Hi Karel - thanks for your response.
I have investigated this issue further, and I have to say that from a completely non-technical perspective (and without wanting to be provocative), in this specific case it looks perhaps more like a VE Pro issue than a PLAY issue. The reason I say this, is that the probelm seems to stem from VE Pro not recognizing the PLAY plugin at all, or 'forgetting' that it is in the VST list. I have started scanning my VST folder every time I try and start work, and often after a reboot, the PLAY plugin is not seen by VE Pro. I have to delete folders, add them again (in VE Pro options) and then rescan, and then it sees PLAY. Sometimes I have to move the PLAY folder altogether and then rescan.
Does this not suggest that VE Pro is perhaps not retaining VST settings correctly? It seems to be more a problem of setting/option retention in VE Pro, than a technical issue with the plugin itself, although that's obviously only an uneducated impression. Once VE Pro 'sees' PLAY, I have no issues at all - it never crashes, there are no GUI, streaming or other problems with the plugin, it's simply that VE Pro seems to 'lose' it from time to time.
I will raise it with EW as well, but would be hugely grateful if there was any way you and your developers might have a moment to check what might be causing VST settings/plugin lists to become 'damaged' or incomplete.
Can I perhaps ask whilst writing - do the 32 and 64 bit versions of VE Pro share options settings, and specifically VST settings? I ask because I have been trying to experimwnt with keeping 32 and 64 bit plugins separate, and directing the 32 and 64bit versions of VE Pro only to the appropriate plugin folders. Obviously if they share VST plugin settings then this might be counter-productive.
Many thanks again for your help.
Jules