[RESOLVED] Installed KFX Synth 2.02 and doesn't run/load

[Koshdukai]

TL:DR;
1: KarmaFX Synth 2.02
2: Ableton Live 12, Reason 13, Voltage Modular 2.9, savihost, etc... on Windows 10
3: Can't load VST3 or VST2 since updating to 2.02
4: Yes

Longer version:

Hi,

Installed today the latest "KarmaFX Synth Modular 64 bit.exe" downloaded through the link in the "KarmaFX Synth Modular 2 Registration!" email.

Running it I confirm that it's installing V.2.02.

After installing all components and VST2 and VST3
Core files: D:\Library\VSTs\x64
VST2: D:\Library\VSTs\x64
VST3: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3

Trying to load "C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\KarmaFX\KarmaFX Synth.vst3" I get the error "Unable to load core dll!".

I can see the "D:\Library\VSTs\x64\KarmaFX\KarmaFX_Synth\KarmaFX Synth Core.dat" file and subfolders

Now, my usual Windows user doesn't have admin privilegies (on purpose) so all installs happen through UAC elevation i.e. installs are run with an admin user but the apps are run with a regular user.

Knowing that the "KarmaFX Synth Modular 64 bit.exe" installer inserted these registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\KarmaFX\Synth\install64
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\KarmaFX\Synth\install64vst2
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\KarmaFX\Synth\install64vst3

...because this installer is setting those on HKEY_CURRENT_USER (the admin installer user) instead of using the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, I'm guessing the VST (run by the my regular user) tries to find those entries and obviously can't.

As a workaround, I exported them with admin run regedit and imported them to my regular app running user registry.

With this, I stopped getting the "Unable to load core dll!" error but... KarmaFX Synth still doesn't run.
Tried the VST2 and VST3 and no luck.

Curiously, I even tried running the VST3 through savihost3x64\savihost.exe as the admin user or the VST2 with savihostx64\savihost.exe but still no dice.

I had no issues with the pre-VST3 2.00 versions.

So... what do I do now? I'm KarmaFX-less now

Also, in the meantime, how do I download V.2.01 ?

Thanks!

[karmafx]

Hi Koshdukai!!

So sorry to hear about this issue. I will try to help you out!
First time I hear of this, actually. Sounds really peculiar.

Could you try to move the entire "KarmaFX_Synth" folder into the folder that holds your vst2 or vst3 plugins?
Then try to load that vst2 or vst3.
That should bypass the registry completely, as it checks the local folder first.
Note, this is not a viable solution, just want to work out if this is a registry issue or something else.

Savihost is great for testing!
When it doesnt give the "Unable to load core dll!", but you say "KarmaFX Synth still doesn't run.",
what is the error, what happens exactly?

To get to the bottom of this, any other info about your computer or setup would be greatly appreciated.
To make it easy, I've just sent you an e-mail, so please reply there and I'll take a deep dive into this issue.
I'm also sending your your 2.01 download link.

[Koshdukai]

After our back'n'forth and tests and now knowing about FAQ's item 24 (which explained part of the issue)
then I was able to run V.2.02 VST2 and although savihost was still having trouble with the VST3, once I tried other hosts, the VST3 was finally running as well, as long as I kept a copy of the KarmaFX_Synth folder on its folder.

This then allowed me to try adding the missing registry entries to my regular user and remove that KarmaFX_Synth copy and all is working now.

So... the main issue, basically, relates with the installation process using the UAC elevated user instead of the initial (non-admin) user running the installer.

This ends up adding registry entries to the installer user and not to the usual non-admin running user.

I've had this issue with a few VST installers (due to my unusual setup) but most are able to fix it by capturing the initial user running the installer and using that (instead of the UAC user) for registry entries.

Fortunately, most VST developers already do it this way, correctly

If this is too troublesome to fix, at least I now know the workaround: either copy the KarmaFX_Synth folder to the VST3 after an install/update or (as I prefer) copy the needed registry entries to the regular user running the DAWs.

[karmafx]

Thanks Koshdukai!

Got it! So issue is that the installer uses HKEY_CURRENT_USER for registry entries, instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Hence, loading core dll fails for a different user!

I will consider changing this in a future PC/Windows update....
Meanwhile, as you suggest, simply copying the registry entries to the other user account will work just fine.

Seems Savihost crash was due to old version of Savihost (1.42). Upgrading to 1.43 fixed that issue.

Thanks again. Setting to RESOLVED.