General Information
The ability of a system to operate in 32- / 64-bit mode depends on its processor architecture. Current operating systems allow to use applications and plug-ins both in 32- and 64-bit mode. Since Windows XP (64-bit edition), the operating system introduces a subsystem called "WoW64" (Windows 32-bit on Windows 64-bit) which allows users to install and run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications on a 64-bit Windows system.
To find out whether your system is able to run on 32- / 64-bit mode, right-click on the Desktop's Computer icon and select Properties from the context menu. Alternatively, open the Start menu and type "system" to access the System Properties (Windows 10: Right-click on the Start icon and choose System from the context menu).
On Windows The Properties window will indicate under System type whether your system is 32- or 64-bit (in the below example, it is 64-bit).
Applications
- Both 32-bit and 64-bit applications will install and run on all current 64-bit Windows systems. All current NI applications are compiled to run in 64-bit mode since this is the standard on operating systems.
- Depending on the type (32-bit or 64-bit), an NI application will be automatically installed in the corresponding system folder:
- Default path 64-bit: C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > *Program Name*
- Default path 32-bit: C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > *Program Name* > x86
Note: Older versions of NI products (e.g. BATTERY 3) install the 32-bit application in the following default path instead: C: > Program Files (x86) > Native Instruments > *Program Name*
Hardware Drivers
- Only 64-bit hardware drivers are compatible with 64-bit applications. 32-bit drivers will not be recognized by the host application (e.g. audio driver not listed in TRAKTOR's Audio Setup menu). All current NI hardware drivers are designed for use in 64-bit applications.
- 32-bit drivers can be operated from within a 32-bit application which is found in most cases in the x86 default path (see 'Applications' above).
Plug-Ins
- Plug-ins can either support 32-bit or 64-bit mode or both. Most current NI application installers offer the installation of separate plug-in, both 32- and 64-bit; therefore most of these plug-ins are compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit host sequencers.
- On Windows, the installation of plug-ins can be defined manually by the user during installation. Below the details for the main plug-in types will be explained.
Note: Find more information on plug-in installation and management on Windows in the Related Articles section at the end of this article.
VST Plug-Ins
We recommend to define fixed folders for all your VST plug-in installations, especially when you are using your plug-ins in different host programs. It is important to define separate folders for 32-bit and 64-bit plug-in installations. The default VST Plug-Ins Destination Folder for 32 bit and 64 bit Native Instruments VST plug-ins are the following:- 32-bit plug-in version: C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > VSTPlugins 32 bit
- 64-bit plug-in version: C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > VSTPlugins 64 bit
No matter where you install your VST plug-ins, always make sure that this location is defined as a VST folder in your sequencer so it can load the plug-ins. For more information on this, refer to the manual of your sequencer.
RTAS / AAX Plug-Ins
The RTAS /AAX path is fixed for all applications and cannot be changed.Note: If you encounter any issues during the installation process, refer the Related Articles area at the bottom of this page for further help.