How to Install VST plug-in: Illustration using Adobe Audition, Reaper, Audacity & Notion3

This tutorial will teach you how to install a VST plugin for different audio recording and music notation software. VST is a very useful feature that extends the audio processing functionality of existing software. For example Notion 3 does not include an EQ in its mixer by default; but Notion 3 allows VST plugins. So you can simply install and add EQ to Notion 3 mixer using a VST plugin. Another example is that Audacity does not include a parametric equalizer by default.

But since Audacity allows VST plugins, you can add a parametric equalizer using third party plugins. This tutorial is illustrated using Windows 7 and Windows XP although concepts and principles can be applied to other OS versions. VST plug-in offers additional sets of effects which are not otherwise included in the default Adobe Audition list of effects as well as other DAW like REAPER.

Installation Procedure of VST in Adobe Audition

Step1: Searching for free VST plug-in. – in this case, you may want to visit KVR Audio and search for available VST plug-ins. Follow the rest of the procedure until you will be able to download the VST exe file which will act as the installer.

This is the sample download page of the VST plug-in: Aodix v4 plug-ins

Step2: Double check the integrity of your file. Some VST plug-in developers includes an MD5 hash to their software. So after downloading, you need to double check the MD5 hash to make sure it matches with the provided by the developer. You can read this tutorial on checking the file integrity using MD5 checksum. The MD5 checksum method can be applied to any downloadable assets such as WAV or MP3 files.

Why do you need to bother checking the MD5 checksum?

a.) If the original authors/developers provide a checksum; you will always ensure that the file you have downloaded is not corrupted or altered intentionally by other parties (if your checksum results matches with the one provided).

b.) Downloading files from the Internet can easily become corrupted or injected with other codes not included with the original installer.

Another big issue that you need to deal with is to ensure that it does contain any viruses or malware. You can upload the exe file here to be checked by the scanners.

Step3: Once it is clean, double click the installer to start the installation process. It is suggested to close all open programs to avoid conflict during installation.

You might see a warning before continuing the installation such as this:

It says that your system (audio interface and digital audio workstation/multi-editor/recorder) should support ASIO. These are low latency audio drivers that is very different from the one used and installed by Windows in default. Windows is using WDM; however if you are using professional audio interface; they have ASIO drivers on it. For more details about ASIO and WDM audio drivers, you can read this article on ASIO vs. WDM. If you are using older versions of Adobe Audition such as the 1.5 version, it does not support ASIO. Read for more information here: Will Adobe Audition 1.5 or 3.0 record a Firewire audio interface.

You should pay attention to some warnings to make sure the VST plug-in will work without problems. Example of these warnings are common when the VST plug-in is not freeware. In this case, it requires license key or authorization code during the installation.

If you encounter this problem, read the tutorial section on the installation of proprietary VST plug-ins.

Step4: Launch Adobe Audition – go to Effects – Add/Remove VST Directory. Navigate to the folder where the VST plug-in has been installed. If you find many folders under the plug-in, make sure to select the general path, example: C:Program FilesAodix.

Based on the screenshot above, Adobe Audition will automatically scan the sub-directories under the main folder for VST plug-in related files.

Step5: Once added, go to Effects – and click “Refresh Effects Lists”. The VST plug-in should then be added to Adobe Audition.

This is just one example, there are countless of VST plug-ins available in the internet for downloading. I also recommend the plug-in reviews before proceeding with the installation to determine if it is great or not.

The good thing is that Adobe Audition support both VST and DirectX plug-in. So it is your choice what type of plug-ins you need to install. Although most of my Adobe Audition plug-in is DirectX based, I am still using Steinberg VST plug-ins.

If you are using DirectX plug-ins, you can refer to the following tutorial below for the installation steps:

How to Manage & Remove Directx Plugin in Adobe Audition

General Procedure of installing VST plugin in Windows operating system

Step1.) Make sure you have an installer (.exe file) of the VST plugin you need to install. There are lots of VST plugins available, some a free and some requires you to have a license. For illustration purposes, supposing you need a free and complete VST plugin that already includes the following important effects: parametric EQ, compressor, etc. In addition to the one provided in the previous section; another great free VST plugin that will run in Windows is the Reaper VST audio plugins. Download the installer here.

Step2.) After downloading the installer, double click the exe file to install it to your Windows 7 OS. Make sure to select all effect plugins during installation.

Step3.) Confirm that you have properly installed the Reaper VST plugin. Go to your C:Program Files, you should see a directory named as “VSTPlugins”. If you visit that folder, you should see the “ReaPlugs” folder with the following contents:

As you can see after installation, the actual VST plugin that is very important are those with .dll extension. For example this dll file: reaeq-standalone.dll is the actual ReaEQ plugin. And also reacomp-standalone.dll is the application extension of ReaComp Compressor. Take note that these programs are standalone so it can be move to other directories and would still work.

Add/Enable VST Plugin to Notion 3

Now you have successfully installed the VST dll plugin files, it is time to integrate it with your recording or music notation software. Let’s start with Notion 3:

Step1.) Launch Notion 3 music notation software.

Step2.) Open any existing Notion 3 project that you are working which you would like to apply VST effects

Step3.) Click “Mixer” in the Notion 3 menu.

Step4.) You should see different tracks in the mixer representing different instruments in your project. Take note that this mixer works exactly like a real mixing console. To connect an EQ to a mixer, you should be using Inserts.

In Notion 3, each track or channel allows you up to 4 effects to be added as “Insert”. Click “Insert” on any tracks or channel. Start with the top most insert of the channel.

Step5.) After clicking on it, it will show two options in the dropdown: “None” and “VST Manager”. Currently “None” is checked since Notion 3 is not yet configured to use any VST plugins, so you need to check “VST Manager”. You will then see all the VST effect plugins automatically discovered by Notion 3 based on installed VST plugins in Windows 7.

