How to Register MP3 2.0

Leighbo wrote on 1/15/2010, 9:24 AM
I have CDA 5.2a build 153 and I noticed that the WMT analyzer, WMT volume, all encoders and other plug-ins fail to load. Where in CDA 5.2a is a prompt that allows you to register the MP3 2.0 plug-ins??
I got the BlueCat audio bundle freeware, but only the peak meter will load in CDA 5.2, none of the others, like freq analyzer,which NEED for mastering. Maybe I'm slow on the uptake, but this registering process without the internet is pure grief!!! I thought this product is a professional mastering and CD software, with freq analyzers, peak and RMS meters,osciloscope for stereo balancing xy etc....I'm very frustrated. The live help is not helpful at all. I think there reading off a script and do not have any hands on experience...I could be wrong but when I ask "where do i enter the activation/registration code for my MP3 2.0 in CDA 5.2a the answer was "A MP3 is a music file". Do anybody out there have any suggestions??. Those of you who have this version and are up an running could you help??

Comments

Geoff_Wood wrote on 1/15/2010, 5:46 PM
Um, WTF is WMT ? Are you looking for VST plugins ? If so you need to load them via a DX wrapper as CDA does not do VST natively, only DX. You did read the spec and try the demo first, no ?

There are all those types of plugins available as DX, but again, if you 'NEED' those particular ones and nothing else works for you, then a DX wrapper should work. And MP3 - why ???!!!

Prompts to register 3rd party plugins do not appear in CDA but in those plugins - don't blame CDA. CDA (and SF/Vegas, Acid,etc) offline registering is slightly complicated, but I do it all the time without stress. That's the tradeoff for not having to endure intrusive copy-protection regimes like iLok.

Yes, it would be nice if CDA could use VST, plus a few other enhancements.

geoff

Leighbo wrote on 1/17/2010, 7:21 AM
Geoff, Thanks for responding. My problem is I have not received a prompt (like when you register your software to enter the the activation code) to register my MP3 2.0 Plug-ins. Sony thinks I'm looking at the screen and can't figure out why I having a issue. I have not received a screen with a prompt to enter my MP3 activation code. Now, in CDA5.2a when I click on the toggle for the effects, there are other plug-in besides Sonys. I believe there for Windows
Media player for the light show on the screen. Its called WMT audio analyzer. I thought it was part of the mastering software, but I is not. All the plug-in are DirectX. I know part of the problem is I am not explaining the problem correctly, and been frustrated with sonys responses, my time away from mastering and recording. Now , I am at the point where I probably won't use this plug-in after all this grief. In the mean time, I found some great sounding plug-in for mastering at BlueCat Audio, and there were free. Thanks again for you time and response. I need to get back out to the woodshed and throw down some grooves and have some FUN !!

Leighbo
Geoff_Wood wrote on 1/18/2010, 3:46 PM
I still cannot understand how an MP3 plugin could have anything to do with CDA. In fact I cannot imagine what an MP3 plugin is, or does at all !

Please elaborate.

I tried some of the Blue Cat plugs, despite applying their suggested remedy for 'if they don't show up in your application', with no joy.

That they have such a statement in their FAQ might suggest something is not quite right in the quality/compatibility department....

geoff
Chienworks wrote on 1/18/2010, 5:32 PM
An MP3 plugin would let CDA open and read MP3 files. Seems pretty straight forward to me.
ChristoC wrote on 1/18/2010, 8:56 PM
But CDA does that already.
jackn2mpu wrote on 1/19/2010, 4:45 AM
Leighbo:
Your first mistake is in thinking CDA is mastering software - not the case. While you can do some effects work in it, mastering is best done in something like Soundforge. There you can use vst as well as dx effects. All the stuff you talk about doing is best done before assembling in CDA.

And Sony support is correct - mp3 is a music file (of generally lower quality than Red Book CD audio).

Jack
Geoff_Wood wrote on 1/19/2010, 3:40 PM
Um, it does inherently. You don't need a plugin for that !

geoff
xzb6np wrote on 4/4/2010, 7:15 PM
IF CDA is not a mastering software then what is it?

Mastering is the process of assembling your tracks into an album, toping/tailing, tweaking overall volume levels/eq, etc and outputing your CD. It appears to me that CDA was designed for that purpose and that is the purpose I am using it for myself.
Geoff_Wood wrote on 4/5/2010, 12:02 AM
CDA should be mastering software, and can be at a pinch, but due to the way it runs all plugins concurrently it is often just not practical to do the audioFX side of mastering in CDA, as realtime preview is compromised by CPU load with lots of or CPU-hungry plugs..

Yes, if it was fixed it would be be near-perfect.


geoff