Importing VST to Reaper - Problems

Having problem getting Reaper to "recognize" VSTs stashed on my PC. I know the routine: In Reaper - Options-Preferences-Plugins-VST. Either "add" and indicate or type in location of VST files. Now background. Asus UL50VT Win7 64bit with dual HD, 100+ gbs on C: with about 30 gbs free (so trying to avoid loading it up); 300+ gbs on D, so when I have the option I direct all VSTs to "D:\VSTPlugins\Kontakt8 or \Sampletank2, etc. I've got both these collections of VSTs under D:. I've tried it a number of ways, each time checking "okay" then opening a file and opening a track and checking "FX" and looking for VSTs. When I type that in the blank at the top of the VST page, with semicolons, OR if I use "Add" and direct it to either the "VSTPlugins" or "Kontakt8" or any of the subfiles, and choose clear cache and rescan, then "okay" at bottom, then open new file, open track, check FX, look for VSTs. THEY AREN'T THERE. The only thing I haven't tried is reboot after doing that. Is that what I'm not doing? What am I doing wrong?

Try Start Reaper If it's not completly empty of tracks choose Ctrl+F4 to close the project then Ctrl+N to start a new project Press Ctrl+T (to get a fresh empty track) Click the FX button on the new track you just created On the left of the window that opens click VSTi not VST (A VSTi is an instrument, a VST is an effect (but they are both commonly referred to as VST's) If you've set your preferences correctly (as in your post) you should see Kontakt in the list. If you don't see Kontakt you should at least see VSTi: ReaSamplOmatic5000 (Cockos) VSTi: ReaSynDr (Cockos) (4 out) VSTi: ReaSynth (Cockos) To check whether Kontakt is correctly installed, close Reaper, open your VST folder and do a search for .dll I use the full version of Kontakt 4 these days but even with the player I think you should find Kontakt 4 8out.dll ( If you're using the Kontakt 5 player then it will be Kontakt 5 8 out.dll) Kontakt 4 16out.dll (or as above for Kontakt 5) Kontakt 4.dll (or as above for Kontakt 5) If you don't see them, do a search on your hard drive to see where the Kontakt installation process put them.

ok first of all... can you run kontakt by itself as a standalone app? If so, can you load an instrument and play it both by a midi device like a midi keyboard and also from the kontakt piano keyboard on the GUI? If so... good.... If not then let's stop and solve that first. If that is OK... then inside reaqper pref's, VST set you path to your vst folder, do a clear cache and a rescan... [and first really do look for the kontakt.dll's in your VST folder...] If they are NOT there let's stop... If that is all good in reaper, make a new track... set the input for it to be whatever your midi device is arm the track for recording and clk the little speaker icon until it says input monitoring now clk the FX button the FX Brower comes up in the left side... go all the way to the top... select All Plugins now in the filter field... type in Kontakt you should see 3 versions of kontakt in the right window pane... IF NOT TELL US IF yes... dbl clk one of them and it should load onto the track then inside kontakt, load an instrument... IF all is good so far, hit some keys on your midi keyboard... or on the kontakt piano keys and let's see if you get sound IF not... let's stop and solve that part... tell us what you got from the above plz.

Responses 1 to Tweezer & Hopi 

Dear T & H: I kind of incorporated both of your suggestions into a simple search on my computer. You will remember, I have a crowded C drive, so whenever possible in installing Kontakt8 Free, I would direct the DL to my D drive. So here is where the files are: (Note: parentheses show what's inside a folder.) UNDER D:\VSTPlugins: GuitarRig5Player, KontaktFactorySelectionLibrary, ReaktorFactorySelection, Komplete_8_Players_100 [both an app. and a disc image file. UNDER D:\Program Files\NI: GuitarRig5 (docmtn), Komplete8Players (docmtn), Kontakt5 (docmtn), Reaktor5 (docmtn), VST Plugins 32bit, VST Plugins 64bit INSIDE the above "Plugins" (32 and 64 bit) are identical file names: GuitarRig5 dll, Kontakt5 8out.dll, Kontakt5 16out.dll, Reaktor5 FX 2x8.dll, ... FX.dll, ... surround.dll, ... .dll. UNDER C:\ProgramFiles\NI: ControllerEditor (doc.,template,controllereditor) GuitarRIgSessionIODriver (Asio,doc.,Helper,Inf,Sesscpi), Service Center (Conf,Docmtn,Reloader,ServCntr) UNDER C:\ProgramFiles (x86)\NI: ISO Mounter. I will wait for your posts. And as for KONTACT5, it opens, and I have instruments (band,synth,urban beat,vintage,world), and UNDER "Synth": 2 basses, 3kits, 2leads, 4pads, 1seq. I presume what you are going to tell me is to point RPR to ProgFiles, 32bit and 64bit, am I right? and not "D:\VSTPlugins", right? Thanks a lot. unca D

You just need to point Reaper to where the installation has put the .dll files. Where they were put would have been an option during the installation and if you just used the defaults that's where they'll be. If they're in 'ProgFiles, 32bit and 64bit' that's where you need to point Reaper to look. You can still keep and use the VST folder you made on drive D: Reaper supports multiple locations. For example, if you wanted to have a folder for VST's on C: and one for VSTi's on D: You could enter in the options box C:\VST;D:\VSTi (All paths must be seperated by a semi-colon) Many VST/VSTi's do not require installing nor do they have a .exe file to install them. Many just need to have the .dll files in your (wherever you choose) folder. Any number of paths on any drive can be accomodated. One other thing, I noticed while reading another post of yours was that you were having problems with ReaSynth while playing it from a Roland Controller with the MIDI ins and outs connected. Can I suggest that you disconnect the MIDI out from Reaper to the MIDI in to the Roland. As a controller doesn't make any sound there's really no point in risking MIDI being transmitted back to it and setting up a loop.

Response to Tweezer