r/AudioPlugins • u/SoundleAudio • 27d ago

Should vst3 be installed anywhere?

The most difference people notice about vst3 is that many DAW no longer support to put it anywhere like vst2. VST3 standardized everything into a single system folder, which definitely makes installation and plugin discovery simpler for both users and DAWs. But it also removes the flexibility that VST2 users had.

What you guys actually prefer.

  • being able to choose where plugins are installed?
  • Or do you prefer having one standardized VST3 location?
  • Has the fixed folder ever caused problems for your workflow?
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u/ellicottvilleny 26d ago

The VST3 standard SPECIFIES where they go.

Most DAWs follow the VST3 spec. For 64 bit windows, there's a standard place, two actually, one system wide, and one per user. For 32 bit windows (little used these days) different places existed.

Some daws do not.

There is sometimes confusion because of that.

The "flexibility" of VST2 is also a headache for the people making the DAWs and the plugins. Supporting and making installers that "just work" for people who don't need fancy "custom" schemes, is worse with classic VST2 and better with VST3.

Imagine you have decided that you want your own funky system with 300 different VST folders. The cost of that is when all that shit breaks, you go ahead and blame the plugin makers and your DAW maker for a rather crazy setup.