Subject:VST Image Lines HARMLESS & DRUMAXX PROBLEM

Posted by: RRA

Date:2/28/2010 4:57:56 PM

Hi,

I'm working on ACID Music Studio 7.0a built 157 (on VISTA 64 SP2 Ultimate). I have strange problem with VST plugins form Image Line : HARMLESS and DRUMAXX (but I have seej Image Line forum and there are similar problems sent by other people connected with other IL plugin and also ACID PRO). Problem is because I can't reload project when HARMLESS or DRUMAXX are in use : there is always error message :

"The Soft Synth plug-in "Drumaxx 1.0" / "IL Harmless" was not found or did not load properly."

But plugins are loaded and I can insert them as a new plugin, assign to midi track and everthing is ok..., then save, restart project and still the same error. It's quite impossible to save presets because AMS is replacing broken VST by default DLS Soft Synth.

I have noticed that there is a mismatch in plugins registration. In ACID project files I can see plugin signature :

"Drumaxx 1.0" and "IL Harmless".

Starting project is looking for VSTs with these names and the same is in error mesage. But in Soft Synth Chooser I can see different parameters for this plugins :

Product : HARMLESS, name : IL HARMLESS (DEMO)
Product : DRUMAXX PB4, name : DRUMAXX

There is some mess - both version are commerical and registered, but registration procedure starts from demo version installation and after that I have to install key licence which remove "Demo" property. Both plugins are installed in full version but there is problem with plugin registration in ACID (old names are still present).

How to repairt that ???

I have checked in registry and I cant find value like "DRUMAX PB4" or "IL HARMLESS (DEMO)". Where is this SPECIAL PLACE where AMS Soft Synth Chooser is collecting data about registered plugins ?

Best regards,

RRA

Subject:RE: VST Image Lines HARMLESS & DRUMAXX PROBLEM

Reply by: RRA

Date:3/1/2010 12:14:22 AM

PROBLEM SOLVED !

I was right, that this is only question of registered names. I have faound in vista registry key :

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sony Media Software\ACID Music Studio\7.0\Metrics\VSTi Synth\Plugs

where I had to edit (in hex) cells connected with Harmless and Drumaxx. It was tricky because it is not text content, but with help of character map (in windows accesories) it is possible to know hex representation of ASCI character. I have just removed improper parts of strings (changed "PB4" on "1.0" and "(DEMO)" on empty string) and both plugins are now OK :-)

Probably people with this forum which have problem with other IL VSTs would be able to resolve their problems on the same way.

Best regards,