That can happen with some Windows version upgrades, as well as if certain hardware components are changed in the PC, giving it a new "fingerprint" not associated with that existing computer ID.

Well that's certainly a disturbing development regarding Exponential! 🤔 I have a number of their reverbs with licenses in my iLok account that were purchased through iZotope. Which now makes it an easy task to cull them from my growing plugin collection. No room for unsupported plugins here!

That's always a great idea! My strategy: I mostly use virtual instruments and soft synths (my true addiction), so no plugins are needed here for vocals, instrument microphones or DIs. So most of my channel insert plugins are rarely used except for Scheps Omni Channel which can help VIs fit in the mix. I have a few other channel strip options if that doesn't work out. For just getting an idea together most virtual instruments that I use have onboard FX that gets the sound shaping job done. If not, I like to add MixBox (70 processors) or Amplitube 5 MAX to an instrument track to change it up some. The FX chain presets in MixBox let you recall favorite processing chains. It has many tools from T-RackS, but in simplified format and quick to grab. My runner-up FX in this category are a few creative FX like Blackhole, Objeq Delay, or Tape Mello-Fi. Or even Guitar Rig 6. I find reverb is often best used here in a reverb bus to create a virtual room, unless I am using it as a special effect on an instrument. Reverb is probably the category that I have accumulated the most plugins for. I think the Sunset Sound Studio Reverb is probably a good one to keep around, as are the Abbey Roads plates and chambers from Waves. I also really like iZotope Neoverb and the Exponential Audio reverbs. Don't overlook Panagement for locating instruments in the stereo sound field. For general mixing and/or mastering I'm most likely to just use iZotope Neutron Advanced and iZotope Ozone Advanced. Those are on my to-do list for learning properly. Thank you Groove3!!! I also have T-RackS 5 MAX, which clearly has more mixing and mastering tools (38 processors) than I will ever need. But I have had some interesting results with Lurssen Mastering Console. The bx_masterdesk from Plugin Alliance was a nice surprise! Those are keepers, IMO! I like to keep it simple. If it sounds good, then it probably is OK for me. I'm not trying to pretend to be an engineer... But like the other addicts here, it has always been tempting for me to over collect plugins just because something that might be a handy option someday is having a flash sale, group buy, or free! It never helps when someone says "hey, it's great"! LOL!

Unless you are moving to a new PC like JoeG, there is no need to delete them unless you need the space. Just reorganize your plugin folders so that the most used are easily accessible. Keep the rest installed, but out of sight in a secondary folder for a rainy day. You never know when you may say you wished you still had "that" one to use! I also have the issue of more than one DAW. Decided to remove all their icons from my desktop except for the top 2 that I need to focus on. The rest are hidden in a folder.

Waves Central 13.4.1 launching & running OK here on Windows 10 22H2. Never had to run an installer to update Waves Central, it has always auto-updated. Any chance that you are running a firewall or security software that may be blocking the updater?

This Syntronik 2.1.1 update worked OK for me on Windows 10. Wasn't noticing any issues before, but wasn't using st3i in any current DAW sessions. Probably better to have the fix though!

Today's "Mystery Game" is unlocking in 49 minutes...

Yep, the loyalty deal only seems to apply with a Vogue license. I logged in and it said that I don't own the required licenses, even though I have plenty of other paid UJAM virtual instruments. Best price I see is the intro price of $99.83. And Vogue is still $149, or Piano bundle is $199.66.

I guess that art is always in the eye or ear of the beholder. But yeah, that neuro bass thing. I guess the kids expect Pigments to sound more like Massive X or something... 🙄

Your MIDI track needs to be routed to a sound generating object (virtual instrument) that can create an audio output that can be heard. MIDI itself does not make any sound that can be heard on headphones or speakers, it is just the data or instructions needed by a virtual instrument to play a sound. In Cakewalk this is most easily accomplished by inserting a virtual instrument plugin on an instrument track which combines MIDI input with audio output. Suggest this video for details:

Me too! So far standalone ST 4.2.3 appears solid! Fingers crossed for the plugin!

Yes it was! Take a look at the free Surge XT. It has some wave shaping and morphing features that remind me a bit of Z3TA! https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ The original Surge was a commercial synth released back in the Z3TA days, but was released to open source a while back and is now in current development and support by a dedicated team. Better than an end-of-life synth in my book any day!

Not possible (yet, after 4 years). None of the other former Cakewalk branded products were ever re-released to the market for purchase. Cakewalk is free. Just curious, why do you want to use Z3TA after all these years without? I understand if it's nostalgia, but there are some other awesome free synths available these days!

That's a good point! And another one that may not be clear to all is that there is no actual continuity of the former Cakewalk company. It was shutdown and now BandLab owns the assets. BandLab has shown goodwill and generosity to former Cakewalk customers by extending best-effort support for legacy products. Just be patient and work with them, and if at all possible they may resolve a user's issue.

If you are using the legacy Cakewalk site, I doubt that it can generate any files. Those servers have been in read-only mode since the company shutdown and BandLab bought the assets from Gibson in 2018. Support at BandLab is probably the only avenue of last resort at this time, as it's been several years since the Cakewalk company was shut down. I imagine it is frustrating, but BandLab is extending support to former Cakewalk customers as a gesture of generosity, not as an obligation. Suggest that you try to work with them!

https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013384/Offline-Activation Z3TA+ 2 Offline Activation Access to the Internet from another computer is necessary in order to download the Z3TA+ 2 installer and to transfer the activation files. Visit your Cakewalk account to download the Z3TA+ 2 installer and transfer it to your offline computer. After running the installer, open your DAW and insert it into a project. In Z3TA+ 2, click the Options button > Offline Activation > Export Activation Request to open the Save activation request dialog box. Note that this menu option will not be available after Z3TA+ 2 has been authorized. Select the folder to which you want to save the activation request, then click Save. Z3TA+ 2 generates an activation request file with a .crq extension. Tip: save this file to a convenient location, like your Desktop or Documents folder, so it will be easy to find in the upcoming steps. Copy the .crq file to an online computer (using a USB drive, for example). Using the online computer, open the Activate section of your Cakewalk account. Sign in with your Cakewalk username and password if necessary. Click the Select a File button to upload the .crq file. Click the Submit button. Your browser will begin downloading the activation response file, which has a .dat extension. Internet Explorer users must also click Save for the file to download. Transfer the .dat file to the offline computer. It will most likely be available in the online computer's Downloads folder. In Z3TA+ 2, click the Options button > Offline Activation > Import Activation Response to open the Import activation response dialog box. Select the .dat file that you downloaded and click Open. A message box will let you know that Z3TA+ 2 is activated, click the OK button to use the synth.

You need to perform the offline activation from within the Z3TA UI, not from the Cakewalk menu, which you apparently have described. BandLab Assistant and Cakewalk by BandLab came along much later than Z3TA and are not integrated with Z3TA.

All good! But good luck with the Winter storm, and stay warm and safe!