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

[revvy]

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.

Thanks for the tip, looks like an interesting tool.

Though with the few plugins I have installed these days (and not really caring about a few MB of AAX stuff) I’ll probably give it a miss. You use it?

[martinjuenke]

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.

Thanks for the tip, looks like an interesting tool.

Though with the few plugins I have installed these days (and not really caring about a few MB of AAX stuff) I’ll probably give it a miss. You use it?

Yes, regularly.
Too much gargabe installed with every update by Softube, NI, AAS and all these lazy ignorant devs.

[revvy]

Fair enough.

I don't really see audio devs as lazy or ignorant.

[osiris]

Mine's not too bad, but there's one in each system(?) The OS and the x86 part. Probably 500 mb total of NI AAX.

[ChamomileShark]

I still don't know how mine got to 8.6Gb on a machine only 6 months old. Scanning through the plugins the largest I can see is Roland Cloud at 1.13.and that's much bigger than everything else .mind you there are 3,000 files in total so I guess it all adds up.

[jamcat]

1) Has anyone ever had anything install a MAS plugin?

2) Then why is there a MAS folder in Library > Audio > Plug-Ins?

[FapFilter]

Then why is there a MAS folder in Library > Audio > Plug-Ins?

ask MOTU

[e@rs]

Name and Shame - The Offenders:
...
- Soundtoys (700mb of AAX I will never ever use or need - tempted to delete and see what happens)
...

Offenders no more, they now offer the option to check what formats to install.

[tonymax]

Steinberg Download assistant just did it when i updated Halion 7... PITA..

[jamcat]

Then why is there a MAS folder in Library > Audio > Plug-Ins?

ask MOTU

I don’t use Digital Performer. I have never installed Digital Performer. I have never even been to MOTU’s website. The MAS folder is empty.

So I think it’s Apple who should be asked.

[jamcat]

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.

Not anymore. It now costs 2,99 €

[MogwaiBoy]

Name and Shame - The Offenders:
...
- Soundtoys (700mb of AAX I will never ever use or need - tempted to delete and see what happens)
...

Offenders no more, they now offer the option to check what formats to install.

Woohooo that's great news! And reminds me to upgrade to their new plate reverb too.

[VitaminD]

Wow! I found 74 files totaling 1.71 GB of space. I had no idea.

I'm usually meticulous on de-selecting AAX, but it appears some brands aren't offering the choice and installing it silently. I initially thought this thread topic was just yet another whiny one, but it was actually rather helpful. Thanks!

[MogwaiBoy]

Wow! I found 74 files totaling 1.71 GB of space. I had no idea.

I'm usually meticulous on de-selecting AAX, but it appears some brands aren't offering the choice and installing it silently. I initially thought this thread topic was just yet another whiny one, but it was actually rather helpful. Thanks!

Thanks for judging me as whiny

This is not a WUP thread, this was an honest question... I mean, if I knew the reason WHY devs do it (install AAX without asking), I might be able to accept the practice of doing it. However, I don't think there's been a reasonable explanation. The most plausible one seems to be something around less tech support requests if customers just install every format unknowingly. The most cynical explanation might be that it's some kind of deal with Avid to bloat our harddrives with their shitty plugin format we'll never use - maybe it's CIA spyware

If a beneficial side-effect of my "whining" is raising awareness to people like you to go check your Avid AAX folder and clean it up - all the better! I'd still love an answer, though.

I also dislike the way some companies auto-install 32-bit or VST2/3 when you don't need them either, but maybe that's another thread.

The bottom line is give the customer the choice to decide what's best for them, not push on them what's best for the dev.

[rod_zero]

My hypothesis is that pro tool users are dumb and don't even know what plugin format Protools uses so it is better to not give them the option to select.