Kontakt 5 "no format VST exists"

Walker Farrell's icon

Latest update of Kontakt 5 causes this error message 98% of the time when I try to load it with the vst~ object in Max, regardless of format (vst, auinfo) or whether I'm running Max 32- or 64-bit. The plugin does appear in the Plugins list and file menu. I tried dragging from plugins list, sending "plug" message, opening via file menu, naming it in vst~'s argument. Gave Max it's latest update too just in case, no luck. The plugin does load successfully in Ableton. One of my biggest long-running Max projects depends on Max hosting this plugin. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks!

Tj Shredder's icon

Kontakt Player runs here, maybe try that as well. Usually its a 32 vs 64 bit problem, but you checked that already...
Or go back to the previous version, I bet you have a time machine backup...

Walker Farrell's icon

Yes I'm definitely considering a Time Machine backup, though that will be a temporary solution. I'll try Kontakt Player first, thanks for the suggestion, hadn't considered!

kcoul's icon

What do you see when you right-click the Max app and do Get Info? Does it have the Open in 32-bit box checked?

For me this box somehow self-checked itself when I upgraded to High Sierra and that's what caused me to see the same symptoms. Unchecking the box fixed things.

Walker Farrell's icon

Thanks kcoul, I have tried running Max in both 32-bit and 64-bit modes but no luck :(

florian1947's icon

I had this happen with some AU plugs.
Standard procedure would be to trash Max pref's in the user library.
Even reinstall Max completely.
But I also had some luck changing Andrew Pask's javascript to only look for instruments instead of all types of plugins.
But it remains shaky.

Walker Farrell's icon

trash Max prefs in the user library

Would you be willing to elaborate on that?

florian1947's icon

(on macOs)
folders:
user/library/application support/cycling74/Audiounits
and/or:
user/library/application support/cycling74/Max 7/Audiounits
as well as:
user/library/application support/cycling74/Max 7 Database

will be rebuilt on next run

Walker Farrell's icon

Thanks I'll give that a whirl :)

Really don't want to do a Time Machine restore if I can avoid