Need Help Getting Fxc Files to Work on New Computer

[Todd Groemling]

On my 'old' computer, which runs Win 10 Home, but has RAM limitations, I have some old .Fxc files (FX Presets) that I use for supplemental FX for guitar audio. They still work on that old computer. See one of the FX in the screenshot. I think these FX files have been around for at least 10 years and date back to at least SONAR. Regardless, I rely on them quite a bit, so I want to use these FX on my new computer, which also has Win 10 Home and the latest version of Cakewalk.

However, even though I have the VST Settings on the new computer pointing to where the .Fxc files are located, and even though Cakewalk lets me add them to a track via Insert FX Chain Preset, not only can the FX not be heard, but the guitar cannot. and the fader shows no dB activity. Meanwhile, when I select bypass the FX on the track, I can still hear the original audio AND see dB activity.

NOTE:

• I have tried to add the FX to a new track and even a project file I created today to test this. No luck.
• I don't see what program 'owns' the FX files. I presume they are Cakewalk FX, but maybe they are Guitar Rig 4 files, since once upon a time that came with older versions of Cakewalk.
• I even used Cakewalk Command Center to install Cakewalk Platinum on my new computer, but the .Fxc FX still don't work.

So, I am trying to understand if I need to reinstall the FX.

• If so, where? How?
• Is there some crucial folder I didn't copy over from my old compute that has needed data or files?

Any suggestions?

Edited June 3, 2023 by Todd Groemling
Needed to add clarifications

[reginaldStjohn]

You might have to go to your old cakewalk account and download the effects and or Sonar packages from you account. Depends on what plugins the FX chain is using. If you can't get into your old account then contact Support@cakewalk.com

[Todd Groemling]

Thank you @reginaldStjohn I will try contacting Support. I am still hoping someone else has experienced this already and knows what to do.

[Lord Tim]

Those FX Chains contain, well, a chain of FX, like it says on the tin. If any one of those effects aren't installed, or the wrong version of it it is installed, there's a chance you'll get wrong or no sounds. Usually it just bypasses that effect and you get everything else.

I have a recollection of something to do with TH3 that is included in a lot of these chains that have issues with controls not being assigned properly, which could cause silence.

Maybe you could try extracting the plugins by right-clicking the FX Chain in your FX Bin and choosing Extract FX Chain Plugins.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=Cakewalk&language=3&help=Mixing.34.html

Some are locked for editing though, so this may not be possible, but it's worth a shot.

But failing that, support is the way to go.

[Todd Groemling]

@Lord Tim    I appreciate your input. I didn't realize I could extract the plugins, since I never had a reason to do so. But I was able to extract them and it appears that TH2 Producer and z3TA+ are part of the FX chain. So I tried pointing Cakewalk via the VST Settings to folders with those in them, but still no luck. I was thinking that means  I need Cakewalk Support to resolve this. However, when I started actually paying more attention to this, it does seem like TH2 Producer is the weak link. Fortunately, the extracted TH2 Producer does list what preset is used, so I was able to insert TH3 and, when added to the Z3TA+ FX, I'm now hearing FX. So I'm much closer to the original FX Chain. That's a long-winded way of saying, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Edited June 3, 2023 by Todd Groemling
Needed to add clarifications

[Lord Tim]

Ahh yes of course, that would be TH2 Producer, not TH3 being that far back. I knew it was some TH(x) related thing.  Glad you got it mostly sorted