Step6.) You will then need to click “Enable” for example the ReaEQ parametric equalizer (ReaEQ-standalone) to use it and then click “close”.

Step7.) Now go back to the mixer in Notion 3, click again “Insert” and select “ReaPlugs”. You can then click “reaeq-standalone”. Finally you can see the EQ options where you can apply desired settings.

The effects will then be highlighted on the Insert section of the Mixer as shown below (for example- Oboe, Violin I, Violin II and Viola are applied with the EQ effect):

Add VST Plugin to Audacity (e.g. adding ReaEQ parametric equalizer VST)

1.) Go to the VST plugin directory of the Rea plug: C:Program FilesVSTPluginsReaPlugs

2.) Copy reaeq-standalone.dll to Audacity plugin directory in this path: C:Program FilesAudacity 1.3 Beta (Unicode)Plug-Ins

3.) Launch Audacity, you should see the VST plugin listed under “Effect”. If not, go to Edit – Preferences – Effects – check “Rescan VST effects next time Audacity is started”. Click OK and restart Audacity.

Example installation of proprietary plug-in: Focusrite effects

Proprietary plugin is a bit different. It requires activation of the plugin (through a license key, activation code, etc.) before you can use it with your DAW. You must keep the activation code in a safe place. The activation code is a sticker placed in the paper CD cases of the Focusrite installer CD. If you lost it, you will never be able to activate and use the plug-in.

When I install the Saffire Pro40 drivers in Windows XP, I accidentally lost the paper CD case cover that includes the activation code. If you also lost your activation code, I suggest you will follow the steps below:

1.) Get the serial number at the back of the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40. In case you are not sure which of those is the correct serial number; list all of them such as shown below:

PF6XX99XX77X
153XX008X5
MOSFXX05X

2.) Contact Focusrite Support here.

And state that you need to retrieve your activation code because its lost. Provide the support with all of those numbers you have listed.

3.) Focusrite support will then reply to you with the activation code.

Install the Focusrite Plug-in Suite in Windows XP

Now you have the activation code, you can now proceed to install the plug-in. Refer to the steps below:

1.) Insert the installer CD in your computer.
2.) Inside the CD, look for “Focusrite Plug-in Suite”, e.g. see below:

3.) Double the click the installer and follow the instructions.

4.) In most cases, it will tell you that the latest plug-in update is available and the installer will download and proceed with the installation.

5.) If there are no errors shown, you have successfully installed the plug-in.

Configure Adobe Audition 1.5 to use the Focusrite Plug-in Suite

Since the VST plug-in is now installed in your operating system, you can configure your DAW to use the plug-in. Let’s start with Adobe Audition 1.5:

1.) Launch Adobe Audition 1.5.
2.) Go to Edit View and then in the “Effects”, click “Refresh Effects List” and click OK.
3.) Load a sample audio in the Edit view.
4.) Since Focusrite Plug-in Suite is a VST plug-in, go to Effects – VST. However, you will not see the plug-in there, only dots such as shown below:

However if you do not see any dots or the plugin, you need to manually add the plug-in directory by clicking the “Add/Remove VST Directory” under “Effects”. Then close Adobe Audition, restart it and click Refresh Effects list again.

5.) Click one of the dots.
6.) Focusrite will require you to activate the plug-in by entering the activation code. Click “Submit Activation Request”. You will then see the Focusrite Plugin Suite Software Activation page.

7.) Enter your full name, email address, operating system, country, the activation code and then click submit.

8.) Check your email for the license file. This file is attached with the email and uses an .fnlf file extension. Download this license file to your computer.

9.) Back in the Adobe Audition 1.5, click the “Install License File”. See screenshot below:

Navigate to where you have saved the license file and click OK.

10.) The plug-in should now be activated. For example, below is the Focusrite Compressor:

Configure Reaper DAW to use the Focusrite Plugin Suite

1.) Make sure the plug-in is installed first with your OS (see instructions in the previous section).

2.) Launch Reaper DAW.
3.) Go to Options – Preferences.
4.) Under “Plug-ins”, click “VST”.
5.) Under VST Plug-in paths click add then navigate to the “Focusrite Plugin Suite” folder. See below:

6.) Click Rescan then click Apply and OK. Exit Reaper.
7.) Restart Reaper and try to insert one track in Reaper with audio.
8.) Click “FX” button, you should now see the Focusrite Plug-in under the VST section.

Other Important Tips on using VST Plugin

1.) Make sure you are using VST plugin that is not buggy and slow. Read reviews on the forum or ask for expert opinions about the plugin before using it seriously in your projects.

I have used several VST plugins before that are buggy when at times, it crashes my entire project! There are also plugins coming from unknown sources, so they might contain malware, virus, etc. Make sure you fully scan the exe file before using it. Or if you are still doubtful, don’t install plugins from developers you don’t trust.

2.) It is why most professional studio environment is using standard plugins such as developed by reputable companies like Steinberg, Cockos Inc., WAVES, etc. because they are guaranteed to work and with lots of users or documentation.

3.) Make a backup of your VST installer (as well as the license key if it’s not a free plugin) and don’t delete it. There are times when your computer crashes for some reason (disk problems,etc) and you are required to re-install everything including your plugins.

If you don’t make a backup of your plugins, then you will not be able to re-install them again. It happen to me before, I lost one plugin and I deeply regretted it. And there are around 6 projects that uses that plugin, as a result it does not work anymore and I’m forced to use another plugin.

It takes a lot of time again to get the mix right with the new plugin substitute. But at least I learned a lesson from those mistakes.

Content last updated on October 8, 2012