u-he

bmrzycki · Post by **bmrzycki** » Wed May 31, 2017 9:49 pm

I don't care where the u-he plugins are installed as long as they still respect symlinks for *.data/ and I can move them somewhere afterwards.

Urs · Post by **Urs** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 4:35 am

bmrzycki wrote:I don't care where the u-he plugins are installed as long as they still respect symlinks for *.data/ and I can move them somewhere afterwards.

Sure... but somehow this doesn't seem to work in Win10 anymore. Move the symlink/shortcut and the plug-in can't find/load it. Something like that happens several users a day recently, with plug-ins that were fine half a year ago.

bmrzycki · Post by **bmrzycki** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 4:47 am

Urs wrote:
bmrzycki wrote:I don't care where the u-he plugins are installed as long as they still respect symlinks for *.data/ and I can move them somewhere afterwards.
Sure... but somehow this doesn't seem to work in Win10 anymore. Move the symlink/shortcut and the plug-in can't find/load it. Something like that happens several users a day recently, with plug-ins that were fine half a year ago.

Hrm. For what it's worth the way I install all your plugins is the following:

1. Download package, unzip the .exe installer
2. Make a temporary directory on my Desktop (usually "a")
3. Install VST64 plugin to ...\Desktop\a, installer defaults to ...\Desktop\a\XXX.data for the program data and presets.
4. Move XXX.dll into D:\Plugins\VST64\u-he
5. Move/Merge XXX.data into D:\Plugins\Data\u-he\XXX.data
6. If I don't have a shortcut in D:\Plugins\VST64\u-he for XXX.data I create it
7. Rename the shortcut to XXX.data.

I've done this with everything you've released and never had an issue loading a plugin. I think the reason I haven't hit problems is I avoid C:\Program Files\ and C:\Program Files (x86)\ like the Plague. I even install applications into D:\Apps\32 and D:\Apps\64.

Some installers won't let me change the destination directory so I'm stuck with them in the "Special" program files directories. But when I can I don't use it at all.

Urs · Post by **Urs** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 4:55 am

Thanks - I'll pass it on to the support team

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Thu Jun 01, 2017 7:38 am

As mentioned, the shortcut thing still works in W10. Just make sure the plugins don't get installed to Program Files and everything's golden.

(Also, u-he Data folders are definitely MUCH better placed somewhere OUTSIDE the VST plugins folder, because they tend to have a LOT of files in them, which makes plugin scanning slower in some DAWs, since they scan all files in the VST folder, not just .dlls!)

rockmachine · Post by **rockmachine** » Sat Jun 03, 2017 12:52 am

Okay guys, looks like smooth sailing again with my U-he stuff, Bazille, Zebralette, Zebra, Protoverb, Uhbik and MFM2. I did as suggested by putting all data folders in the User-my pc name -section then using the shortcut solution. Could not seem to elminate the issue with Podolski though, but I found remnants of in some remote location, so maybe it caused the same issue due to that. Anyway, I just got rid of it altogether as I really did not use it anyway. Slight simplification, probably a better thing anyways as I am aiming to get more of out less VST tools, but broader use of the many great ones I do have. Also be warned, Reason will not load a bunch of Steinberg VST effects, probably some propietary issue and in fact it crashed Reason when I went to try loading something like multiscope and I had to reboot the pc to get Reason to even load again. Bad. One thing that is a tad odd though is that I did not seem to have the issue on the laptop which has Windows 10, and the desktop is 7, so maybe there was some kind of change between the 2 as the data folders as on the laptop as of now are located C:>VstPlugins>u-he, then the shortcut thing done again. Anyway, thanks for the help and discussions, always learning thanks to stuff like this.

ATN69 · Post by **ATN69** » Thu Jun 15, 2017 3:55 pm

This is how it is for me,

Loading up all my u-he plugs in FL Studio 32-bit works just fine. When opening FL Studio 64-bit following happens,

* Zebra 2 - File permissions issue.
* Ace - File permissions issue.
* Diva - Load up just fine.
* Hive - Load up in 32-bit mode, which mean bridged mode.
* Repro-1 - Load up just fine.
* Zebralette - Load up in 32-bit mode, which mean bridged mode.

It is quite inconsistent.

#rob · Post by **#rob** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 9:35 am

ATN69 wrote: * Diva - Load up just fine.
* Repro-1 - Load up just fine.

Cool.

ATN69 wrote: * Hive - Load up in 32-bit mode, which mean bridged mode.
* Zebralette - Load up in 32-bit mode, which mean bridged mode.

Tried re-scanning?
(Preferences -> Advanced Settings -> remove and re-add VST folder)

ATN69 wrote: * Zebra 2 - File permissions issue.
* Ace - File permissions issue.

Where are the .data folders located?

If you don't know, you can find out like this: place empty text files called Zebra2.log and ACE.log directly on your Desktop, but make sure that Windows doesn't make them Zebra2.log.txt etc.
Start your host, then load the plugins once and close your host again.
The .log files will now mention where the plugins are going to search for their .data folders. (...among many other confusing and not necessarily important things.)

ATN69 · Post by **ATN69** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 1:15 pm

Hi Rob,

First of all, sorry everyone for a long post. I tried what you said and I found that Zebra2 was showing up several times in a plugin rescan. I replaced the file that was stored in the plugin database with a new Zebra2 file. It seems to have worked because now it is loading up and it also load up as 64-bit Zebra2 in 64-bit FL Studio

For ACE however it was not so easy. It still doesn't load up and I still get the File Permissions issue. I did what you said and created a log file. It is kind of long and I tried to add it as attachment so you can see the result, but KVR doesn't allow .log or .txt files.

ACE data file is located in C:\Vstplugins\u-he\ACE.data. In the same folder I find data files for Diva, Hive, Repro-1, Beatzille and Zebra2.

I copied some of the log and after the last row all following rows are warnings. I hope this log info can reveal something. It looks like ACE is actually trying to go to C:\Program Files\u-he, but all data file folders there are empty, including the ones for Hive, Diva, etc.

Please also note that when I installed these plugins I just let the installer choose the location. I didn't actively do anything to change folders. Also worth noting is that 32-bit works.

SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
SUPPORT PATH
C:\Program Files\u-he\Support\
HOST 'Fruity Wrapper'
API 'VST2'
Starting REVISION 3898
alignedBuffers256 malloced to 5BA9080
size: 2162748 FX: FX
myParams->EnvSource 13
myParams->ModWheelSource 1
myParams->PitchWheelSource 2
myParams->BreathSource 3
myParams->GateSource 5
myParams->ATSource 7
myParams->ExpressionSource 4
myParams->AlternateSource 10
myParams->RandomSource 11
myParams->StackSource 12
new instance of AM_PreferencesAudio created for ACE # 1
loadPreferences() - ACE
void AM_AudioMan::createMidiPrograms()
Preset from 'ACE'
stateInfoLevel level back to 0
AM_AudioMan::reset()
Failed to create file C:\Program Files\u-he\Presets\ACE\MIDI Programs\Midi.Bank.Cache.txt
Can't just load cache file... bugger
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
getMidiAssignPath(): \support\com.u-he.ACE.midiassign.txt
READING midiAssignFile

// Global MidiCC Map
numFounds = 3
Error: was not able to parse line: Global MidiCC Map

numFounds = 0
Error: was not able to parse line:

numFounds = 0
Error: was not able to parse line:
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
AM_AudioMan::changePlugInLatency( 0 ) -> 16
Preset from 'ACE'
Preset for rev 3791 loaded into rev 3898
stateInfoLevel level back to 0
AM_AudioMan::reset()
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
YMD 2016 4 9
mDateModified = [132121609]
ProcessDescription->inputBusses = 1
LATENCY ACE:16
AM_VST_base::suspend ()
done AM_VST_base::suspend ()
AM_AudioMan::reset()
AM_AudioMan::reset()
AM_VST_base::resume ()
AM_AudioMan::reset()
done AM_VST_base::resume ()
AM_VST_base::getVendorString (char* text)
/ AM_VST_base::getVendorString (char* text)
AM_VST_base::suspend ()
done AM_VST_base::suspend ()
AM_VST_base::resume ()
AM_AudioMan::reset()
done AM_VST_base::resume ()
AM_VST_base::suspend ()
done AM_VST_base::suspend ()
AM_VST_base::resume ()
AM_AudioMan::reset()
done AM_VST_base::resume ()
AM_VST_Editor::open
CONNECTIONS_PER_PARAMETER: 8
AM_View_ControlsRegistrar instanceCounter: 1
LEDParam 27
PAGEParam 28
PagesOn 32
Win64
Starting REVISION 3898
void AM_AudioMan::createModules()
create viewMan 130683984
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
Before ViewMan->initialize()
AM_ViewMan::initialize
new instance of AM_PreferencesView created for ACE # 1, 134128784
numInstances 1
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
AM_PreferencesView::getSetupPreferences: NO PREFS LOADED
AM_PreferencesView::getSetupPreferences: NO PREFS LOADED
created for AudioPrefs BaseLatencyBuffer16 0
register listener for BaseLatencyBuffer16
sending \@AudioMan\#COM_REQUEST_AUDIO_PREF\+BaseLatencyBuffer16
Addressee: AudioMan
Subject: COM_REQUEST_AUDIO_PREF
Message: BaseLatencyBuffer16
created for AudioPrefs SmoothMidiCtrls 0
register listener for SmoothMidiCtrls
sending \@AudioMan\#COM_REQUEST_AUDIO_PREF\+SmoothMidiCtrls
Addressee: AudioMan
Subject: COM_REQUEST_AUDIO_PREF
Message: SmoothMidiCtrls
created for AllViews Graphics Gamma 0
register listener for Graphics Gamma
created for All MouseWheel Raster 0
created for AllViews DefaultUISize 0
created for AllViews KeyControl 0
created for AllViews Text Antialiasing 0
getPreference( PREFS_ALL_VIEWS, PREF_DEFAULT_SKIN, 0); NULL
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
inGamma == graphicsGamma - 2
NO INITIAL SCALE, try to load default scale
GUIScale on init by default ui scalse from prefs 3 -> 1.00
AM_ViewMan::initialize before scanImages 4.93
AM_ViewMan::initialize after scanImages 4.96
AM_ViewMan::initialize before scanThemes 4.96
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
AM_ViewMan::initialize after scanThemes 5.59
AM_ViewMan::initialize before loadSetup 5.67
LOADING C:\Program Files\u-he\ACE\Data\Scripts\ACE.txt
sending latency to host... 16
ACE VST telling Fruity Wrapper about 16 samples latency
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
Can't store UI Preferences
created for Font FontAlignment 0
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
Can't store UI Preferences
created for Font FontVAlignment 0
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
Can't store UI Preferences
created for Font FontSize 0
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
Can't store UI Preferences
created for Font FontVOffset 0
AM_ViewMan::initialize after loadSetup 956.35
AM_ViewMan::initialize before setCurrentFolder 956.36
AM_ViewMan::initialize after setCurrentFolder 956.53
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
TRYING TO RETRIEVE
DOESN'T USE ALT LINK
SApplicationDir(ACE.data) AM_UseAlternateDir 0 getAltDirString()
AM_ViewMan::initialize after loadDefaults 957.04
register listener for BaseLatencyBuffer16
sending \@AudioMan\#COM_REQUEST_AUDIO_PREF\+BaseLatencyBuffer16
Addressee: AudioMan
Subject: COM_REQUEST_AUDIO_PREF
Message: BaseLatencyBuffer16
register listener for SmoothMidiCtrls
sending \@AudioMan\#COM_REQUEST_AUDIO_PREF\+SmoothMidiCtrls
Addressee: AudioMan
Subject: COM_REQUEST_AUDIO_PREF
Message: SmoothMidiCtrls
register listener for Graphics Gamma
getPreference( PREFS_ALL_VIEWS, PREF_DEFAULT_SKIN, 0); NULL
AM_ViewMan::initialize before collectPreferencesFromControls 957.14
AM_ViewMan::initialize before AM_Message_ViewInitialized 957.14
AM_ViewMan::initialize after AM_Message_ViewInitialized 957.15
AM_ViewMan::initialize after scheduleModulatorActivityUpdate 957.16
WARNING: Automatable Parameter w/o UI Control: Main Loop Circuit:Output
WARNING: Automatable Parameter w/o UI Control: VoiceCircuit:Voices

#rob · Post by **#rob** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 1:57 pm

ATN69 wrote:C:\Vstplugins\u-he\ACE.data

That's the problem. Even if it's not (yet) a problem with other .data folders, or maybe only occasionally a problem, I would strongly advise you against placing them in any non-user path.

