Is bundled Sonicfire non-functional trialware?

[Djard007]

I upgraded Video Studio and notice Sonicfire 6.0 was also installed, which I doubt is trailware because I cannot try it without a serial number that it requests, when I try to launch the app. Can anybody throw some light on this matter?

[lata]

Hi Djard007
When you say you upgraded Video Studio I would be forgiven in thinking that was to 2019 the latest version.
However SonicFire 6.0 was provided by Corel for CVSX10, then dropped in later versions.
My version works ok and does not require a serial number as it is installed when installing Video Studio.

If I try a manual install of SonicFire without VS X10 then it may require a serial number.

So did you upgrade to X10 and if so was it a legitimate version of the program, if not then it may not contain the licence for Sonic?

The software for Sonic is within the Common folder downloaded with the rest of the programs installation files.

[Djard007]

My upgrade is legitimate. I looked for Sonicfire 6 in File Explorer and found it under "SmartSound Software," but I see no files with extensions like MP3 or WAV. But maybe Sonicfire did install: inside the VS GUI, I see audio files, like "Ambient Drama" and Ambient Epic" under "ScoreFilter Music"; and "A Good Day Today" and "A light in Your Eyes" under "Triple Scoop Music." Are these part of Sonicfire? I have nothing under"Muserk Sound Effect."

The "Sonicfire 6" desktop shortcut the VS installation added merely needs to be deleted, no? How else can I determine if Sonicfire installed?

[RobertOZ]

You still have not stated what version of VS you upgraded to, as lata has stated, the last version to have SmartSound bundled was VSX10, and from memory, could not be accessed from within VSX10, was not the full version and could only be accessed from a desktop icon, each time it was launched, wanted you to upgrade to the full version.
SmartSound music are .sds files, not .wav or mp3
I and many other users do have the full version of SonicFire Pro 6 installed, and just as a matter of interest, my SmartSound Software folder has 25.3 GB of sound files

[Granpaw Broon]

Can I come in here? I too have version X10.5 Ultimate which did install Smartsound Sonicfire Pro 6 but from what I understand it is only an evaluation of 21 days or $199 to buy it.

This is what I get when I run it. I can't figure out how to try it from within the program. In Program Files (x86)/Smartsound Software/Sonicfire Pro 6.0/resources folder in contains 267 files. Some are pngs and the rest are svg documents. In the common data folder there is only a test file called ReadMe.txt but there certainly is not 25GB of sound files.

I updated from X9.5 Ultimate in April 2017 which included NewBlue Art Effects.

[lata]

Hi Guys
A bit of history.......

Some time ago and I know CVSX2 aka VS 12 had Smart Sound installed as part of the program, ( a plug-in) it was accessed from within the program.
After X2 and I do not know which version Smart Sound was dropped by Corel to be inundated with complaints from their customers.
By X10 Corel provided SmartSound SonicFire as a stand alone program could be run from our desktop icon, for me this works ok without the need to activate the program
It runs without problems, in a similar manner to the earlier plugin version although in a separate window. It does however complete the process by converting the smartsound project to Wav
This can then be imported to Video Studio timelines.
I have to say when I view Help About it shows my serial number followed by Trial, I have never had to input that number which is automatically added during installation.
The next versions CVS 2018 and 2019 do not include Smart Sound SonicFire, Hmmm

My downloaded installation files saved to my hard drive here
D:\Backup E\Trevors …….\X10\Common\SmartSound
To install the Smart Sound folder/SonicFire I double clicked the Setup.exe file, this shows repair, install, uninstall options
You could try that to see if a repair will fix SonicFire, if that fails uninstall the program from Program and Features and try installing again.
Some plugins / bits and pieces do need to be installed through the program, doing manually could corrupt the auto registration process.
I ran the repair here with no adverse effects.

Otherwise uninstall CVSX10 and Smartsound Sonic Fire and re-install the whole program again
The Cleanup tool could be run to uninstall
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59847

[Granpaw Broon]

I've checked in the Corel Knowledge base and it has a topic on this called : VideoStudio X10: Where is my serial number for the SonicFire 6.0 bundled with VideoStudio X10.

It seems that the working version that does not require a serial number is only in the trial version of X10 so I'm assuming that if you had the trial version on your computer and then undated to full version that Sonicfire remained. Only a theory as I never downloaded the trial myself.

[RobertOZ]

Granpaw Broom said,

In the common data folder there is only a test file called ReadMe.txt but there certainly is not 25GB of sound files.

