VST Plugin Manager

[Michael L]

ways to sort plug-ins in various folders

By coincidence, I just re-sorted, renamed, created groups/subgroups and a 'storage folder' for plugins-- all at one 'flat' level. Its fast and I haven't yet used browser presets. Is there another file system that is as fast, easy and flexible?

[Grizzellda]

I just re-sorted, renamed, created groups/subgroups and a 'storage folder' for plugins-- all at one 'flat' level. Its fast and I haven't yet used browser presets

Can you elaborate, because I'm not getting this. I can only create one "group level", but those groups can only contain plug-ins, not other groups (which is what I would like).

And how would you use browser presets for this?

[sl23]

Mulab allows as many groups as you need. In the VST list, I think you right click the right hand column to add group or use existing.

[Michael L]

Can you elaborate

In the Plugin Manager I make groups (click R column) for similar items with Group-Subgroup labels at the same level e.g. EQ-Clean, EQ-Colour, EQ-Whateverr. In that way I don't have to navigate thru nested folders (which I find distracting). I also rename (R-click L column) many VSTs to suit me. Together, it lets me navigate with minimal mental effort, but YMMV.

[Grizzellda]

Thanks for that, I'm glad it works for you - I guess I just like nested folders!

This is still a workable system, way better than a long unruly list, but not quite as cool as some other DAWs where you can really organize and save all the different plug-in configurations that you need!

[Michael L]

all the different plug-in configurations that you need!

What are plugin configurations?

[Grizzellda]

A plug-in configuration would be a subset of all the plug-ins on your system.

SONAR example: Suppose you have 250 plug-ins on your computer, SONAR scans them all and that could be considered your "default configuration". So if you start a new song and go for a plug-in, SONAR will present you with all 250 of them, organized the way it finds them in Windows Explorer.

However, you could, if you like, create a folder which could be named, and fill that folder with only a specific group of plug-ins that you need for that song. Those plugs could be further sorted into subfolders. This would be a "plug-in configuration", and frankly, you could make as many as you wanted, not just for songs, albums, but FX categories, mixing, mastering, etcetera. Very flexible stuff. You could access several different configurations for just one song!

In each different configuration, SONAR would simply "see" just those plug-ins that you included, so if you had a configuration called "compressors", you wouldn't need to look through 250 plug-ins to find some compressors! So it's basically just good organization.

This is something any serious DAW should have, and it is especially great if you've got loads of plug-ins. Since Jo has been talking lately about MuLab being a little more "pro", I really hope he can get this into a future version.

[bibz1st]

Isnt that something that can be done with the Favourites folders ?
Edit
forget that, thinking about it. its not the same is it

[Michael L]

you could make as many as you wanted, not just for songs, albums, but FX categories, mixing, mastering, etcetera

That sounds like Rack Presets or Project Templates ( & multi-project feature)
http://www.mutools.com/info/docs/mulab/rackdesk.html
http://www.mutools.com/info/docs/mulab/main-menu.html
http://www.mutools.com/info/docs/mulab/ ... oject.html

if you had a configuration called "compressors", you wouldn't need to look through 250 plug-ins to find some compressors!

That sounds like a "Compressors" Group in the VST Manager. Also, you can rename each plugin using keywords/codes and search using the Browser.
For me the MuLab system is intuitive, but everyone's mind is unique...

[Grizzellda]

That sounds like Rack Presets or Project Templates ( & multi-project feature)

Interesting ideas here...Yeah, I think between Rack Presets, Templates & Muxes there is considerable flexibility to do alot with plug-ins as it is, but not quite what I'm talking about.

That sounds like a "Compressors" Group in the VST Manager.

Correct, but in MuLab you can't save that "compressor group" to disk, right? It would just simply be there when when you open the VST plug-in list.

But you make some good points...the reason I bring up SONAR is because it has a central module called the "Plug-In Manager" where you can do all this stuff that I mentioned, saving many configurations (Cakewalk calls them "layouts") to disk, and it is super cool.

[Michael L]

I am a Macboi, so thanks for sharing about the Sonar system & its different approach. I am always curious about other workflows!