Change system vst folder defaults

obieephyhm wrote on 5/15/2018, 6:25 PM

I'm contemplating buying Samplitude being that we're now refugees from our 20+ year relationship with Cakewalk/Sonar . . . I've been in contact with Markus Gunn arranging a cross-over deal. So I've downloaded the test version and I'm fooling around with it trying to adjust to things working differently than we're used to. I expect I'll be back with more questions as I go forward but this one has me puzzled: why can't I change the default VST folders for the 'system/vst' and the 'system/vst3'. Our DAW has only operating system files on the C drive, everything else is elsewhere and VST files can change a lot. Long ago, we customized our VST storage system to make sense to our internal operations but Samplitude appears to fix these files in the C drive with no ability to change it to something else. Is my understanding correct?

Comments

emmrecs wrote on 5/16/2018, 4:45 AM

Hi, welcome to the Magix forums.

I think this question might be better posted to the dedicated Samplitude forum here.

Jeff

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 16 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, MOTU 8-Pre f/w audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, PhotoStory Deluxe, Photo Manager Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition 3, CS6 and CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

obieephyhm wrote on 5/16/2018, 2:29 PM

hmmmm. I thought I *had* posted it in the samplitude forum . . .

obieephyhm wrote on 5/16/2018, 2:50 PM

Besides, I can't use that forum because I never pass the 'security' question to register and . . . this just reveals how amature Magix is, you can't report the problem to support because to do so you . . . wait for it . . . have to pass the security question!!! Good god maybe I better keep looking for some other usable DAW software . . . what an annoyance . . .😠

emmrecs wrote on 5/16/2018, 4:18 PM

@obieephyhm

Sorry you seem to be another user affected by the problem of registering at the Samplitude forum.

I'm currently pursuing this problem with Magix staff, on behalf of another user. Can you post a screenshot of the completed security question and its "result" direct to me by PM, please? I'd like to be able to show Magix exactly what users trying to register on that forum are actually seeing.

Thank you.

Jeff
Forum Moderator

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 16 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, MOTU 8-Pre f/w audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, PhotoStory Deluxe, Photo Manager Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition 3, CS6 and CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

obieephyhm wrote on 5/17/2018, 3:48 PM

okay, here's my third attempt to get pics uploaded to you:The first three (3) are trying to register at the site you pointed me to. The last two (2) are trying to inform support that they have a problem with their registration process. Bear in mind that I tried this dozens of times across 3 browsers even resorted to clearing cache files and re-booting between attempts/browser changes.

Hope this helps you to wake sumbuddy up . . .

Last changed by emmrecs on 5/17/2018, 4:23 PM, changed a total of 1 times.

Reason: To remove images that should not be posted to a public forum.

It's all based on lies, duress, stress and the suffering delusion of human intelligence . . . but it's the only life we get . . .

emmrecs wrote on 5/17/2018, 4:28 PM

Hi, thanks for the images.

You will see I have removed them from your post because, although the registration system at the Samplitude forum seems to have rejected your attempts to register, it is inadvisable to show such images publicly. That's the reason I asked you to send them to me via a PM, Private Message! To reassure you, I did download and save the registration screen images before editing your post.

I will now attach them to a message I will send to Magix staff.

Jeff

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 16 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, MOTU 8-Pre f/w audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, PhotoStory Deluxe, Photo Manager Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition 3, CS6 and CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

browj2 wrote on 5/18/2018, 8:43 AM

@obieephyhm

Hi,

Back to the original question. VST2 and VST3 are there by default and the program scans these for any new VST's in them. The User VST Plugin folder is for you to scan one or more different folders. Simply go and scan each folder one after the other. If you add one, go and scan it. Samplitude remembers all. Below is the text from the manual which I found quickly by pressing on F1 and typing in "VST" in search:

"Set the path to your VST plug-in effects and VST instruments here. If you click the folder icon, a context menu will appear. This allows you to use the VST folder already set for your system as the plug-ins path or select any other VST folder. Samplitude then scans the selected folder for VSTs. Not only are all the plug-ins imported, but they are also checked for usability within Samplitude. This scan is only necessary once per folder, since available VST plug-ins are saved during this process.

If multiple VST plug-in folders are present on your computer, you can enter additional sources by scanning them with the option "(Re-) Scan selected VST folder". If individual plug-ins are not integrated as expected, then try using the option "(Re-) Scan selected VST folder including failed plug-ins" to check them.
Samplitude only detects plug-ins in the specified folders. The corresponding data is saved in the file "VSTplug-ins.ini" in the folder "Program Files" >"MAGIX" > "Samplitude".

John CB

Last changed by browj2 on 5/18/2018, 8:52 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

John C.B.

VideoPro X(16); Movie Studio 2024 Platinum; MM2025 Premium Edition; Samplitude Pro X8 Suite; see About me for more.

Desktop System - Windows 10 Pro 22H2; MB ROG STRIX B560-A Gaming WiFi; Graphics Card Zotac Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX-3060, PS; Power supply EVGA 750W; Intel Core i7-10700K @ 3.80GHz (UHD Graphics 630); RAM 32 GB; OS on Kingston SSD 1TB; secondary WD 2TB; others 1.5TB, 3TB, 500GB, 4TB, 5TB, 6TB, 8TB; three monitors - HP 25" main, LG 4K 27" second, HP 27" third; Casio WK-225 piano keyboard; M-Audio M-Track USB mixer.

