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Plug-In Administration in Ableton Live

On Windows, Native Instruments products are loaded in Ableton Live as VST plug-ins. On Mac computers, they can be loaded either as VST or AU plug-ins. Once the products are installed, Ableton Live must scan your plug-in directories in order to make them available in the Third Party Plug-Ins section of the Browser.

Mac

On a Mac computer, VST files and AU files are automatically installed to the default system folders. Ableton Live scans these folders on startup. If your NI plug-ins do not appear in the Third Party section of the Browser, do the following:

  1. Open the Live Preferences and go to the section Plug-Ins ('File Folder' on older Live versions). Make sure the options Use Audio Units and/or Use VST Plug-In System Folders are set to On, depending on which plug-in type(s) you wish to use.
    MacPreferences_new_cut.png
  2. In case the Use Audio Units and Use VST Plug-in System Folders options were not activated, press the Rescan button once. Once your system folders have been scanned, the NI plug-ins will be available in the Third Party Plug-ins section of the Browser.

    Note: Read this article to learn how to insert Native Instruments plug-ins in Ableton Live.

Windows

By default, Native Access will install your NI plug-ins in the locations:

  • C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > VSTPlugins 32 bit and
  • C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > VSTPlugins 64 bit.

Notes: VST3 plug-ins are installed to the dedicated VST3 location C: > Program Files > Common Files > vst3. This installation path cannot be changed.

We strongly recommend to use only one folder for all your 32 bit VST files and another for your 64 bit VST files.

No matter where you installed the VST files, make sure that this location is being scanned by Ableton Live at start-up.

  1. Open the Live Preferences and go to the Plug-Ins ('File Folder' on older Live versions) tab.
  2. Activate the button Use VST Plug-In Custom Folder.

    Note: If it is the first time you activate this button and no VST Plug-in custom folder has previously been defined, Ableton will immediately ask you to browse for your VST Plug-in folder, as explained below in point 4.

  3. Click the Browse button next to VST Plug-in Custom Folder.

  4. 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. In the example below, we choose the default Native Instruments 64-bit plug-in folder VSTPlugins 64 bit. Per default, Native Instruments plug-ins are installed here on your computer:
    • C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > VSTPlugins 32 bit
    • C: > Program Files > Native Instruments > VSTPlugins 64 bit

    Note: If you are having problems finding out where you installed your VST plug-ins, refer to this article from our Knowledge Base.

  5. Press the Rescan button to let Ableton Live rescan the folder where your Native Instruments plug-ins are installed. Once your custom VST folders scanned, your NI plug-ins will be available in the Third Party Plug-ins section of Ableton's Browser.

    Note: Read this article to learn how to insert Native Instruments plug-ins in Ableton Live.

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