KVR Audio

Ulrik Sander · Post by **Ulrik Sander** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 11:56 am

Hello.

As the post title suggests: I am wondering if there is a 'default VST plugins path' string in the Windows registry...? To be clear, I want to know if the registry contains a string - that I can edit - which DAWs, audio editors, etc. automatically set as for their default VST path. Oh, of course I also need its location in the registry, doh.

NB: My OS is Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 and I use the included regedit.exe editor program

Thanks in advance!

Peace.

kmonkey · Post by **kmonkey** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 12:01 pm

Ulrik Sander wrote:Hello.

As the post title suggests: I am wondering if there is a 'default VST plugins path' string in the Windows registry...? To be clear, I want to know if the registry contains a string - that I can edit - which DAWs, audio editors, etc. automatically set as for their default VST path. Oh, of course I also need its location in the registry, doh.

NB: My OS is Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 and I use the included regedit.exe editor program

Thanks in advance!

Peace.

Indeed it does. Here is how my is looking..i created one for myself so after windows reinstall i just double click on it and any decent VST plugin installer will lautomatically "detect" that path and install plugins accordingly - Note that there are still installers which specifically ask you to choose your folder manually. It really depend on developer and installer:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\VST]
"VSTPluginsPath"="C:\\Program Files\\Steinberg\\VstPlugins\\"

above is for 64bit system

and this is for x86 plugins on 64bit system:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\VST]
"VSTPluginsPath"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steinberg\\VstPlugins\\"

Ulrik Sander · Post by **Ulrik Sander** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 12:34 pm

kmonkey wrote:Indeed it does. Here is how my is looking..i created one for myself so after windows reinstall i just double click on it and any decent VST plugin installer will lautomatically "detect" that path and install plugins accordingly - Note that there are still installers which specifically ask you to choose your folder manually. It really depend on developer and installer [...]

Thank you, man.

I need a bit of clarification: If I set the x86 and x64 paths correctly in regedit.exe and restart, will (most) VST installers install to the path in string without asking/allowing you to change it manually? Or do the VST installers only set the path from the string into its 'install text field' - thereby still allowing the user to edit the installation path?

I hope it's the latter scenario, cus I have both my x86 and x64 VST plugin folders divided into two sub-folders: 'Effects' and 'Instruments' so it would be necessary for me to tweak the adress a tiny bit every time.

A quick reply - Mr. kmonkey - so I can decide whether to do it or not would make me extra glad and grateful, hi-hi.

Peace.

DarkStar · Post by **DarkStar** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 12:37 pm

^^^
It all depends on the installer. These days, most of the ones I've used let you change the location (and so they should).

I almost never want the default location to be used, as my plug-ins are organised into sub-folders (for each type of plug-in: reverb / EQ / subtractive synth etc)

xNiMiNx · Post by **xNiMiNx** » Fri Jan 10, 2014 6:13 pm

http://www.asseca.org/setVSTpath/index.html

I have no fear of Regedit, but that little tool is worth keeping around

cemster · Post by **cemster** » Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:02 pm

Here is the answer I received elsewhere and it worked...

1. Create a new key named "VST" in the folder "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE" MainMenu > "Edit" > "New" > "Key"
2. In the new key "VST", create a new String Value named "VSTPluginsPath" MainMenu > "Edit" > "New" > "String Value"
3. Enter your VST path ... press ENTER on "VSTPluginsPath"

A 'default VST plugins path' string in the Windows registry?