SonicFire Pro 6 comes with limited SmartSound files, My collection has been built up over many years, adding albums as needed for different projects. I create a specific sound file, same as .wav file, then import into VS

[Granpaw Broon]

Hi RobertOZ, I thought you meant it came with these files. This is not the issue, it's that Djard007 asked if the Sonicfire 6.0 software was trialware or not, as he and I assume many others can't get it to work unless we pay $199 for it. Whereas others like yourself and lata it works without a serial number. I was just comparing what was installed on my PC, I know that I have a lot of BLX files in the ProgramData/SmartSound Software Inc/Encoding folder. Does the software work directly within X10 as I can't figure out how.

[asik1]

As far as I recall Sonicfire was on limited version, with only so far "music" files. The user had to buy and extend the music library if he want.
And if I go deeper in my head in X10 it came with no albums at all just the shell.
It was dropped in X8 and X9. blinked in X10 and off it went later....

[lata]

Hi Asik
The original Smart Sound provided by the earlier Video Studio program (called AutoMusic) had a pack called Full Spectrum possibly another pack as well?
These are available in Sonic Fire, It is not that intuitive searching the library but I suggest first selecting Owned Titles then Albums – all * albums, should give you an idea as to what is available.

Granpaw Broon
The Sonic Fire is a stand alone program and does not work within or from X10 although it is installed whilst installing Video Studio X10 which i guess could cause some confusion.
You open the program from the start menu – SmartSound folder SonicFirePro 6.0
I assume you will be creating sound files to add to your Video Studio projects.
First decide the duration of that sound file. Then open Sonic to create a sound with the same duration
Finally Export will create a WAV file that can be used in Video Studio.

All you guys have to do is try a re-install to see if that fixes the licencing issue

[Djard007]

My version of VS is identified below (v10.5).

I get the same notification as Granpaw Broon when running the executable for Sonicfire. For Corel VS to also install such a large program as Sonicfire--as trialware--is disappointing. I have always understood that "Ultimate" versions of software meant that additional apps--if only with limited features--were included to compliment the program. My Ultimate version of Corel PaintShop Pro included a bonus disk with working versions of AfterShot Pro (with plug-ins), Athentech Perfectly Clear and ON1 Effects. Evidently Corel's policy has changed.

My assumption that I needed help to make Sonicfire work is apparently incorrect. I feel deceived and will uninstall the trialware. Using the free but powerful and friendly Audacity DAW to tailor audio for video clips works nicely and takes me less than two minutes peer clip, letting me use all kinds of effects, like automatic volume adjustment of music when narrating a title.

[lata]

Hi
Sonic Fire is an AutoSound program that will create music files with different durations
It uses Smart Sound technology, some info here
https://www.smartsound.com/sound-effects/
We can choose a length for our sounds, any length and it will generate the sound
We cannot add a wav sound file to Sonic Fire as it works with its own smartsound files.

So if you are intending to edit an existing Wav sound file then Sonic Fire is not for you, Audacity would be best.

When you installed the CVSX10 the free version of SFP6 is also installed
If you accessed Welcome and downloaded and installed “Sonic Fire Pro 6 lite” then you will have to purchase that version.
If you have installed Sonic Fire as a trial, then installed X10 you may have activation issues.

Have you guys actually uninstalled Sonic Fire, uninstalled CVSX10, then re-installed CVSX10.

Sonic Fire is installed as part of the program and not part of the Bonus Features that make up the Ultimate files.
The installation files being located in the Common / SmartSound folder is 160Mb, and that’s small as programs go.

[Granpaw Broon]

I have re-installed VS10 on 3 different occasions, the last time I completely re-built my PC using an 1TB SSD and installed VS10.5 and VS2018 and it still didn't work then. Do you think they may have removed the plugin as I allowed the install to re-download the files from Corel?

[lata]

Hi Granpaw Broon
Please read the next post
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=66527&start=15

If you think the installation files are not correct or not complete you can download them again
The last time I refreshed my download files was April 2019.
I am now downloading the entire package again and will then do a new install of CVSX10
Of course I will make sure I uninstall Sonic Fire as well as CVSX10.

First we can download the files whilst X10 is installed.
To download the packages again run the X10 stub (VideoStudio_Install.exe) it’s a small file at 10860Kb
When you get to the last panel “Please choose a folder for downloaded files” select a new empty folder.
Just above that deselect “do not download installed Modules again”
Then “Download Only” will download the entire installation files for CVSX10
Once complete you can compare the size and contents of the Common / SmartSound folders from your original to the latest downloads.
I am doing that now, but on a slow internet so downloads will take time.
I will then un-install X10 and Sonic Fire to install from the new packages