Independence Standalone on Mac-OS - location of VST Plug-Ins folder

LesP wrote on 3/11/2022, 1:47 AM

I have been successfully running Independence Pro Suite 3.6.0.23 Standalone version (NOT part of Samplitude or other product) on iMac with macOS Catalina 10.15.7 and 8 GB RAM as well as earlier versions on an older MacBook running macOS El Capitan 10.11.6.

I have not previously used 3rd-party VST Instrument and Effects plug-ins, but am now wanting to do so and have downloaded a few free 64-bit VST files to start with. Following advice from the Independence User Manual (p33) and other generally available information from the internet and also from various forums including Magix Audio Software, Samplitude, Independence, and Magix VST Plug-Ins (English), I have created a "VST Plug-Ins" folder and put a copy of the VST files into it. I then placed that folder in a number of places and closed Indie before re-opening. I cannot get Indie to recognise the presence of ANY VST file either when I click on a Layer Name or when I Insert an Effect.

The places I tried for the "VST Plug-Ins" folder are:

/Applications/MAGIX/Independence/
/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST (the default for al VST files on iMac)
/Users/{me}/Applications/MAGIX/Independence/ (I have "Independence.app" directly under /Users/{me}/Applications/)
/Users/{me}/Software/Independence/ (this holds the Independence Libraries (images and Layers), Projects, Presets, etc. as well as my Independence User Files, and works very well while keeping Indie files together.)

Also, I have been able to locate the various settings files under /Users/{me}/Library/Preferences/MAGIX/Independence/ and note that the "vst_settings.cfg" and "vst_settings sa.cfg" files are both empty.

Much of the internet/forum information that is relevant applies to the Windows environment, but I am using Apple Mac. I would be most grateful for any assistance that you can provide for me to get the VSTs working with Independence standalone. Thanks.

Comments

SP. wrote on 3/11/2022, 6:05 AM

@LesP As far as I know Independence can only recognize 64 Bit VST2 plugins. So be sure you didn't try to load VST3 plugins.

LesP wrote on 3/11/2022, 6:29 PM

Thanks for the quick response SP. From what you say, Independence does NOT recognise the VST3 format so I should restrict myself to using VST (aka VST2). Further, Indie only likes the 64-bit version of a VST2 plug-in NOT a 32-bit.

I have my VST2 plug-ins (all 64-bit) installed in the usual MacOS folder: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST

MacOS can identify a 32-bit file by displaying "(32-bit)" after the Kind: label at the top of the Information panel obtained by right-clicking on the filename in Finder and selecting Get Info. If the file is 64-bit then Kind: does not show "(32-bit)". In my case, the VSTs that I tried come up with "Kind: bundle" and no 32-bit indicator. So they are 64-bit. BUT there are multiple instruments/effects within the "bundle" and so I cannot readily identify whether the contents are actually 64-bit. I will try with a file that has a single VST2 64-bit instrument or plug-in!

What I would like to have clarified is the full pathname that is monitored by Indie as its default location for 64-bit VST2 files, or how can it be custom set?

SP. wrote on 3/11/2022, 6:38 PM

@LesP I only use Windows. Here you cannot set a custom path for Independece. You need to use C:\ProgramData\MAGIX\Independence\VST Plug-Ins\. This folder is automatically created during the installation so you don't need to create it yourself.

I would suggest you search on your computer if there is a folder that was not created by yourself and that is called VST Plug-Ins.

It looks like in the manual that it is located inside the Independence folder. But it is not possible to see the whole path.

The Y in the beginning could be "Yellowtools". This was the company which developed Independence before it was bought by Magix.

LesP wrote on 3/11/2022, 7:47 PM

Thanks again SP. I shall do as you suggest.

In the meantime, can any MacOS users of Independence shed more light on this?

SP. wrote on 3/11/2022, 10:11 PM

@LesP You can also try and ask customer service at infoservice@magix.net to for the correct path on Mac OS.

johnebaker wrote on 3/12/2022, 12:20 AM

@LesP

See page 33 in this document.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

LesP wrote on 3/12/2022, 6:08 PM

FOUND IT !!

After much poking about, I found ANOTHER location with a "VST Plug-Ins" library already created (presumably from the latest install). It is at:

Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > MAGIX > Independence > VST Plug-Ins

I copied some VST2 64-bit Instrument and Effects plugins into this folder, re-started Independence, and hey presto both now work as expected. What a weird place to put them! There are other Independence files in that "application folder", so I will clean up my environment (bit by bit to avoid disaster) and merrily make music.

Thank you all for your help and guidance. They are what steered me to the final solution.