Why do some companies secretly install Pro Tools plugins on my system?

[BenfordLaw]

a lot of plug in installers allow you to select the formats you want to install.. also, nothing is stopping you from deleting the folder with all those AAX plug ins in it. i've deleted it from my mac more than once. it's irrelevant and nothing will miss it.

sometimes i forget to uncheck the "AAX" format in the installer.. no big deal. just delete them after.

Too funny. The original poster said in his first post:

"If you don't like it, just delete the folder" is not the answer - I'm genuinely interested in the 'why'.

[BenfordLaw]

Serious question. Is there a reason why?

For their convenience, is it not obvious?

As has been pointed out already, conscientious developers allow the customer to configure which formats are installed.

I don't see the convenience for them - if anything it creates more problems from people like me distracting their support about unwanted Pro Tools plugins filling up their harddrives. I'm curious to know the reason why so I will contact some of these devs. I don't see the convenience, sorry - if you could elaborate on it a bit more please, to help me understand.

My assumption is two-fold: (1) You are the exception, and for every one of you there presumably are 2 or 3 ProTools users who would call in and complain that AAX is not working. Judging just from this thread, for every one of you complaining directly to the developers there are multiples of customers silently deleting the plugins and moving on. (2) The packaging tools that most devs use seem to have evolved to allow more granular installation choices in the past x years (not sure what the value of x is), and conscientious developers have updated and offered the choice to their customers. I don't know it it's a toolchain thing or an assumption about what gets installed thing, but I have seen an evolution over the 3-4 years I've been paying attention.

Wouldn't Pro Tools users select (if they were given the f-ing option!) the AAX version when installing? I'm pissed off that this stupidity has wasted 100MB of my C: drive. It's just bad programming and 'couldn't be bothered' attitude from developers.

[BenfordLaw]

Must be a Windows thing?

Just checked on my Mac - zero AAX installed *shrug*

LOL - you're a Mac user, so you don't know how to search your own hard drives properly... or how a computer works.

[Songwriter101]

I had successfully kept AAX plugins off my computer because everything I had installed gave me a choice, then I reinstalled my NI stuff only to find a folder named Avid with all the NI stuff in AAX format. I did it through Native Access and I don't remember being given a choice.

Same here. I am cautious and untick everything except vst3. Still I found a ton of aax files. Well, I created a shortcut to the avid folder and I will take a look into it from time to time.

[ChamomileShark]

yikes, over 8GB! It's a newish machine and if I'm offered a choice of formats I only choose VST3 or at a pinch VST2.

[kidslow]

It's just bad programming and 'couldn't be bothered' attitude from developers.

When I say it is for their convenience and that conscientious developers operate differently, that is what I mean.

I would lay the blame at the feet of product manager types who draw up requirements checklists and specifications. When the people who draw up the specs are not generally users of the product, it's all just one big list of features. Refactoring the installation scripts competes with other features on a list too large to fulfill, and since it's not sexy and "not broken" the changes remain unimplemented (if they even show up on a list). The programmers simply deliver to spec. There is a mitigation too - if the end user doesn't like it, they can remove the cruft.

[dayjob]

a lot of plug in installers allow you to select the formats you want to install.. also, nothing is stopping you from deleting the folder with all those AAX plug ins in it. i've deleted it from my mac more than once. it's irrelevant and nothing will miss it.

sometimes i forget to uncheck the "AAX" format in the installer.. no big deal. just delete them after.

Too funny. The original poster said in his first post:

"If you don't like it, just delete the folder" is not the answer - I'm genuinely interested in the 'why'.

FU cop. /s

[BBFG#]

Just weighing in here that some (as the OP has stated) don't give you the option.
Checked my folder (which I delete occasionally as well) and found this:
931 MB: AAS (Swatches only); Arturia (Intro String Augments only); Native Instruments (Players Only): and the rest of these in et al fashion: Korg; Spectrasonics; Roland Cloud


Maybe this thread can list the "repeat offenders" to watch out for?

[seangm]

Hot crap, I didn't know about this. Just nuked a bunch of useless AAX crap.

[plexuss]

There is so much wrong with software development. It's not the individual contributing coders however. The further up the chain of management the further the company's "head" get stuck up their ass. I work in the industry and so I know. There is nothing that can be done. The best bet for any end-user is to simply not buy products from companies that have their head up their ass, if that bothers you to that point. sending them emails of complaint etc will not help - they dont care. the only thing the business cares about is money. vote with your money.

[revvy]

Must be a Windows thing?

Just checked on my Mac - zero AAX installed *shrug*

LOL - you're a Mac user, so you don't know how to search your own hard drives properly... or how a computer works.

Screech my puta’s hard dives? This technobabble is most confusing. Luckily I use a Macingtosh.

s/h

[rod_zero]

also didn't know about this, not much space but the audacity to install them

[MogwaiBoy]

a lot of plug in installers allow you to select the formats you want to install.. also, nothing is stopping you from deleting the folder with all those AAX plug ins in it. i've deleted it from my mac more than once. it's irrelevant and nothing will miss it.

sometimes i forget to uncheck the "AAX" format in the installer.. no big deal. just delete them after.

Too funny. The original poster said in his first post:

"If you don't like it, just delete the folder" is not the answer - I'm genuinely interested in the 'why'.

If a giant sinkhole opened up on your street, there's always gonna be that guy that wonders what the big deal is - why can't you just drive around it? I mean, honestly, thanks, I never thought of doing that!!

Or your house is on fire and when you ask the neighbour for help their only response is "Huh? My house is fine - never had that problem..."... Good for you!

[Michael L]

Serious question. Is there a reason why?

Works for them.

Less user choice = less can go wrong during installation = less need for developer support.

For example, Vojtech/ Melda said you download presets and other files for all their plugins when you install even one plugin cuz the monolith reduces need for his support, and he says "they don't take up that much space on your computer."

[martinjuenke]

Must be a Windows thing?

Just checked on my Mac - zero AAX installed *shrug*

LOL - you're a Mac user, so you don't know how to search your own hard drives properly... or how a computer works.

Screech my puta’s hard dives? This technobabble is most confusing. Luckily I use a Macingtosh.

s/h

As always Apple offers the most elegant and simple way to delete unwanted Plugin stuff:
https://apps.apple.com/de/app/pluginfo/ ... 2949?mt=12
PS: it's free.