Organizing the VSTPLUGINS folder

[G&L_player]

Just when you thought you had the container for all you VST/i instruments and effects, here comes another installer that puts something somewhere else...and another, and another. Now, you update the sequencer and, now you got another "vstplugins" folder. Sound familiar? Yikes!

Personally, I just started using the "..\Steinberg\vtplugings" folder, as I intially didn't see the need for it. It wasn't until I upgraded Cubase, that I realized how much of a mess that the order of these darned plugins could become. In addition, there's another division (i.e. the microcosm) that takes place within the vstplugins folder itseld. More specifically, we have a standard division offered by the manufacturer (e.g. Delay, Distortion, Drums, etc...), which often gets augmented by that arbitrary installer that has a better idea. Of course, there's the "you choose it" mode, that is more prevalent. However, sometimes those contingent preset/license/documentation folders end up going somewhere else.

Anyone who has examined their vstplugins folder over time, know that an "installer knows best" approach will leave their folder in disarray This, of course, makes finding and choosing the effect/instrument a bit more difficult.

What is the best way to organize this vstplugins container? Personally, I have moved to an organization by manufacturer within the functional department. For example, I have a "Native Instruments" folder within my "...\vstsynths\synths" bin. In addition, I have set up some new folders to help corral someof the other stuff that was innocently obscure. More precisely, I have set up a "...\vstplugins\Mastering" folder, and then included sub-folders by manufacturer (e.g. "...\vstplugins\Mastering\IK Multimedia"; for TRacks).

Initially, I had forgot about sequencer updates and how they might proceed . In many instances, the manufacturer begings a new tree. Therefore, setting up and elaborating on the existing version tree (e.g. Cubase v1.X), only complicates future efforts, when a new version is applied (e.g. Cubase 2.x, 3.x). I now find myself keying on that "...\Steinberg\vstplugins\" folder that I seemed to be ignoring. After all, I had already started adding to the "...\Steinberg\Cubase SX\vstplugins" folder.

Well, this has been my experience. It seems as though, once the ship started moving in one direction, I couldn't, nor was I interested in turning it around. Now, I know better and have made concerted efforts to set myself up for future upgrades and to get the subfolders setup for multiple instances by manufacturer. Now, my "...\Steinberg\vstplugins\synths" folder contains a drawer for each manufacturer (e.g. "..\synths\Linplug"), with a special one for synthedit (e.g. "..\synths\Synthedit\GTG"), which was really stirring things up in the synth department.

How do you organize your sh t

[tomschmidt]

I've opted for "c:/program files/VST Plugins" with the following structure (2 main subdirs with sub-subdirs):

VSTfx & Tools
-------------
_MIDI FX
_MISC FX
_MULTI FX
_TOOLS
Delay~Echo
Distortion~Overdrive~Mic&Amp Simulator
Dynamics (Compressor~ Limiter)
EQ~Exciter~Enhancer
Filter~Wah~Lo-Fi~BitCrusher
Gate~Chopper~BufferSynth~Granulator~Mangler~Glitcher
Imaging ~ Panning ~ Routing
Mastering~Noise Removal~DeEssers
Modulation (Flange~Phaser~Chorus~Trem~RingMod)
PitchShifter~AutoTune~Ensemble
Reverb
Vocoder~Vocal FX~AudtoMIDI~AudtoSynth
WaveShaper~SampleManipulator

VSTi
------
Drums & Perc
Drums & Perc
Drum Sampler
Drum Synth
Drum Synth & Sampler

Sample Modules
Bass
Brass & Winds
GM Modules
Guitar
Keys
ACCORDIAN
CLAV
E PIANO
MELLOTRON
ORGAN
PIANO
TOY PIANO
VIBES
MISC
Strings ~ Orchestral
Vox
World

Samplers
SAMPLERS
PHRASE SAMPLERS
SOUNDFONT PLAYERS

Synths
Synth (Additive)
Synth (Analog ~ Subtractive)
Synth (Bass)
Synth (Chip~Arcade)
Synth (Filtered Noise)
Synth (FM)
Synth (Formant ~ Vowel)
Synth (Granular)
Synth (Hybrid)
Synth (Modular)
Synth (Pad)
Synth (Phase Distortion)
Synth (Physical Modeling)
Synth (Ring Mod)
Synth (SwitchTable)
Synth (Tempo Synced)
Synth (Theremin & Stylophone)
Synth (Unclassified)
Synth (Wavetable~Sample-based~Waveshaping)

[.jon]

too many plugs is the problem

I have two folders, c:\fx and c:\vsti, and then every plug under those in its own folder. I only keep 15 VSTis for the sake of productivity. The fx folder has some subfolders like "classics", "mda" and "G" among some 120 folders.

