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https://www.production-expert.com/production-expert-1/27-free-reverb-plugins-to-grab-now

It's not bad, in my opinion. You get a lot of nice sounds. But personally, I prefer Syntronik 2 from IK Multimedia. Both are based on sampled synthesizers. So, they're basically romplers. But for a rompler the sound design options inside Syntronik 2 are remarkable. At least for the presets that have been made specifically for version 2. It also contains the legacy presets from version 1 but you don't have the edit tab for those presets. Synth Anthology 4 has more different synths than Syntronik 2 but less presets per synth. Synth Anthology can only layer two synths, Syntronik can layer up to four. One nice thing about Synth Anthology 4 is that it has layered presets where it loads two synth presets (often from different synths) that work together well. Unfortunately, it seems Syntronik has been discontinued and integrated into SampleTank. I wonder if you still have all the sound design options inside SampleTank that you have with Syntronik 2. The presets load faster in Synth Anthology, but probably at the cost of quality - maybe less samples or lower sample rates, I don't know. When I listened to Synth Antology's presets without the layering, just using single individual synths, I had the impression that they sounded thinner, more boring than those from Syntronik. I kinda regret having bought Synth Anthology 4 in spite of already owning Syntronik 2. It didn't add that much, except for some good layer presets.

Thanks Glenn, I found it there at version 3.6 and it also offers an update.

Run SDC to update on exit

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GainMatch will be available for just $9 (down from $19) from today until September 29, 2025. https://audioplugin.deals/product/gainmatch-by-letimix/

I've been using just Microsoft Defender for many years with no problems, and it's updated several times a week (through Windows Update). Microsoft Windows also has a nice Malicious Software Removal Tool (MRT found in C:\Windows\System32).

@Under A Mile remove Norton's from your machine it is an virus, it is maleware, it is a trojan. It invades every single aspect of your OS, it is a system killer. No serious DAW user runs Nortons. If you want a third party AV/Anti-Malware protection use Malwarebytes. Unless you can't stay away from sites with questionable content or warze, or other basically dodgy sites, Microsoft defender is actually one of the best AV/anti-malware programs out there.

@mettelus Ah Ok I now see it’s a Mustang. I thought it was a GTO. Hard to tell in a 1/4” picture. Ya the Cutlass is drum brakes but I’m used to old school. In the background of the picture you can see my 1984 GMC camper van. I love that thing. I use it to haul my PA to Gigs in the summer. Absolutely zero technology. It’s in brand new condition thanks to the former owner who pampered it. Old cars are like classic guitars. Example my father in law paid $3,500 for the Oldsmobile in 1972, we sold it for $30,000. If I still had my 1963 Gibson Studio I paid $100 for, Im sure it would be worth at least $5,000 or more now. I still have my 1965 Guild L series. But it goes with me to my grave. And my Gibson Skylark amp too. My son has my 1969 Fender P Bass that he has been offered $2,000 for. I paid around $100 for it in the 80’s . He has a 1989 BMW he restored that is also now worth gold. Cars and guitars are where it’s at! OK back to the boring stuff.

Totally off Topic, @mettelus I have always identified you with that beautiful red convertible, We just sold this 1972 Cutlass Supreme for my wife's dad. I had it all summer and hated to let go of it. What a gas to drive these old beasts. Everyone waves at you. But Guitars and Cadillac's and hillbilly music is where it's at.

Apologies tardy spotting of this reply. Indeed, I had non destructive editing turned on. I will ensure I turn this off for future recordings.

This is really the conundrum IMO. Why go through the pain of a loopback when you can simply loop a portion of the song and play to it on the amp (matching volume levels as needed) to make your adjustments? If you are not using that recorded loopback (so not really re-amping) in the final project as you intend to "actually record it," there are much simpler methods to adjust tone (and a sizeable chunk of them can be done in post-production). I have a friend who runs "his tone" (never modifies it for that genre) from a Blackstar amp and all adjustments are made in mixing/post-production.

fair enough. and good points on instrument samples being triggered due to volume or velocity. in my case, i don't typically touch the volume or use CC7 etc. and yes, changing velocity (which is my normal approach) can impact the samples selected from the VI. most times i would use a velocity change would be (in my usual work) to get a percussion instrument (like a shaker or tambourine) to use a "softer" set of samples to cut some harshness without having to eq it.

tried to watch one of them once , bored me to tears. watched Goodfellas instead.

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go to your settings (spoked wheel) and look at the person icon and you'll see your version, and perhaps a note to update if not the latest.

Ok Thanks, Lotts to investigate. I do want to build myself from scratch, looking at others provides inspiration rather than looking at a blank and wondering what to attempt. I don't know what version i have e.g. the vintage cherry (VC) when I look at the settings/details in the VST version it just has 3 dots.

Are people still using Norton in 2025? I agree with @Promidi ditch it for something more efficient, less resource intensive.

If you are asking specifically about compatibility with regard to opening projects created and saved on older software (Sonar Platinum, CbB, etc.), I defer to others. If you are asking more generally about features, workflow comparison, etc. I suggest the "Current Release . . . " Topic in the General > Product Release Info section might be helpful to you. Hope this helps.

A new guitar instrumental

+1 to this. It not only makes working much more manageable, but also accommodates time signature changes. The Riffer still cannot accept time signature changes from the host, so any "snap to grid" functionality can cause a serious headache if you have time signature changes in a song and try to use Riffer for an entire track.

Very cool deep dive video...

It was a regression caused by another bug fix for a more severe start up problem. For now if you see this issue, you can circumvent it by closing the start screen once after the app opens, then after that you can reopen it and the project should open without any issues.

I'm getting this also. The problem seems to only be initiated when opening Sonar. The first project selected now displays with all tracks minimalized (collapsed). Then the second, and any subsequent projects opened display ok, with the correct (saved) track heights. Closing an individual project and reopening it - without closing the Sonar program - does not mess things up, but it's when I completely close Sonar and then come back - the first project opened has this problem. The program seems to be imposing a default display setting on the first file opened instead of preserving the saved settings.

I fooled around with the browser and the and Cakewalk Plug-in Manager discovered that it won't show up in the browser if it is excluded in the Plug-in Manager. So first I would check the Plug-in Manager to see if it excluded. If it is, then enable it then close and restart Sonar. You can also look and see if you actually have it in C:\Program Files\Cakewalk\Shared Plugins where it will be listed as CwTuner or CwTuner.dll if you have it. If you don't have it for whatever reason then you can either download a free VST tuner like Gtune (Google it to see multiple download sources) or use the built in tuner in a guitar amp simulator. I use the tuner in the free Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Player to do my guitar intonation and am pretty happy with it. Native Instruments has many free plugins it you're interested and have the free hard drive space. https://www.native-instruments.com/en/catalog/software/free/