Vst Plugins Folder In Ableton

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Unlike other DAWs (FL Studio at least, which is what I use), Ableton Live allows you to choose only one custom VST plugin folder. This drives a lot of people nuts, especially when moving from another DAW to Ableton.

64-bit plug-ins: C: Program Files VSTPlugins; 32-bit plug-ins: C: Program Files (x86) VSTPlugins; Mac: Macintosh HD Library Audio Plugins VST; If you're using a custom VST folder you need to locate the WaveShell file and move it to your custom VST folder. Then re-launch Live if it's already running. This will scan the Waveshell. Go to Preferences File Folder and click on the ‘Browse’ button for “VST Plug-in Folder”, and browse and select “Ableton VSTs. Live will scan all VST folders you have placed shortcuts to in the “Ableton VSTs” folder. Now, when you click on “Plug-ins”, you will notice the shortcut names as folders. Ableton Live makes it possible to utilize plugins stored in different folders on the computer. To do this, create a Mac OS or Windows alias of the folder where additional VST Plug-ins are stored, and then place the alias in the VST Plug-In Custom folder (or in the VST Plug-In System folder on Mac OS X) selected in Live's File/ Folder Preferences. To save up space on my computer, once I download my VSTs, the.dll files are downloaded to a designated VST folder on the SSD. I decided to free up some more space on the computer by moving all preset files into the folders for each plug in, from C: to A:, then deleting the remaining files in C. A special file called a WaveShell is installed to the default plug-in folder. However if you're using a custom VST folder then you need to locate the WaveShell file and move it to that folder. See our dedicated article: Using Waves plug-ins with a custom VST folder. Don't move the standalone or VST versions after installing (Windows only). Open the Ableton Live application. Click the 'Options' menu and select 'Preferences.' Click the 'Files/Folders' section of the window that appears. Click the button next to 'Use VST Plug-in Custom Folder' to toggle it to 'On.' Click the 'Browse' button next to 'VST Plug-In Custom Folder.' Navigate to and select the folder you created.

In the Ableton Live preferences, go to the 'File Folder' tab. Ensure 'Use VST Plug-In Custom Folder' is ON, and click 'Browse' to choose the folder where all your VST plugins are. After that, click 'Rescan' to make sure Ableton Live has refreshed the list of installed plugins.

Fortunately, there is an easy solution- shortcuts! Here’s how to easily point to many VST folders from Live:

  1. Choose a folder or create one that you will to point to from Live later on. This doesn’t need to contain any plugins. Let it be an empty folder if you please. Let’s call it “Ableton VSTs” for this article.
  2. Now here’s the important step- create shortcuts of all your VST folders that you want tracked by Live and drop those shortcuts in “Ableton VSTs”. Rename these shortcuts to meaningful names (you’ll find out why ahead).
  3. Go to Preferences> File Folder and click on the ‘Browse’ button for “VST Plug-in Folder”, and browse and select “Ableton VSTs.

Vst Plugins Folder In Ableton Plugin

Vst Plugins Folder In Ableton

Vst Plugin Folder Ableton Live 9

Live will scan all VST folders you have placed shortcuts to in the “Ableton VSTs” folder. Now, when you click on “Plug-ins”, you will notice the shortcut names as folders. Enjoy!