aidan o driscoll

Yes @CSistine .. your differences noted and added to my post above

The 15 second countdown to be able to click on evaluation is similar to REAPER. However Reaper allows you use the DAW straight off but leaves the "Advertising Panel" up for an increasing amount of time well beyond 15 seconds. However you can drag it out of the way off screen. So at least ye know with Cakewalk the "Advertising Panel" disappears after 15 seconds every time. Fair trade I think for a FREE, very usable and most likely regularly updated DAW? @CSistine corrected what I said above: "There are certain differences, too: You can buy a perpetual license for Reaper (it is totally offline!) for only $60 if you are an individual that makes no or not a lot of money from your music! The evaluation version is not sold as "free", it is meant to be for evaluation. If you want a real free capable daw, then you may use Tracktion.Waveform. The second newest version is always free (can also be installed totally offline)."

@Billy86 I simply created a few folders inside a folder called AUDIO DATA ( call the folders what you like ). Inside AUDIO DATA folder I created three more folders: - vstplugins32 - vstplugins64 - vsteffects Self explanitory I hope .. Of course we also have C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 where all the VST3s go. You could setup a C:\Program Files\Common Files\VStEffects if you want With all the folders setup copy/move the appropriate vsts ( vst2 = .dll, // .vst3 = you guessed ) to the appropriate folders. I DO NOT include a path to the vstplugins32 in Cakewalk / Edit / Prefs ( Advanced ) / vst .. only the other 3 or 4 paths. I have a 32 bit folder in case some vsts still insist installing one. I seperate out my EFX plugins from instuments because I also use audio editing programs like soundforge, audacity that only need the VST Effects and not the VSTi instruments.

I also assume this new "free" Sonar will be getting regular updates vs Cakewalk by Bandlab .. not sure the latter is still getting updates, not many anyway?

@kitekrazy1when you install it and open it and look up top left you see this

I tried the NEXT download and install hoping there might be a "FREE" version of that too .. Nope - its a 29 day trial https://www.cakewalk.com/next

Looks pretty similar to REAPER offer wise / free evaluation, probably a bit better because the Free ( evaluation ) version is FOREVER it seems

@MusicMan No failure for me on any plugins inc ARTURIA however I recently did a complete cleanup of my plugins ( like you I have a lot ) .. i just went to the VST folders and moved the ones i dont use anymore to another backup folder. I was being honest with myself .. Alot are freebies i installed, never used and had left them there Also seperated the 32 bit VSTS to another folder that I DO NOT scan

Just installed it and YES its FREE .. just need to login with usual bandlab details. Pretty much NEXT look and feel, i like it. Currently doing the VST Scan. So it looks like all we need is there FOR FREE .. so this is in a way a FREE SUBSCRIPTION, not a paid software subscription. I recommend installing it, check it out and if it does the job I WILL be dumping the Cakewalk by bandlab from my system because no doubt this new version will have updates going forward

Dont forget to checkout all the other Freebies that Audioplugin dot deals has https://audioplugin.deals/free-audio-production-plugins/ Fair few VST synths. Some maybe just VST2 or both VST2 and 3.Have not checked

To save anyone who gets this the bother relating to inputting the sub to your Plugin Samples site account. Go here - https://www.plugins-samples.com/my-account/ Then register or login to your account. Once logged in, on menu on the left is ADDRESSES, click that and EDIT the billing address. Down the end of the billing address fields is one called "Subscription number" .. copy / paster that sub number you got by email into there, save address and you are done for the year. To access the mags and the software just click on MY DOWNLOADS in the menu up top. Keep this AUDIOPLUGINS.DEALS site in mind annually to renew the sub for cheap. They seem to have this deal annually now, I have got it there for the last 2 years. Also keep in mind once the sub is up you will lose access to the MY DOWNLOADS past and present until you renew. If not renewing, download everything you need before the sub is up inc the PDFs of the mags.

