How To Add Custom VST Folder Locations | Ableton LIVE | Windows

In this video, I will show you how to add additional VST folders so Ableton LIVE can see all of your VST plugin locations. This was in response to several viewers not seeing the Spitfire Audio LABS instruments show up in Ableton Live after installation.

VST3 Compatibility:
VST3 plugins are NOT supported in earlier versions of LIVE. The latest version (10.1) has introduced VST3 compatibility. More information here:

LINKS:
Ableton LIVE:

Spitfire Audio LABS:

Spitfire LABS How To install Walkthrough:

[javierf]

Finally found a bright solution for the never-ending problem of making the plugins show up in Ableton. thank you!!

[daddybutterunboxings]

This video was very helpful. This is so simple but there's such a lack of tutorials/explanation online. It seems the world assumes everybody understands VST file systems and installation processes from birth haha. Thanks.

[cocazerow]

Thank you so much, I moved from FL to Ableton and I couldn't use most of my plugins, THX. My Ableton teacher told me to reinstall them but let's say that it's not that easy if you use keygens etc. tip for FL users moving to Ableton: create a shortcut into image line vsts, and you'll be able to use some stock FL VST in ableton which is nice to have too.

[mikekohlgraf]

Great tip, Simeon! Playing around with 11 and was wondering about my VST folders on 4 different drives :) Thank you!

[jeffreykasbohm]

Ha!!! Yer a Genius!! Finally I don't have to keep crashing my system moving between cakewalk and Ableton 11 to use all my VERY expensive (and not so expensive) plugins. Muchas, muchas gracias :-)

[VD]

Simeon..
This! this video...to me.. was a God send...
Damn...i was getting depressed and nearly giving up on my Win 10 desktop....
Believe me..a couple of weeks ago, , .i even started checking some iMac prices and setups.... as my old Macbook Pro was opening everything in Ableton just fine
(for a week i couldn’t explain it ..then i realized that, it was actually opening the VSL libraries using AUs instead of VST2s, so the same problem was occurring . it was just camouflaged.)

i was unable to run both Native Instruments libraries and VSL Libraries..simultaneously ....and it was driving me completely crazy..!

i talked to VSL’s people/support...i even tried a Windows 10 and Ableton Fresh Install...
nothing worked..
And such a simple thing... with the shortcut..
i mean.... |sigh| .. Thank YOU ..really ! Really appreciated it..
Finally i can make Music.

ps: btw.... it’s pretty rudimentary.... i believe.. Ableton only being able to have one single source for VST2 plugIns..

No scoring built in, and no support for MPE....i might give it up, and return to Logic Pro X.
Have you ever used any other DAW, other than Ableton ?

thanks again for this.. really .

[jonesgotmusic]

Thanks for the info would've never figured this out

[joeyxl]

Great dood for taking the time to show us. Thanks my man.

[lukepn]

thank you so much!!! This is very greate tutorial how to FIX this issue with only one folder! :)

[ciaallan]

Fortunately I qualified for an upgrade to 10 so I have installed it and now the plugins are there :-) Thank you so much for your help. Still battling with Komplete Kontrol though. Not visible there yet. Hopefully I'll get there soon.

[Nastyace]

This video sorted me out on the way to install plugins and get started with my work. Thank you Sir

[jaykay__jaykay]

Really helpful video for me. Thanks for you.

[FertassiFarah]

Hey man! I bet you saved me hours of struggling!! Thank you!

[butterenjoyer]

Amazing video cutting right to the chase, thank you so much !

[robertmcmurry]

thank you still useful although plug-ins has its own preferences tab not under File folder any more

[justinrobbins]

wow man! thanks for this video big help bro

[redbirdsaraceno]

Im new to daws and got a few free trial versions and so far the whole vst management thing has not been fun so ill try this tip and hope it works with other daws as well . I have managed to get a couple random vst plugins to show up in daws but only about 10% of them and seemingly completely at random depending on which daw i try . thank you - well a couple hours later and i only managed to get 3 vst plugins added to ableton . i think i need to just do a system restore and start all over installing daws and watch a few where to put/make/install plugins and plugin folders to work universally with daws as I dont have a single file location anymore but a few like steinberg / vst2, vst3, my downloads, deskstop, yadda yadda . its a real hassle for a beginner to learn and just makes me lean towards buying daws that already have a lot of sounds and plugins preinstalled which usually seem to be the pricey ones but as a beginner that might be worth it for me because im spending hours nightly trying to figure out plugin installs and file locations instead of actually learning the daws . im being a bit ridiculous with wasting time . i actually bought studio one artist version and its ok but not too many sounds in it . oh well, this it how things go when your learning not too mention i just got a pc coming from ipad only world so that doesn't help with windows file management skills or lack there of.

[ricardovii]

Im new to daws and got ableton today, but i feel interested for ¿how can i show my vst trough OBS or any other app for Streaming? Thank you for this, Simeon!

[lofidrewv]

Man do you do consulting? I can’t get my plugins to show up in Ableton 11 for mac

[jaybass]

plugin sources isn't there in preferences. Do I have to reorganize my entire computer just for this to work?