How to install Vst3 plugins (for Mac)
I have tried in the past, with Magical8bitPlug2.vst3_.zip (it was made into .zip upon upload). I never can understand instructions for this. Can you please give me detailed instructions on how to do this? I would like to use this plugin for a lot of things.
Comments
See Installing VSTs
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/working-vst-and-vsti
then https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/mixer#sound
In reply to See "Installing VST's" https… by yonah_ag
What does it mean for the vsts to be installed? Downloaded, or in a certain folder?
In reply to What does it mean for the… by Asher S.
After you download a VST3 for your OS it will need to be installed in the same way that you would install any other software. For Windows the downloaded file would typically be a .MSI file which would then be run to install the VST into Windows.
Musescore will automatically find any VST installed as above and will make them available in the mixer. You may need to restart MS if you installed the VST to your OS whilst MS was already open.
I don't know if there are any compatibility issues as I have only tested Pianoteq 8. You could always download the trial version of Pianoteq as a test.
In reply to After you download a VST3… by yonah_ag
So you open the vst like the editor of a component in Logic/Garageband?
In reply to So you open the vst like the… by Asher S.
I don't know Logic/Garageband.
Having installed the VST into your OS, you then open a score in MS4 and select the VST from the dropdown menu in the mixer.
Where you see the Sound MS Basic buttons click to choose a VST3 instead of MS Basic. Musescore will then open the VST's UI so that you can change the settings.
In reply to No. Having installed the VST… by yonah_ag
Please define “install”
In reply to Please define “install” by Asher S.
Assuming you are using Windows.
Normally, Windows versions of VST's have an installer, for obvious reasons.
But not in this case.
To 'install': just copy Magical8bitPlug2.vst3 file to c:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
When launching MS, the vst3 should be detected.
In reply to Assuming you are using… by graffesmusic
I hope this works out well for you.
This is open source: https://github.com/yokemura/Magical8bitPlug2 , made with Juce.
I compiled a Linux version for it (compiles fine), but it is not usable. (Perhaps this is just the combination Linux/Juce7. Anyway, i will not spend more time on this.)
I can recommend the (free - but not open source) socalabs plugins if you are into this 8 bit synth thing.
https://socalabs.com/
Edit: it does work on Linux if build with Juce 6.1.6 (does not work with Juce 7x)
In reply to Assuming you are using… by graffesmusic
I can confirm that you just extract the zip file to your VST folder and point MS to that folder, then restart MS. It works and sounds fun - very nostalgic!
In reply to I can confirm that you just… by yonah_ag
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 is the default VST3 location on windows. Any vst3 in there will be recognized by all applications making use of vst3 plugins.
see https://helpcenter.steinberg.de/hc/en-us/articles/115000177084-VST-plug…
Good to know that the synth works in MS for Windows.
In reply to C:\Program Files\Common… by graffesmusic
Thanks for the info. I'll relocate my VST3 files.
In reply to Assuming you are using… by graffesmusic
I’m sorry, I’m using Mac.
In reply to I’m sorry, I’m using Mac. by Asher S.
it must be very similar to the above pics for Windows.
In reply to it must be very similar to… by yonah_ag
Ok. I think I understand something now. Sorry for all the trouble. But I have one more question: do you create a new folder, or do you just direct to the one in already in the zip file from ymck?
In reply to Ok. I think I understand… by Asher S.
I made C:/Audio/VST/Magical8bit and unzipped to there. My VST3 folder in MS4 preferences is C:/Audio/VST (shown in previous post pic) and everything worked after restarting MS4.
I deliberately used a folder on my hard disk which is not synced to my Microsoft OneDrive as I don't want these files to be backed up.
Pianoteq 8 went through a full Windows installation and MS4 picked it up without any files in my VST folder so I guess that this is the difference between an install and an unzip.
(and it's no trouble! We're all learning.)
In reply to I made C:/Audio/VST… by yonah_ag
Still no luck.
What I’m currently doing: putting the vst3 file in library/audio/plugins/vst/vst
Setting the musescore vst3 directory there.
VST is not an option in the mixer, alone with sound fonts and muse sounds.
Do you have a Mac anywhere that you can try to install this with? Everyone who tries to help uses windows lol
In reply to Please define “install” by Asher S.
There's an installation video with subtitles from the developer:
https://ymck.net/app/magical-8bit-plug-en
In reply to There's a video with… by yonah_ag
Thanks, I’ll look at it in a minute.
In reply to There's a video with… by yonah_ag
Sorry, they don’t say anything about history install it, and directly say that they didn’t include an installer, so it would be very difficult to explain the installation process. Then they said I would just have to google some things 😏
In reply to Sorry, they don’t say… by Asher S.
I think that you simply have to unzip it to where MacOS expects to find VST3 files and then MS should recognise it. We need a MacOS user to help out here.
In reply to Sorry, they don’t say… by Asher S.
I suggest that you add "for MacOS" to your title as this might get the required attention.
In reply to I suggest that you add "for… by yonah_ag
I will just make a new discussion, it is not letting me edit it.
No actually it is.
In reply to I will just make a new… by Asher S.
See https://helpcenter.steinberg.de/hc/en-us/articles/115000171310-VST-plug…
It should be under
Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST3
In reply to See "Installing VST's" https… by yonah_ag
ironically, I've managed to install vst3s on windows now. still no luck with mac :|
In reply to ironically, I've managed to… by Asher S.
I operate a "mac free" policy with all my electronics. I find Apple OSes such an unpleasant experience to work with, so for desktops and laptops it's Windows and for phones and tablets it's Android.
In reply to ironically, I've managed to… by Asher S.
Now you can use MS3 on Windows to send MIDI Out to your VST3 for much improved audio playback.
In reply to Now you can use MS3 to send… by yonah_ag
cool