[M'Snah]

This is a recurring topic that remains interesting .

Installers that use hard-coded directory names suck!. Hosts too btw. I recently installed ACID, and it found my VST directory, then started to scan all my vst's and crashed (of course). And I cannot change that directory in ACID, otherwise I'd gladly point it somewhere else.

I have more or less the same structure, although I find that it mostly makes sense for the effects VST's.

vstplugins
|-- instruments (= samplers, revitar, peti, etc)
| |-- subdir per VST or developer
|
|-- synths (= Albino, VAZ, M51, Spectra, Octopus etc)
| |-- subdir per VST or developer
|
|-- effects
| |-- mastering magic (e.g. SpectraLive, VintageWarmer)
| |-- reverb
| |-- delay
| |-- and a lot of other directories
|
|-- MIDI tools
|-- eXT VST
|-- ERA

Re: too many plugins - Yes you're right. No you're not. Depends on your goals with music. I like collecting and experimenting, and don't need to be *productive*.

[G&L_player]

This is a recurring topic that remains interesting .

Personally, I didn't start dealing with these problems, until I revved up from Cubase SX (1). After I did, I realized that I had two trees going on and needed to apply some degree of management that would enable me to grow with the whole scheme.

Installers that use hard-coded directory names suck!. Hosts too btw. I recently installed ACID, and it found my VST directory, then started to scan all my vst's and crashed (of course). And I cannot change that directory in ACID, otherwise I'd gladly point it somewhere else.

I'm offering that the manufacturer (of the seuqnecer) remain intact, in conjunction with a "generic" drawer/folder that holds the additional plugs via user-initiated installations. This way, when the user upgrades, they can keep the same base of installed plugins, while maintaining the tree maintained byt the sequencer itself. In the instance of Cubase, the Steinberg contains a "...\Steinberg\vstplugins" directory, in addition to the "..\Steinberg\Cubase SX" tree that can be left behind after revving up to version 2/3 (or more).

[runagate]

This brings up a question I've always been meaning to ask:
Can you just arbitrarily move your vst plug-ins around?
Most of the VSTs I have that cause trouble are freeware (no complaint there!) and I know I can move them around but I don't know what's up with the others.
I've messed up some plug-ins' associated files by relocating them like when you dl a web page and the html has to stay in the same relation to its images folder.

There's so many oddities to the VST standard. I'd think with so many of us using them (and making them) that some streamling of the infuriating problems we all have would get into the system somewhere along the line.

And I'm just a musician & composer with no money on the line if something crashes. I've dutifully reinstalled things over & over for the last several years because I'm patient and I refuse to let my evil little machine beat me. I've tried to grin and bear losing entire compositions where I still have the final mix-down but lost all the steps to getting there.

But there's plenty of people who have a lot of money riding on these wonderful little plug-ins, possibly even their careers if the something goes haywire at a critical moment.

Of couse, I could just stop arbitrarily loading in everything that strikes my fancy - but I won't.

[G&L_player]

This brings up a question I've always been meaning to ask:
Can you just arbitrarily move your vst plug-ins around?
Most of the VSTs I have that cause trouble are freeware (no complaint there!) and I know I can move them around but I don't know what's up with the others.
I've messed up some plug-ins' associated files by relocating them like when you dl a web page and the html has to stay in the same relation to its images folder.

Generally, one can move the tree do another location. In fact, most plugs will be found, upon startup (based on its desigated/configured path), and work properly. One might, however, run into individual problems that can be quite easily fixed. The key is keeping the "product tree" (i.e. where the plug finds its counterparts) intact. However, one can pick this whole tree up and move in into a more sensible organization scheme that compliments the user's style.

FYI: this is simply a matter of paths and having the sequencer find what is necessary...like the OS does itself. The sequencer will find anything that's within it's designated path, which is configuable.

[M'Snah]

I think that 90-95% of the plugins can be moved without problems. The ones that caused me problems are e.g. Symptohm, CronoX3, where the synths still worked, but had a bit of trouble finding the preset and samples directories. Same thing for e.g. JamStix and the ChineeKong stuff, because they expect their samples in certain subdirectories.

EDIT: I was typing when G&L posted... more or less the same info now...

[G&L_player]

I think that 90-95% of the plugins can be moved without problems. The ones that caused me problems are e.g. Symptohm, CronoX3, where the synths still worked, but had a bit of trouble finding the preset and samples directories. Same thing for e.g. JamStix and the ChineeKong stuff, because they expect their samples in certain subdirectories.

