On Windows, Native Instruments products are loaded in Ableton Live as VST plug-ins. On OS X, they can be loaded either as VST or AU plug-ins. During the original installation of NI products, you will be asked which plug-ins formats you wish to install. Once 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.
OS X
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:
- Open the Live Preferences and go to the section File / Folder. 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.
- 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
During the original installation process on Windows you can choose where you want to install the 32-bit and 64-bit VST plug-in versions of the NI software. No matter where you installed the VST file to, make sure that this location is being scanned by Ableton Live at start-up.
Note: we recommend to use only one folder for all your VST files, especially if your are using different host programs.
- Open the Live Preferences and go to the File / Folder tab.
- 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.
- 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. 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.
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- 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.
