abacab

Maybe check out the utility called "ProjectScope" that was written by a Sonar user to examine some details about a .cwp project file. As is, no support freeware. It still works on the latest version of Windows 10 and the latest version of .cwp files saved by CbB. Lists the project notes, tracks & type, plugins, and wav files used by the project. Not a programmer's tool, but a simple look inside a Cakewalk project for the user by scrolling through a folder rather than having to open the project files in CbB. The projectscope.exe download is available here: https://www.adamczyk.com/miscellaneous-files

Install & activation process proceeded normally without any delay ( only reverb) just now. Nice 'un!

More precisely "free" at EveryPlugin. The $1 deal is at Waves.com.

Now that's deal! According to the Waves site is today only, Dec 17th! The Waves sale on instruments is $29, plus with the EP discount is even less. Nice two fer!

Yes! I have that one too, and I think it is my #1 delay! https://soundbytesmag.net/review-objeq-delay-applied-acoustic-systems/

My #1 go-to reverb for ambient, spacey, sounds is Eventide Black Hole. Based on the demo video, RAUM may become my #2. Still waiting (hours) for it to be added to my account... I have other, conventional reverbs, but I love how this type can creatively transform simple sounds into lush soundscape pads...

Just curious, but how would one authorize a legacy Cakewalk product such as CA-2A with the retail redemption code, since new account creation is no longer available at the old Cakewalk website?

You probably don't need it, as many other options exist for metering. I wouldn't waste any time on that for a free plugin! Anyhow, I jumped on the Studio One Pro crossgrade deal back when Gibson bailed on Cakewalk. PreSonus has some cool plugins and instruments that are locked to Studio One. I am glad to see them finally offering some plugins in VST format, as I have been reluctant to learn their proprietary plugins that are locked to Studio One. I hope that PreSonus continues this trend with their instruments! I have CbB, Studio One Pro, and Ableton Live, and I only want to use plugins and instruments that are portable to any DAW that I wish to work with. The exception to that is that Ableton has some cool creative tools that I may make an exception for! Best regards!

You probably don't need it. I was just trying to offer some helpful tips. Cheers!

Do you have another host you can try? You list Studio One and Cubase in your signature. If the plugin doesn't show up in another host, that would imply that the plugin is not installed correctly on the PC. In that case I would try reinstalling it. If it works in other hosts, then suggest contacting support@bandlab.com for assistance with the CbB plugin scanner. It's scanned OK here and working in CbB, and I am running the latest version of Cakewalk, 2019.11, build 63. Bear in mind that there is no VST2 version. When I open Cakewalk Plugin Manager and select "VST3 Audio Effects", I can see "VU Meter" listed under registered plugins. When I select that item and look under filenames it shows "c:\program files\common files\VST3\PreSonus VST3 Shell.vst3\Contents\x86_64-win\PreSonus VST3 Shell.vst3".

Mainstream support for 8.1 ended last year (Jan 2018). That means no new feature support for developers. Just security updates and such, per Microsoft Windows official lifecycle FAQ regarding "Extended support" until 2023. Over on the PreSonus Studio One forum it was stated that the reason that their developers are throwing in the towel on any further 8.1 development is because they no longer get any feature support from Microsoft for that platform. But like you said, it won't suddenly stop working. I do see their point about Studio One development needing feature support.