Yeah, I've found that M'Snah's offering is right on. There are specific products that might bark at their new residence, however, most of the plugs will not complain. It's only when the product does not map to a relative path, that the "where am I" stuff comes up. As long as the path works off the sequencer's home, the plugs should come up without a hitch...in theory.

[.jon]

Re: too many plugins - Yes you're right. No you're not. Depends on your goals with music. I like collecting and experimenting, and don't need to be *productive*.

this is naturally subjective. I like synths (I think we all do), but learning to get the best out of one takes a lot of time. Especially when we now have several different types of synthesis. And as I've paid for certain intruments, I feel I owe it to myself to learn them inside out before going on hoarding again

What I hate most about installers is that they don't always tell you whether they create a folder for the plug or not. This leads to having stupid extra levels in the plug folder.

If you move a plugin that was installed by an installer, they usually make a Win registry entry to provide the uninstall path. When you try to uninstall such plug, you get "uninstall file or smthng blabla not found". Some plugins with internal patch browsers also "hardcode" their fxb path on installation, and oving them causes problems.

[M'Snah]

this is naturally subjective. I like synths (I think we all do), but learning to get the best out of one takes a lot of time. Especially when we now have several different types of synthesis. And as I've paid for certain intruments, I feel I owe it to myself to learn them inside out before going on hoarding again

Of course I agree. But then suddenly Spectra is released, and the week after someone offers VAZ for a discount, and then (today) suddenly M52 is released... And that's only 2006 so far...

[runagate]

I had a little fun earlier this week:
I used several uninstallers and something or other caused my PC to seize up.
When I rebooted my entire VST folder was empty.
That was fun.
Oddly, aside from time, I didn't lose anything but next time I'll take a better organizational tack.

[scobbah]

Interesting topic. I have quite a mess in my folder right now, so I'm thinking of using a better structure three for next installation. One thing I am curious about, especially now when I have some Cubase projects that are a bit sensitive to me...

Suppose I have a saved project where I got a VSTi loaded, and this VSTi is placed right in my \vstplugins directory. Suppose I then format my hard drive and reinstall Cubase with plugs, using a new structure three in the \vstplugins directory (the VSTi would now be in a subdirectory of \vstplugins folder). Would my saved project find and load the VSTi upon loading the project in Cubase? I've never done this and I'm about to buy myself a new disk for the Cubase + plugs installation so I'm curious...

Thanks in advance.

[Sascha Franck]

Regardless what you're doing and how you're organizing subfolders: Don't install those things on c:!
If there's one partition which might be f**ked up one day (be it through a virus or an otherwise non-functional Windows), it's gonna be c: - and there go all the hours you've been spending, carefully organizing your vstplugins.
In addition, you'll have to look for all the original files again.

I've got all my plugins under D:\Programme\Emagic\Logic 5\vstplugins. Cubase and Energy XT use it as well.

When everything f**ks up, or when moving to a new machine, I just copy the folder and delete those requiring installers and probably some authorisation.

Personally, I'm using a mixed sort of organisation. Some companies have their own folder, such as Native Instruments, FXpansion, U-He and smartelectronix, the rest is sorted by type, and then there's my "look at me but probably delete after trying" folder (of course it's only labeled "test").
Of course, my instrument folder has some subfolders, but right now, on my new laptop, I reduced the amount of plugins drastically, so I may not even need those subfolders anymore. Trying to get back to making music instead of trying out too much new gizmos.

[Rangtangtang]

Right, you need to organize them in groups i.e have a seperate folder of each one like; instruments, drums, reverb, chourus and flanging ect. Sometimes you can't whith some because of the way they have been installed. I don't like installed stuff because it complicates everything.

Then there is the problem of some hosts that automaticaly search for a particular folder, which can be a headache if you have to many and some don't agree whith the host. But, whith some hosts you can set the path for the VST folder.

It might be best to double up and have another folder somewhere else that have the same VST in it. Console could be handy where you could use it to load up your VST. Another idea, have shortcuts on your desktop to your various Host's VST folder, so you can access them quickly. Maybe even changing the icon to your shortcut might help. Whith the free Iconmake you could personalize your new shortcut icon.

The biggest problem is having too many VST and its so easy because there are so many free ones about. If you have been doing it for a while it might be best to do a cull and keep the ones that you use the most in the type of music that you do. Always try and keep a backup of all your software and VST which can be very time consuming, especialy if you want to update your backup.