@Lemar Sain PLUS at about $25 for 12 issues with that offer above sweetens the deal even further. Pretty much $2 an issue

So go there and grab a 12 month Platinum Subscription to BEAT MAGAZINE ( English Version ) for the princely sum of $29.99. Access all the software downloads. This month its Audiomodern Voxmotive - https://audiomodern.com/shop/packs/voxmotive/ BUT WAIT, there is more - use the coupon: FATHERSDAY25 to get a further 15% drop in price https://audioplugin.deals/product/beat-magazine-platinum-12-month-subscription-2025/

So here it is: "Mix DRUMS is an intuitive plugin designed to increase the impact and perceptual loudness of your drums, while preserving peak levels. Developed with mixing engineer Emre Ramazanoglu, it streamlines complex drum processing workflows into a single, efficient tool - allowing you to achieve powerful drums in seconds." https://www.arturia.com/products/software-effects/mix-drums/overview Its $99 .. my SPECIAL PRICE is $29

Its back to 120 bucks

The only huge difference for me ( besides "Bloat" eg 53 expansions ) would be Kontakt 8 vs 6. You look at the synths - pretty much exact same as is in K13 Other than that of interest to me is - Session Guitarist – Electric Mint Session Guitarist – Strummed Acoustic, Session Guitarist – Electric Sunburst are in K13 I think. Ok there is iZotope Ozone 11 Standard, I have Ozone 11 elements. Next we have Guitar Rig 7 Pro .. In K13 its Guitar Rig 6 Pro. Not sure there is a huge difference TBH Komplete really is about the core products? - Kontakt, Battery, Guitar rig, Massive, Reaktor. Only update to these in 15 is Kontakt 8 vs 6 and guitar rig 7 vs 6 .. Is that worth €99?

Really betwixt and between on this one. I have Komplete 13. Not sure there is a dramatic huge difference in usage terms or functionality between the two of them really? Better to put €100 toward something else perhaps ..

So I have Komplete 13 .. I can go to Komplete 15 for €99. While this looks interesting - 2 version jumps - I wonder will Komplete 16 be out shortly and if so will they offer same or similar price ( €99 upgrade that is ), would that be normal?

No doubt thats why it is $29

@Larry Shelby Site not working here cross the pond in Ireland - white screen

Yes @Magic Russ .. trying the same there - updating my V8 instruments - with that same error so gave up. Id say there servers getting hammered with this new version And my upgrade from V8 is €299 .. so em fck noooooo

What deal was it? i can see if similar buying from Ireland - we have 23% VAT rate

Just installed SCALER 3 ( upgrade ) I notice - standalone anyway - it doesnt seem to explicitly show ASIO Note WINDOWS Audio but no ASIO option .. Unless its Windows Audio ( Low latency Mode )

I tried this on a number of systems / laptops the last while. More often than not i downgraded to windows 10 again because win11 is a complete hog in comparison to the more "refined" windows 10 ( has the age advantage ). The slickness of Windows 10 took a while to get to, no dount same for windows 11. Yes i suppose there is an element of hardware ability here, windows 11 wants the core i7+ and loadsa ram etc to perform properly. In the game dev world its like Epic Enreal Engine, nothing but a very high spec system will do .. other than that forget it

@GTsongwriter TBH i would say in most tools like Guitar Rig etc you might get better results by making your own preset from scratch rather than depending on untweaked presets. Load up components and start noodling with settings until you get what you want. Nothing plugin wise will replace pushing air I dont think and the sound from a plugin all depends on the hardware/speakers you are playing it out through. I have in past used my guitar through AMP miced or out through the Pre amp full jack at the back, into Audio I/F ( I use Audient EVO 4 ). Add a DI box there to then record 2 tracks in Cakewalk - one dry and the other effected from the amp. Then load GI or similar into the dry track and start noodling with the components to build a similar sound TONEX CS ( Free ) might be worth a go as an alt, there is also the Tonex Pedal thats causing waves in guitar circles. I started off a thread recently here about TONEX, you might find it interesting to read: