BigTick

V'ger · Post by **V'ger** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:29 am

You know the proverbial Zen ponder "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

After reading the Quickstart, FAQ and about pages due to the lack of a manual or readme, I understand that the main thing to get it going is to let Zen detect (enable) my plugins in order that I can import presets from them.. 1st zen moment: There's not a single explanation how to do it other than that it's done in the config panel..

Ok, now going to the config panel to somehow enable my plugins. 2nd Zen moment: There's not a single way in the config panel for me to enable plugins. Instead there is an empty list where the enabled plugins should be under the the zen heading: "Active plugins".

So the Zen ponder is then "How do you enable plugins without a way of enabling plugins"

Mind starts to vibrate but somehow it's not with a feeling of enlightenment or serenity..

Search the forums, read some threads but still nothing. Wonder in amazement how all the people got it working. Uninstall.

See the new version 1.51 released. Download and install again: Yet another zen moment..

Big Tick · Post by **Big Tick** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 4:12 am

Zen will need to get online in order to fetch the list of possible plugins. So you need to make sure it is online (circle icon in the lower right), and of course, that your computer is online too.

You might want to wait a bit, I've just fixed a few more bugs and I'm going to release 1.5.2 in a few minutes.

V'ger · Post by **V'ger** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 9:58 am

Big Tick wrote:Zen will need to get online in order to fetch the list of possible plugins. So you need to make sure it is online (circle icon in the lower right), and of course, that your computer is online too.

From the Zen FAQ:

My music computer is not connected to the internet. Can I still use Zen ?

Yes.

Zen support several modes, allowing to:
- work completely offline

Big Tick · Post by **Big Tick** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:30 am

hmmm, ok. You can work completely offline, but you will need to have a database with something inside - which requires, at least for a little bit of time, to use it online. If you want I can send you a database preloaded with the synths and default tags. It won't have any presets, but at least you will have something to see...

V'ger · Post by **V'ger** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:59 am

I have to go to a site so that Zen on my machine knows what plugins I have on my machine?

Big Tick · Post by **Big Tick** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:03 pm

No. You have to go to a site so that it knows the latest list of plugins it can support.

V'ger · Post by **V'ger** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:54 pm

So as it is, Zen doesn't support any synths at all, yet on your site it claims to support a number of synths which are even listed there?

You'll forgive for finding all this baffling..

Big Tick · Post by **Big Tick** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 1:38 pm

Just replace your zendb.s3db file (inC:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Big Tick\zen with the pre-initialized database at http://www.bigtickaudio.com/zen/download and you will have your synths, without requiring to go online.

V'ger · Post by **V'ger** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:36 pm

Ok with the file I could finally enable synths in the config panel.

The synths weren't loadable even if enabled, but after saving a fxp from them and dropping that on Zen and then loading it, there was an option to set the synth path, after which they worked.

A slight ordeal this install, so maybe an idea to include the synth list file in the program or at least put a line in the FAQ that it comes with no plugin support to begin with.

But glad I persevered as this can be a very useful thing, preset search has been sorely missed. There might be a way that I don't get to organize the presets via drag and drop as it says in the help line, deleting or selecting multiple synths etc etc, but that's enough for now.

Anyway, thx for a nice app. I'm guessing by now it's free as there's something in collecting and selling user stats and access with the online insistence and offline stops, but suppose that's the way of it. At least there's an (undeclared) option to use it independently.

Big Tick · Post by **Big Tick** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:53 am

Why would I care about users stats ? The only interesting thing about it going online is that presets tagging can be done collectively, thus enriching the database for everyone.

jsp1979 · Post by **jsp1979** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:14 am

V'ger wrote: Anyway, thx for a nice app. I'm guessing by now it's free as there's something in collecting and selling user stats and access with the online insistence and offline stops, but suppose that's the way of it.

Well, nothing says "thanks" quite like questioning Big Tick's motives. Interesting choice.

BigTick

KVR Audio

A Zen Moment