As chuckebaby just mentioned, the .sfz file in question references the following .flac files. Agree on the reinstall... The big difference between sound fonts .sf2 files, and .sfz files are that sound fonts .sf2 embed the sounds in the file, where .sfz are just text files that reference external sound files. //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- // sfz Definition File // Version 2 // // © 2005 Cakewalk Music Software // All Rights Reserved //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <control> default_path=Trumpet 1 Muted V\ <group> polyphony=1 <region> sample=001.flac key=52 <region> sample=002.flac key=53 <region> sample=003.flac key=54 <region> sample=004.flac key=55 <region> sample=005.flac key=56 <region> sample=006.flac key=57 <region> sample=007.flac key=58 <region> sample=008.flac key=59 <region> sample=009.flac key=60 <region> sample=010.flac key=61 <region> sample=011.flac key=62 <region> sample=012.flac key=63 <region> sample=013.flac key=64 <region> sample=014.flac key=65 <region> sample=015.flac key=66 <region> sample=016.flac key=67 <region> sample=017.flac key=68 <region> sample=018.flac key=69 <region> sample=019.flac key=70 <region> sample=020.flac key=71 <region> sample=021.flac key=72 <region> sample=022.flac key=73 <region> sample=023.flac key=74 <region> sample=024.flac key=75 <region> sample=025.flac key=76 <region> sample=026.flac key=77 hikey=80

This is the correct location for the PreSonus VST3 plugins: "C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\PreSonus VST3 Shell.vst3". The individual VST3 plugins do not appear in that folder, but they scan into CbB just fine. I have them working here in CbB, where my PreSonus tab under AudioFX lists: Ampire, Fat Channel, Pedalboard, and VU Meter. (Ampire, Fat Channel, and Pedalboard came with Studio One Pro 4.6). I used the PreSonus Hub to install the plugins.

I agree, since Win 8.1 doesn't reach end of extended support until Jan 10, 2023 (3 more years).

Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/18581/lifecycle-faq-windows-products

The XLN Audio Studio Grand demo is free, and has no expiration. It is limited to four octaves, rather than the full 88 keys. Full version retail is $89.95 not counting possible available discounts. https://www.xlnaudio.com/products/addictive_keys/instrument/studio_grand For cheaper alternatives, I would suggest the Sonivox Eighty-Eight, or the AIR Mini-Grand. Most of the other decent options will be > $100. And I just looked at that Waves deal. Looks interesting for $25.

I have had this happen before, and then when I power cycled my audio interface off/on, the driver was released. This leads me to believe that sometimes when Cakewalk has a sudden crash, that drivers somehow get left in a state requiring cleanup that didn't happen.

I have the Cakewalk CA-2A showing up as VST3 and working in CbB. It was not included with the Sonar Platinum installer, and was a separate product. If you already have a license, it's available from your legacy Cakewalk account with either Cakewalk Command Center, or from the "My Products" page at the original Cakewalk site. CA-2A isn't locked once installed, and in fact works in other DAWs that I have installed, including Studio One. For those that never had licenses to the legacy Cakewalk plugins, other than those included with CbB, it's still a wait. BandLab has never committed to re-releasing them, and after a couple of years, there have still not been any related announcements. So it's likely to be a good while yet, if ever, to see them for sale again...

Where's "Weird Al" Yankovic? He's probably got something to add... But good job anyway!!!

Don't forget to put the serial number in IK Authorization Manager in order to unlock the library in ST4.

VST2 or VST3 plugins are both compatible with CbB. Recommend 64-bit plugins only, but Cakewalk will also open 32-bit. There are literally thousands of virtual instruments available, both free and paid. Have fun!

All good! It's automatically added to your account if you own ST4.

I have an older version of Midi Quest that no longer operates on modern Windows computers. But since I rarely use external MIDI hardware any longer, I could not see paying the upgrade fee for the latest version. But if I was a serious external hardware power user, it would probably still be my first choice. It offers a feature set that would eliminate the need to develop StudioWare Panels. Big time saver! https://squest.com/Products/MidiQuest12/ That said, I have not used it in many years, so have no idea how well it integrates with the recent versions of Sonar Platinum or Cakewalk by BandLab. Demos available.

This appears to be true in my case also! But I always check the content path before I click 'next' on the installer, and by default it had selected my "Sampletank 3" content path. So I politely re-directed it to my "SampleTank 4" content path. All good here. But this behavior could catch an unwary user by surprise.

That will probably be my next one. I like the ease that you can edit drum parts with that. I have Addictive Drums 2 with plenty of kits and patterns, and love the sound. Just wish it had some of the features of EZ.