Tracktion Software

sdunnim · Post by **sdunnim** » Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:01 pm

Hi, I've just downloaded Waveform Free, and when I try scanning for plugins none appear. I've checked all the locations being scanned and there is nothing there. Is there any way I can download/retrieve the plugins manually? I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling Waveform and the download manager, and checked it's unlocked/activated.

Watchful · Post by **Watchful** » Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:18 pm

Have you indicated (in the setup/plugins page) all the places your plugins are located? Waveform won't check your entire hard drive--only the specific locations it's told. Unfortunately, there is no standard for this: developers will put them in various locations, and users might locate theirs in a different place (I do--any time it's up to me, I locate them in my external drive in a plugins directory.

Point is, I have to *tell* Waveform where to look. And they can be all over the place! Look toward the bottom of the scan screen for where you put in all the various directories and hiding places your plugins might exist.

sdunnim · Post by **sdunnim** » Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:41 pm

Thanks for the response - there were some locations already setup to scan, but I didn't add any new locations. I haven't manually downloaded or moved any plugins though, and I assumed Waveform would know where it had automatically downloaded default plugins? If not, where would I find them, and/or where can I download them myself to put in a location of my choice?

pough · Post by **pough** » Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:47 pm

The plugin scan is for 3rd-party* plugins only. As far as I know, Waveform Free doesn't include any plugins that would need to be scanned. They're all "internal" plugins, so they show up in the Browser once you've created an Edit but they shouldn't show up in the plugin list in the Settings tab.

* Tracktion does make some plugins that need to be scanned (eg. Collective), but none of those are included in the free version.

sdunnim · Post by **sdunnim** » Thu Jan 12, 2023 10:01 pm

Ahh thanks for the clarification. I had followed the quickstart guide for waveform, which talks a lot about plugins, and (naively) assumed it would be the same for the free version. Some of the demo songs I've downloaded (e.g. "Static Observer") contain plugins which were "not found", but I guess that's just the price I pay for not paying the price! I'll crack on without any plugins, thanks again.

pough · Post by **pough** » Thu Jan 12, 2023 10:41 pm

There are tons of great free plugins out there. Unless you're mostly a recorded-audio type of musician you could probably get a lot of benefit from downloading a few.

jabe · Post by **jabe** » Thu Jan 12, 2023 10:56 pm

If you're in the UK (this might work in other countries too) get a copy of Computer Music magazine one month. They have a location where you can download a number of free plug-ins and these will give you a good start in building your plug-in collection.

The plug-ins will be an assortment of effects and instruments. You can also download samples and there may be instructional videos.

Watchful · Post by **Watchful** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:23 am

Check out plugins4free, as they have a huge range of really good ones.

Just remember that Waveform (and now most DAWs) will NOT accept 32-bit plugins. Look for the vst2 or vst3 format.

sdunnim · Post by **sdunnim** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 1:59 pm

Thanks all for the helpful pointers

Watchful · Post by **Watchful** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:25 pm

You're welcome; good luck, have fun, and let us know what you're creating from time to time!

UnionS8 · Post by **UnionS8** » Sun Jan 15, 2023 10:18 am

You can find a vast number of free plugins right here on kvr. I already checked 'free plugins' for you, you just have to select your operating system and you are on a fantastic journey through free plugins. You can also select whatever you want effects or instruments only. I also ticked 'most popular' as a sorting criterion, so you can browse few pages only to obtain the best of free plugins.
https://www.kvraudio.com/plugins/instru ... st-popular

dysjoint · Post by **dysjoint** » Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:38 pm

I recommend checking the free offerings from Voxengo, Valhalla, Tokyo Dawn Labs, Kilohearts, Melda, Blue Cat. Vital (synth) is rated highly. Check all the major players for free offerings, and there are some Facebook groups that only post about free plugins. You can definitely do a lot with free stuff to begin with.

UnionS8 · Post by **UnionS8** » Sun Jan 15, 2023 3:17 pm

Also https://www.fullbucket.de/music/vst.html. Their plugins are almost 100% emulations of retro hardware synths.
https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/?sortBy= ... abs_latest are THE best freeware classical instruments on the internet (including Philip Glass piano

). Also check their complete basic free orchestra here https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-symph ... a-discover

imstre · Post by **imstre** » Sun Jan 15, 2023 9:54 pm

Great player and not eating resources
https://www.orchestraltools.com/store/get-sine
https://www.audiodamage.com/pages/free-and-legacy
https://www.gvst.co.uk/downloads.htm
https://blog.wavosaur.com/rave-generato ... the-house/

Tracktion Software

KVR Audio

Plugins not found when scanning