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In this tutorial, we look at different ways to organize your plugin collection based on your personality type.
How do you organize your plugins? It’s not nearly as sexy a topic as sidechain compression or spectral delay but it’s a little thing that can have a big impact on your workflow. However, it’s also a very personal decision. Much like organizing a record collection or bookshelf, the manner of the organization will depend largely on your personality type. Are you uptight and like everything just so, or do you thrive in chaos? Do you like to have things set up and ready to go or do you prefer a setup that’s looser and more adaptable?
Avoid using the AU and VST versions of the same plug-in in a Live set. How to install VST or AU plug-ins on Mac. Download the latest installer file from the plug-in manufacturer's website and run it. Most plug-ins will install themselves to the default system folders, others might simply need to be moved to the correct folder. Ableton Live v7.0.14 - 1CD PC MAC OSX UB. Use VST Plug-In System folders is On if you want to use the VST format of Regroover Now click Rescan and close the Preferences window. In the Browser Sidebar. Click on Plug-ins. You should be able to see the main VST folder and the Audio Unit folder Regroover Audio Unit. You will find Regroover inside the accusonus folder Regroover VST. VST plug-ins (32-bit): C:Program Files (x86)VSTPlugins; Note: Live 10 and 11 are only available in 64-bit, so 32-bit plug-ins aren't supported. Likewise, 64-bit plug-ins won't appear in 32-bit versions of Live. Once installed, launch Live. Open Preferences → Plug-Ins → Plug-In Sources. Note: If you are using a Live version prior to 10.1., you will find it under Preferences → File/Folder → Plug.
Accordingly, there are as many ways to organize your plugin collection as there are people with DAWs. With that in mind, let’s break down six different ways to do it based on personality type. As always, click on any image to see a larger version.
Plugin Organizers
Most DAWs have their own plugin organizer. They’re all a little different, ranging from robust (Logic Pro X) to please please make this better already (Ableton Live). As most Attack readers are Ableton users, we’ll look at how to get Live set up before moving on to the organization methods. If you’re not a Live user or you’re already familiar with Collections, which was introduced in Ableton Live 10, feel free to skip ahead.
Collections is less of an organizer than a tagging system. There are seven available tags, each with a unique colour. It’s visible in your Browser at the upper left. To start using it, hover your cursor to the right of the Collections title and click on the Edit button that appears. This will reveal the options. You can then change the names of each tag as you see fit. Tick the checkbox next to the tag name to make them visible in the Browser.
Next, assign coloured tags to the plugins that you want to be grouped together. This will work with stock Live plugins as well as third-party ones. (It also works with samples, presets, devices, drum racks – really anything that can appear in the browser.) You can do this by right-clicking on the plugin name and assigning the category that way, or by selecting the plugin and typing the number associated with the tag. You can also drag plugins directly onto the category name in the Browser. Conveniently, Live allows you to add more than one tag to a single plugin so you don’t have to choose between, say, saturation and distortion for something like Waves’ Abbey Road Saturator.
We’re aware that there are ways to organize plugins with folders and aliases. This seems better suited for PC users than Mac users, although we confess that we haven’t tried this as it seems like a good way to create problems. If you’ve had luck with this, please let us know in the comments how you did this.
For non-Live users, please see your DAW manual for how to organize your plugins.
Organizing By Personality Type
Now that we have the nuts and bolts out of the way, let’s get to the actual organizing. We’re going to look at six different way to organize based on personality type.
Type 1: Everything Just So
By plugin type
In this method, plugins are organized by their function and separated into neatly labelled categories. Effects are grouped into sections like delay, reverb, dynamics, and saturation, while instruments are divided up into synthesizers, drum machines, pianos, and so on. There are very likely subcategories as well, such as analogue and digital for synth type.
For the person who likes everything to be organized just so, this is a comforting way to group your plugins. You know exactly where everything is and don’t have to waste time hunting around for something in the heat of creativity. We imagine that your record collection would be done alphabetically by genre and that your computer desktop is likely pretty clean and uncluttered.
Type 2: Can’t Be Bothered
By manufacturer
Yes, this is how your DAW probably organizes your plugins by default. Each plugin is nested in a folder for the manufacturer. Want to load Kontakt? Open the Native Instruments folder. Serum? Head for the one labelled Xfer Records.
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Who leaves it like this? The producer who can’t be bothered to change it, that’s who. And anyway, you’re probably already used to it. You have muscle memory set and know exactly how to manipulate your mouse to scroll down to Dada Life -> Sausage Fattener. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
Type 3: Newest Is Best
By most recently cracked bought
Acquiring new plugins can be addictive. Whether you’re buying, borrowing or stealing (hey, no judgment), you’re going to gravitate to using your latest because they’re clearly the greatest. For this type, we recommend creating a dynamic list of favourites.
Ableton Live’s Collections features a tag called ‘Favorites’ but why stop with just one? Give each of the tags an appropriate name and then continue to manage the list as you go, adding the newest and culling the oldest as you go. This way, exciting new sounds are within easy reach. This method requires constant revision but hey, it’s a small price to pay to have inspiration right there.
Type 4: Jack Of All Trades
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By job
As producers, we have to wear more than one hat in the studio. We’re songwriters, engineers, mixers, and mastering engineers. Each of these jobs requires a different mindset and more often than not, a separate set of plugins. Why not organize your plugins by job then, with separate categories for each of these roles? You could get more specific if you like, with additional subcategories (if your DAW supports it) like song-writing assistants, vocal processing, and instrument effects.
