Unlike other DAWs (FL Studio at least, which is what I use), Ableton Live allows you to choose only one custom VST plugin folder. This drives a lot of people nuts, especially when moving from another DAW to Ableton.
3) Force Ableton to rescan the plugin: (Example with FG-X below) #1 – Move the FG-X Mastering Console.vst file out of your vstplugin folder #2 – Restart Live #3 – Close Live #4 – Move the FG-X Mastering Console.vst back into the vstplugin folder #5 – Restart Live and hold the Option / Alt key on your keyboard. Live should now rescan. Click the Browse button next to VST Plug-in Custom Folder. If you are using Ableton Live in its 32-bit version, make sure you choose the folder where your 32-bit NI plug-ins are installed. If you are using the 64-bit version, make sure you scan the 64-bit folder. Macintosh HD Library Audio Plugins VST If you're using a custom VST folder you need to locate the WaveShell file and move it to your custom VST folder. Then re-launch Live if it's already running. This will scan the Waveshell and activate all available Waves plug-ins in the browser. My custom VST Folder Location in Ableton Live for Third Party Plug-ins That is where I keep most of my plugs. So, what I did to get a second, unrelated folder and its contents to show up in Live is created a shortcut and dropped it into that folder. Then hit the “Rescan” button.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution- shortcuts! Here’s how to easily point to many VST folders from Live:
- Choose a folder or create one that you will to point to from Live later on. This doesn’t need to contain any plugins. Let it be an empty folder if you please. Let’s call it “Ableton VSTs” for this article.
- Now here’s the important step- create shortcuts of all your VST folders that you want tracked by Live and drop those shortcuts in “Ableton VSTs”. Rename these shortcuts to meaningful names (you’ll find out why ahead).
- Go to Preferences> File Folder and click on the ‘Browse’ button for “VST Plug-in Folder”, and browse and select “Ableton VSTs.
Ableton Vst Plugins Folder
Vst Plugin Folder Ableton
Live will scan all VST folders you have placed shortcuts to in the “Ableton VSTs” folder. Now, when you click on “Plug-ins”, you will notice the shortcut names as folders. Enjoy!