Ableton Forum

Live 3.0.2 running under OS X Panther on an ibook G3 900.

I can't get the program to "learn" where the VST plug-ins folder is. I can set the path under the preferences, but a) none of the plug-ins show up and b) Live doesn't remember where I tell it too look, and the Rescan function doesn't work at all.

Any thoughts?
Avi

Is this a 3.0.2 problem? I have it all the time (with Live 3). At one point (I do not know which one live updates the fx-list). but it does not remember any folder settings or rescan appropriately.

Did it work for you before 3.0.2?

Best

Aviavi and Guest, can you please tell me which folder you try to set as VST folder?

Guest, do you also use Mac OS X?

Thanks in advance
frank

Hi.

Well, no, it happened before with OS X and Live 3.0.1 I think I got it to work before, but I can't remember how. (Mainly, though I use Live with OS 9.)

In any case, I've directed Live 3.0.2 to two places:

Avi Bortnick/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST

and just

Library/Audio/Plugi-ns/VST

I have VST plug-ins in both places, but Live will not see or remember either of these.

Avi

Here (alupbook 1ghz, os 10.2.7 - once was 10.3.2 but I got back) Live 3.01 doesn't remember where the vst folder is. It sees the FX though, but can't remember where the folder is. Was the same for me since version 2, even on os9 if I remember. Hi Avi, any project with Sco or of your own ?

Hi.

On OS 9, I have no problems with the VST folder issues (though I still sometimes have dropout problems when first firing clips - very weird).

With regard to Sco, yeah, I'm playing the NAMM show and a gig in LA at the House of Blues this weekend. I'm also doing work (with Live, Reason and Vision DSP on my iBook) for a Brazilian singer Lica Cecato's record. My stuff's been on the backburner.

Thanks for inquiring.

Avi

Well, I use the standard VST folders in OSX - in /lib/audio/plugin/VST and the /user/~ counterpart.

There might be a confusion. Live doesn't allow you to select one of the following folders as custom VST folder:

1) Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST
2) ~/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST (~ stands for the home directory of the logged in user)

Live automatically scans your VST plugins there. You don't have to and you can't set the path to these locations. There is a user feedback missing, which alerts the user about this fact.

Nevertheless it doesn't explain why you can't see your plug-ins. Please try the following: Delete the Log.txt and the Preferences.cfg files in your Preferences folder (~/Library/Preferences/Ableton/Live 3.0.2/). Then start again and do not set a custom VST folder. If your plugins are _not_ visible, please send me the newly created Log.txt file. I will look into it.

Frank

madlab, this sounds strange. We have a totally different systems to store the VST folder in Live 2 and Live 3. Therefore I think you mix something up.

Do you talk preferences doesn't remember the folder location, but your plugins are _always_ visible? Then everything might be ok. Read my previous posting.

Frank

Thanks for the advise.

Well, now Live recognizes SupaTrigga, but none of my other VST plug-ins.

Am I missing something? Are VST plug-ins that I used to use in Live OS 9 incompatible under OS X?? That would suck, if so. If not, how come they are not being recognized, even after deleting the appropriate Live preference files?

Avi

frh, after reading your post, I clearly understand that everything is fine for me as the plugs are ALWAYS visible ! I just thought that, like in version 2, Live kept the path to the vst folder wherever it was. Avi, what plug ins are you trying to use. I've made a good bunch of tests so I may tell which work and which don't. By the way (stupid question but you mention os9 in your post) are all you plugs in osx version ?

aviavi wrote:Thanks for the advise.

Well, now Live recognizes SupaTrigga, but none of my other VST plug-ins.

Am I missing something? Are VST plug-ins that I used to use in Live OS 9 incompatible under OS X?? That would suck, if so. If not, how come they are not being recognized, even after deleting the appropriate Live preference files?

Avi

Avi, most of the OS 9 plug-ins are not compatible on OS X. This might explain your problems. Some Mac OS 9 plug-ins might cause conflicts when used under Mac OS X. I recommend to remove them from your VST folders.

Frank

madlab wrote:frh, after reading your post, I clearly understand that everything is fine for me as the plugs are ALWAYS visible ! I just thought that, like in version 2, Live kept the path to the vst folder wherever it was.

Madlab, in Live 3 you can select a third, custom location where VST plug-ins should be used. This is what you know from Live 2. The functionality still exists. But in addition Live 3 scans the mentioned system folders as well for convenience.
When your VST plugs are all in system places you don't have to setup anything to make it work. If you want to use an additional custom location, you can select a custom path. Only this custom path is visible in the preferences panel. You can't select the system locations, because they are already selected.
Sorry for the confusion.

Frank

i tracked it down to a bad plug-in.

See my posting to your message in the other thread.

Frank