I'm using my AKAI MPK Mini MKII and it comes with the MPC Essentials software. I'm really used to using Magix Music Maker but I can't use the sound pads with it, as well as the sound content and plugins that MPC Essentials uses.

I can load up MPC Essentials as a plugin but when I do so, I get a message saying:

"This software must be unlocked before you can run it. To do so, please launch the stand-alone version and follow the unlock instructions. Before being unlocked, the plugin version will be silent."

As you can imagine, I HAVE actually unlocked the software and it just cannot be used as a plugin. I've tried some troubleshooting regarding other DAWs already but to no avail. I copied the MPC Essentials plugin DLL and moved it to "Magix\Templates and Effect\25\MxSynth" in order for Magix to even notice the plugin; this is how I've gotten my other plugins to work (Hybrid 3, SONiVOX) but this plugin just refuses to work.

The MPC Essentials DLL files install into "C:\\Program Files (x86)\Steinberg\vstplugins" and this is where I copied it over from. I think the plugin will work if I can load it straight from this folder, but I can't!

I see other people saying that they can load plugins via "Program Settings > Folders > Load VST Plugins" but this "Load VST Plugins" option doesn't exist for me. I'm using version 25.0.2.44, seems to be the latest version; it's sitting on my E: drive (HDD) as opposed to my MPC Essentials which is installed on C: (SSD). Using Windows 10 64-Bit.

Any help would be appreciated. I've tried deleting the MPCEssentials.settings file and have just re-installed Magix.