Quick Start Guide
Step 1: Download from Dropbox
Please go to Dropbox by clicking on the Dropbox link provided in the “downloading”
email, and then download all the files from it.
Below are several tips to help you:
1. You do not need to have a Dropbox account or pay for it to download all the
files. In some cases, when a ZIP file is larger than 20GB, Dropbox will require you
to pay to download; however, it is not advisable to download a ZIP file larger than
10GB, as it is very likely to fail.
2. Dropbox can ZIP all the files and folders into a ZIP file. But, if the ZIP file’s size is
too big, it is very easy to experience failure at the end of the downloading
process, which is quite frustrating. From our experience, we can unequivocally
state that a ZIP file larger than 4GB is highly likely to fail at the end. And a ZIP file
larger than 10GB is more likely to fail at the end.
3. Dropbox also has a tricky feature: If you have installed its APP, it will set up a
folder in your computer, then you can choose to save it in your Dropbox. But this
is not a download; the files are still on the internet. You will need to actually
download all the files.
If you have trouble with Dropbox in some cases, please contact our customer service
at webmaster@[Link] for additional/alternative downloading methods.
Step 2: Install Neo Orchestra Plugin
Install Neo Orchestra Plugin on Mac OSX
A. Go to Plugin_Installer folder (You may need to extract the ZIP file downloaded
before doing so) and run the installer name as “Neo_Orchestra_Installer.pkg” to
install Neo Orchestra Plugin.
B. If you are using Catalina or a newer version, you may encounter a message
similar saying: “Neo_Orchestra_Installer.pkg can’t be opened because it is from
an unidentified developer”
If you experience something similar, please follow the instruction in this article:
[Link]
a/
But the process is not as complex as the one described in the article above.
Usually, if you choose the second option “App Store and identified developers”
will work in 95% of cases.
C. After installation, it is recommended to restart your Mac (Logic Pro X requests a
restart so it can detect the newly installed plugin).
D. Open your DAW, and then load Neo Orchestra. Sometimes, you will find it under
SKMY as developer name/category. Stop here wait for Step 3 and 4 to complete,
then proceed to Step 5.
Installing Neo Orchestra Plugin on Windows
A. Go to Plugin_Installer folder (You may need to extract the ZIP file downloaded
before doing so). You will find “Neo_Orchestra_Installer_32bit.msi” (For 32Bit
VST Plugin) and “Neo_Orchestra_Installer_64bit.msi” (For 64Bit VST Plugin) as 2
installers. Install them both or choose one. Please note: 32Bit or 64Bit is not
determined by your Windows OS, but the DAW you use. A 32Bit DAW can only
support a 32Bit VST plugin, while a 64Bit DAW can support both. And some 64Bit
DAWs only support 64Bit VST plugins; please choose the version carefully.
B. After running the installer, it will let you select an “Install” folder. This folder must
be your VST plugin folder; otherwise, you need to manually add this “Install”
folder as the VST folder in plugin setting in your DAW.
C. It is recommended to restart your PC after the installation of the plugin so the
DAW can detect the newly installed plugin.
D. Open your DAW, and then load Neo Orchestra plugin. Stop here, wait for Step 3
and 4 to complete, and proceed to Step 5.
Step 3: Copy the Sample Sets to Your Preferred Location
Sample Sets are the actual products you have purchased. Neo Orchestra is the
universal player/engine for the products. So it is important to put the sample sets in
your preferred location so you can find them quickly.
A sample set has 2 files: an ins file and an image file. Please copy them both, as
forgetting to copy the image file will result in some images being lost on GUI.
Copying the Sample Sets Files to the Default Folder
Copying the sample sets to the default folder only has one benefit: It will appear in
the dropdown list when you click “Select Instruments” so you can select the sample
sets quickly.
