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https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013086/Using-Pentagon-I-as-a-Vocoder

Thanks, tried this, but did not find rgc pentagon in the list. If I had to reinstall Sonar x3 to have that, I think there should be easier options to get it.

@scook Out of curiosity, I tried to insert Pentagon I from the DXi plug-ins and got an error. Which fix would you suggest? registry permissions edit? reinstallation from X3? other? Thanks.

An advanced install of SONAR X3 and older permits installation of individual plug-ins. No need to uninstall anything. It is necessary to run the 64bit advanced install to get the appropriate plug-in as Pentagon I is a DX plug-in. Bridge tech only works with VST plug-ins.

I totally agree with this. I know simple instrument tracks save some space but I myself have had weird issues every time I tried to use one so I stay with keeping my tracks as Audio/ VST and Midi. Also agree with Pentagon is sort of boring. But it will work fine for you as a VST and just use a midi track.

Although Pentagon was a great synth in its day now there a million and 1 VSTi analog sounding synths that are far and away better.

-3 bass tracks, one loop, one basic midi bass doubled with one from either Dim Pro or Pentagon. -I don't stream much these days. I used Soudclick years ago, Soundcloud & Bandlab once in a while. -I'm not hearing any crazy sound @4:00, maybe that fx loop break around @3:18? Thanks for the feedback.

Could be bad paths in preferences. Pentagon I is not a VSTi it is a Dxi plug-in. The scan paths in preferences should only include folders containing VST2/3 plug-ins. Refer to my first post for the link to the preference help page. This looks like a partial 32bit plug-in path. CbB should use 64bit p;lug-ins where possible. 64bit are usually not installed in an "x86" folder. Sometimes providing an exact recitation of the message or an image of the message is useful. When posting images consider using an image server such as imgur.com s the image does not get resized by the forum.

OK so I used plugIn manager and it is giving me a scanning not responding errorbox. Cakewalk VST is not scanning both for Pentagon and Synthmaster 1 and 2 . Synthmaster 1 showed up as a plugIn but was grayed out. What does this mean. SMaster works on every other sequencer, except for Cakewalk.

Thank you, everyone. I was worried I might need the VSTi version, but as it turns out per scook's post I needed to install the x64bit version. All is fine now and Pentagon I is working in CbB. Awesome! Kind regards, tecknot

Some get the blast of noise, some get no sound from the presets using the Valleys Simulator in 64bit Pentagon I.

Here is the fix for the registry to allow Pentagon I to load without running the DAW as administrator

Apparently Pentagon requires you to install and also run Cakewalk/Sonar with 'Administrator' privilege.

CbB includes these plug-ins but can use any 64bit plug-ins bundled with SONAR. Can't tell from if you have Platinum, Professional or Artist. If Platinum or Professional, the only thing that could be missing when opening a CbB project in SONAR may be zplane Elastique. IIRC, this is mentioned in the warning message when opening the project. Any CbB project containing patch points or aux tracks will not open in Artist. For Pentagon issue see this thread

23.10.0 Build 14 (2017.10) I opened Cakewalk and one missing synth was Pentagon, which they presumably don't have a license for - any others? Thanks!

Yes, the registry fix I linked above eliminates the need for elevated rights to run Pentagon.

Chances are you are running SONAR as administrator and NOT running CbB as administrator. Here is a fix to the registry eliminating the need to run as administrator to load Pentagon.

As I recall, you need to run Cakewalk with admin privileges for Pentagon not to crash. I'm not sure about the others, but it could be the case as well.

Me too. Unfortunately a. Pentagon is DXi only. b. Has a few glitches c. For some reason it just has not been working for me lately. Perhaps I need to dig up one of my old installers.

I always loved the sound of Pentagon I.

Ah yes, the oldies but goodies. Brings back memories of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, Yes, Kansas, and Styx to name a few..😁 I'm thinking you are trying to use too many very old and outdated DXi's at once that write written well before DX v12. These synths are indeed all powerful and kind of reigned supreme for me with SONAR Producer 8.5 but I started noticing getting weak on performance and stability after X3, at which point I started using another computer a Dell Inspiron running windows XP, SPRO 8.5 more or less as a dedicated hardware instrument. Simply because the great old synths were built to run on XP when 64x computing was still a futuristic wet dream, when we all wondered if it was even possible at all. And I'm not entirely sure, but I have a bad, bad feeling that running softsynths created in 32 bit DX 9 world might not be up to speed in traversing to a 64x DX 12 universe? I still use TTS-1 today and it works excellently in projects set up to 24/48 but have stability issues with using any one of the others Cyclone GroovePlayer PSYN II Pentagon I I completely forgot about Roland GrooveSynth. I never used it, but owning a Roland JV synth module there was never any point. Hmm, can't remember the last time I used that either. A great alternative to achieve the old school analog synth sound for me is either, and yet still vintage Dimension Pro, Rapture, or better yet, which I guess have just recently slipped into the vintage category, the Rapture Session or Pro version is more my cup of tea because I can dig deeper into sound creation and design, but if you're just choosing and selecting patches then the free included Rapture Session is more them powerful enough. Not sure if Rapture Session or Pro will continue to slip down the spiraling drain of obscurity, I certainly hope not, but we can wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which fills up first... Or, I'm thinking Native Instruments puts out some nice stuff? You don't need to go broke going overboard and be a Complete MACHINE head if all you need is one of their synths that can do all of the above, perhaps, I was always kind of fond of Absynth years ago which is still on my Dell laptop. I never upgraded it so it won't work well on on my Win 10 computer if at all.

The plug-in does not have to scan or be setup as FX in CbB. Some developers provide FX versions of the plug-ins, some do not and their synth versions process audio in CbB. I mentioned several synths in my previous post which do not scan as FX and are not setup as FX but still process audio when placed in instrument/audio PC, clip, or track FX racks. Granted Pentagon has a switch in the plug-in UI that must be enabled and the Arturia synths need the audio inputs in the UI wired up appropriately. Another plug-in recognized as a synth in CbB that process audio (in fact that is its only purpose) is XILS Labs XILS 5000 Vocoder. Again there is no FX version of the plug-in, it scans as a synth yet processes audio when added to any instrument/audio track PC, clip or track FX rack.

Yes, whether audio is processed by a synth is up to the plug-in developer. Some plug-in manufacturers supply FX versions of their synths. Examples of this type of plug-in are Z3ta+ Classic, ImpOSCar2, Oddity 2, Minimonsta,, XILS 3/4 and Synthmaster. Some synths have audio processing built into the synth plug-in. Some examples are Pentagon I, Arp 2500 V3, Modular V3 The only sampler I have that advertises the ability to record audio is TX16Wx but I havenever been able to get it to work in CbB. Years ago, I recall the developer stating recording was only supported in Reaper. Not sure why, other VST format plug-ins (the only examples I have installed are loopers in Th3 and Guitar Rig 5) support recording in CbB. In all cases for a plug-in to process audio in CbB, the plug-in must be instantiated in an audio track FX Rack or ProChannel.