The new (forced) UnitedPlugins ​Manager is terrible

[slackhead]

Tokyo Dawn have a very good manager. All the other developers should take a look at this to see how it can be done.

[mothra]

Let me give a real life example of how amazing managers/download assistants are in 2025. I own only 3 Steinberg products and I'm forced to use their fanstastic download assistant.

You're not forced to use it at all. That's why they have individual downloads in the support section of the website (just like Arturia does). The Download Assistant is completely optional, I don't even think you need it to add your DAC codes when you buy something, you can do it online in your account directly.

You do need the activation manager, as that's how licensing is done, but nobody is forced to use the Download Assistant. It's completely optional if you don't need/want it.

[Milkman]

Im sick to death of "plugin managers", and have been for decades. I dont need any adoring fan-people/brand managers to try to explain to me how useful it is, either. These are sales and marketing tools, number one, and "convenience tools" for users, number last. These are usually managers that put your purchased licenses riiiiight next to all the products you dont own, so you see all the products in a nice neat list.

These are marketing tools. They are an ADDED point of failure and a problem for software that could be more minimal, but that would take brands being less paranoid and authoritarian about their products.

[pekbro]

He even works for melda now, what did you expect...

[plexuss]

Im sick to death of "plugin managers", and have been for decades. I dont need any adoring fan-people/brand managers to try to explain to me how useful it is, either. These are sales and marketing tools, number one, and "convenience tools" for users, number last. These are usually managers that put your purchased licenses riiiiight next to all the products you dont own, so you see all the products in a nice neat list.

These are marketing tools. They are an ADDED point of failure and a problem for software that could be more minimal, but that would take brands being less paranoid and authoritarian about their products.

Wow, that's a lot of stress in your life over plugin managers. Sorry to hear. Get better soon.

[Milkman]

Im sick to death of "plugin managers", and have been for decades. I dont need any adoring fan-people/brand managers to try to explain to me how useful it is, either. These are sales and marketing tools, number one, and "convenience tools" for users, number last. These are usually managers that put your purchased licenses riiiiight next to all the products you dont own, so you see all the products in a nice neat list.

These are marketing tools. They are an ADDED point of failure and a problem for software that could be more minimal, but that would take brands being less paranoid and authoritarian about their products.

Wow, that's a lot of stress in your life over plugin managers. Sorry to hear. Get better soon.

Wow, that's a lot of projection against someone sharing something related to the topic, but ok. Way to come to the defense of a plugin manager! You are a brand hero!

[kinkajou]

You're not forced to use it at all. That's why they have individual downloads in the support section of the website (just like Arturia does). The Download Assistant is completely optional, I don't even think you need it to add your DAC codes when you buy something, you can do it online in your account directly.

You do need the activation manager, as that's how licensing is done, but nobody is forced to use the Download Assistant. It's completely optional if you don't need/want it.

Where can i find the link to Cryostasis v2 then? I only have v1.6 in my account.

[mothra]

Where can i find the link to Cryostasis v2 then? I only have v1.6 in my account.

Well, we were talking about the Steinberg Download Assistant..

[kinkajou]

Where can i find the link to Cryostasis v2 then? I only have v1.6 in my account.

Well, we were talking about the Steinberg Download Assistant..

...of course... then i posted in the wrong thread... maybe....

[oobesan]

I am fine with a plugin manager, but it needs to meet three conditions.

1. Free from bullshit bloatware. Steinberg is the single worst of all. They install three applications on your system- elicense manager, steinberg download assistant, and another one I’m forgetting the name of, PLUS the plugin manager. That is f**king insane.

2. The plugin manager allows for customized plugin type (VET, VST, AAX, AU, CLAP) selections, and doesn’t force your to download and install every option.

3. It automatically detects available updates and gives you a filter to see which ones need updating.

The United Plugin manager fails the last two conditions.

I would also say for Macs, a fourth condition is that the manager is Apple Silicon native.

[plexuss]

I am fine with a plugin manager, but it needs to meet three conditions.
[snip]
2. ... allows for customized plugin type ...

3. ... detects available updates ....

The United Plugin manager fails the last two conditions.

The settings tab allows you to set the plugin formats you want. I dont have any updates to do, but the UP and Melda managers apparently auto-update when they are opened. At least thats what the documentation says. Or, maybe they update when you hit install/change. I looked for any examples of the UI when there were updates but couldnt find any. There is some kind of update management going on but I am not sure how its implemented.

[oobesan]

I am fine with a plugin manager, but it needs to meet three conditions.
[snip]
2. ... allows for customized plugin type ...

3. ... detects available updates ....

The United Plugin manager fails the last two conditions.

The settings tab allows you to set the plugin formats you want. I dont have any updates to do, but the UP and Melda managers apparently auto-update when they are opened. At least thats what the documentation says. Or, maybe they update when you hit install/change. I looked for any examples of the UI when there were updates but couldnt find any. There is some kind of update management going on but I am not sure how its implemented.

Yeah, you have to have all your activated plugins selected (highlighted) and just “Install/Change” all of them at the same time, since it doesn’t tell you which ones have an available update.

[audio/fault]

ok, i finally installed the UnitedPluginsManager to get the latest updates, but actually that's a strange application... it doesn't use the finder an MacOS, so all my shortcuts don't work and it's hidden, so can't be seen with active corners etc. not a big deal but somehow also not really trustworthy...

[hotmitts]

No objection to plug-in managers if they're done right. In fact i'd use a 'Steam' type hub for all my VST if there was such a thing. Just hit a button saying 'install all' or 'update all'. I dread the day my PC needs a re-install of Windows (which happens sometimes due to HD errors etc) 'cos then I'll have to reinstall all my VST's

[onerob]

Melda plugins tend to be updated at the same time as they use common components. There's a settings tab where you can select whether plugins and/or the plugin manager auto-update upon load. The United Plugins manager works the same way, although their plugins are more likely to receive individual updates.

I'm fine with downloaders as long as they don't hang around as background processes. I've had to rename the UAD one, otherwise it loads up every time one of the plugins is used.

One of the worst offenders was when I installed a freebie from UJAM. Far too much persistant baggage.