Hey Paul,
I did indeed read your manual, especially the pages you so kindly pointed out.
Instead of assuming that I was criticizing your manual, or that your manual explains everything in the most clear sense in the best way, you might have simply answered my question in my first post. I'm not sure you even read through my steps. You and this forum are the best place, as far as I know to get help and answers. If all you're going to do is refer me to the manual (which hasn't really changed since this software first came out), and basically imply that I'm incompetent, then what is the forum for? I looked everywhere on your site, even for a video tutorial on this and did not find anything. If there are other resources for me besides trial and error, I welcome you pointing me to those. Even the section you refer to in the manual is called "An Overview". It is not a tutorial.
But, I started anew today, and again I went through each step in those pages. I started VE Pro Server, I then opened Logic and created a blank project. I then created an instrument track and opened VE Pro (multi). I then went over to VE Pro and in the mixer created 2 stereo channels with Kontakt 4 on them. I had one be violins, and the other be cello (this is all very similar to my first post so far). I then set up all audio channels and midi channels so that I could play as expected. I saved this Logic project as STRINGS 1. I then went to the VE Pro and pressed PRESERVE. I named this Strings 1. I then went back to Logic and saved the song one last time.
Now I did a "Save as" in Logic and named the project STRINGS 2. So now I have everything as described in your manual, 2 Logic project sessions and one VE Pro Preserved instance called Strings 1.
Now I close STRINGS 2 in Logic - now no Logic song is open at all. The VE Server Interface does close, as does the mixer window. However the Server Window still shows the Preserved Strings 1 as connected to the local host, AND the icon does not show un plugged. This is contrary to what your manual states, and the screenshot shows at the bottom of page 14: "As soon as you close your song, the preserved instance will be disconnected (the plug icon in the Vienna Ensemble Pro Server window indicates this state as well). Mine does not indicate this. The icon is still connected and the instance is connected to the localhost.
Even so, I open up the Logic song STRINGS 1. As expected from the manual, the song opens, and the VE Server window and mixer open up. I can play violins and cellos just fine. All is well. The VE Pro Window shows the Preserve icon red and the name Strings 1 is there. And the plugin data arrow is there if I need it.
Now I close the Logic Song. Again, the Server Window does not show a disconnect, but the Server Interface and the Mixer window do close. In the Server Window, Strings 1 is still connected to localhost, and the icon shows connected as well.
Is this descrepancy in the manual versus actual experience associated with Logic only? It's not a big deal, but it is different from the manual.
I am not sure what I did, in my first post, to make VE Pro load all settings each time. Perhaps I got the order of steps (click Preserve, THEN save the Logic Song) wrong, or failed to do one last save of the Logic song after pressing Preserve.
Paul, I can figure all this out on my own, and I really don't care if my Server Window shows something different from your manual screenshots and descriptions, as long as I can figure it out and get work done. But if you have something to patiently add, I sincerely am willing to learn. This is all new, and I am one of VE Pro's biggest fans. I have already talked this up to many of my composer and keyboard friends here in Nashville and other places. I would like to think that I can come here and get help if I need it, no matter how silly or incompetent I may sound to you initially. I'm actually a pretty savvy guy when it comes to software. I'm also a pretty nice and decent guy, when treated the same.