The default folder on PC is:
\Users\Public\Documents\SoundMagic\NeoOrchestra\Instruments
The default folder on Mac is:
Users/Shared/SoundMagic/Neo_Orchestra/Instruments
Copying the Sample Sets Files to Your Preferred Folder
The default folder is on the system disk, which usually does not have enough space
left to store sample sets, so you have the option of putting sample sets in your
location. In theory, you can put the sample sets anywhere you want, and load them
manually in Neo Orchestra plugin. Only net disks or other disks with very low speeds
are not recommended..
Step 4: Copy the Presets/Banks to your Preferred Location
There will be presets and bank files in Presets folder. Presets are files that have a
postfix as nsp. Banks are files that have a postfix as nsb. (Many instruments do not
have banks, only a few products has banks)
They are very small in size, so it is recommended you put them inside the default
folder in order to make them load faster.
The default Presets folder on PC is:
\Users\Public\Documents\SoundMagic\NeoOrchestra\Presets
The default Presets folder on Mac is:
Users/Shared/SoundMagic/Neo_Orchestra/Presets
The default Banks folder on PC is:
\Users\Public\Documents\SoundMagic\NeoOrchestra\Banks
The default Banks folder on Mac is:
Users/Shared/SoundMagic/Neo_Orchestra/Banks
Step 5: Get the Machine I.D.
Machine I.D. can only be found inside Neo Orchestra plugin. You need to open your
DAW and load Neo Orchestra Plugin as at the end of Step 2. The plugin should
bounce out a sub-panel when you first load the plugin; Machine I.D will be in that
panel. If not, please click Neo Orchestra logo to access the sub panel shown below.
Then please copy the Machine I.D. (Please do not type it to avoid typo.)
Paste it onto this page [Link] or email it to us directly,
with the product name “Thor,” at webmaster@[Link]. We will email you back
with keycode shortly, maximum within 24 hours.
Step 6: Use keycodes to Activate the Sample Sets
Matching Keycodes
Each keycode only works for one sample set/ins file. If you have several sample sets
that need to be activated, then you need to match the keycodes and the files names
carefully.
Applying Keycodes and Activation
A. Load the sample set that needs to be activated in the plugin by clicking “Select
Instrument” as shown below. If you put sample sets into the default folder, then
you can select it in the dropdown list. If not, then select File selector; it will open
a browser which you can locate files there.
B. Find the matched keycode in txt file, then copy and paste it into “keycode Entry
Required” area shown as below.
C. Sometimes, you will find it shows “Load Failed” and you cannot paste keycode, as
shown below:
Here are the causes and solutions:
1) You put the ins file in the same folder as the VST dll files under Windows
system, so the ins file cannot be loaded.
Solution: Move the sample sets/ins files out of the plugin folder.
2) The folder name/path is too complex and has special letters, so the plugin
cannot recognize the folder name.
Solution: Make the folder path/name simple, not complex; and avoid special
symbols and capital letters.
3) You do not have enough access to the location the folder stores sample sets.
Solution: Access “Administrate” right under Windows or access right under
OSX for that folder. But a quick solution is to move the sample sets into the
folder you have enough access.
D. Then please press “enter” to apply keycode if you are using Windows system.
Under OSX, you will need to apply single or multi left click on the area that shows
“Keycode Entry Required” to paste the keycode.
E. When first trying the sound after activation, it is recommended to turn down the
volume, as in some cases, an unmatched keycode input will make the sound
become digital noises. In this case, please try to re-enter the matched keycode to
make it work.
F. If you still encounter problems, please contact our customer service at
webmaster@[Link]
Step 7: Use Key Switch Sample Sets
Key Switch Sample Sets are those sample sets that have “KeyS” or “Strummer” in the
file name, and, usually, they need to be activated. You need to press the key to
trigger the default technique at the beginning of the MIDI track; otherwise, you will
hear random notes being triggered.
In default, if you do not change any key switch setting, the default key switch is set to
C0, while C-1 is the lowest key. But, in some DAWs, including logic pro X, use C-2 as
the lowest key, so in this case, C-1 will be the key that triggers the default technique.
We also included a [Link] file in most instruments; it is a short MIDI with C0
that helps you to initialize the Key Switch Sample Sets.