Ableton Forum

I'm kind of confused about how to actually use them with Ableton. I download native instrument's "massive" and I don't know what directory i'm supposed to install to.

You need to create a couple folders to put your all your VST plugins.

Create one folder for 32bit VSTs, and another for 64 bit. Make sure these folders are properly labeled and located in a place you'll remember.

Next open up Live and go to Options > Preferences > File Folder > Turn "Use VST Custom Folder" ON > Browse and select the 32bit folder you just created

Close Live.

Install the NI product and select the 32 & 64 bit plugin folders when prompted.

Launch Live.

Your plugins should now be located in the "Plug-in Devices" section of the browser on the left (the plug icon).

You shouldn't need to know where to install it to, as legit versions of Massive have an
installer program that will install to the correct locations, if yours doesn't, try this:
http://bit.ly/vOD8y9
it should solve your problem

Another good thing to know about VSTs is to install them in a folder outside of C:\Program files (x86) if you're using 64bit Vista or Windows 7.
I always use a folder in the root of C: such as C:\VstPlugins
Certain VSTs don't like being inside protected folders such as Program files.

antarktika wrote:You shouldn't need to know where to install it to, as legit versions of Massive have an
installer program that will install to the correct locations, if yours doesn't, try this:
http://bit.ly/vOD8y9
it should solve your problem

I'm pretty sure the first time I installed an NI product I definitely needed to know where to put the plugins, not where to install the software itself. After that I think it automatically selected those folders.

eh, I recall the installer just asking what plug in types you wanted i.e vst, au, rtas, etc, then it auto-installed to those folders