Type 5: The Journeyman
By genre
If you’re the Journeyman type, you work in a number of different genres. Perhaps you’re a ghostwriter, or work on soundtracks, or just like to make different kinds of music. If this is you, divide your plugins up by genre category. There are plenty of instruments that are geared towards specific kinds of music, so drop them into their own genre folders. Remember, you can put plugins in more than one category, so instruments and effects that cross genres can happily live in more than one place. This way, you never have to feel like you’re being pulled apart by your different genres ever again.
Type 6: The Individual
By however you want
Workflows are very personal. What works for one person might be infuriatingly awkward for another. While we have presented some ideas here, ultimately the one that best fits your needs is the best. You might try a few of the suggestions here only to find that a hybrid approach is tops for you. Or maybe you prefer to pick your top 10 and drop them all directly onto the Browser. Someone else may find an Excel spreadsheet of all their plugins is the quickest way to get the job done. Whatever helps you make music in the most streamlined way is the way that you should choose.
How do you organize your plugins? Let us know in the comments.
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Ableton Live VST and Plugins FAQ
Ableton Live is about making music. When you're writing and composing, Live is quick and responsive. When you want to record and develop your ideas, Live has the depth and toolset for intricate production. It's got the features to take your DJ skills to the next level and it's stable and flexible on stage, whether you're playing in front of 10 or 10,000 people.
Can I access VST Plug-ins in Live when it is running as ReWire slave? |
Why don't I have a VST Plug-in folder in my Live Application folder in OS X? |
Why doesn't Live show my VST Plug-ins in the Plug-in Effects Browser window? |
I am rescanning my VST directory in Live but it still doesn't show all of my plug-ins. Why? |
I'm trying to add automation data for several plug-in parameters to one track, but whenever I record new automation, my previously recorded automation data is erased. |
Live crashes when I try to open a Live Set containing my Waves Plug-ins. |
Does Live support Direct X Plug-ins? |
When using VST or built-in instruments, where is the window that allows me to arrange notes onto key tracks using a piano roll? |
How should I set the Plug-in buffer size in the Live 7 or 6 Preferences/CPU tab? |
Does Live support Cocoa user interfaces for plugins on the Mac? |
Live doesn't show all of my VST plugins on my Intel Mac, although they are all Universal Binary. |
Why aren't my third-party plug-ins working correctly with Live 8's Configure Mode? |
You can use VST Plug-ins in Live only while running Live as ReWire master or as a stand-alone application. |
The VST folder under Mac OS X is located in the following folder: Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST. You place your VST Plug-ins in this directory. |
Please go to the File/Folder Preferences and be sure you have selected the correct Path for your VST Plug-in Custom Folder. Live's default setting is the VST folder within your Live Folder, with the exception of OS X, which uses the OS X Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST folder. If you use an Intel Mac, please ensure that your VST Plug-ins are compatible. Be sure you have set the Path for your VST Plug-in Custom Folder. |
Please be sure that the plug-in is actually a VST effect plug-in. If you are using Mac OS X, please be sure that the plug-in is not a Mac OS 9 effect. If you're using an Intel-Mac, please be sure that your VST is compatible with your system. If it is a indeed a VST effect plug-in, try holding Alt/Option while clicking on Rescan so that Live does a completely new scan of the directory. |
In order to overdub automation data, make sure that the Arm Recording button of the track is NOT armed. Hit the Record button and then the Play button in the Control Bar to record the automation. If the individual track Arm buttons are enabled, Live will erase any previously recorded automation. |
Waves VST is compatible with Live 7/8 from version 5.9.7. Please update to the newest version. |
Live does not support Direct X Plug-ins. Live does support VST Plug-ins, however. Please see if there is a VST version of the plug-in you wish to use. |
MIDI notes in Live are drawn into MIDI clips. If you do not already have a MIDI clip open, you can create one by double-clicking a clip slot in the Session View track containing your instrument. The MIDI Editor, which contains the piano roll and key tracks, is located in the Clip View at the bottom of the screen. It can be toggled with the Envelope Editor by clicking the title bars of the Notes and Envelopes boxes. If you do not see the Notes box, activate the round switch in the lower left corner with the note icon. With Draw Mode enabled, you can draw MIDI notes into the MIDI Editor and then disable Draw Mode to move them around. Zooming and scrolling in the MIDI Editor work the same way as they do in the Arrangement View, by clicking and dragging horizontally and vertically on the piano roll or beat ruler. The Notes box can be shown/hidden with the switch at the lower left of the Clip View. Use the title bar of the Notes box to open the MIDI Editor. |
Set 'plug-in buffer length' to 'as audio buffer.' If you experience a different sound from Live 4, set the 'plug-in buffer length' to '128.' If the latency gets too high, try to set up the plug-in buffer sizes to a half, third, quarter, etc. of the audio buffer size. Do not round the value! it needs to be exact (e.g. if you have an audio buffer of 257 samples, don't select 256/128 as the plug-in buffer). |
Live 8.0.5 (or newer) supports Cocoa user interfaces. |
As Steinberg states, only VST 2.4 plugins are supported on Intel Mac computers. Please contact the plug-in developers for a VST 2.4 version of their plug-ins in order to use them on an Intel Mac. |
For most VST and AU plug-ins, Configure Mode works without problems. Some plug-ins, however, don't correctly notify Live about their parameters. Here are some potential problems and workarounds:
Note: in cases 2 and 3, the problems are caused by an incorrect implementation of the plug-in. Please contact the developer of any affected plug-in and encourage them to fully support plug-in standards. |