Notebook - Microsoft Surface Pro 4, i5-6300U, 8 GB RAM, 256 SSD, W10 Pro 20H2.

YouTube Channel: @JCBrownVideos

emmrecs wrote on 5/18/2018, 9:05 AM

@obieephyhm

Just to let you know I have just received the following message from Magix re the Samplitude forum registration problem:

I'm on it and forwarded this issue to our technicians.

Not sure though, when this will be fixed.

HTH

Jeff

UPDATE: I've just received another message:

We fixed it faster than expected

So, please try again to register at the Samplitude forum and post back to tell us whether or not you were successful.

Last changed by emmrecs on 5/18/2018, 9:33 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 16 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, MOTU 8-Pre f/w audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, PhotoStory Deluxe, Photo Manager Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition 3, CS6 and CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

browj2 wrote on 5/18/2018, 9:47 AM

@obieephyhm

Other than the Samplitude forum, which I hope you manage to get into, there are about 200 tutorials done by Kraznet about Samplitude that you should be aware of. He did one on scanning VST plugins, but in 2010, so it's slightly out of date as it doesn't show the VST2/3 folders scanned by default.

John CB

John C.B.

VideoPro X(16); Movie Studio 2024 Platinum; MM2025 Premium Edition; Samplitude Pro X8 Suite; see About me for more.

Desktop System - Windows 10 Pro 22H2; MB ROG STRIX B560-A Gaming WiFi; Graphics Card Zotac Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX-3060, PS; Power supply EVGA 750W; Intel Core i7-10700K @ 3.80GHz (UHD Graphics 630); RAM 32 GB; OS on Kingston SSD 1TB; secondary WD 2TB; others 1.5TB, 3TB, 500GB, 4TB, 5TB, 6TB, 8TB; three monitors - HP 25" main, LG 4K 27" second, HP 27" third; Casio WK-225 piano keyboard; M-Audio M-Track USB mixer.

Notebook - Microsoft Surface Pro 4, i5-6300U, 8 GB RAM, 256 SSD, W10 Pro 20H2.

YouTube Channel: @JCBrownVideos

obieephyhm wrote on 5/19/2018, 4:16 PM

Hi, thanks for the images.

You will see I have removed them from your post because, although the registration system at the Samplitude forum seems to have rejected your attempts to register, it is inadvisable to show such images publicly. That's the reason I asked you to send them to me via a PM, Private Message! To reassure you, I did download and save the registration screen images before editing your post.

I will now attach them to a message I will send to Magix staff.

Jeff

My apologies -- you'd think I'd never functioned on a computer before . . . so, with a hearty slap on my forehead, I apologize for missing the whole PM thing. My only excuse is that I've spent most of the last eight years in/out of hospitals and I'm trying desperately to resurrect my studio and I've been going at it pretty hard for months, now (and I no longer have the physical resources I once possessed). I was deeply upset by being abandoned (Gibson/Sonar) and have neither a lot of money nor a lot of brain cells to devote to learning a new DAW after 20 years. So, I'm guilty of being a little tunnel-visioned right now. I'll try to do better going forward.

obieephyhm wrote on 5/19/2018, 4:22 PM

@obieephyhm

Hi,

Back to the original question. VST2 and VST3 are there by default and the program scans these for any new VST's in them. The User VST Plugin folder is for you to scan one or more different folders. Simply go and scan each folder one after the other. If you add one, go and scan it. Samplitude remembers all. Below is the text from the manual which I found quickly by pressing on F1 and typing in "VST" in search:

"Set the path to your VST plug-in effects and VST instruments here. If you click the folder icon, a context menu will appear. This allows you to use the VST folder already set for your system as the plug-ins path or select any other VST folder. Samplitude then scans the selected folder for VSTs. Not only are all the plug-ins imported, but they are also checked for usability within Samplitude. This scan is only necessary once per folder, since available VST plug-ins are saved during this process.

If multiple VST plug-in folders are present on your computer, you can enter additional sources by scanning them with the option "(Re-) Scan selected VST folder". If individual plug-ins are not integrated as expected, then try using the option "(Re-) Scan selected VST folder including failed plug-ins" to check them.
Samplitude only detects plug-ins in the specified folders. The corresponding data is saved in the file "VSTplug-ins.ini" in the folder "Program Files" >"MAGIX" > "Samplitude".

John CB

Thank you for your reply -- most of that I already knew and perhaps my original question lacked a degree of specificity: my concern is that I ultimately don't want to have any vst's wandering around at the whim of the software. My DAW hardware is based upon an OS and primary programs installed on an SSD. Anything subject to change (frequent updates, installing/deinstalling) goes on the more traditional HDD(s) so as to avoid lots of writes/rewrites to the SSD. In my old software and in most new software these days, options aren't hardwired by the installer to a specific point -- so what I was really asking is: is there any way of moving those things off the 'c' drive to a place I find more appropriate?

joachip wrote on 8/3/2018, 5:47 AM

Ahh the good old "where is the default VST folder, and how do you even define that?" question.

In frustration, I've written a page on the topic (will edit it if I find out more things about the topic), and there's even a tool that will unify all these contradicting methods of placing the VST folder.

http://www.robotplanet.dk/audio/vst_folder_location/

Disclaimer: It's been working quite well for me, but run it at your own risk.