Go back to support

My plug-ins aren’t showing up in my DAW (Ableton, Cubase, Logic, Reaper)

What is your DAW?

Ableton | Cubase | Logic 9 / X | Studio One | Reaper

Ableton

Step 1: Verify 64-bit Mode

PROCESS.AUDIO plug-ins are 64-bit only. Make sure you are not running your DAW in 32-bit mode.

Step 2: Verify Plug-in Installation Paths

macOS

  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/ (AU)
  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/ (VST2)
  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/ (VST3)

Windows

  • C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins (64-bit VST2)
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 (64-bit VST3, Live 10.1 and later only)

Step 3: Run as Administrator (Windows)

Close Ableton, right-click and select Run as Administrator (you will only have to do this once). If the plug-ins show up at this point, you're set. If not, move on to the next step.

Step 4: Configure Plug-in Sources

Open Live's Preferences → Plug-ins (Live 10.1 and later) or → File Folder (all Live versions until 10.1). Find the Plug-In Sources section (usually at the bottom).

Windows

Windows Ableton Plug-Ins Sources Settings

  • If using Live 10+ and VST3, enable the System folder (C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3)
  • If using a VST3 or VST2 Custom Folder, make sure your PROCESS.AUDIO plug-ins are installed in this folder and switch it on

macOS

Mac Ableton Plug-Ins Sources Settings

  • If using Audio Units (AU), switch Use Audio Units on
  • If using the VST2 or VST3 Plug-in system folder, switch this on
  • If using a Custom Folder, make sure your PROCESS.AUDIO plug-ins are installed there

Tip: Switch 'Off' both VST2 and VST3 locations first, hit Rescan, then switch them back 'On' and hit Rescan again.

Step 5: Full Reset

If everything fails, remove the plug-ins manually, trash them, rescan, re-install with the PROCESS.AUDIO installers and hit rescan again.

Logic 9 / X

Step 1: Verify 64-bit Mode

PROCESS.AUDIO plug-ins are 64-bit only. Make sure you are not running your DAW in 32-bit mode.

Step 2: Verify Plug-in Installation Path

/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/ (AU)

Step 3: Enable Plug-ins in Audio Units Manager

  1. Go to Logic Pro X → Preferences → Audio Units Manager
  2. Scroll down to find your PROCESS.AUDIO plug-ins
  3. Make sure the Use column is checked
  4. Click Reset & Rescan Selection, then Done
  5. Verify the Use column is checked and repeat the rescan

Step 4: Full Reset

If your plug-ins are not showing up in the Audio Units Manager:

  1. Close Logic
  2. Remove the .component files from /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
  3. Open Logic, then close it again
  4. Reinstall your plug-ins
  5. Open Logic and repeat Step 3 to re-scan

Cubase 8 - 9.5

Step 1: Verify 64-bit Mode

PROCESS.AUDIO plug-ins are 64-bit only. Make sure you are not running your DAW in 32-bit mode.

Step 2: Verify Plug-in Installation Paths

macOS

  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/ (VST2)
  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/ (VST3)

Windows

  • C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins (64-bit VST2)
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 (64-bit VST3)

Step 3: Rescan Plug-ins

  1. Open Cubase
  2. Open the Plug-in Manager under the Devices tab
  3. Click the cog wheel to open Plug-in Manager Settings
  4. Verify the plug-in paths are listed
  5. Click Rescan All

Cubase Plug-in Manager Settings

Step 4: Full Reset

If everything fails, remove the filepath, re-scan, add the filepath again and re-scan.

Windows: Clear Blacklist

Navigate to:

C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\Steinberg\<PROGRAM NAME>

Delete the file VST2xBlacklist.xml. Launch Cubase and it will automatically rescan your plug-ins.

Studio One

Step 1: Verify 64-bit Mode

PROCESS.AUDIO plug-ins are 64-bit only. Make sure you are not running your DAW in 32-bit mode.

Step 2: Note About VST3

By default, Studio One is not using VST3 plug-ins. You can enable it in advanced settings, but we recommend against this.

Step 3: Verify Plug-in Installation Paths

macOS

  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/ (AU)
  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/ (VST2)

Windows

  • C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins (64-bit VST2)

Remember: VST3 plug-ins are not working by default in Studio One.

Reaper

Step 1: Verify 64-bit Mode

PROCESS.AUDIO plug-ins are 64-bit only. Make sure you are not running your DAW in 32-bit mode.

Step 2: Verify Plug-in Installation Paths

macOS

  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/ (AU)
  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST/ (VST2)
  • /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/ (VST3)

Windows

  • C:\Program Files\VSTPlugins (64-bit VST2)
  • C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 (64-bit VST3)

Step 3: Rescan Plug-ins

  1. Open Reaper and go to Options → Preferences
  2. In the Plug-ins section, select VST
  3. Make sure both VST2 and VST3 paths are listed
  4. Click Clear cache/re-scan and Rescan
  5. Restart Reaper if needed
  6. Repeat the rescan if plug-ins still don't appear