The solution for fixing this with an existing installation is easy, but somewhat tedious...

1) back up all your (real, not shortcuts to) .data folders somewhere safe, because they contain your license, presets, etc.
2) delete any trace of C:\Vstplugins\u-he\*.data, so that no .data folder or shortcut is left there.
3) create a folder in your user directory, something like this: C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\u-he Data\
4) move all your backed up .data folders from step 1 into this new folder: C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\u-he Data\Zebra2.data\, etc.

Now either...
5-1) re-install all the u-he plugins, this time make sure that you ACTIVELY TICK the "manual folder selection" option and specify the new folders now inside your user directory below when the installer asks where to put the .data folders
...or...
5-2) create shortcuts from the new .data folders inside your user directoy back into the C:\VstPlugins\u-he\ directory:
C:\VstPlugins\u-he\Zebra2.data.lnk --> C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\u-he Data\Zebra2.data\,
C:\VstPlugins\u-he\ACE.data.lnk --> C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\u-he Data\ACE.data\, etc.

I know it's a bit of a mess, but it works 10/10 times.

All of this can be avoided if you always perform steps 3) and 5-1) straight away when installing a new u-he plugin.

We're already trying to figure out if there's anything we can do to make this process easier for everyone, or rather spare our users the experience at all. No solution yet, but we're trying.

ATN69 · Post by **ATN69** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 2:08 pm

Thanks again Rob! I will try your approach and I will take command over where files are installed by actively make choices. Zebra2 was one of the first plugins I ever bought so I just clicked "yes" everywhere when I installed it

. Since then I learned a lot about plugs. When I get myself a new PC things will be very different from the start

rockmachine · Post by **rockmachine** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 2:22 pm

Rob- I am far from being the kind of expert a lot of U-he people are, but when you are creating the extraction process to load any and all U-he products, could you not make it such that a window prompt comes up asking you if it's okay to load just the data folder into a folder created by the process in the location you mentioned. That is: C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\u-he Data\ "X" U-he.data\? Then any subsequent U-he purchase would already have that folder extant. Just an idea as I don;t have the knowledge to know if something like that is even possible, but it seems reasonable, at least. lol

#rob · Post by **#rob** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 4:08 pm

rockmachine wrote:could you not make it such that a window prompt comes up asking you if it's okay to load just the data folder into a folder created by the process in the location you mentioned.

That's what we have. There is a dedicated dialog page in our Windows installers that asks where to put the .data folders. Just the .data folders. If the user picks a directory inside C:\Program Files\, they'll get a warning message about their choice.

Still doesn't help, apparently.

So we need to think about how to "dumb down" the process further. Until we reach a point where the installation is comfortable, but users complain about lack of flexibility. Can't please everyone...

ATN69 · Post by **ATN69** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 4:18 pm

Just wanted to say that I tried your suggestion 1 to 5-2 but it didn't work. I made a copy of all the data folders (not shortcuts) as you said and I also made a copy of my preset folders, since I bought some preset packs from different sound designers. That approach didn't work.

I then decided to clean out all installed files so I ended up with one empty u-he folder in C:\Program Files(x86) and one empty u-he folder in C:\Program Files. I created one folder for data under C:\users\ my name \u-he data. After that I started by installing ACE. The 64-bit dll is in the C:\Program Files\u-he folder together with a short cut pointing to the data folder, the 32-bit dll is in the C:\Program Files(x86)\u-he folder together with a short cut pointing at the data folder, and the data files is now in C:\users\ my name\u-he data folder.

When I open FL Studio 64-bit and try to load up ACE I still get the error message

..FL Studio 32-bit works and ACE can load up.
Does this makes any sense at all?

EDIT: I found the missing thing. Since the 64-bit dll files now end up in C:\Program Files\u-he, I needed to add that folder in FL Studio plugin scan. After that was done FL Studio could find the correct 64-bit dll file. I am back in business

, and I know how I will spend my Saturday

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Fri Jun 16, 2017 6:12 pm

#rob wrote:There is a dedicated dialog page in our Windows installers that asks where to put the .data folders. Just the .data folders. If the user picks a directory inside C:\Program Files\, they'll get a warning message about their choice.

Simply disallow the Next button until something other than Program Files folder is chosen. I've seen some installers do that.

u-he

KVR Audio

Trouble in Reason paradise