Sonora Manager guide
Learn Sonora Manager, one feature at a time
A short tutorial for every feature of the plugin, with video, step by step, common questions and what to do if something goes wrong.
Button names follow the plugin interface. When a label shows up in another language in the plugin, we show both names: Name in English (Nome em português).
Getting started
Install, sign in, open the plugin in your DAW and get to know the interface.
- 01 Overview Meet the five modules of the plugin and what it is not: samples, packs, presets, Plugin Host and Drum Rack.
- 02 Installation What you need, how to download and install the plugin and where it lives on Windows.
- 03 Account and activation Create your account, confirm your email, sign in to the plugin and follow the activation on the dashboard.
- 04 Open in your DAW Rescan your plugins and insert Sonora as an instrument on a MIDI track, in Ableton Live 12 and FL Studio.
- 05 Interface A tour of the top bar, the player and the interface zoom controls.
Samples
Sample packs, search, favorites, the Drum Rack and dragging to your DAW.
- 06 Install a sample pack Copy an organized sample folder into your library, seeing the result before you install.
- 07 Search and preview Find the right sample by name, category or type and hear it right away, with keyboard shortcuts.
- 08 BPM, key and similar See how Sonora reads BPM and key from the file name, sorts samples, uses tags and suggests similar samples.
- 09 Favorites and collections Mark favorites, build collections of samples and get back to them fast.
- 10 Uncategorized and keywords Categorize files with generic names and teach Sonora your own keywords.
- 11 Drag to your DAW Take a sample from the library to an audio track or sampler in your DAW.
- 12 Drum Rack Build a 16-pad kit, choose the MIDI note layout and save your kits.
- 13 Installed packs See, open and remove installed packs and use samples from several folders and drives.
Presets and synths
Preset packs, the Preset Manager, the Plugin Host and how a preset reaches the synth.
- 14 Install a preset pack Put a preset pack in the right folder for each synth, or point Sonora at folders you already have.
- 15 Preset Manager See the presets of every synth in one place, search by name and organize with favorites and collections.
- 16 Plugin Host Open your VST2 or VST3 synth inside Sonora, with its original window and controls, linked to your preset library.
- 17 Double-click or drag Understand how a preset reaches the synth and what to do in each case.
- 18 Your presets Save the current sound as a preset, rename, duplicate, favorite and organize in collections.
- 19 Undo, bypass and project Undo and redo changes in the Plugin Host, control audio, MIDI and bypass and save the synth with the project.
Settings and support
Settings, updates, moving to another computer, common problems and support.
- 20 Settings One by one: language, folders, plugins, keywords, data and cache, and account.
- 21 Update Install new versions without leaving the plugin and learn what each message means.
- 22 Change PC Deactivate the old computer to activate the license on the new one.
- 23 Troubleshooting A table of symptoms, likely causes and fixes, and what to have at hand before opening a ticket.
- 24 FAQ and support General questions, how to open a ticket and a glossary of the terms used in the guide.
All questions
The questions from every section, in one place. Tap a question to jump to its answer.
Show all 46 questions
- Do I need the Plugin Host to use the Preset Manager? in Section 1 · Overview
- Which operating system does Sonora Manager run on? in Section 1 · Overview
- Is Sonora Manager VST3 or VST2? in Section 1 · Overview
- Does Sonora replace my synths? in Section 1 · Overview
- Do I need administrator rights to install? in Section 2 · Installation
- Can I install to another folder? in Section 2 · Installation
- What if another computer tries to use my license? in Section 3 · Account and activation
- Can I open more than one copy in the same project? in Section 4 · Open in your DAW
- The interface is too small or too large. What do I do? in Section 5 · Interface
- Can I install the same pack twice? in Section 6 · Install a sample pack
- What is “Multi-pack”? in Section 6 · Install a sample pack
- Can I hear just part of a sample? in Section 7 · Search and preview
- Does searching by tag replace the normal search? in Section 8 · BPM, key and similar
- I unfavorited a sample and it vanished from the Favorites tab. Is that right? in Section 9 · Favorites and collections
- Can I have the same sample in several collections? in Section 9 · Favorites and collections
- Does deleting a category delete my files? in Section 10 · Uncategorized and keywords
- Does the DAW get the original file or a copy? in Section 11 · Drag to your DAW
- I changed the layout and the notes in my song did not change. Why? in Section 12 · Drum Rack
- What happens with invalid characters in the kit name? in Section 12 · Drum Rack
- Can I move the output folder later? in Section 13 · Installed packs
- The synth I want is not in the “Plugin” list. What do I do? in Section 14 · Install a preset pack
- Which synths does the Preset Manager list presets for? in Section 15 · Preset Manager
- Do I need the Plugin Host to use the Preset Manager? in Section 15 · Preset Manager
- Do I need the synth installed? in Section 16 · Plugin Host
- Do I have to drag every preset? in Section 17 · Double-click or drag
- Why do some load by themselves and others do not? in Section 17 · Double-click or drag
- Where are my presets? in Section 18 · Your presets
- I saved a preset and it does not come with the project. Why? in Section 18 · Your presets
- I opened the project on another computer. Does it work? in Section 19 · Undo, bypass and project
- What happens to old projects? in Section 19 · Undo, bypass and project
- Does pointing Sonora at existing preset folders delete anything? in Section 20 · Settings
- Do I lose my projects when updating? in Section 21 · Update
- Can I update by downloading the installer from the dashboard? in Section 21 · Update
- Do my data and favorites vanish with an update? in Section 21 · Update
- Can I have the plugin on two PCs at the same time? in Section 22 · Change PC
- Does my data go with me to the new computer? in Section 22 · Change PC
- What do I need to have at hand before opening a ticket? in Section 23 · Troubleshooting
- The update failed. What do I do? in Section 23 · Troubleshooting
- Which synths does it work with? in Section 24 · FAQ and support
- Does it replace my synths? in Section 24 · FAQ and support
- Which DAWs can I use it in? in Section 24 · FAQ and support
- Is Sonora Manager VST3 or VST2? in Section 24 · FAQ and support
- Which operating system does it run on? in Section 24 · FAQ and support
- Does it change my files? in Section 24 · FAQ and support
- Can I update from the plugin itself? in Section 24 · FAQ and support
- Can I use it on more than one computer? in Section 24 · FAQ and support