Section 17 · Presets and synths
Loading presets: double-click or drag
What it is for
Understand how the preset reaches the synth, and what to do in each case. You always start from the Presets tab.
Video
T17 · ≈ 4 min
Video coming soon
This video tutorial is still being recorded. Until then, the steps below cover everything.
Video script
- On Serum 2, double-click and the preset goes in.
- Sonora checks that the synth changed before confirming.
- Diva and Spire work the same way.
- On VST2 synths, like Sylenth1, the .fxp preset also loads with a double-click.
- On other synths, Sonora opens the synth and shows the file.
- Drag the file onto the synth’s window.
- This is the list of synths with double-click.
Two ways
| Way | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Double-click | Double-click the preset (or Open in Plugin Host). Sonora loads the synth and hands the preset to it. | Synths with automatic loading |
| Drag and drop | Sonora opens the synth and shows a notice with the preset file. Drag it onto the synth’s window. | The other synths |
Which synths load by themselves
| Synth | Preset format | How it loads |
|---|---|---|
| Serum 2 | .SerumPreset |
Double-click |
| Diva | .h2p |
Double-click |
| Spire | .spf, .sbf, .spf2 |
Double-click |
| Other u-he synths | .h2p |
Double-click |
| Sylenth1 and other VST2 synths | .fxp saved by the plugin itself |
Double-click (in the VST2 version of the synth) |
| Vital, Massive, Phase Plant and other VST3 synths | The synth’s own format | Drag and drop |
Step by step (drag)
- On the Presets tab, double-click the preset.
- The synth opens in the Plugin Host and the notice with the file shows up.
- Drag the file from the notice onto the synth’s window and drop it.
- The synth loads the preset.
“Applied means applied”
On synths with automatic loading, Sonora checks that the synth really changed before saying the preset was applied, and never applies a preset to the wrong plugin.
If something goes wrong
- “X opens in another plugin (Y), so it was not loaded here.”
- The preset belongs to another synth. Open it from the right synth (or double-click again and let Sonora switch).
- The preset did not change the sound.
- If the synth is not on the automatic-loading list, drag the file. If it is and nothing changed, open a ticket with the preset and synth names.
Still stuck? See Section 23 or talk to Support.
Questions about this section
Do I have to drag every preset?
Only on synths outside the automatic list.
Why do some load by themselves and others do not?
Each synth stores presets in its own format. Sonora understands the format of some and hands the preset over directly; for the others, it opens the synth and lets you drag.