REAPER How to Install VST Plugins & Programs

The plugin installation process isn't exactly streamlined. Learn how to add VSTs and add ons inside of Cockos REAPER.

0:00 - Introduction
0:32 - Tutorial Begins
2:22 - Pointing REAPER to Plugin Installation Folders
3:13 - The Fast Method
3:50 - VST 2.4 vs. VST3 (outdated as of the year 2020)
4:11 - 64-bit Plugins
4:33 - Outro

[Andre-hpod]

even today this man still helps ppl. REALEST.

[EuphoricBanana]

8 years later still very helpful. thanks allot mate!

[KiLLJOY]

youre the MAN. it was scanning a "steinberg vst plugin" folder which is why nothing was going in! just dragged all my plugins to that folder and boom, theyre all in reaper now!

[SCatalan_]

Finally solved the Issue!
Didnt even know Reaper had a customizable Plugin folder selection.
Thanks so much :D

[gabiono]

Thank you! Installed few plug-ins and I couldn't find them in Reaper, searched for about an hour until I found this tutorial.

[deanhallett]

More thanks! I couldn't figure out why vsts are scattered around in various folders and how Reaper can find them, so this is very helpful.

[richstiltner]

2 minutes in,
Thank god i found this.
Step by step quick and easy.

[kalisuraki]

Your tutorial help me just what i was missing...thank you

[mauricionavarro]

Helped me out! Thanks so much, brother!

[whiteboyskittytv]

Even when I manually copy and paste the VST plugin to the Program Files, common files, plug-in, VST folder: Reaper still doesn’t see them. It worked at first, I got TAL Noisemaker in there. But something happened maybe I changed a preference? I don’t think so. Ideas? Thanks

[MrAarell]

Hi ... No problem with installing but I can't find any info on nhow to un-install unwanted VST's ??? ... can't find any info on this and I know it must be done properly or problems will ensue?? ... any ideas? ... Cheers!

[brandimakesmusic]

Okay so I am trying to install a drum kit plugin to Reaper, but whenever I go to use it it's not there. I'm getting really fucking irritated and I need some help. I downloaded the file and it automatically saved into my downloads folder. I then made a separate folder specifically for VST plugins and put the file in there. I did exactly what this video said to do, but when I went to use it, it wasn't there.

[michaltanay]

Do you know help me add my all plug in ? Do you have teamviewer ?

[normanlove]

This just help me figure out why my Omnisphere was not loading. thanks

[gOnzr]

Now that Reaper supports VST3, here's something people should know. VST3 plugin installers rarely give you a choice where they end up, and they rarely tell you the location directly. They will either be at the following locations or in a folder at the following locations on a Windows machine.

VST3 64 Bit: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
VST3 32 Bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\VST3

Another piece of advice for plugins in general- Adam talks about not being given a choice where plugins are installed, and how you need to add those folders. Another way is to just take the plugin file that the DAW looks for, the .DLL or .VST3 file in Reaper's case, and copy or move it into your plugin folder. There is nothing wrong with doing that. It will not harm anything. You just need to understand that you need to manually delete the plugin file when you uninstall the plugin, unless admin access is asked for when you move the file. VST3 plugins tend to be or are always "smart like that", so I wouldn't worry about moving .VST3 files at all. On rare occasions, a plugin might need a folder in the same location as it is. It's something to watch out for when plugins depend on other files- Like convolution reverbs or Nebula 3.

To see the file type to know you have the right thing, you can either right click the file and go to properties OR you can just make file extensions visible. Just Google "how to make file extensions visible in Windows X" with X being your version of Windows.

[katherine]

I don’t have a VST folder in the Reaper folder… Any idea why?

[guitarhub]

Hey Bro i already installed a native instrument GR5 player, used it many times already now my problem is i add other plugins then my GR5 was not there anymore in the FX list but still i can use thd GR5 outside of reaper but not within reaper itself, any idea or fix?

[lolout]

Hi.
I need help pls.
I pointed reap to EZMIX 2 vst plug-in and did a re-scan.
Still, reaper daw is not able to recognize/load the ezmix 2 plugin

Thanks in advance.

[mikeveee]

I don't have the add button, what can I do?

[martyisabeliever]

What do you do with the zip file: Open it?? and then after that, what do i do with the files within?